ENTERTAINMENTS

Dominion, Volume 8, Issue 2409, 15 March 1915, Page 7

ENTERTAINMENTS

THE COURT CARDS. With each change of programme "The Court Cards," the talented band of musicians at present at the Grand Opera House, only serve to better the very favourable impression they made i, on Wellington audiences last week. So it was that on Saturday night, when they gave a new..selection of itoms to k a crowded house, the audience showed is their appreciation by insistently demanding double and oven triplo enes cores-. The ensemble singing of the company is especially line. The charni--8 iug little comedicime of the company, s Miss Maude Fane, was the most popu- „ lar performer of the company oil Satv urday night. Her number "Gertie" I was sung charmingly, and responding to an insistent recall she gave "The : Maiden With the Naughty Twinkle In p Her Eye." Mr. Edgar Warwick, "The r Joker," was encored and encored again. Mr. George Titchener's humour, as y well as his smile, also created laughter * loud and long. Mr. Sydney Manuer- ' ing, the tenor, gave a number of en- ' joy able vocal items with effect.' His singing of "The Trumpeter" was particularly fine. Mr. George Graystone, ' with his powerful' bass voice, and Miss Renee Maude also contributed enjoyl ably to the programme. The popular violiniste, Miss Wiilifred Mitchell, was ' received enthusiastically. The second i half of the programme was featured by a hunting scene, in which all the mem-. ® hers of tho company seated round a table rendered various items. The " work of Mr. Albert Keats at the piano was responsible in no small degree for I the general success of the performance.

HIS MAJESTY'S THEATRE.

I The star attraction of the new programme to be presented by the Fullerj Brennan management at His Majesty's Theatre to-night will be Piquo, a b French down, who is said to have earn- . Ed a big reputation in England and [ America. This artist's feats on the horizontal bar are said to begin where the average gymnast's leave off, and are all done at Buch high speed that it is hard to realise how difficult they are. Although dressed as a clown, he prefers not to indulge in verbal humour, but to content himself with comic gymnastics and "business," which is reported to be of a very high order. Another important first appearance will be that of Geo. F. Ford, who will submit a ventriloquial entertainment, a feature of. which is that the performer does not use the orthodox collection of dolls, but gives his act with the aid of only one figure, which is named '"Erb," and which is said to be provocative of much mirth. Mons. Poincaire, the talented whistler and mimic, will submit several : new whistling solos . and imitations: Mann and Franks, tho popular musical 1 comedy duo, will appear in another of ' their original 6kotches. Max Martin, : an eccentric dancing comedian, has been re-engaged for another week, and will submit a number of new humorous songs. Tho last nights of the RandellJaokson Company are announced, and this most talented combination will'appear in an entire change of programme. The new bill will be repeated nightly during the week, and a matinee will be given on Saturday. I

THE KING'S. •

For the new programme being presented at the King's _ Theatre' to-night is another fine production by the famous Players Co., introducing America's not ed actress Jane Grey in an adaption of Ohanning Pollock's story, "The Little Gray Lady." The story, it is stated, has been exceptionally well-filmed, and holds from start to finish, through sheer strength of plot, and depends in no measure on • the 'Mdst of the scenes' ate taken' 1 in the heart of "Washington, U.6.A;, and were secured with the substantial- assistance of the Government. ; Jane Grey', as Anna Grey, "the little gray lady," isa quiet, high-principled'young woman, who falls in love with 1 Perry Oarlyle, a weak young clerk, whose own extravagant tastes, induced by endeavouring to please Ruth Jordon, have plunged him into both debt and'dissatisfaction at his lot. He finds his position in the Treasury Department enables him to obtain possession of pieces of mutilated money, and that by pasting them together he :an induce tradesmen to accept them for good bills, and so add to his inlome. However, the Secret Service nen get on his trail, and it is only )wins* to the self-sacrifice of Anna that 16 is _ saved from the' consequences of lis crime. Ruth discards him, and he realises that her affection was inspired mly by mercenary motives, while Anna oves him for himself alone, and he inds for her a love as deep and lasting is her own. There are moments of the nost tense suspense while Anna is con:ealing Perry from the police, and when ihs confronts Ruth, and struggles with ler for_ the evidence which will clear >r convict Perry, the situation is tronendous. Other features on the programme are: "India's Reply," which gives some highly-interesting views of '.he Indian troops now fighting at the par; "The Wrong Flat" (Vjtagrapn :omedy), "Japanese American Fishing," bowing some interesting methods in he fishing industry; "Pathe War- Ga;ette," and "Out Again and In Again," omedy.

"DOUGH AND DYNAMITE."

At noon to-day at Everybody's comaences the screening of the new prolamine, which is headed by what the aanagement desoribe as the greatest of 11 Keystone comedies, "Dough and ).ynamite"-~one half-hour of hilarity. Jharles Chaplin, the inimitable comeian, has a very big part in this comdy, and he displays his varied talents 0 a laughter-shrieking degree. Chapin, in this instance, is employed in! baker's shop where a strike occurs, le volunteers to fill the baker's posiion. His primitive methods of mixing he dough and the artless way in which e spreads it over waitresses, assistants, and the proprietor, causes no end f fun, but the dough dies not rise ntil the strikers put a plug of dynalite into the oven and the last one ees of it is a .rapid rise, ,as. the funny aker lifts himself out of tie 'sticky lass. Supporting subjects include: His Chorus • Girl Wife" (Edison rama), "Maria's Sacrifice" (Vitagraph rama), "Gaumont War Graphic," and 3veral other splendid subjects. THE EMPRESS THEATRE. The Vitagraph Company's "feature" rama "The Reward of Thrift" will be resented at the Empress Theatre coninuous pictures to-day and fo-night. fed Carney, a structural iron worker, irifty and industrious, while employed 1 the construction of a huge "skyjraper," is rescued from a critical sitution by a fellow-worker, Bill Lafferty. Ed expresses his utmost gratitude to ill for his action. Later on, • howrer, an insulting remark passed by ill causes Ned to knock him down, ill seeks revenge, and in this he is rompted by an evil acquaintance, Red rogan. When Ned is working in a risson, Bill and' Grogan shut off • the ir-pressure. Their-plot fails, and a leasing climax ensues. Other-items l the programme include: "Fatty's onali Day" (Keystone farcc-comcdy), A Storm at Sea" (Kalem .drama), Tho Topical Budget," and "Tho Cou3ii Collector" (comedy).

SUNDAY CONCERT. . g

A concert took tho place last night of 0 tlw ordinary speech meeting of the Social Democratic Party, usually- held in Everybody's Theatre on Sunday even- 0 infis. Tho concert was rather' better attended than tho meetings ordinarily arc. The Waterside Workers' Band played selections, while the theatre was. s filling, prior, to the commencement of r the .restllar. prcsramtne, , Vm-il. andtte W.m .

Frieda. Walter, Mr, Eric Meier, Mr. H. J. .Wilson, ajid Mr, Syd. Gordon. "THE INDIAN." At the People's Picture Palace to-day will be presented a great lilaw and Erlanger drama, entitled "The Indian." This ia said to contain more actors than ever yet shown in one film, and is full of thrilling scenes. The story tells of early American settlement days, and the fights the settlers had with the Indjans. .An attack made ty' the Indians on one settlement is revenged by a counter-attack, from- which only "War Eagle" and his two sons escape. One of the sons is found by Lieutenant Sterling, an American officer, who takes the lad and trains-him. In after the lieutenant, now a general, bestows concessions'on ; two men, who turn out to be rogues, and who betray the confidence of the Indians. In an actibn which 'shows' how they are punished, the Indian is killed, and dies in the arms of his benefactor's daughter, who promises him that justice shall be done to the Indians. The supporting films are described as of a high order, making the full programme right up to the standard production at this popular house of entertainment.

THE.PLIMMEB-HALL COMPANY.

There is not much doubt that the Week commencing on Saturday next is ■to be a notable one in the history of the-stage in Wellington. There have been theatrical companies, who have given the profits of an odd night, and perhaps have supplemented-it with, a street collection for one or other of the various funds, but the PlimmerHall big idea of giving the whole of the profits of a ten weeks' tour df New Zealand is an undertaking which reflects infinite 'credit on its originators, and incidentally makes it incumbent on eyery playgoer in the community to do his or her part. When they are offered such plays as '"Lady Windermere's Fail" and ' 'The Mummy and the Huinming Bird" capably presented at ordinary priceß, there is not much doubt thkt the public will do its part. "Lady Windermere's Fan" has recently been revived both in London and New York, and in each instance the critics have remarked on those qualities inherent in the play which place it on a plane so far above the 1, best and brightest' of modern comedies. "What plays can Sutr'o, Pinero, or Henry Arthur Jones show that are comparable to this ripest blossom of Wilde's genius?" asked one New York critic, in noticing the Margaret Anglin production. The answer is "Nothing." The opening night—Saturday nextpromises to be a memorable occasion. The Right Hon. the Prime Minister dnd Sir' Joseph Ward, and other Ministers of the Crown who are in towb, His Worship the Mayor,'" will be present to mark their accord of the ten weeks' theatrical campaign in aid of the Belgian Fund.

ORGAN RECITAL. Saturday's organ recital at the Town Hall was very well attended, and the musical treat provided for the audience was received with great enthusiasm. The programme included two favourite orchestral numbers: "Finale," from the "Pathetic Symphony," one of the last works of Tschaikovsfcy, and "The Entry of the Gods into Walhalla," taken from "Das Rheingold," one of Wagner's great cycle "The Ring of the Niebelungen." In both numbers, the City Organist (Mr. Bernard F. Page) was heard at his best. He gave a delightful rendering of the Prelude from Corelli's 9th Sonata for the Violin, the audience insisting on a repetition of tlus item. The young English composer, Healey M'illan, was represented oil the programme by an "Epilogue," to which Mr. Page did full justice. The Other items were the beautiful Prelude, Fugue, and Variation (op, 18), by Cesar. Franck; and a Sonata for the organ by Salome, of whose many organ ijorks this is generally accepted as one of tho most interesting.