ENTERTAINMENTS

Dominion, Volume 8, Issue 2463, 17 May 1915, Page 9

ENTERTAINMENTS

"THE COURT CARDS." DELIGHTFUL ENTERTAJINERS AT THE OPERA HOUSE. The Court Cards, who commenced a return, season at the Grand Opera Houso on. Saturday evening are, the class of entortainers, who vitalise .a concert programme kto a show that is merry and bright without being too much so. Concert items were there k plenty. It was a- rare treat to hear Mr. Sidney Mannering infuse such fire afld devotional spirit in "The Death of .Nelson," which was kfinitely a finer effort than the same tenor's kterpretation of "My Fairest Child." It was fine to hear that rattling fine song of the sea "Drake Goes West," sung by Mr. (ijeorge Greystone, who w '.s also particularly happy in that tuneful growl, "Asleep k the Deep," in which he fell an. awfuldepth off the stave. The male quartet is a feature that the Cards should be proud of. Its delightful ktoning of "Spin, Spin" was quite satisfying, and "Simple Simon," written as pseudo glee, was amusing. Miss Maud Fane would grace any concert platform, did she elect to restrak her volatile spirit of comedy and use her splendid mezzo-soprano voice as she so well knows how to do, but there are enough singers of the doleful ballad and the cloying love song, so Miss Fane chooses to oharm with her iridiscent personality and sly comedy. With Mr. Geo. Titchener she helped k the vocal absurdity "I'm Going Away," and the clever "Old Way and the New," and also the audience in "Billy," "Alger* non, Go Hon!" "So Like a Man," and m a very well sung ballad. Mr. Titchener, _ a very brisk and entertaining comedian, sang a medley of popular tunes to new words and described a' coster wedding in coster parlance, and Mr. Edgar Warwick, the crisp Joker of the Pack, off a lot of jokes about people who ought to pay taxes and don't, and recited a fearful "railway story comically. He was also the futinv guide of a Cook's tourist party, which toade a bright finale to the first part. In the second, the four gentlemen disported themelves in sailors' ducks, aitd sang and yarned appropriately and nonchantly as if they were in a Portsmouth tap-room. - Throughout "A Pinch of Salt the acting and manner of tlie quartet was easy, natural, and finished. After the forecastle interlude, Miss played Saint Saens . Le Cyipe," and another piece with ingratiating sympathy, and was honour?,a a double encore. The finale Saved From the Sea" gave every member of the company a' last chance to display their feelings in lighter vein. Mention should be made of the lieatly executed dance by Miss Fane, who succeods in luring Mr. Albert K<yits from the piano to bunny-hug with her. The Court Cards are certainly well Yortli while. ■ ©

HIS MAJESTY'S THEATRE.' The principal attraction in- .the new programme to be presented at His Majesty's Theatre to-night will be the production of a new revue by the members of the Paul Stanhope Musical Burlcsquo Company, entitled "Fun on the Farm," which has been spoken of as being even moro funny than "This Is tho Life." 'Ihe new revue is said to have a very good plot, upon which hang a series of the most laughable absurdities. Out of the many Mr. Paul Stanhope, in thebharacter of Jake Hogan,, is said to extract the maximum amount of fun, and, with Mr. Les. Bates as a comic farmer, to be responsible for most of the humour of the piece. _ Supporting the two principal comedians will be Mr. Frank Norton, Mr. Harry Ross, Miss Ruby Kennedy, and Miss Fritzee de Guy, who will assume her favourite role of Rosie Perkins The 'Frisco Quartet will provide'a number of part-songs, included among which will be the "Barcarolle," from "Tales of Hoffman," Now songs and bright; ballets will be introduced by the Beauty Chorus. In addition, to the revue, several vaudeville artists new to Wellington will 'appear in the first part, notably Miss Ida Jarvis, a soubrette and dancer. Vaude and' Verne, comedians, Les Warton, coon vocalist" Dooiner and Lloyd, dancers, The Dentines, and Merlyn. THE KING'S THEATRE. A melodrama with tho curious title of "413" is tho main attraction at the King's Theatre this _ evening. Anita Stewart is featured in this film. The plot, which is of a sensational and mysterious character, is surrounded by an atmosphere of romance. The _ story tells o fone Baron Baroellos, a diamond smuggler, who brings a parcel of gems safely through the Customs, and delivers them to "413" —the head of the gang. The Baron is in love ~with Elaine Hall, daughter of a diamond merchant. : His suit is not favoured, however. and Elaine becomes engaged to a secret service agent. The Baron plots with Tina, an adventuress (who is infatuated, with' him) to compromise Elaine's fiance, and she succeeds in doing this, but is arrested herself. Elaine visits her in prison, and obtains information that leads to the clearing of her finance-and'the raiding of the smug, glers' headquarters. The mysterious "413," in endeavouring to escape, steals a locomotive, but tho authorities wire ahead, and the engine is switched off the line, resulting in a terrific smash up. The identity, of -"413," now revealed, provides the great surprise of the piece, which otherwise ends happily. Other films on this programme are: "In the Grip of the Plumber" (an Edison comedy), 'Duke Kahanamoku at Wellington," "A Horseshoe for Luck," "The Man in the Vault" (an exciting Kalem drama), and the war news (new facts filmed).