ENTERTAINMENTS.

Dominion, Volume 8, Issue 2365, 22 January 1915, Page 3

ENTERTAINMENTS.

J. C. WILLIAMSON'S COMIO OPERA CO. Great interest ib being taken in the coming season of J. G. Williamson's Gilbert and Sullivan Opera Company, and on Wednesday nigiit next, when they will once again present the tuneful "Gondoliers, it is pretty safe to predict that the theatre will be taxed to its utmost capacity. It is about thirty year's ago since New Zealanders were first delighted with the works of Gilbert and Sullivan, and yet they are now just as popular with the public as when they were first Btaged. For the presentation of Gilbert -and Sullivan operas it is absolutely, necessary that those who poitray the 'principal characters should be good, all-round artists, as well as having to possess voices ' much above those required for the present day musicai comody. Judging by reports from Australia and other parts of the Dominion the J. 0. Williamson organisation of London and Australian a.-cius is ono of the most perfect that has yet appealed in the Gilbert and oulhvaa oporas. A feature of the revivals will be Uk. magnificent scenery and elaborate dresses, and the chorus and orchestral work will, it is said, be a revelation to play-goers. Only three performances can be given of "The Gondoliers," and it wiTl.be followed by three representations of "The Yeomen of the Guard," three of "lolanthe," three of "The Mikado," two of "H.M.S. Pinafore," and two of "The Pirates of Penzance." > The.plans for the entire season will be opened at the Bristol on Monday morning next at 9 o'clock. A queue will be formed from 8 a.m. THE EMPRESS THEATRE. The new programme at the Empress Tbe&tre yesterday introduced the feature" drama, "Through the Firing Line." An Englishman and his .two daughters go to live at.Mons, Belgium, before the outbreak'of' war. When . hostilities are declared, aided by a Belgian priest, they endeavour to leave the country. They are waylaid by a German corps, but manage to steal away to an unoccupied house, where they find safe refuge for a while. Subsequently the Germans discover; the girls' father, and suspecting that lie is a'spy, bind him up securelj, but the daughters escape detection through hiding in the cellar. Ruth, the younger girl, manages to chloroform the German officers, while they are asleep, then, disguised in ono of their' spare uniforms, seeks help, , ind gets a British company to attack the Germans., -but the latter repel the assault. • Ruth then shoots a German mounted officer, and rides off on his horse. She approaches- the main -British force, and the sharpshooters kill the horse she is astride. Ruth is picked up by her lover, who happens to be in oharge of the Dattalion. The British hasten to the rescue of Ruth's father and sister, whom they save. "The War Day by Day" is an up-to-date film taken by Swedish operators, depicting scenen on the German side of the Eastern theatre of war. "The Topical Budget" gives glimpses of the war. "The. Universal ..Weekly" contains some episodes at the recent Auckland'; trotting races. Comic items also > appear. The series will be seen again to-cky and to-night, HIS MAJESTY'S THEATRE. Schell's Lions are a'great attraction at His Majesty's 'Theatre' this week. Mdme. Schell's entry into, the cage of . the beasts, where she makes them per- ; form various trioks,' is a hazardous un- | dertaking, . done without flinching. , Wykeham and Preston ! are two fine artists, who put on a capital farce, and , there are.other talented performers on . the bill. • This afternoon there will be i ft matinee. . i THE KING'S THEATRE. The star attraction at the King's Theatre is "The Battle of the Sexes," a fine drama with a great lesson'. The 1 war pictures in the programme are - particularly good, and infclude several ; interesting glimpses of the Turkish - troops. .;• Various other tastes are i catered for, and the whole bill is mo"3t r entertaining. A. matineer- performance , will be given at 2.80 this l afternoon. - „ EVERYBODY'S ■ PICTURES. '• The immensely funny film _ "The > Rounderß," which heads the bill _'at • Everybody's Theatre this, week, is being' heavily patronised. The ' picture is so really funny that it quite, deserves its success. Tnere is a very fine collection of supporting numberß on the programme',. inoluding the latest war pictures. • ' , ' A feature of yesterday's programme ' was a film entitled Cup Day at Tren--5 tham, showing Pavlova ginning the ' Cup, also the orowd and! incidents in . the racing. This ' will be shown for the rest-of the week. .

MACMAHON'S THEATRE. "Tipperary" continues to run. its "long, long way" to apprecAtive audiences at MacMahon's Theatre.. As a patriotic effort it stands unique for the song Las worked its way into the forefront of the - Empire's, national march songs. . The picture is emulating the Auckland sue,cess, and; it will be shown at every .'session, for the renaainder of the week, "the incidental music being happily ; "sung by: Mr. J. Green, with the whole-hearted, support of the audience. There will be an entire change of the supporting . programme to-day, headed by a delightful B. and A. drama, entitled "The Fable of a Good Fairy, whilst chief among the comedies to be presented 16. Snook s Flirtations," a wildly humourous film. A long programme of scenic, topical, dramatic, and war pictures will also be shown.

PEOPLE'S PICTURE PALACE. For to-day's change at the People's Pioture Palace an "out-of : the-ordinary ; subjeot, entitled '"the Basilisk, is the star item. The story, revolves round Basil Reska, a hypnotist, and his elforts to influence the action,; of rrecla Hampton. Traglo. occurrences occur during the course of the play, the hypnotist's power being broken lat last, Nemesis overtaking .him and.preventing the carrying out of hiß nefarious aesims. The balance of the programme has been well chosen, including the latest war news and ft grand A.B. comedy, "A First-class Cook." Monday next will see the screening, for the first toe in Wellington, of Trilby, .with Sir Herbert Tree as "Svengali. . His aoting is magnificent, and to many it will come as a revelation. Sir Herbert has certainly never given suoh clear proof ot hiß wonderful adaptability as he has done in "Trilby." This production will bo screened at all sessions.

Y.M.O.A. CONCERT AT TRENTHAM. Something like 700 men were packed in the Y.M.O.A. Hall at Trentham when that association gave its weekly ooncert. Every performer was given a rousing reception. The sketch entitled "The Defence of' Wellington," in which several camp oclebrities wore mentioncd, caused endless amusement. The performers were MisS Lissack, Miss Marie Fix, Madame and Miss Muller, Mr. Connors (banjoist), Mr. Geo. warren (monologuist), Wellington Entertainers' Club (Messrs. Qoudie, Jennings, Conners, and Wood). Next week Mr. Hamilton Hodges and Dr. Norman Hales will take part in the programme.