ENTERTAINMENTS

Dominion, Volume 8, Issue 2305, 12 November 1914, Page 9

ENTERTAINMENTS

"HUMPTY DUMPTY" PANTOMIME.

The booking of seats at the Dresden for the above pantomime is good, and it is expected that a bumper Jiouse should greet "Humpty Dumpty" at the Grand Opera House next Saturday night..' Tie present combination is an exceptionally strong one, all the per? formers, with one or two exceptions, being; entirely new to Dominion audiences. The scenery, accessories and the whole of the appointments, etc., are in the hands of a large staff or mechanists, and nothing is being left undone to,make the season a memor? able one. Patrons are notified that the curtain will rise at 7.46 o'clock sharp. : The company, consisting of 85 people, arrived theMoeraki from Sydney, which will "give ample time to make complete arrangements for the opening. ,The management state that the production of "Humpty Dumpty'' will, be'oh the same extensive'"scale which characterised the firm's . last pantomimes in the Dominion. The "March of the Allies" will be a special feature: of-the. production, showing the various nations in their national uniform. • /This".is said to'be a very irispi™!g isftuatipn, . Another . patriot*) event-will be the song' entitled "New Zealand' Will be "There," specially written for Miss Olive Robinson, the prin? cipal boy. :

HIS MAJESTY'S THEATRE. Messrs Puller-Brennaa's new vaudeville specialty company performed before an appreciative audience at His Majesty's Theatre last night, when several of the artists had to respond to enthusiastic recalls Popular contributions to the programme are supplied by Gruett and Gruett, coloured comedians. The Three Horaaz, Continental equilibrists; Benson and Bell, the dancer and the dude. Monahan and Sheehan, musicians, The Biadnas, acrobats and hat-spinners, and several others There will be a matinee on Saturday THE KING'S THEATRE Mr Cynl Maude, now in the zenith of his London fame, appears in the picture production of "Beauty and the Sarge," which Li at present being screened at the King's Theatre, and biff houses have been the order since the play was introduced on Monday last Other films on the programme include. "The Melbourne Cup, 1914'' (sporting), "Gaumont War Graphic" (topical), "Wireless From the War" (novel caricatures), and "Boy Scout Farm ui Sussex " The programme will be repeated throughout the webk, and there will be a matinee on Saturday EVERYBODY'S PICTURES Crowded sessions were again the order at Everybody's Pictures yesterday at the old Open House in Manners Street/ * The current programme is headed by an impressive drama, "War's Heart .Blood," which portrays reahstio battle scenes with the great Russian Army in the foreground Supporting items include "The Melbourne Cup, 1914," "Germans at Louvam," "Bird Life in Springtime," and the Gaumont Graphic. , MACMAHON'S 1 NEW THEATRE "Our Indian Army" is proving a goqd di awing card at MacMahon's New Theatre at the present time, and there were, large attendances at every session yesterday. The Eclair diama "When Pierrot Meets Pieirette" is another good film, and the programme is completed by six supporting subjects— comic, dramatic, and scenic The usual change mil be made to-morrow. PEOPLE'S PICTURE PALACE Business at the People's Picture Palace, since it was reopened to the public, furnishes proof of the popularity of this theatre Yesterday afternoon an 4 eyening the crowds at the various sessions were as big as over, and the new programme was "received with every mark of approval. A very interesting film was the one entitled "Sons of the Sea," giving interesting views of the British bluejackets at work. The scenes included life aboard the Exmouth, the British Fleet in all its phases, the silent guns at exercise, Jack and his well-built brother, the "blue marine." the ship's pet, and the marine officer, Jack afloat and ashore, i torpedo firing', the deadly projectile j cfearly seen upon its wondrbus course, submarines, destrojers. torpedo craft, and battleships "Lucille Lqve" (semes No 9) portiays further daung exploits of this popular pictuie heioine "The Bronze Idol" is a moving drama illustrating the difficulties which beset a" ex-convict m his endeavour to live down his past The story is of Dick Brand, an expert cracksman, who makes a resolve, upon leaving prison, to keep to the straight path in future. He receives a post as private secretary to a Mr Melville, and then falls m lova with the latter's daughter Nancy. Meanwhile one of Brand's old associates

plaus to rob Mr. Melville'of a-fam'ous bronze idol. Brand'is successful in'i upsetting, these" plans/ but, trie result of it all" is' that his past' career is laid bare., Hej however, is. able to retain the confidence of Mr. Melville as well as the lbvo of Nancy, and thus has no cause to -regret his, return to the straight'path, ;'. -."• ' THE EMPRESS THEATRE. "The • Whirlpool of War,"' described as a ".series."of most realistic scenes in connection with the. great European upheavals-will, be the' ''star" •attraction at the Empress Theatre continuous pier tures to-day. and to-night. The yarU ous'. incident's in the production include the Royal Field Artillery leaving Hyde. Park, '.bound for tjie, ..frpntj the liondon Scottish on !their'i?ay to the troopship; French" examining passppfts; how' pigeon's .are dispatched with - news' frpm the vicinity :-of ■' the 'firing' liiie; Belgians remove; a formidable obstacle to permit the oayalry to;pass along a road; German 'prisoners ;,•; hostile reception of a. German geiierariyhp is being conveyed a prisoner • through a French" crowd•"';' Belgian "cayalrjf" at Waterloo; Loiiyain. main streets';' de r fending louvairi bridge'; ■ Belgiaii fprpes hurriedly • retVeatirig" 'before 'a'"'superior bpdy of Germans;'refugees.at Lpuyain waiting for a' train; troops going into action; and, numerous'.other episodes. There.will, be a'bjg supporting series of dramatic, comic,' and scenic films. .GRAND OPERA HOUSE. ' Lerpy, Talma, and . Bpsco brought theiri,season of sensational illusions to a close at-the .Grand Opera House last night, when they _were farewelled by an enthusiastic audience.

• «A TALE OF OLD JAPAN.."! The third and final subscription concert of tho" Royal'Cfioral 'Society's 1914 season -will takei place in the Town Hall on 'Friday.'November 20j" wlien "A Tale" of Old'"-Japan""will be produced under the'.conduc-toi'ship of Mr. Herbert Bloy. "Out of 59 works produced by Goleridgo Taylor, including euch works as "Hiawatha," "Meg Blane," and '■'The Atonement," Mr. Taylor, prior to his death in 1912, described his newest'work, r ''A Tale of Old Japan," as his very best. The soloists engaged for this- cantata ore: -Soprano,, M a d am 9 Briggs, of Wauganui; contralto, Mrs! A. Rosewarno, of Napier; while the tenor 'and baritone parts are to betaken by'.Messrs. .Tas. Simpson and J. M. Jago respectively, both of Diinedin. The box plan will open at the Dresden to-morrow morning at 9 o'clock, when 3s. and 2s. seats can be reserved with? out extra charge. A ft'.ll rehearsal will be held in St; John's at 8 o'clock tomorrow night.