ENTERTAINMENTS

Dominion, Volume 8, Issue 2435, 14 April 1915, Page 3

ENTERTAINMENTS

NELLIE STEWART SEASON. "Dorothy o' the Hall" waß performed for the last time by the Nellie Stewart Company at the Grand Opera House last ni<*ht. This evening Miss Nellie Stewart will niako her appearance in "Sweet Nell of Old Drury," the romantic oostume play which she has made peculiarly her own. According to the Sydney Morning Herald," during the recent revival of the play in that city, "Miss Stewart looked tho character to perfection, and invested it with all the lovcableness of old. Nell's clever mimicry of Judge Jeffries was highly appreciated, and the audience followed once more with deep interest the development of Nell Gwynne's coun-ter-stroke, which exposed the vindictive perfidy of 'the hanging judge,' and caused his downfall."

HIS MAJESTY'S THEATRE. _ An , excellent programme of vaudeville is being shown at His Majesty's Theatr* this week. Principal among the new artists appearing are Vaude and Verne, two clever patter comedians, who make a lot of fun for the audience, using the Kaiser as their chief butt. A welcome reappearance is made by Mr. George Hall, an accomplished raconteur, who has always been a favourite with Wellington audiences. Carlton Marx is a ventriloquist with a sense of humour; Matilde and Elvira are two particularly graceful and piquant dancors; and Eleanor and Bertie have a daring wirewalking act. THE KING'S THEATRE. "The Eagle's Mate" is the title of a thrilling picture melodrama, starring the great kinema actress, Miss Mary L'ickford, now showing at the King's Theatre. The story is crowded with incidents, and if there is in it a little villainy, the villainy is picturesque and virile. The whole plot is highly sensational, and full of that interest which never fails to appeal to frequenters of picturo theatres, of whom the numbers tend to increase rather than to diminish. In another picture of another sort the spectators are asked to laugh with John Bunny when he goes out to buy a hat for a lady. EVERYBODY'S THEATRE. From the film, "London by Day and Night," showing now at Everybody's Theatre, a visitor to the theatre may, in. a comfortable chair, enjoy all the wonder and delight of a tour of the ■ great metropolis of our nation. All the best thoroughfares and parks, all the line historic buildings may be seen, and also a few of the meaner streets in the East End are visited. All the supporting pictures in the programme are of unusually fine quality. PEOPLE'S PICTURE PALACE. The "star" picture at this popular kinema house tells the story of the perfidy of an especially wicked and treacherous German spy, who was in the end discovered, so that he met with a retribution more stern and sudden that sometimes comes even to a spy. To-morrow tho feature in the new programme will bo "The Ticket-of-Leave Man,' a pictorial reproduction of Tom Taylor's stirring old melodrama. The, story is not varied for the picture play, and, it, is stated, it loses none of its force and vigour. Another feature on the new bill will bo "God's Own Country, or New Zealand of To-day," showing tho Southern Lakes. This picture is described as being one of the most interesting scenic films that it is possible to see.

THE EMPRESS THEATRE. Tho concluding sessions of th© current programme of the Empress Theatre Continuous Pictures are announced for to-day and to-night. The Keystone Co.'s farcical comedy, "Caught in a Cabaret," in whidh Charles Chaplin, that company's leading • oomedian, plays the leading part, attracted another crowded assemblage last evening. Tho supplementary subjects embrace: "The Price of Silence," "Topical Budget," and "A Tight Squeeze." The new programme to-morrow will introduce the Selig Company's wild animal drama "The Royal Slave," the fourth series of "The Adventures of Kathlyn." The play is reported to be sumptuously staged, and tho action even more stirring than the preceding chapters. There will also be a Keystone farcecomedy, "Fatty,' and the Minnie He Haw," with "Fatty" Arbuckle in the leading role ; and "The Australian Gazette" (topical), and "Jim's Vindication" (Edison comcdy).

"BABES IN THE WOOD." At the Grand Opera House on Tuesday night, the George Willoughby, Ltd., direction will produce the pantomime extravaganza, "The Babes in the Wood," a spectacular pantomime in two acts and 18 scenes. The cast has been chosen with a view to the presentation of a pantomime that shall bo the last word in superior completeness. That versatile comedienne Miss Daisy Jerome will _ star as the principal girl, Maid Marian, and will also be seen in a special scena entitled "Jeromeland." The principal boy, Miss Ruby Davies, will enact the role of Robin Hood. Mr. Dan Thomas will appear as the Dame, a role that he specialises in, having already played the Dame in six Drury Lane pantomimes, while the other principals appearing in the lengthy cast will be: Bert Le Blanc, Elsio Sloane, Ted Stanley, Lola Hunt, Bert Barton, Holly Leslie, Billy Watson, and numerous others. The' specialities embrace some of' the most expensive and novel vaudeville acts, culled from the world's greatest centres, and include such notable artists as Josephine Gassman and her Picaninnies, Marcel and Fallon (America's expert fox-trot exponents), Hanlon, Dean, and Hanlon (hand balancers), and acrobats and animal impersonators in profusion. The season is for seven nights, and there will. be matinees on Wednesday and Saturday at which children will be admitted to all parts of the house except tho gallery at half-price. The box plans open at the Bristol on Thursday; reserved seats five shillings. Intending patrons living at a distance may reserve their seats by post, applications to be accompanied by postal note and stamped addressed envelope for return.

DOROTHEA SPINNEY. A headmaster of one of the. large Australian colleges recently wrote to a newspaper about Dorothea Spinney as one who has a gift given but once or twice in the history of the world. To impersonate the characters of a Greek play in such a way that the audienoe is absorbed is rare art. Also to give the audience the impression of 'having seen a company of people instead of one woman, means a power that few people can realise to the full. REGINALD BLOW RECITAL. Mr. Reginald G. Blow, who has recenly returned from London, after three years' study at tho Royal Academy of Music, under Professor Frederick King, and who during that time won both his bronze and silver medals for excellence, and also obtained the licentiate degree of tho institution, is to give a vocal recital at the Concert Chamber of the Town Hall on April 20. Ho will be assisted by prominent Wellington artists. Thp box plan is open from to-day at the Bristol Piano Co., where reserved seats may bo booked. CONCERT IN THE TO\VN HALL. Tlie committee in charge of tho concert and danco to be held in the largo Town Hall to-night, in aid of the .Distressed Belgians' (Mayor's Fund), inti« .aulas (Jut lb foul wmiseineuU ftf<L

now complete, and that a good night's pleasure is assured. An attractive programme will be presented, and the promoters hope that tho fiublic will generously respond to this moßt deserving cause. The doors will bo open at 7.15, and the concert will commence at 8 p.m. BAXTER BUCKLEY RECITAL. On Tuesday, April 27, at the' Concert Chamber, Mr. Baxter Buckley gives bis fifteenth pianoforte recital to Wellington audiences. _ His items, numbering nearly twenty, include pieces from Bach, Handel, Schumann, and Chopin to writers of the present day. A selection of four pieces by writers of England, France, Russia, and Belgium is set down for bearing. Mr. Collins will contribute songs between the items. Box plan at the Bristol. THE CHERNIAVSKYS. The plans for ithe Chemiavskvs' first two concerts opened- yesterday morning and judging by the booking their season will be a great success. Mr. Edie, their advance agent, states that he has received numerous letters from all parts of the Dominion, appreciating the _ work of these talented young Russians. Yesterday he received a letter from a lady well known in artistic circles in Gis borne, in which t she said: "We have indeed enjoyed a treat, and all Gisborne people have enthused as I have never seen them do before over the boys' playing. . .. . The first night Mischel excelled himself. The second, Jan, and the last night, Leo. . When Jan plays he is like .an angel. One gets so lost they can almost imagine they see a faint halo round his head—don't think me quite mad. I am an old woman with white hair,.and my admiration for the boys was that of a mother." This letter is said to be characteristic of many which Mr. Edie Tecoives < practically daily. There is every evidence that , the Wellington season is going to be very successful. Applications by letter are invited for seats for the third and fourth concerts which take place on Thursday and Saturday, April 22 and 24. The plans for these two concerts will open on Saturday next.