ENTERTAINMENTS

Dominion, Volume 8, Issue 2391, 22 February 1915, Page 3

ENTERTAINMENTS

"THE GLAD EYE." | There will bo a special matinee performance of "The Glad Eye" at the Grand Opera House on Wednesday afternoon. Mr. Beaumont Smith has decided upon this course owing to the tremendous success of the laughing 'play which is to be succeeded on Wednesday night by "The Chaperon. "THE CHAPERON." Any young man who accepts the position of a professional chaperon in a fashionable restaurant is liable to 'have adventures, and Hilary Chester was no exception when he agreed to be the .third party at a dinner which Christopher Pottinger, M.P., arranged for the entertainment of Rosamond Gaythorn. What befell the trio will be told in "The Chaperon" which will be. presented at the Grand Opera House for the final three nights of 'the present Beaumont Smith season. Hilary Chester will be played by Tom Shelford, Christopher Pottinger by Frank Bradley, and Rosamond by Ethei Dane._ Miss Dane's part in the new laughing play is that taken by her in the original London production, and gives her a great deal more scope than she has in ''The Glad Eye," as the fasoinating Kiki from the fur shop. "The Chaperon" box plan opens this morning at the Bristol. ,

"SEVEN LITTLE AUSTRALIANS." Cecil Haines will be reintroduced to her Wellington friends on Saturday next at the matinee in Beaumont Smith's important production of his successful novelty play, "Seven Little Australians." Cecil will be Suds, one of the unruly seven, and the chief thorn in tho side of the old doctor's housekeeper, 'Bertha. All < who have read Ethel. Turner's famous stories, "Miss Bobbie" and "Seven. Little Australians" know all about Pip, Dumps, Suds, Bunty, Nell, Baby, and the red-haired little heroine who cut off her curls to get rid of her bad temper. For over eight weeks ''Seven Little Australians" proved a phenomenal draw in Sydney, and at the conclading performance the clever youngsters were loaded with gifts from friends on the other side of the footlights. There are five adult characters in the comedy-drama which is in four acts, tho chief" part being played by Harrington Reynolds, who was so successful as Father Kelly in "The Rosary." The company will arrive to-mor-row by the Moeraki and are sure, to receive a great reception. The box plan for the season of six days and nights will open to-day at the Bristol.

ORGAN RECITAL. Mr. Bernard F. Page, the City Organist, gave an unusually interesting recital at the Town Hall on Saturday when an audience of _ average size attended. Mr. Page invests his work with: a dignity, smoothness, and refinement that reflects the true artist. The programme was delectably varied. It opened with the Prelude to Act I .of "Tristan and Isolde," Wagner's great operatic version of an ages-old legend— the story of two affinitive who ■ risked all for love.- The opera has been called the ''Romeo and Juliet" of music.- Wagner is said to have reached th© zenith of his powers in this work, and the _ transcription of. the first act Prelude in which the spirit of the tragedy is etherealised by tho most exquisite music. .Following tho Prelude was playod a brackot of old-time .compositions, a "Pavane" by William Byrd, who was organist of Lincoln from i 563 to 1569, and afterwards succeeded Robert Parsons as Gentleman of the Chapel Royal. He composed much music for 'the virginal or spinet (one of the fore-runners-of tho piano), and this graceful Old-World dance is' one of such compositions. The second item of the bracket was the "Capriccio Pastoralo" of Frescobaldi, a distinguished seventeenth century organist and composer, and who, in 1615, was organist at St. Peter's, Rome. It.is said that his first performance at St. Peter's attracted an audience of 30,000.' The' "Capriccio Pastorale" is a light and graceful composition of unquestionable charm. 'Die third number was "Musette," by Dandrieu (1684-1740), also a pretty measure with an air of lavender and eld lace. Then 111'. Page oame to the might}' moderns, and gave a fine interpretation of Cesar Franck's "Fantasia .in C," and Glazounov's distinctive "Prelude and Fugue in D Major,!'. which the City Organist lias, almost succeeded' in popularising, in Wellington. KargElert was represented by -one'of .ins glowing Pastels (Pastorale,' recitative, and chorale), and "Harmonies.. du Soir," a iittle geni. of quiet ..pulsating harmony, beautifully : conceived,, 'and very charmingly played. ;Tlie ' final chorale'was jumbled into a. glorious riot of riot which obscured all definition and dimmed the sense of the music—owing to the defective acoustics of the hall. All -enjoyment of Wolstenliolmo's tumultuous "Finale in B Flat" was qualified by the battling echoes within the hall.

HIS MAJESTY'S THEATRE. Several'new features will'be introduced into the new programme to be presented' by the Fuller-Brennan Vaudeville Company at His Majesty's Theatre tonight. Prominent amongst the newcomers is Wong Toy Sun, a Chinese magician, who is said to present one of the most remarkable entertainments that has toured the world. • Another prominent first appearance will ,be that of Max Martin, an eccentric dancing comedian, whose work is spoken of as. being bright and fresh. Williams and Warner, the popular comedy musicians, will renew their-acquaintance with a Wellington audience and present a unique instrumental act, in which is introduced some classical violin playing. Mr. Eddy Martyn, the clever American descriptive dancer, will .reappear in some new impersonations. The supporting company is a-particularly strong one, arid includes the Dental Riskits, iron-jawed marvels, ivho, in addition to. their unique feats on the trapeze, are also superintending a rope-climbing competition. Cash prizes are being donated by the management for this contest, which is open to all who car'- to enter, and which should prove highly amusing. The Three Starrs, song and dance artists," have been retained for a few nights, and tlie Magpies, whose last nights are announced, will appear in a complete change of prograirmo. The bill will run for six nights -und a matinee will b'e given on Saturday.

OHABLES CHAPLIN AT THE KING'S. The very popular ..Keystone comedian, Charles. Chaplin, will appear on the screen at tho King's Theatre to-night in a top-notcli comedy entitled . "Hjs Musical Career." This Key-stone film is tho' very latest arrival in New Zealand, and is said to be one of the best yet produced by this notable company. This comedy is the last word in Keystones, and Charles Cliaplin shows himself equal to the occasion. He is out of work; lie presonts himself at a piano establishment, and gets taken on as a pianomover. He then gives- an exhibition of liis tremendous strength, and he and another employee are told to deliver a piano at tlie home of Mr. Rich, and take one away from the house of Mr. Poor. Of course Charles gets the addresses mixed, and after several excruciatingly funny scenes, both piano movers land in the river, with the piano, on top of them. In addition to this comedy, a 'fine drama by the Famous Players' Company, "The Redemption of David Corson" is being presented, featuring William Farman, _ the eminent American dramatic star, in the story of a man's desperate struggle with himself, and his final triumph. Other items on tho programme are "Officer I Kate," ii carefully constructed anti- ! suffragette oomedy, aad "Summer in tho

North'," il finely coloured film. The usual interesting war .topicals make tlie programme a. very acceptable one.

EVERYBODY'S PICTURES,

The new bill to be screened at Everybody's to-day at noon will be headed by a 4000 feet drama, of social life which depicts the ingratitude of the world to one who rightly or wrongly oversteps ''he social barrier. "Through the Valley of Shadows" was written, produced, 'and,the' principal part of: Alice Cross, the neglected w.ife, acted by Miss Florence Turner, the kinema emotional actress. Dr. Cross, a wealthy and clever surgeon, is absorbed in his professional career' and unintentionally neglects his" wife 'and she becomes enamoured by a fascinating' adventurer, Who' eventually deserts her; Hard times are her portion and the scorn of 'the social world'is directed at her in her efforts to .once again secure a-place in tlie butterfly existence of the; modern world. The tenso situations which develop during the action of the play create an atmosphere which' rivets Jihe close attention the audience. The production is magnificently handled,' the costumes worn are the latest creation of Messieurs Worth, of Paris and London. Somo excellent exclusive pictures sup-, port tho star item, among which' may be mentioned "Scenes in Broken Hill,' when two aliens held up a picnic train and somo of the passengers'were killed; "Zio the Dodger," a Keystone comedy witli Roscoe Arbuckle in the cast; some war iopicals of recent events, and the "Gaumont War Gazette." The orchestra during the afternoon and night plays appropriate selections to each picture soreened.

PEOPLE'S PICTURE 'PALACE. . The new programme to be presented at the People's Picture Palace to-da.v will contain "some pictures of'exceptional merit) headed by a Hepworth draina, entitled "The Forsaken." This will be 1800 feet in length, and ever y sceno will be of enthralling interest. Another exceptional film will ...be '"The Loyalty of Jumbo'' (Selig). "The story is that of Paul Kruser, employed in South Africa, in creating a'homo in the wilderness, a faithful elephant; named Jumbo, who helps him in the handling of the heavy timber, and'.'' hislittle daughter, .Lilian. Hostile'.Kaffirs; surround the placo and Mrs. Kruser 1 seizes the rifles and rushes to thei miniature log cabin to protect her little daughter who is tliere at play, till Jumbo brings help'. Other good films will bo ."Nightmare of Special Constablo," "Whaling," "Domestic Pets" and Warwick Chronicle. ' . •:'*