ENTERTAINMENTS

Dominion, Volume 8, Issue 2377, 5 February 1915, Page 7

ENTERTAINMENTS

COMIC OPERA SEASON. The second performance of Gilbert and Sullivan's charming fairy opera,. "lolanthe" in the Grand Opera House last night was witnessed by another large audience. A gay medley of piquant wit and tuneful melody, "lolanthe" is perhaps batter suited to the talents of the company than any other opera they, have yet presented, and the general consensus of opinion is that their work in this piece is the best they have done here. So it happened last night that soloists and chorus alike were frequently recalled, and the audience was generally demonstrative in its approval. Tonight"lolanthe" will be repeated. ' "THE MIKADO.' ' To-morrow night the company will present a revival of the popular Japanese comic opera, "The jiiikado," in which, it is stated, they achieved their greatest triumph in Australia. Mr. Charles Walesa's diverting impersonation of Ko Ko is said ;to be more broadly farcical than any 'yet presented iu the Dominion, and it is said that he and his colleagues interpolate comic business. which keeps the audience iu screams of laughter. It is stated that one of the features of the revival- is the delightful manner in which the concerted numbers are delivered, including the famous madrigal, "Brightly Dawns Our Wedding Day," :n which Miss Pearl Ladd, Miss Katie May, and Messrs. Edward M'Keown and G. Villiers Arnold 1 take'part.' A little later the audience is, it is said, captured by the infectious gaiety of "Here's a How De Do" by the tenor, tlie soprano, and Ko Ko.' The.:quiiitet, "See How the Fates their Gifts Allot", ■ (Messrs. Wilson, Walenn, Kavanagb, Miss Morrison and Katie May) is another number which was enthusiastically received in Auckland. The tenor, Mr; Edward M'Keown, and Ko Ko, Mr. Charles Walenn, received a treble encore in Auckland for "The Flowers that Bloom in the. Spring," which it is said is delivered with infinite gaiety and zest. Miss Pearl Ladd, who will take the part of Yu» Yum to-morrow night, is said to be excellent, and she sings the well-known number, "The Sun whose Rays," with oh'arm and finish. The part of Yum Yum will be portrayed on Monday evening by Miss Gladys Moncrieff. Miss Ethel Morrison has scored one of her biggest successes as Katisha, and' Mr.Edward M'Keown's rendering of "A Wandering' Minstrel" is described as a feature of the production-. The chorus work will be a special feature of - the revival. Tho plans are now open at the Bristol. ■ ■■•

' HIS MAJESTY'S THEATRE. Messrs. Fuller-Brennan's New Vaudeville Speciality Company achieved anothor success it His Majesty's Theatre last night, when the audience greeted the different turns with enthusiastio applause. Miss Eoso Lee lw a oomedienne with a delightful soprano voice, provides the leading; item on the programme, but an equally popular- performer is Eddy Martyn, the American dancer. There are numerous other artists to add variety to the entertainment, which is well up to the standard that has been set at His Majesty's. THE KING'S THEATRE. Charles Dickens's immortal fantasy, "The Chimes," is at present being shown in picture form at the King's Theatre, and is proving a great attraction eaeih night. ■ Tt is supported by an all-staf programme, including ."The' Man in the Dark," a pathetic drama by the Ediam Company; '"Does it End RightP" (Flying A. drama); "Detectives and the-Watchmaker?' (Vitagraph comedy); "Villenour Pondicherry" (coloured scenic); and "Bombardment of Engplish Coast Towns" (topical). Appropriate musical item? are provided by the King's Smyphony Orchestra. EVERYBODY'S JICTURES. "Shadows of the Past," a remarkably fine drama by the famous Vitagraph Company, is the feature film on the current program ue at Everybody's Pictures at the old Opera House, in Manners Street. The drama contains an interesting plot, worked out to a splendid, climoXj and acted in a highly capable manner by some of the leading artists of the company. The scenes include a'motor-car smash, one of the most extraordinary things yet attempted in the picture world. Among a splendid lot of supporting items are a Keystone comedy, "Hard Cider" and several topical subjects of interest. I PEOPLE'S PICTURE PALACE. : Big business , is , the usual order at tha People's Picture Palace, in Mannera Street, and on the occasion of the ohange of programme yesterday the seating accommodation was taxed to its full capacity at nearly all sessions of the continuous show.' The new series was headed by a stirring drama of the stago, entitled "Tho Dancer's Vengeance," by tho famous Cines Company. The film contains some splendid scenes of Bohemian life, mid a gripping story, portraying a dancer's remarkable scheme of vengeance upon a faithless lover. The story opens on the stage of a popular variety theatre, in which Lucic 1 Simon, a celebrated premier dansouse, is giving a performance. Her lover is ttirting with another dancer, and this jonses jealousy in her mind, and she devises a cruel scheme, which ends in tho faithless lover standing his trial on 3. murder •'hares, Th« mauy Inmdimtj which load .Wt t<j tJbia goiat are intensely interest'

ing. "Broncho Billy's Leap," onp.. of the i supporting subjects/'' show * the popular Essanay artist, Billy Anderson, performing a remarkable feat of horsemanship.-' The stage coach belts and the sole occupant of. the-box seat at the time, a young girl,' is in imminent danger of death as the four horses career madly along a narrow road. BroncKo ■ J, gallops alongside, jumps from tile Baddle to the coach, brings the horses to a standstill, and saves the girl's lifel A recent edition of the Warwick Chronicle was screened to give a,, topical' .touch to the bill. The views' contained therein include various phases of re-; cruiting in England, German prisoners landing at Southend) eto. Other pictures are 'The Ordeal" (Selig drama), "Husband's Love" (Clarendon comedy), "1 Should Say So" (comedy), and 'Around Bettws-y-coed" (scenic). EMPRESS THEATRE. The new programme at the Empress Theatre sho>vn yesterdlay features a Selig drama entitled "The Conscience Fund." Joseph Hawke, a milliouairfc, has been defrauding the Customs, and his grown-up son and daughter discover this and endeavour to get their father to make a refund to the United States Conscience Fund, established for such revenue receipts. Hawke declines and the children leave the house, the daughter going into a convent, and the son becoming a club detective to ascsrtain_ the private character of thoso seeking to become members of exclusive clubs. Havke is nominated l tt> the Croesus Club, and the son tolls his sistere, who invades the club room and tells the committee that her father is not • eligible. Ha.vke is refused admission, and finally he yields to his conscience and refunds the huge sum of money due to tlie Goveniment. The son and daughter visit their father to induce him to refund an even larger amount, but find him dead 1 . The children hand over the dead man's fortune to the Conscience Fund. The other pictures include "The Topical. Budget" (war items), "St. Felin de Guiscoles" scenic), "The Peril" (spy. .drama), and ;coinic items.... . . : : MACMAHOiVS. THEATRE.; Having closed a. phenomenally successful, season, "The Parasite'.' will today give way at Macmahons . Theatre to the big Nordisk drama, .."The Temptations .of a Great City," a. three-act photo-play, dealing with, life in a gay 'city, the story of an only son's downfall, his ultimate repentance, and his rescue, from the prison gates by the. selfrabnegation and devotion of a pure woman. Tbo play comes fresh from exceptionally successful seasons in London, New York, and elsewhere, and is described as "a superb. story of the seamy side." In to-day's supporting change' of programme 'another , lengthy drama with a reputation as long as its three acts figures. This is entitled "The Naval Mystery," and it is an exciting and absorbing drama. Comedy is well catered for with "Film. Favourites" and "Lubrication Extraordinary," and in addition to other subjects there is a specially ;oomprehensive topical budget. • •