ENTERTAINMENTS

Dominion, Volume 8, Issue 2337, 19 December 1914, Page 9

ENTERTAINMENTS

"A ROYAL DIVORCE." ' Scenes of great excitement were aroused in Christchurch and Auckland over the brilliant revival of the stirring military drama "A Royal Divorce," in which the J. C. Williamson, Ltd. management will present Mr. Julius Knight at the Opera House on Saturday night next. Tho present is to be Mr. Knight's final visit to tho Dominion, and this fact, added to tho interest in tho thrilling battle tableaux which give playgoers an idea of what is actually happening in Europe -to-day, has added considerably to the. interest in the coming season. Those who have already witnessed Mr: Knight's representation of Napoleon will doubtless wish' to see it again, while those who have not will certainly not miss tho present opportunity to do so. Almost as much' interest centres in the Empress Josephine as in Napoleon, and judging by Australian critics Miss Irene Browne, who will appear in the part here, is the finest exponent of Josephine yet seen. Marie Loniso- will be portrayed by- Miss Dorothy Oummings, and Miss Lizotto Pnrkes will appear as Staphanie. This delightful artist has, it is said, amazingly developed her histi<bnic gonius. Altogether there, are over 70 artists concerned in the revival of "A Royal Divorce/' including Messrs. Leslie Victor, Eardley Turner, Herbert J. Bentley, Martin Lewis, ' Charles Morso, James Hughes,' Lavrrence' Hardinge, Fred Coape, Ronald M'Leod, Horace Lingard," Arthur Spenco, Reg Conrad, John Harkaway, Harry M'Phorson, William Parker, Charles' Robins, 'Give Randford, also'the-Misses Emma Temple, Alma. Phillips, Eva Truman, Stella Swifte,' and Phillipa Schiodol. ' A ;fnlloperate orchestra travels with the company. Only seven representations can be given of "A Royal Divorce/' and it will bo followed by two performances of '•The' Scarlet Pimpernel," three revivals of "The Sign of the Cross," two of "The Silver King," and the season will close with three productions of Monsieur Beaucaire." The box plans for "A Royal Divorce" will be opened at tho Dresden on Wednesday morning at 9 o'clock. A' queue will be formed at 8 a.m. . ...

HIS. MAJESTY'S' THEATRE. "The groat American raconteur in his original songs and monologues,", otherwise Mr. George' Hall, has bqon a loading attraction at His' Majesty's Theatre this week. He will appear again today and to-night,'and there'rriay also bo scon and heard. "The Magpies" (concert company), Miss: Carrie jilooro, and other ontertaining artists. There will be a matineo this afternoon, and the usual performance in the evening. THE KING'S THEATRE. "Tess of the Storm Country" will be screened at the King's Theatre again, to-day. It is a. drama of great merit, and the caste includes Mary Pickford, the celebrated "picture" actrosß. There are other' interesting pictures; , among them some fine war items. There will bo a matinee this afternoon,- and : another performance'in the'evening. ■ , EVERYBODY'S PICTURES.. The-programme .to ....be" offered at Everybody's Theatre to-day is. a very interesting one,- and the feature is-a clever detective drama entitled "The Woman With the Red Hair." In the now bill for Monday the, star, film will be "Kronstadt," by Mas Pomberton. It is a splendid story told in the author's best style. Another attraction in t'ho new programme will be a Kay-: Btone _comedy called' "Mnble's Prank,": in which the principal part is taken by Mable. Normand. .•■'.• " PEOPLES PICTURE PALACE. ■ Tho Bison Company's fine drama "The Iplo ■.of .Abandoned; ■Hopo.i"-is.. rospon-J sible for attracting considerable''numbers to the People's Picture Palace. It is a thrilling and exciting story, well worth seeing; and it is supported by an oxcellent variety of other pictures, including: "The Eclair Journal," "Toilers of tho Sea," "Estrange'd," "Bloomer, Photographer," and "A Midnight Wedding." •-, I THE EMPRESS THEATRE. To-day and to-night the Skandinavk Company's Btirring "feature" : drama "The Gypsy's Vendetta," together with the current supporting programme of the Empress .Theatre :Continuous'. Pictures will be shown/for -the- last time. The supporting, films; include: "The Topical War Budget." Monday's change will bo headed, by a comprehensive series of actual war entitled, "Changing tho Map of Europe." Among the features,dealt, with are tho German warships bottled up in Kiel BCanal, mobilisation scenes in Franca .and Germany,' the Tsar reviewing his army, French artillery, and scores of others. TO-NIGHT'S ORGAN' RECITAL. •'•'■■ To-rilght will be the last opportunity the music lovers will have of hearing tho City Organist performing on tho grand organ at tho Town Hall until February. Tho organ iB to go under its annual overhaul in January ; and the recitals will bo resumed early m February. Mr. B. F. Page has chosen a programme of request The various audiences havefrom timu to tim© i solected their favourite items from previous programmes, so to-night's performance should bo a groat attraction. Handel's Concerto No. 10 is from the collection of historical pieces edited by M. Alex. Guilmant for the groat Paris concerts in 1889. .Pastorale (Bach) is an unfinished work in four movements, typical of this great composer's' pbacefnl style. Clausmann's Elegio was. played-last, week so ■successfully that a .repetition was demanded. Karg-Ejert's Pastel (No. 8) is' a composition that has only boon played once to a Wellington audience. It is tho most wonderful piece of tone-colouring that has over been produced for the organ. Tho Freludo and Fugue, by Glazounov is the orio organ composition written by the later of tho great. Russian school of music, and ur>on every provious performance repetitions havo been demanded by the audience. Tschaikovslty's Intermezzo and Widor's Toccata from t'ho sth Symphony are tho remaining numbers on this exceptionally fine programme. SUNDAY'S CONCERT. The. Wellington Choral Club havo promised tho. publio a fine concert for tomorrow night in His Majesty's Theatre. In addition to several excellent items by the Tramways Band, the club will give choruses, quartets, solos, eto. Admission is by silver coin, in aid of. the British and Belgian sufferers.