ENTERTAINMENTS

Dominion, Volume 8, Issue 2364, 21 January 1915, Page 7

ENTERTAINMENTS

J. C. WILLIAMSON'S COMIC OPERA COMPANY. ■ It is stated that, judging by the numerous inquiries which have already been mado at the box office in regard to the booking arrangements, the local 6eason of Gilbert and . Sullivan operas promises to prove one of the best yet experienced by a J. C. Williamson,'Ltd., attraction bore. Tho coming season, winch commences on Wednoscfay night next, and which is limited to sixteen nights, starts off with that charming and fascinating musical success "The Gondoliers," which will be staged on threo occasions, and it will bo followed by three performances of "The Yeomen of the Guard," to be staged on Saturday, Monday, and Tuesday, January 30, February 1 and 2. On Wednesday, February 3, and two following evenings "Iolantho" will be staged, and on Saturday, February 6, "The Mikado" will bo revived for three occasions,- and the season will close with two performances each of "H.M.S. Pinafore 1 ' and "The Pirates of Penzance." Mr. Charles Walenn, the leading comedian, comes with a big London reputation, won mainly in the Gilbert and Sullivan operas, and amongst his greatest triumphs, both as a humourist, singer, and dancer, are his characterisations of the Duke of Plaza Toro ("The Gondoliers"), Jack Point' ("The Yeomen of the Guard"), and as Ko Ko ("The Mikado"). Tho tenor, Mr. Edward M'Keown, is said to have created a great impression in Auckland by his magnificent singing of "Take a Pair of Sparkling Eyes" in "The Gondoliers," and he was accorded no fewer than four encores. It is said that quite a sensation was created in Sydney recently by the young Australian prima donna, Miss Gladys Moncrieff. In a night she leapt from obscurity into the forefront of her profession, and ranks with Nellie Stewart as the finest comic opera soprano the Australian stage has yet produced. Miss Pearl Ladd is the possessor of a frosh soprano voice, and in addition she }s a finished actress and a clever dance r . Miss Ladd will make her debut here as Casilda in "Tho Gondoliers." Mr. Frank Wilson, the baritone, is already well and favourably known. Misn Ethel Morrison, contralto, iB a native of Wellington, who has earned distinction in London. Miss Katie May is an English actress who comes with a big reputation. The box plans will be_ opened for tho entire_ season at the Bristol on Monday morning next at 9 o'clock. A queue will be formed at 8 a.m.. "UNDER TWO FLAGS." The last performance of "The Ever Open Door" was greeted last evening by a good audience. "Oiiida's" war drama, "Under Two Flags," will he staged to-night. The play deals with a young gentleman's career, who takes upon himself the guilt of forgery committed by his brother, shields the honour of a lady, prevents a father's heart from breaking, and leaves England to join 0 regiment of a foreign station in Algiers. The incidents succeed each other with great rapidity within tho short space of the first aot, leaving the hero three more acts in which to perform heroic deeds, and finally die in the arms of the heroine. A point of interest is added at the present moment bv the fact that, no doubt, the Chasseure d'Afriques are among those Frenoh regiments now fighting with the Allies against Germany. In Sydney the stirring tableau of the fight at 'he end of the second act, sent the curtain up five or six times, and moved the audience to join in the singing of "The Marseillaise." The box plan is at the Bristol, and day sales may be obtained at CMsteson's ;and Miss Lennox's. HIS MAJESTY'S THEATRE. Madame Sohcll nwl ber sensational lion aot Js tho principal attraction r His Majesty's 'ineawo ziiia week. The Bona are fine and highly intelligent beasts. Madame Schell has them trained exceedingly well. After entering tho cage she puts her ; "babies," as sho calls them, through a series of clever eiicks. The conclusion of this thrilling turn is greeted with a storaf of applause nightly. The Corrick family of musicians are still with the BrennanFuller management at His Majesty's, and the more one sees and hears this talented company th 6 better one likes them.' Wykeham and Preston, twoclever artists, are seen to advantage in an original one-act comedy, "My Friend Smith." Several other artists contribute to the evening's entertainment. KING'S THEATRE. The moral ethics that govern a woman's life necessarily governs that of a man's is shown in "The Battle of the Sexes," a dramatic study which is being shown at the King's Theatre this week. The acting and stage-setting is somo of the best seen in Wellington, and as for the picture itself it has seldom been equalled. There are also some excellent war pictures, for which the King's is becoming famous. All the latest happenings are shown, including Turkish troops proceeding to Egypt and Turkish troops in action. The remaining pictures are well up to the standard. EVERYBODY'S THEATRE. If ono desires to see tho current week's programme at Everybody's Theatre during the evening sessions an early visit will have to be paid to this favourite place of amusement. Since Monday last large crowds have been present to witness ono of tho Keystone Company's best pictures, "Tho Rounders." Charles Chaplin and Roecoe Arbuckle are the principals, and these two clever comedians are to bo seen at their best.. The programmo includes a number of interesting pictures, chief among which aro "Fate's Midnight Hour," "Sonnv Jim and tho North Pole," and '.'The 'Last Shot," a Western drama. PEOPLE'S PICTURE PALACE. All day yesterday the People's Picture Palace was well filled when "Thumbprints," a thrilling detective drama, was again shown at all sessions. It is a good picture, and has to be seen to bb appreciated. Tho chief attraction is supported by an exceptionally fine lot of films, the war series demanding a special word of praise. On Monday next a picture dramatisation of "Trilby," with Sir Herbert Tree as Svengali will bo produced for the first time in Wellington. THE EMPRESS THEATRE. The Regent Company's latest war drama, "Through the Firing Line," will be the principal feature of tho change of programme at the Empress Theatre to-day and to-night., According to tho plot an Englishman, accompanied by his two daughters, goes to Mons, Belgium, shortly before the outbreak of war to take over a business, and when the Germans invade that country the Englishman and his daughters are captured while attempting to escape. Tho daring exploits of one of tho English girls constitute the main interest in the play. Several actual scenes in Belgium associated with the German invasion aro introduced into the production. A vivid portrayal of happenings among the Gorman and Austrian forces is presented in "The War Day by Day," a film_ taken by Swedish operators. Interesting topical New Zealand news is assembled in "The Universal Weeklv" which includes tho Into Auckland trotting races. "The Topical Budget" is replete with events on both sides of the firing line, and also contains illustrations of doings in others parts of the world. The supporting programmo is excellent.