ENTERTAINMENTS

Dominion, Volume 8, Issue 2397, 1 March 1915, Page 7

ENTERTAINMENTS

HIS MAJESTY'S THEATRE. The Randell-Jackson English comedy entertainers, who have been specially eit-' gaged by the FWler.-Brennan management to appear in the new programme ity be presented at His Majtety s lucatre tonight, are. expected to fully justify the reputation which, has preceded them. lilj company comprise five members only, ana each is said to be gifted above .the ordinary. In Mr. Randell-Jackson and Hiss Florence West, the company is said to possess two vocalists 'of exceptional iiiGnt, whilst the humorous •numbers of Mr.. Herbert. Winter are reported to be distinctly good. Mr, George Nash and Mia? .May Windsor complete the personnel, and both are said to be full of vivacity and quaint humour. In th'e offerings of the Randell-Jackson Co. refinement is said to be paramount, and the concerted numbers are said to be very pleasing. Another new act to-night will be Mr. James Teddy, who will present a novel jumping act. Mr. Teddy is said to be the champion jumper of the world, he having won a number of international championships. Mann and Franks, two English .musical comedy artists, who appeared here somo time ago, have been ro-ongaeed to-pre-sent a new operetta entitled ' lhe.Candy Girl." The reappearance of Mr. Geo. Whitehead, the popular baritone,: *wiu doubtless be welcomed. This artist will appear in a number of new songs. New illusions will be offered by the Chinese magician, Wong Toy Sun, and the pro-' gramme will be completed by the inclu* eion of Mr. Mat Martin, dancing, come-?, dian, and the. Three Starrs, terpsichorean specialists.

KING'S THEATRE. . For the change of programme to-night the King's Theatre management are.presenting. an extra attraction in a .vivid war drama, produced by the Life Phpto Film "'Company, entitled "The OTdeal.: ; This film lifcs caused much controversy in the American papers owing to'an up-' plication for its withdrawal from.'Ham-. merstein'6 Opera House in' New Yort;on . account- of the pro-German feeling against the nature of the subject dis- ( played. Subsequently a protest meeting was held, and owing to pressure being brought bo bear the Commissioner of Licenses; requested. * the ■ Lifo Photo Film' Company to prohibit its screening, tho reason given being thai the action.'was suggestive of the alleged German atrocities during the Franco-Prussian .War. Jean Renyea and his sweetheart Helene are the central figures of the play. War is declared, and Helene forces Jean to regain at home. Jean's refusal to enlist staggers his father,' an : old soldier, who. eventually rouses his son's patriotic spirit, and he determines 'twixt lovo and' duty,* and, regardless of his sweetheart's pleadings, finally enlists. Events move so swiftly that the drama becomes' a whirlpool of exciting situations. The most thrilling moments of the play .arc when Jean refuses to reveal bis general's .position. He sees his mother, 1 father, sisi ter, and sweetheart tortured, and put Ito death separately. These moments have never been equalled for intensity, :"whil6 the end . of the story is said to .make one. gasp,, and—the wonderful surprise of all —the: ending is a happy one. The support-, ing items include an Edison farce, "Getting to the Ball Game," and "Maid from Sweden," a sparkling-Vitagraph comedy. The usual interesting war. news will be supplied by the Pathe Gazette. '

■ EVERYBODY'S. x A new series descriptive of scenfe in the life of cowboys of the Far West will be the feature film screened at Everybody's to-day at noon. "The California Roundup" is the annual gathering of America's cattlemen, where the cowboys compete for the prized title of champion, and the picture gives ai graphic idea of the dangers' ■that' beset the vigorous and virile riders of the Western plains in the subduing of quadruped outlaws. . To many the life of-a cowboy is only known through various exaggerated, views, but the biograph in this instance, it is stated, gives the actual daily duties. The lassoing arid taming of wild horses and buffaloes, •. j;he various duties undertaken' by the cowboys, the- death-defying deeds, and many other racy and interesting scenes will be portrayed. The picture, which, is 2500 ft. in length, also includes many humorouß incidents. Supporting the feature film is a Vitagraph comedy, "Polishing Up," in: which John Bunny and Flo. Finch have laughable parts, "Neidra the Dream Woman" is a fantastic picture of the Pygmalion and Galatea type; "Gaumont Graphic," featuring war topics; "High-' ways of. England,' a . beautiful scenic. Series; and the latest war topical. The orchestra, afternoon and night,, will play appropriate selections to the pictures.

I THE EMPRESS. THEATRE. , . /The Odalisque," billed aa a powerful' melodramatic Reliftnoe. Company "feature." .will bo the principal attraction of .the 1 new programme at (he Empress ■ Theatre oontmuous pictures to-day. The etory concerns % beautiful girl who possesses an inordinate desire _ for fine clothes, which brings her perilously close to temptation. Her admirer, a wily man of the world, continues to dazzle her with extravagant gifts and entertainments. Yet she has a humble and worthy lover who proves his worth, by-saving the girl when 6he is faced with real peril. The situations are said to he. strikingly convincing. Other attractions will be "The Topical Budget" (animated world's news),; "Eiffel Tower" (travel study), "Cursed by His Beauty" (Keystone comedy), "Shorty" (Edison drama), and "Brown's Cook" (Lubin comedy). The Empress full orchestra will icontributev new selgctions this evening. PEOPLE'S PICTURE PALACE. The change of programme at the Peor pie's Picture Palace to-day contains what is described as a fine comedy, "Sophie's Comedy," telling how Sophie comes iiito a fortnne, and is wooed by Slippery. Slim and Mustang Pete. "Baby Did' It" is another comedy, showing how a stranqe baby causes trouble between two lovers, "The 1 Price of Crime" will be kept on to-day for one day only, and to-morrow: will'be given the special film, "The Heroine of Hons." The love theme in the film is said to be of_ a , gripping kind, and the sentiment will be of the nature liked by picture patrons.: In "The. Heroine of Moris" the story tells of the unexpected arrival 'of the German Army at Mons. They commandeer the funds of the principal bank, but the proprietor hurries home. and conceals ' his private papers. Then tho Picnch arrive and occupy the town, and Captain Armand and the banker's daughter fall in love. The Germans make an attack in force, and again seize the town. CJaptain Armand is hidden by his fiancee, while she, disguised as a Uhlan officer, rides through the enemy to the 'British , lines, and brings relief to Mons. ORGAN RECITAL. The. City Organist (Mr. Bernard P. Page) gave another of his delightful organ Tecitals in the Town Hall on Saturday evening. The programme included two new items, which were greatly appreciated by the music-lovers 'present. The first of these was by the great Russian composer, Rebikoff, "Psychological Poem," Op. 11 (No. 6), which Mr. Papro rendered in a masterly manner. Especially interesting was tho composition for tho organ written by 1 Mr. Arthur Alexander, who is a native of St. Clair, Dunedin. This was a. fine study for the organ, and Mr. Pago made the most of tho passage. Included in the programme woro also some of the numbers (riven last week. The items given wore: "Sonatina in A Minor," Karg-Elert; "Pavarie," Byrd; "Canriocio Pastorale," IVescobaldi; "Musette," Daudrien; "Elegie," Claussman; Finale, Ce? Bar F-ranck.

ARTHUR ALEXANDER. • To-morrow night Mr. Arthur Alexander, the young New Zealand pianist, will nivo n pianoforte recital at the Town Hall Concert Chamber. Mr. Alexander's programme has been arranged to include all the great composers, a Fantasia in C Minor, by Bach; a Rhapsody, Brahms; Preludes, Blumonfeld; Chaoonno, RachBnsoni. This piece is a concert transcription (made by the famous pianist, Ferrucio Busoni) of the well-known Chaooijno, from tho «h Sonata for violin solo. In this mastorly arrangement one is ablo to appreciate the nobility of conception and grandeur of design of this work in a manner impossible of. realisation when it is performed on tho violin, howeTer well played. Nowhere lias tho original violin part suffered anv other alteration than that of pitch, though -of necwsity tho harmony supporting it Bas been strengthened; hut this lias been carried out etrictly on Bach line;;. The box plan is on view at the British Piano Company. 05 Willis SI root.