ENTERTAINMENTS

Dominion, Volume 8, Issue 2430, 8 April 1915, Page 9

ENTERTAINMENTS

THE NELLIE STEWART SEASON. There will be only two more opportunities of witnessing Miss Nellie Stewart in "Du Barry," as the great drama will give place on Saturday evening to "Dorothy o' the Hall." Last night the Grand Opera House was filled by an. audience which watched with pleasure the part played by the actress, who has endeared herself to the hearts of Australasian play-goers. The supporting roles in. "Du Barry," too, - were all capably interpreted, so that the performance as a whole was indeed admirable. "Dorothy o' the Hall," in which Miss Nellie Stewart will mako her appearance on Saturday evening, is a romantic historical costume play, the action of which takes place in the early part of the reign of Queen Elizabeth. Tho mounting of the play is said to be on the most lavish and gorgeous scale. The play teems with incident. Dorothy is the ccntral character. The part is one demanding a versatility equal to the requirements of situations intensely dramatic, and of interludes varied by the lightest comedy. Miss Stewart is said to meet with rare skill the heavy demands made upon her in. the portrayal of the wayward maiden, and Dorothy | Vernon must be counted one of her greatest successes. Miss Stewart will be supported by her full company, including Messrs. Clarence Blakiston and Allan Wilkie, together with Mr. H. RRoberts, Mr. J. B. Atliolwood, and other leading actors and actresses. The box plan at the Bristol. HIS MAJESTY'S THEATRE. An outstanding item on the; current programme of vaudeville at His Majesty's Theatre this week is that given by "The Four Aerial Lesters." The quartette do all nj-nier of sensational feats in mid-ai:, and conclude their turn by playing patriotic • selections while they hang by their feet.. "Hank, Lank, and Alice" give an original comedy juggling act, Miss Ella Airlie, a vivacious little comedienne, sings pleasingly, Walter and Bunting are tw6 amusing Scotch comedians, while there are a host of other artists now appearing. THE KING'S THEATRE. . ? Altogether a -unique and pleasing film comedy is the Edison production, "My Friend From India," at present showing at the King's Theatre. The comedy simply teems with most amusing situations, and is really one of the finest shown at The King's. Quite a remarkable picture is that demoting the trawlers of the North Sea pursuing their occupation 'midst mountainous sea's. Then there is another most entertaining comedy "The Persistent Mr. l'nnce," by the Vitagraph Co, Other pictures include: "In the Track of the Turk (scenic), "The Little Country House (drama), "Bully Bay Cartoons," and the Pathe Gazette. EVERYBODY'S THEATRE: _ The sensational story of a Secret Service official who endeavours to outwit a coterie of financial swindlers is contained in the Edison production "The Best. Man," which is featured on the current programme of films being shown at Everybody's Theatre, Manners Street. The film is enthralling iu its j>lot aud well worth seeing. Other films in an altogether very fine selection of pictures are "The Noise of Bombs" (a Keystone farce), "The Man Who Knew" (Vitagraph _ drama), "The Sugar Industry," and pictures ■ of war interest. PEOPLE'S PICTURE PALACE. " Large crowds flocked to the People's Picture Palace at all sesions yesterday .to see the great war drama ."The Road to Calais. To-day an entirely .new programme, featuring another great war subject, entitled "Kitoheuer's Fighting Army, 1 ' will be screened. _In ' 3000 ft., this picture deals most' interestingly with the war. Supporting this picture will be "The Face from the Past" (Edison Co.), aud numerous other subjects. THE EMPRESS THEATRE. The third! instalment of "The Adventures of Ivathlyn," entitled "In the Temple of the Lion," will be presented [ with the change of programme at the Empress Theatre to-day. The episodes .are said to be oven more exciting in the third section of the picture than in the previous two. Apart from narrow escapes from lions, tie heroine has a terrifying encounter with fanatical Indians. The play is set amidst superb Oriental scenes. Other films will be "Helen's Sacrifice," a stirring railroad drama, and "Stanley, the Lion-Killer" (Vitagraph comedy).

SEVEN LITTLE AUSTRALIANS. At Palmerston North on Saturday next, afternoon and evening, Beaumont Smith will present "Seven Little Au&. tralians," the charming novelty play which captivated Wellington when produced recently at the Grand Opera House. The company will bo tho same in every particular and will include Ceoil Haines, the iTttle New Zealand genius, whose 'aoting as Suds created such a favourable impression. Following Palmerston North, the towns to bo played by the' Seven Little Australians Co.-are:-Waipawa, April 12; Napier, April 13; Hastings,' April 14; Dannevirke, April 16} Foxton, April 16; and Wanganui, April 17. -

SCOTTISH CONCERT. In hie remarks at the Highland Society's concert in aid of the Belgian Fund at the Town Hall last evening, the Chief, the Hon. J. G. W. Aitken,- referred to the gallant flight the Belgians had made against the invading Germans, and the dobt ire owed that country in fighting to preserve its own neutrality. It was due to them that the society and everyone else should endeavour to help them in their need, and for that reason ho that the audience was not as large as it might have been. The programme presented certainly deserved better support. The dancing of a team of clever juvenile exponents of Highland dances was a particularly attractive feature, and one which made an immediate appeal to the audience. An international reel was prettily danced by Misses Lizzie Keid, Jean Jellie, Mary Reid, and Elsie Burns', find the same dancers, in company with Masters Harry Mac Lean, Jack Mac Lean, and Frank Reid, danced a .Highland fling delightfully in costume to the exhilarating skirl of tlio bagpipes. In tho second part the dancers appeared in a triple sword dance, a shaunthruibas, and a gay Highland reel with equal success. The Scottish blood of those of the audience, who hailed from north of the Tweed was finely stirred by the skilful piping of Mr. J. Cameron (champio.i piper of New Zealand), Allan Stait, and C. Sclb.v. Mrs. D. R. Kennedy sang "The Standard 011 tho Braes of Mar," and Mr. J. Houston contributed the comic songs "Roamin' in the Gloamin'," and "Ta-ta Ma Bonnie Maggie Darling," recalling the art of the only Harry Lauder in thoso songs. Mr. F. S. Pope, who was in fine voice, sang "Scots Wha Ilae," and' "0 Sing to Me tho Auld Scotch Sangs." From a musical point of viow. the violin solo, Wieniawski's "Legende," played with rare feeling by Miss Freda Walters, was exceptionally interesting. The young lady in question plays with care and infuses a good deal _of synipathy into her tone. Mr. Eric Mairs also showed promise as a violinist. Songs were also contributed by Miss Eva Smith and Mr. Charles Hickmott, and Mr. J. Audrey Gibson nlaved the accompaniPipers T.. A. Mac Donald and Allan

Stait played for the ckncers, and Miss Audrey Gibson played the accompaniments. FOR THE SOLDIERS. The Wellington Amateur Choral Club will give a concert in the Concert Chamber this evening in aid of the fund for tho benoflt of incapacitated soldiers or dependents of troopers killed in action. No effort has been spared to make the concert a success, and the programme comprises choruses, quartets?, duets, and solos, as well as elocutionary items and artistic dances. Those assisting in the entertainment are: Misses Nancy Redstone, E. Harper, Zelda Bailey, Violet Mullor, L.A.8.. Masdames Mitchell and A. Hill, Rev. A. E. Hunt, Sergeant M. J. Galloway, and Messrs. W. Downs, J. Bryant, It. Bishop, and T. O'Carrol. DRAMATIC RECITAL. To-morrow night, in the rooms of the "Star of the East" in Woodward Street, Mr. Howard Edie will give a reading of Rabindranath Tagore's play "Chitra." Tliis is a beautiful work, and has only just been translated into English. The principal characters are Arjura and Chitra, and the play is woven round an episode from India's greatest cpic poem the "Mahabarata." Before Mr. ICdie leaves Wellington it is anticipated that he will present "Dramatic Readings" from the plays of Shakespeare, Sophocles,' Euripides, and Tagoth. Tho campaign in support of tho "Brotherhood of Arts," wliicTi Mr. Edie is carrying . out, has aroused a good deal of interest throughout Now Zealand.