ENTERTAINMENTS

Dominion, Volume 8, Issue 2452, 4 May 1915, Page 3

ENTERTAINMENTS

OPERA HOUSE,

Last night "Who's the Lady" was staged at■ the Grand Opera House lor the last time. This evening "The Chaperon," another amusing comed.v, will be staged. Tlio company is.such a capablo comedy combination that so far as the production of the piece is concerned success is assured.

HIS MAJESTY'S THEATRE. Change night at His Majesty's Theatre found the popular house of vaudeville patronised by a large number of people. Tho new programme is nicely varied, and contains several turns of excellent quality. There is not a dull moment throughout, and the bill will serve admirably to maintain the reputation of His 'Majesty's as i place of good and bright amusement. The RaudoJl Jackson Company's presence ensures a good ooncert, quite apart from the other items. The RandeU-Jackson combination is one of the best of its kind which has visited Wellington, and its great popularity has been thoroughly earned. One of the features of tho evening was the turn of the well-known coon impersonator, Les Warton, whoso appearance here was heartily welcomed. Ragtime songs by. Les Warton aro 'always worth hearing. His new reportoire is particularly lively and clever. Juggling is admittedly a difficult art, but frequently tho kind of juggling which calls for the greatest degree of cleverness and deftness is comedy juggling. The comedy juggling which George Campbell, an English artist new to Wellington, is performing this week needs to be seen to be thoroughly appreciated. Two clever sketch artists who made their' Wellington debut are Dormer and Lloyd, whose line is musical comedy. Their sketches are dustinctly meritorious. Carlton Max, ventriloquist, and Fred Swift, "tho musical nut," also, are on the bill.

"THIS IS THE LIFE." A novel and attractive feature at His Majesty's Theatre on Monday next will be the introduction of a revue, a form of entertainment very popular in America, last year introduced to Australia in "Come Over Here," but not previously attempted in New Zealand. The revile is something even less coherent than the modern comic opera. Only the barest threads of a story exist, and the company is expected to provide in novelties, scenery, song," dance, and humour all that the audience require. Mr. Paul Stanhope has, in this case, brought from America a company, of some twenty people, who, collectively, are Baid to serve up a bright and breezy show. "This is the Life" is the title of the production. The scenery is spoken of as being very fine, and the revue to be well stage-managed. Probably the best of the musical numbers will be those contributed by the Revue Quartet, though the songs, "I'll Get You, by Miss de Guy, "The Welcome," and Sail on, Silvery Moon," by Miss Kennedy, "It's a Long Way to Tipperary/'by Mr. Eenshaw, and This is the Life, by Mr. Bates, caught on very well. The chorus is particularly strong, and_ a number of striking dances will be introduced by the ballot. The box plan is r.ow on. view at the Bristol Piano Co.'s dep.ot. /

. THE KING'S THEATRE. An excellent programme of pictures was soreeiled at The King's Theatro last evening, and the same bill will run throughout the week —every evening and on Saturday afternoon. Tho principle film is a Lubin star drama entitled "The Intriguers." It is a study which gives a keen insight into (American modern society. The photography, of course', -is particularly good, and no cost has been spared in generally ensuringa worthy production. To American "society," according to the_ author of the drama, the passport is £.s. d. Everyone who is thought to be wealthy can readily secure admission to the funotions which modern society patronises, and the way, therefore, is often open for well-dressed spielers to mis freely with people whose only attraction for them is their possession of valuables. Upon these facts the author has constructed a drama of intrigue, which holds one's attention throughout, and is excellent in its climax. Prominent in the story are Viola Vincent and Wintlirop Hagen, society parasites, who attend a certain week-ond party. Viola preys upon a diplomatic against whom she knows something. Hogen steals a beautiful set of diamonds from a girl, at the party. /Die plot develops well, and the ending is cleverly thought out. The supporting pictures, which .are a good selection, include: "Wonders of Magnetism" (a pictorial representation of an Edison wonder), "The Red Signal" (a drama of the railroad track), "Coney Island Nightmare (comedy), and "The World Grabber" (a series of animated subjects).

EVERYBODY'S PICTURES. Exclusively interesting is the very fine Nordisk drama, "The Abduction," shown for the first time at Everybody's Pictttres. Manners Street, yesterday. The picture relates another adventure of the great master' in crime, Dr. Gar-El-Hama. The scene opens with Gar-El-Hama in prison, and. about to escape. He accomplishes this seemingly impossible task, and to recover tho financial losses incurred by bis imprisonment hatches a scheme to capture the daughter of an American Consul. This he , also succeeds in doing with the aid of chloroform. Gar-El-Hama places her on board his "lugger' and takes her. away to his retreat on Snake Island. He does not reckon with a certain Lieutenant Erskine, however, who follows with a trusted band. Exciting happenings follow in the rescue of the abducted raider, and of the undoing of Gar-El-Hama, but can best bo learnt by paying a visit to Everybody's Theatre. The drama is beautifully photographed, and the views of tho wild scenery oil "Snako Island' ar© particularly fine. The supporting piotures are exceptionally good, and include a fascinating little comedy, "Pleasing Uncle," a Keystone comedy, "His Second Childhood," "Willies Bubble Bursts," a series of topical cartoons, and the Gaumont Graphic. 1

THE EMPRESS THEATRE. Aa the main attraction tho Majestic Company's "feature" drama, "A I'light . for a Fortune," was introduced at tha Empress Theatre yesterday, with tho new programme. According to the plot, Mary, an orphan, is sent to Powers, a lawyer, to be in his caro while her guardian, who has never seen her, goes abroad. Mary lias a largo income which Powors makes her believe has ceased, as he is using the money to > save himself and his partner from ruin. ■ Brown, a young clerk in the lawyers' employ, falls in love with Mary when she is given a position as typiste in their office. Tho orphan girl's guardian tolograpbs Powers that no is about to visit their office, so Powers decides to substitute his daughter for tlio heiress. He takes Mary out to an island to keep her out of tho way until her guardian has departed. Brown discovers the sohomo, and sets out m a fast motor-boat to bring Mary back. Mary, in tho meanwhile, has got away from tho island in a small boat. Powers discovers that she has now escaped, and her pursues her in a motorboat. Brown observes Poivers's action, and mounting an hydro-aeroplane, races after Mary, lie overhauls her lirst, and diving into the sea, swims to her assistance. Powors is afraid lo interfere further, and Bro\vn_ and Mary arrive at I,lm lawyers' office in t.uno to laeot her guardian and outwit tua.

rogues. In addition to tho "star" item aro "Fatty's Alagic L'anls" (Koystono comedy), "Tho Topical Budget," "Dolly at tho Helm" (Edison drama), and "l'or a Widow's Lovo" (LubLn comedy). PEOPLE'S PICTUIIE PALACE. A particularly appealing drama, entitled "Tho War Baby," features on tho new selection of films shown at tho Pooplu'a Picture I'alacc yesterday. Apart from tho appeal in tho plot, tho drama serves to present some realistic battle sconcs. Briefly, tho story tells of Bobby North and Helen Marsh, and how thoy olopc to save tho hitter from becoming tho bride of a German baron, and incidentally to enablo Bobby marrying Helen. Of course this, is beforo the war lias started. Tho pair aro married, and livo happily until tho war breaks out, and Eobbio goes to tho front. In his absence another little Bobbio appears, and as weeks go by without any news of her _ husband, Helen writes to her father wishing him a merry Christmas. At this the old mail, who had previously been estranged from his_ daughter through her. not fulfilling his wishes, decides to go and see his grandson. . Tho story naturally ends <iuito happily. The supporting films includo, "Tho Way Home" (interesting drama), "Heart's Refuge" (a Lubin drama), "A Little Hero" (Koystono comedy), "The Topical Budget," and "Wild Duck Shooting." Tho orchestra is a big feature at tho People's. "THE VIOLETS." There is every indication that "Tho Violets" will be greeted by a large audience when they make their first appearanc in the Town _ Hall Concert Chamber to-morrow evening. Thore has been a steady demand for scats 'at the Bristol Piano Co., where the box plan is placed. "The Violets" come to thiß country fresh from a successful season of six months in Adelaide. They are said to be an exceptionally clever troupe of entertainers, with the faculty of quickly establishing in the favour or the audience. Tho opening programme has been carefully arranged, and will serve to show the company to advantage. \ There is every reason to suppose that "Tho Violets" will become very popular during their season of six weeks in this city.

JOSEPH BLASCHECK. \ Their Excellencies the Earl and Countess of Liverpool attended two performances at tho Auckland Town Hall of -Mr. Blaschcck's entertainment ''Society Snap-shots." A humorous night was given by command and proved such a success that Mr. Blasclieck has deeded to'repeat it at the Grand Opera House on Saturday, May 8. Mr. Biascheck has appeared before all the crowned heads of Europe and his entertainments are _ constantly attended by the clergy, principals and students pi colleges, patrons realising ''Society Snap-shots" .to be full of humour without a suggestion of. vulgarity. "He is the greatest living humorist of to-day" says the London "Times." The Archbishop of London and Cardinal Bourne were present on the same evening 'at the Queen's Hall, London, at one of Mr. Blasclheck's entertainments, and the "Daily Telegraph" said the next morning: "It was hard to tell who laughed the most, the Cardinal or the Bishop." Miss Alyce Austin, who assists Mr. Blascheck, is a young lady entitled to place after her name L.A.8., L.T.C.L. She was the youngest _ cirl in Victoria to gain- these distinctions. Her solos, both vocal and pianoforte, ■will be looked forward to b,v lovers of music, as the critics up north and in Australia have been lavish with their approval of lier work. The box plan 1 opens at T ~he Bristol Piano Company 011 Wednesday morning. HELP NEW ZEALAND WOUNDED SOLDIERS. Readers are ; reminded of the benefit concert that takes place to-night at tho Concert Chamber, tho proceeds to bo devoted to a- fund for the benefit of incapacitated returned troopers and thoir dependents, or the dependents of troopers killed' while in action. The Wellington Choral Club, assisted by Mother leading artists, also some of Miss Beere's clever pupils, will give an exhibition of artistic dancing to help the men who are fighting for you by being present to-njght. Admission Is. to all parts of the house.