ENTERTAINMENTS

Dominion, Volume 8, Issue 2302, 9 November 1914, Page 3

ENTERTAINMENTS

LEROY, TALMA, AND BOSCO. The Grand Opera House was crowded on Saturday night, when Leroy, Talma, and Bosco continued their season. Tho.many wonderful magic turns are of an altogether new character to New Zealand audiences, and were' highly appreciated. The spectacular illusion "Nero, or Thrown to tho Lions," in which a real lion is made to disappear' from its cage, was a great success, and the Indian rope trick was another mystifying illusion. Bosco was exceedingly amusing, and the manner in which he went about producing rabbits on the slightest provocation was amazing. Santo Santucci, the clever accordionpiano player,, met with a very appreciative reception, and Warner and White, comic dancers, added appreciably to the entertainment. The programme will be given again this evening. HIS MAJESTY'S THEATRE. At His Majesty's Theatre .this evening the usual weekly change of programme will be presented by the FullerBrennan management, when several new imported star acts will appear for the first time, notable amongst which will he Gruett and Gruett, described us typical American black-face entertainers; clever comedy work combined with sensational knife-throwing and novel instrumental selections are said to comprise only a few of their.novelties. Another first appearance is that of Benson and Bell, who will submit "The Costermonger Rag"—an exposition of the "whirlwind Texas dance." The Three Hiinaz will appear for the first time in New Zealand in a novelty, act in which feats, of strength and endurance play a part. Monahan and Sheehan, recent arrivals from America, will appeal in a musical melange. Miss Eloise Taylor,-a favourite Australian lyric soprano, who has been recently appearing' m the Sydnew Town Hall, has been specially engaged to tour on the Fuller-Brennan circuit.- The Bradnas have been specially re-engaged for another six nights, and will submit an entirely how comedy act. Other artists to appear will be Neil Cant, the popular Scottish comedian; Les Bates, raconteur; and the Two Foys. The programme will be repeated for six nights, and a matineo will be given on Saturday. THE KING'S THEATRE. To-night a new programme will commence at the King's Theatre. As usual the management has procured and will screen 'an interesting series of war topicals, which have just been received. "Beauty and.tho Barge,"- the wellknown comedy by W. W. Jacobs, has been exceptionally well handled by the London Film Company, with the result that the production has proved to he a great success wherever it has been Bhown. Mr. Cyril Maude, unquestionably one of England's finest actors, takes the leading part in this delightful comedy., A subject which, every Scout in Wellington should see is entitled "A Boy Scout Farm in Sussex," and gives a splendid idea of the daily routine oh a model, farm. Other subjects on the programme are: "Setting the Style" (Vitagraph comedy), "Across the. Burning Trestle" (Edison drama), and "Our Mutual Girl" (Reliance fashion drama). "EVERYBODY'S PICTURES." - At noon to-day a change of programme takes place at "Everybody's". Picture. Theatre in Manners Street. A tw<weel drama-entitled Heart Blood" is the star film on the programme. The story deals with two sohb of a Russian General, who are in love with a peasant girl. Gregori wins the girl, and Ivan, his brother, swears vengeance. Subsequently war breaks out, and- the brothers go to the front. Gregori is captured by the enemyls pickets, who are in turn taken by the Russians. Ivan, who is a captain, sentences his brother to death as a spy,i but shortly afterwards the enemy attacks, and Ivan is mortally wounded. The girl finds their bodies on the battlefield. OthcT subjects on the programme are "While Auntie Bounced'' (comic), "Bird Life in Springtime" (natural history), and a series !of the latest war topicals from Europe. -■■'■■'.. THE EMPRESS THEATRE. ■'.. ''Victory," a sensational naval > and military war ."feature" drama, will he presented with the new programme at the Empress Theatre (continuous pictures) torday arid to-night. . The cast of the "star" production includes the United States Secretary of tho Navy, .the Commander-in-Chief of the United States Atlantic Fleet, the commander of the U.S.A. battleship Utah, and noted picture-players. Hundreds of sailors and marines 'figure in the naval and land battles, and there are hydroplanes, battleships; monitors, destroyers, arid forts in action. The scenes are laid around Guantanamo, the Cuban station I of the U.S.A. Atlantic Fleet.' Lieutenant Towers, of -the U.S.A. Navy, takes a-heroic role in. a hydroplane flight. The film was made with the aid of .the United ■ States naval authorities, and every - assistance was afforded tho producer in' obtaining, a most realistic enactment. The supplementary films will include ' 'Beautiful New Zealand •Scenery" (rare selection of beauty spots), "What a Night!" (a remarkably laughable farce-comedy), and others. -' "HUMPTY DUMPTY." Pleasurably anticipated by young arid old, the Stephenson-Linley pantomime extravaganza, "Humpty Dtimpty," is to be presented at the Grand Opera House next Saturday night. The company consists of 85 members, and comes , well accredited .from Australia, where the principal States have been visited with success. The principal humorist is Mt. Con. Moreni, and he will bo associated with Mr. Ernie Lashbrook, both, of whom, are said to he, excellent pantomimists, and clever eccentrio dancers. The other_principals will ' be: Charles .Howard (King Dazzlum), Miss Olive Robinson (Jack Buttercup), Mies Mollio King (Lolita),. Miss Ida Ingersole (Humpty Dumpty), Miss Stella Cazalla (Hassarac), Miss Pear Smaille (Conrad), ,Miss Alice Whittle (Hadjih and Miss Bertha Ashman (Saji). . The dressing, scenery, ballets, marches, and effects will be on an elaborate scale. The specialities are in the hands of the Three Hobos and Lennon, Hyman, and Lennon. The box plan for the first six nights opens at 9 a.m. to-morrow at the Dresden. ■ ' . SUNDAY CONCERT. The Wellington Tramways Band, under Mr. G. W. Bowes, gave an enpyahle concert at His.Majesty's Theatre last evening in aid of its own funds. Tho programme consisted of the test selection, "Rienzi" (Wagner, written in his earlier and less unconventional style); the march, "La Russo" (Rimmef); the serenade, "Sizilietta" (von Blou); and the lively fantasia, "A Sleigh Ride" (Lodz). The band was assisted by Mr. C. Clarkson, who sang "Alia Stella Confidente" (Robandi), with 'cello obbligato by Mr. F. Johnstone, and Tito ; Mattel's "Never More" ("Non o Ver"). Mr. Frank Johnstone played as a cello solo and arrangement by Gounod of Bach's "Meditation."' Mrs. F. R. Johnstono was tho accompanist. ORGAN RECITAL. Mr. Bernard Page presented a higldy delectable programme of tho best class of music on Saturday evening. Mr. Page played Mendelssohn's splendid "Hebrides" overture, a great favourite at orchestral concerts, and one which adapts itself fairly well for transcription for the grand organ. Once moro ho played ' the striking "Prelude and Fugue" of Glazounov, which proved so very acceptable a week before, and which improves with each hearing. Bach was represented hy a charming J uufinislied "Pastorale," and Wagner by J

the "Waldweben" musio from the second act of. "Siegfried," music that lias a haunting attraction for those who know the "King" with anything approaching intimacy. In the second part of the programme there was a beautiful little "Epiloguo" by Willan, the cool and'placid "Harmonies du Soir" of Karg-Elert, which exhibited Mr, Page's resource in registration and sauvity of touch, and finally-.the somewhat eccentric and altogether unappealing "Maicho Hcroiquo" of Edwin Leniare—the sort of march which might have been written- in honour of the sacking by the Germans of an undefended village, so little does it convey the "heroic" • idea.

Next Saturday evening Mr. Page will devote himself entirely to the works oFthe Belgian composer, Cesar Frariek. PEOPLE'S PICTURE PALACE. Owing to the enormous success attending the production of "The House of Temperley" at the People's" Picture Palace, the management has decided to extend the season for this picture, and it will be screened again to-day and tomorrow. The programme to-day will also include "Lucille Love" (series No. 9). "Latest War News," and several other supporting items of good quality. Music by an. efficient orchestra accompanies the pictures at . every session. Public appreciation of the recent .improvements to the theatre • has been shown by the crowded attendances, both afternoon and evening.

MACMAHON'S NEW THEATRE. Seating accommodation was again taxed to the' utmost at the continuous picture show at MacMahon's New Theatre on Saturday afternoon and evening. The current programme of eight fascinating subjects is headed by the Imp. Company's dTama, "When the Heart Calls," a play full of pathos. In addition to the films shown on' Saturday, there will be shown at all sessions from 6.30. p.m. t-oday two interesting war pictures, which have not previously been seen here. The first of these,. "Our Japanese Allies," will include scenes in camp,.gunboats, troops crossing bridge, 'anil troops in ' the trenches. The other, "Our Indian Anny," is to give views of'the army commander, of Lord Roberts, of Indian officers, and of troops entraining,- etc.

VIOLIN PUPILS' CONCERT. Judged 1 by the measure of understanding in tone, tune, and time. exhiibted by the violin pupils of "Mr. Adolf Szenes at the concert' given in the Concert Chamber on Saturday evening, that teacher must have a sound method of imparting his knowledge. : It was quito pleasing to hear a large body of strings play tJhe fairy-like music of Mendels-: sohn's overture, to "A Midsummer Night'e Dream," so admirable were tone, tune, and rhythm maintained, without a conductor, too'. The light and. shade and innate. delicacy of the music may not have been fully realised, but considering who the players were, the effort was a-notably good one,, reflecting much, .credit on Mr. Szenes, who assisted with the viola. There were other concerted numbers for strings—a Handel ."Sonata Keligious," Schubort's "Prayer and the Spring" (for a 'double quartet of violins), a fantasia by' Leonard, and-a quartet by Bizet (for two violins, viola, and 'cello). : Mr. Szenes has some pupils of excellent promise. Foremost among them is Miss Freda' Walter, who was easily singled out for her graceful bgwjng, the full use she made of the bowj and, the appealing singing tone that she produced. The manner 'in which/she played Mendelssohn's "Concerto in E Minor" showed that she has the ability to go a good deal further. • Another player of promise,is Master Sidney Gordon; who produced a firm, • full 'tone ' that vibrated With Bympathy. In his ."Fantasia"'by House he at once caught the'attention of the audience, and held.,it: throughput purely by the sympathetic'fibre;.of :the:tone lis produced; without whichiall'violin music is .as Dead Sea fruit. Miss Phyllis Hanify, Miss Coralie Smythson,- Miss Myrtle M'Laughlin, and Master Eric Meier also contributed solos and participated in concerted numbers. Misses Dorothy Johnston and Phyllis Hanify i were the accomnanists.