ENTERTAINMENTS

Dominion, Volume 8, Issue 2404, 9 March 1915, Page 3

ENTERTAINMENTS

THE COURT CARDS. The Court Cards led off with a "full house" for last night, and as they made applause the "routine" of the evening it can ba safely. said that they were even more successful than on the opening night. The Court Cards are really one of the finest, if not the finest, costume comedy companies that has visited the Dominion, iiach and every member of the company works conscientiously towards the success of the evening's entertainment, and the result is two and a half hours of music and comedy of a most enjoyable type. The joker of the company, Mr. Edgar Warwick, deals out a refreshing type of humour, while the fair little comedienne, Miss Maude Fane, is remarkably successful with her numbers. Mr. Sydney Mannering, the tenor,, was most successful -last night, and promises to be one of the most popular members of the "Card 6." The other members of the company, Misses Winifred'• Mitchell, and Eenee Maude, and Messrs. George Titchener, Albert K.eats, and George Graystone are all artißts in their lino.

A complete change of programme will be presented by the'_ Court .Cards tomorrow night. It will he featured by a charming old English operetta, entitled "Powder and Patches." The costuming of this is said to be very fine. HIS MAJESTY'S THEATRE. At His Majesty's Theatre the Randell Jackson Concert Company continue to provide a highly delectable entertainment, comedy and song being combined in the happiest and most refined manuer. If this clever combination..were appreciated at their' full value there would be no unoccupied seats. Mr. Bandell Jackson selects his songs with the same good taste with which ho 6ings them. Last evening he introduced a charming song in "The Floral Dance," a ballad enlivened with the sunshine and rhythm of an old English country dance. When encored, he sang the coon song 'The Cute Litt'e Feller." Miss May Winter 'gave a comic idea of the London "slavy," and, with Mr. George Nash, brought up memories of Bank Holiday at 'Appy 'Ampstead in the coster duet "Loverly." The eccentric comedy of Mr. Herbert Windsor, is in great favour, and his disquisition on modern singers (with examples) raised gales, of the heartiest laughter. Miss Florence West I sang charmingly, and the concerted numbers in particular, "The Hoodoo Man" and the finale "Mandy" were well, up to the high' standard set by this combination.' In the second part the audience, was introduced to Fred Dyer, the singing boxer, .a prize-ring favourite who is said to have never been beaten at his own weight. On account of a cold, the' boxer's voice was not in the be6t of trim, but the . character sketches of a dude and a cockney at a prize-fight' were capitally done. Later lie appeared in his boxing kit; and went through. some interesting and original exercise's and indulged in some humorous shadow sparring. Later in the season Dyer' hopes to obtain permission from the proper authorities to give an exhibition bout with a local exponent of the art. .Monsieur I'oincare, who imitates birds and animals with amazing fidelity, was recognised as an old favourite, who formerly appeared under other national. auspices. •' Saltley and his- assistant are adept wire-walkers, and both of them are clever, if conventional..- Mann and Franks presented a lively burlesque sketch, Mr. George' 'Whiteside ' sang ballads in, which; he has become popular, and Mr. Max Martin repeated his medley of :ragtimo wrags and danced with exhilarating vitality. THE KING'S THE ATRE! I Adventures with' leopards, leiocioue lions, and other wild beasts of the African- jungle, are portrayed in the Selig phSto-play, "In-Tune with the Wild " which is 'the feature of tho current picture programme at the King's Theatre. The initial screening last was witnessed by a full house, and u.e film was watched with interest. It is a well-connected stoi'v as lold by kinematograph, and'he scenery k quii'c beyond that on which tho common run of picture drama is built. -The «ential figure in the plot is ilobo.-t Wayne, an English missionary <n Centra;' Africa. On receiving advice that ne has teen left a legacy of £50 i ij r 'o., Wajne ftlr out for the coast, accompanied by bis wife and infant dauber. On the way he is ambushed by J'ostile natives and severely wounded in the head. llis wife and child escape to the coast, and proceed to England, bv.', Wayne, whose injury has affected his bruin, winders without reason or -fear into the forest and olives with the wild beasts for seventeen years. ■ Then photogroons uf the "wild creature of the junsie l ' are exhibited in England; a party is formed to rescue him, and .eventually he is itiBtored, to Bsnity and civilisation, A supporting item produced at lather an appropriate time gives a view of the German Fleet. It will bo remembered that Mr. Asquith, when, recently referring to the farcical German blockade, asked'the pointed question, 'Where arc those ships (the German blockading vessels)?" The management of the Kind's Theatre now supplies an answer' uv showing the Kaiser's fleet skulking in Kiel Harbour, whence, as Mr. Winston Churchill has remarked, they will probably have to be dug out like rats. Latest war news is chronicled 1 in the Pathe War Gazette. Other items are "The New Stenographer," ta entirely new production by the Vitagraph Company, featuring Flora Finch and Lilian Walker in a farce-burlesque of irresistible humour; "When Kings Were Law," an A.B. drama; "Suspended Ceremony," a Beauty comedy; and "Through Baahdebery," a delightful scenic. Music is supplied by the King's Symphony Orchestra. '

EVERYBODY'S THEATRE. A story, the like of which has teen told by various fiction writers since the war began, about the machinations of German spies, iB related by the kinema machine at Everybody's -Theatre just now. ; The title of the story is "On His Majesty's Service." Some of the principal actors in tlie thrilling drama are in fact "on His Majesty's service," but the others most distinctly are not; These latter are German spies, men who have waxed rich and fat in England as merchants, but who are all the time full of hatred for the English. In their office they employed a typiste, a lady who happened, not quite by accident, to be m the pay or the English secret service. But a'l this the Germans knew, and before they set about destroying other things, they made, as they thought, quite sure of the typiste. When the war broke out the British troops were mobilised with great rapidity, and for a day or so there were few trains on certain. lines that did not carry soldiers. On destroying a bridge, and thereby wrecking a train and sending to their death a few hundred soldiers, these Germans had 'set their heart. They bound the typiste and drugged'her, and left a benign looking old servant to keep guard over her with a most businesslike revolver. The sentry was decoyed from his post at the bridge by the despicable trick of an old woman, who threw a doll into the river and screamed that it was her child. Of course the Soldier man could not resist that appeal, and he discovered his mistake too late. While he was away the Germans had placed their bomb suro enough. Then the English secret service men began to earn their pay. They 'found out about the drugged and bound typiste and released her, and they found out about the bomb and ed that. While all this was happening the Germans had a crowded half-hour or so, out of which no; one escaped alive. In lighter vein is a Keystone comedy called "Gentleineu of Nerve." The "gentleman" most in evidence is Charles Chaplin. A 6 a mnttor of course, and o,uite projjerly, as ho w&s'having a_

(day out. he had Mabel Normand with him. Tne film has no more plot in it than an up-to-date revue, but the gentlemen did show just a little nerve. It Is a highly amusing sketch. The Gaumont War Graphic and a special war topical film showing the German Fleet enug in the Kiel Canal are both interesting, "THE MILLIONAIRE BRIGAND." A film unique in the annals of kinematography was presented at the People's Picture Palace yesterday. It was entitled "The Millionaire Brigand," and the whole 4000 ft. teemed with sensational incidents. The film was produced by the famous Aquila Company, and it was of a strikingly romantic character. The story was drawn round an old millionaire in a castle in Europe, 'i'ho millionaire had a somewhat wayward son, in love with his beautiful ward, and everything promised to go on to a happy ending till the deceitful secretary of the millionaire decided to get his master's money. The son and tha ward stood in his way, but by the aid of a dancer he had some stolen bank-notes placed in the son's coat at a ball. With this incriminating evidence against him, the son lied and joined a band of brigands, as their captain. The old millionaire had a "stroke," .and lay as one dead. This all suited the secretary's plans, for he proposed to force marriage with the rich ward. As the old' man was lying in 6tate aided the sick man, and then sought his eyes, hut the secretary clamped him back in his coffin. A faithful servant aided the sick man, then sought .his son, who brought the brigand band to attack the castle. The secretary was killed just as he was forcing the girl to marry him. His dead Tjody was passed off as the brigand chief, and everybody lived happily afterwards. The film was one full of dramatic force, and the special orchestral selections aided the scenes. The supporting films are interesting. "The Brigand Millionaire" will be presented again to-day. THE EMPRESS THEATRE. The principal subject of the change of programme introduced at the Empress Theatre yesterday is the Lubin Company's feature dramg, "On Suspicion." According to the plot, Maud and her fiance, John Maddox, disagree on the question as to the desirability cf the "third degree" method adopted by the American police. Maddox is a district attorney, and believes in the efficacy of the "third degree." Jlaud condemns the practice. She subsequently receives a letter from a wayward brother requesting her to meet him at a certain hotel. Maud keeps the • appointment, and on the same day a jewellery thief and his female accomplice rob the hotel; Maud is arrested. She is subjected to the "third degree," and finally, when tortured beyond endurance, she claims to have committed the crime. later on, however, the real thieves are caught, and when the attorney learns the facts he changes his views upon the "third degree." An up-to-date war topical, "Eclair Journal," depicts scenes in and around Ypres. A young-lady who bravely seizes a , railway locomotive, pursues a passenger train, and prevents it. from meeting a runaway engine, is the heroine of 'The Girl at the Throttle." Other pleasurable items are "Making Steel Rails," "He Wanted' Chickens," and "A Midsummer Love Tangle." The series will be shewn again to-day and to-night. , "A STUDY IN SCARLET." A stirring drama of . love, hate, and revenge, based on Sir Arthur Conan Doyle's Sherlock Holmes story "A Study in Scarlet," is at present thefeature of the programme at Shortt's Theatre. The story begins in ' the Western States with a train load of Mormons under Brigham Young crossing the wastes of Utah. They pick up in the desert the survivors of a party of English pioneers—John Ferrier and a little baby girl. • The latter are compelled to accept the Mormon creed, and in Salt J Lake City John Ferrier prospers. : The little girl grows" up to womanhood and is given against her will in marriage to a Mormon. On her wedding day her lover, Jefferson Hope, dashes into the church, but is overpowered and cast into a dungeon. Lucy falls dead at her husband's feet. Jefferson' escapes, vowing vengeance on the Mormons. He pursues Enoch Drebber and John Strangerson across continents, and tracks them down to London. There he compasses his revenge but is hjmself secured through the; investigations of Sherlock Holmes. It is an excellent story, finely portrayed. The supporting programme is a strong one.

BENE QtJEREE. Miss. Rene Queree's recital \in the large Town Hall on Thursday promises to be an unqualified success. • Since her last appearance in . Wellington, some three years ago, Miss Queree has made wonderful progress in her art under her tutor, the world-famed Madame Carreno. A feature of Miss Queree's programme will he the last two movements from Grieg's A Minor Kouzert, a composition which requires playing of a high emotional order, instinct as it is with poetry and passion, and the strange rugged rhythms so peculiar to the great Norwegian poet. Her other contributions to the- programme will include selections from Bach, Schumann, Chopin,' Liszt, and three short Norwegian pieces by Signe Lund. Miss Queree will be assisted by Mrs. J. A; Rosewarne, the Napier contralto, and Mr. Hamilton Hodges, baritone, who will introduce a charming group of French songs, including Tschaikowsky's "Les Larmes," and two_ of Reynaldo Halm's modern French writings, "La Pais" and "Le Souvenir d'Avoir Chante." The box plan is now open at the Bristol Piano Company.

'FLORENCE YOUNG BOX' PLANS. To-morrow morning, at the IVjttol Piano Company's warehouse, the . box plans for the forthcoming season (ccmmencing on Saturday next at Ihe Town Hall Concert Chamber), of Miss Florence Young's Company will be opened. Miss Young aid her company have been touring the Dominion since December last, and have everywhere met with flattering receptions. "The C'imax" is described as a bright comedy, in which character and sentiment. aro of u-'oro importance than incident. i'he principals (Miss Florence Young and Messrs Reginald Roberts, Claude l'antock, and Edmund 1 Sherras) contribute eongß during the course of the' play, Miss Young in particular having some fine numbers. The Concert Chamber stage ia being specially, fitted for the season.