ENTERTAINMENTS

Dominion, Volume 8, Issue 2429, 7 April 1915, Page 3

ENTERTAINMENTS

NELLIE STEWART SEASON.

The wonderful talents of Miss Nellie. Stewart arc shown in tho play now being produced at tho Grand Opera House as in few of the many great plays in which she lias appeared with distinction. The central figure of the piece) Madame Du Barry, is just such a. wayward, fickle woman as- she can typify to the life. And yet the character is more complex than this, for underneath tho apparent fickleness which destroys the one real happiness of her life, Du Barry was a clever woman, holding sway over tho King as over other men by the subtle power which in a few women in all ages has decided tho fate of the greatest Empires. To portray the woman aright the actress must by turns show the charm and innocence of an'unsoiled child of nature, and the guile of the accomplished courtesan. It is a trial whioh few actresses could sustain, and Miss Nellie Stewart covers herself with glory. The company is a strong one, and _ all the other parts are highly creditably performed. HIS MAJESTY'S THEATRE. _ The holiday programme at His Majesty's Theatre is a high-class vaudeville one, and includes many novel turns new to New Zealand. I'ho Four Aerial Lesters have made a great hit with the public, and the remarkable things .they do warrant their popularity. Hank, Lank, and Alice are a popular trio, who specialise in Indian club work, arid give a clever and interesting exhibition of their art. The two Spanish dancers, Matildo and Elvira, and Miss Ella Airlie at the piano, are other favourites this week. The programme will be repeated this evening. KING'S THEATRE. The King's Theatre programme contains an exceptionally amusing comedy, entitled "My Friend from India," and this is proving a great draw to the theatre. Another amusing film is entitled "The Persistent Mr. Prince," showing how. the young man falls in love with the photo of a society beauty, and forthwith sets out to press his matrimonial suit. Other good films are:—"The Little Country Mouse," and series of animated cartoons of the Kaiser and his heir, in addition to which scenic views and war topicals are shown. EVERYBODY'S THEATRE. TJhe star picture in the current programme at Everybody's Theatre is one entitled "Tho Best Man." The plot causes many startling events, one showing how the wrong man, a detective, fills the place of a bridegroom at the last moment, and later wins the love of his wife. "The Man Who Knew," a Vitagraph drama, is another attraction; a Keystone comedy, "Noise of Bombs"; "Gaumont Graphic," "Sugar Industry," and "On the Track of tho lurks" are also on the programme. PEOPLE'S PICTURE PALACE. "The Road to Calais," at the People'fe Picture Palace, shows the vileness of the German troops in their devastating rush through Northern France, and in addition a pretty love drama lends the. human interest touch to ■ many topical views of abounding interest. "The Fatal Taxi-cab" is the next best ■picture, it being a Kteystone comedy, with Mabel Norniand as the pretty heroine. '"The Lake of Candy" and the "Topical Budget" go to make up a very interesting programme. EMPRESS THEATRE. At the Empress Theatre a melodrama always associated locally with the name of Mr. Bland Holt, uam.'ly, "Harbour Lights," is the chief attraction, and is proving a great draw." The well-known story abounds with dramatic incidents which lend themselves well to pictorial production. Other good' films are "How Heroes are Made" (Keystone farcecomedy), and "Topical Budget." . THE CHERNIAVSKYS. In connection with the return visit of the Cherniavskys it is of interest to know tho views of the leading musical critics on the trio. The iollowing, taken from a contemporary published about six years ago, is in entire accordance with the testimony that has been offered by tho Loudon and European Press ■ regarding the extraordinary performances of those wonderful artists:— "Tho Ch'erniavsky Brothers do not lend themselves, to criticism, for the simple reason that superlatives of praise are not graceful. New Zealand audienceshave been taught by experience not to take genius on trust,, but there can be no question about the position in tho musical world of the three great musicians who gave their first concert last uighc. Leo, Jan, and Misohcl Cherniavsky would each stand on a pinnacle of assured fame were they grown men with powers fully developed; yet they are but boys. The most wonderful of the throe is Mischel, not that he eclipses his brothers in brilliance of performance, but because with but 12 years of life to his credit, he stands as their equal. He has a command of technique that could not be assured by twenty years of unceasing effort. There are not many great 'cellists, but this small boy is one of them. Jan, aged 14, is the pianist, and he again forces his critics to take that dangerous road that is paved with superlatives and leads to futility., Leo is the eldest of the trio, his age being 17. Executive difficulties vanished in his hands; lie did not deviate from true intonation in one note, and he made tho Tschaikowsky concert a thing of joy to the very last member of the 'audienco. Only a violinist worthy of a place very high on the ladder of fame could lave done that." Since the_ above critique was written the Cherniavskys ■ are said'.to. have made wonderful progress. They will appww hero on April 17. Applications for seats are invited by letter. The plaiis open on April 13 at tho Bristol.