ENTERTAINMENTS

Dominion, Volume 8, Issue 2423, 31 March 1915, Page 3

ENTERTAINMENTS

NELLIE STEWART AS "DU BARRY" Scenic magnificence and gorgeous cosI.liming arc said to bo the outstanding features in tho groat historical play in which Miss Nellie Stewart will appear at ' the Grand Opera House next Saturday evening. Several exciting episodes oi' the drama occur at Versailles, and in the fourth act there is a beautiful tableaux of the gardens at the entrance to the palace, with the facade ol" a wing ablaze with lights. Here, Jennettc, a« l'olly, Queen of France, entertains the King by causing a monument, at the magic sound'of a gong, to split in two. revealing little amourettes with their bows and arrows, and a canopied throne to which she and King Louis ascend. Her clowns at last make the musing monarch smile, and the courtiers dance an old-time stately minuet. Here Miss Stewart has her great scene, in which the Count du Barry tries to betray the hiding-place of her, lover, while Jeanotte drowns his voice with furious crics of "Stop that man talking." A terrible examination by the cruel, relcntlesu King, who reminds her of "the kind of death" he reserves for traitors, leads lo an emotional climax, in which the distracted woman is led off deliriously exclaiming, "Vou can never tear him from my heart. He is there, there, there." In this great scene, Hiss Stewart is said to rise to the highest pitch of dramatic intensify, revealing herself as an actress of the strongest emotional gilts. "Du Barry" will bo played for six nights with a matinee on Easter Monday. The plans are at the Bristol. HIS MAJESTY'S THEATRE. At His Majesty's Theatre the extremely versatile Henri French heads the bill. This amusing performer gives a series of impersonations of grout masters conducting their own works, and in "make-up" and mannerism the performance is said to bo very faithful. W'm. Sumner quenches the public's qfcrcnic thirst for rag-time ditties, and Merlyn and his faithful "Archibald" make excellent fun out of the common or garden magiciaJi, showing in an amusing manner how a number of wellknown illusions arc "faked." The programme also includes James Teddy, the champion juniper; Elton Fox, a*\ery clever smoke-glass caricaturist; 1511 a Avilie, Meredith and Adnil, Williams and Warner, and Jack Thomson. KING'S THEATRE. At the King's Theatre this week is being shown a very interesting and exciting war play, entitled "The Fringe of War," presented by the London Film Company, in a most graphic and convincing manner. The present war has created a vast vogue for pictures that . brea,tlio the military spirit, and "On , tho, Fringe of War" is one of the best yet turned out. _ Another picture which ' deals directly with the realities of iu tual warfare is "The Battle of the Sand Dunes," in which German Uhlans and Belgian Lancers are seen manoeuvring on the coastal sands of blazing Belgium. Pretty Mary Pickford appears in "Honevmooners," and the Patlie War Gazette shows a series of new snaps front the front and approximate thereto. A novelty has been introduced into the programme at the King's Theatre this week, in tile performance by Miss Ruby M'Donald,'of Svendsen's "Romance in G" for tho violin. It is related of Svendsen that whilst studying at Leipsic tinder Reinecke that lie composed an octet for strings, which was played with great success by the students. Reinecke desired to see it, but declined to suggest any improvements in so good a work, saying in conclusion, snmewhat sarcastically, "The next thing will be a symphony, 1 suppose." Barely a week had elapsed befoic Svendsen laid his symphony in D before the aston-ished-conductor. Miss M 'Donald, who produces a full round tone, plays the "Romance" with much feeling. EVERYBODY'S PICTURES. "The Romance of David Garrick" is tlio star attraction at tho popular Manners Street picture theatre. This picture is one of tho well-known comedy "David Garrick," wherein it will be remembered Garrick enters into a com>aet with Alderman Ingot to cure his •.lighter of her infatuation for himself, 'tore ho realises that the young lady the one who has smitten his heart. iui to his pledge, however, he re>irs to the Alderman's home, and by .etending. drunkenness almost cures no girl, when the truth conies out, and the happy pair are united. Other good pictures at Everybody's are: "Shot Guns That Kick" (a Keystone comedy), "The Flying Freight's Captive," and "A Study in Feet." PEOPLE'S PICTURE PALACE. Dickens' stories are peculiarly adaptable to the kinomatograph. Every character is so clearly outlined, and the stories are so universally familiar and well-loved, that the panorama of. any one of them is of absorbing interest. That is the case with the line picture of "Tho Cricket oil the Hearth," one of the most appalling of Dickens' shorter stories. Another more topical picture shows the installation procession in connection with the investiture of Egypt's new Sultan with tlio New Zealand troops in the forefront. EMPRESS THEATRE. Should anyone want a good hearty laugh. they could not do better than witness tho giddy exploits of Mabel Normand and "Fatty" (of the films) in "Sea Nymphs," at tho Empress Theatre. These two famous Keystone fun-makers are at their best in this picture and the shrieks of laughter they raise are the best testimony to their powers as laughter-makers. Another

excellent picturo with an instructional tendency is one illustrating the making of motor-cars. LEO. JAN, AND .\iISCIIEL ' CHEIi.N'IAVSKY. Leo, Jan, and Mischel C'hcrniav«ky, violinist, pianist, and 'cellist, will visit Wellington on April 17, 2:2, 21, All music lovers in 'act even a wider publio th:Pi is implied in music lovers, will no doubt hail with delight these sturdy young Kussii'.n artists. It is interesting in nolo that the first war fund was started by the Cheniiavtkys in Brisbane, and the first donation received by the Mayor of that city was lrom them. During their visit to Brisbane they gave one concert in aid of the fund, which is now larger than the war lunds of any of the other States. Leo, Jan, and Micohel Oherniavsks' lia7e had an enormously successful tour in Australia. The Now Zealand tour will he a quick one, as tlie Oherniavskys are due shortly '-o open in the United States of America. "THE MESSIAH." The performance of Handel's "Messiah" by the combined choir of the Taranaki Street Methodist and St. Jolm's Presbyterian Churches, was repeated in St. John's Church last evening before a fairly large audienco. The task of doing justice to' Handel's great choruses by two church choirs waß an ambitious one, but the choirs had been well drilled, and they sang with heart and soul and voice, which went a long way in tho direction of supplying that vocal volume which the choruses demand. As on the previous evening, tho soloists were Misses Gladys Watkins (soprano), Miss Nellie Castles (contralto). Mr. S. Laslett Exton (tenor), and Mr. Hamilton Hodges (baritone). The oratorio was conducted by Mr. H. 'l'emplo White, and Mr. C. W. Kerry presided at the organ. KILBIRNIE SCHOOL OF MUSIC. The second annual concert of the pupils of the K.ilbirnie School of Music (Mrs. L. D. Gaze) was given in the Courtenay "luce Lecture-Hall on Monday ovciimg. There was a good attendance of parents and friends, and an interesting programme was provided by the pupils comprising choruses, instrumental music, elocutionary, and vocal items. The accompaniments were played by Mrs. Gaze, Mrs. Brackenbridge, and Masters George and David Edginton. The prizes were distributed by Mrs. A. E Hunt. Tho list was as follows: — Boys' singing class, Leslie Lovell; girls' singing class, licnu Law toil; violin, Ben Edginton; piano, Hinemoa Bollons, Dorothy Chappell, David Edginton ; theory, Dorcen Maker, Hilda Woolcocks, Annie M'Donald, David Edginton. Medals: For obtaining highest marks at Trinity theory examination: Advanced junior, Doreen Baker; junior, Leslie Lovell ; preparatory, Jessie Goocli; solfa, junior, Winifred Mathews; elementary, Stanley Oidlield; intermediate, Leslie Lovell. Certificates: Solfa, intermediate, Lcslio Lovell, Jessie Goocli; staff notation, first grade, Leslie Lovell; Jessie Goocli, Walter Hayes; elementary, Elsie Goocli, Kenneth Knssall, Stanley Oldfield, Curtis Sutcliffe, David Edginton, Eeiin Lawton; primary, Hazel Compton, Ben Edginton, Ruby Clout; junior. Ruby Clout. Hazel Compton, Ben Edginton, Doris Carter, Curtis Sutcliffo, Olive Lawler, Winifred Mathews, Enid SutolifTo, David Russell, Hilda Walker, David Edginton. Trinitv College (theory): Advanced junior, Doreen Baker (honours), David Edginton (honours) ; junior. Leslie Lovell (honours), Hinemoa Bollons; preparatory, Jessie Gcoch, David Russell. The piano and onrau used were kindly lent by the British and Continental. Piano Company.