ENTERTAINMENTS

Dominion, Volume 8, Issue 2530, 3 August 1915, Page 8

ENTERTAINMENTS

"IN OLD DONEGAL." • "In Old Donegal,'"- a 1 cheerful Irish comedy drama,, was presented again by the Allen ..'Doone Company to a large audience at -the- Grand Opera House last evening.'. The charm of Mr.' Boone's capital acting arid sweet singing never fails to please,; and' in, this play the potion works, as,well as ever it did.

This evening the company will make a diversion from tflie play that is Irish, by staging for the first time in Wellington the romantic detectivo piny "Tho Burglar and the Lady," which is said to have found favour with audiences elsewhere.

The audience last evening included' a hundred boys from the'Thorndon Marist Brothers' School,, who enjoyed every minute of ilia play; and were loud in their appreciation of Mr. Doone's clever mumming, as Larry Donovan. This is the second batch of Marist School boys who have been tho guests of Mr. Doone during the 'present season.

"THE MAN WHO STAYED AT HOME." The great spy drama, "The Man Who Stayed at Home," which is to be staged at tho Grand Opera House on August 11, broke all the records established in Sydney and Melbourne by "Kismet," "The Quaker Girl," and the H. B. frying Company. But for the fact that The Man Who Stayed at Home" had to make room for another J. C. Williamson, .Ltd., attraction at the Theatre Eoyal, Sydney, it would doubtless .have enjoyed a run in that city of at least sir months, as lichen. it was withdrawn it was in the zenith of its success, hundreds of playgoers having to be nightly turned away from the doors. The leading lady of J. C. Williamson's new dramatic company, which was specially formed for the production of tho spy piny, is 'Miss Violet Paget (Mrs.' Hugh Buckler), quite a favourite with New Zealand playgoers. Since she last visited the Dominion, lier husband, Mr. Hugh Buckler, ■ has joihed the Tanks, and is at present helping'his country in France. Mr. Frank .Harvey, the hero of the piece, is generally l acknowledged as one of the finest romantic actors we have enjoyed for many years. Tho cast will also include Austin Mil•roy, who will mako his debut here,. Mr. Arthur Cornell, Mr. Kenneth, Brampton, Mr. Leslie Victor, Mr. Charles Morse, Miss Emma Temple,' Miss Florence Gleeson, Miss Temple Pigott, Miss Dorothy Cumming, and Miss M. Browne. The box plans for the first four., nights ifill be opened at The- Bristol on Monday morning next -at nine o'clock.

' HIS MAJESTY'S THEATRE. In Montambo and Wells, the brilliant comedy acrobats, who made their first appearance in - Wellington last evening, the Fuller.,management .present-in ;a very modest manner a couple of shimmering stars in their own particular constellation.. They exploded t'he idea that everything in the acrobatic line had already been done. One limber young man not far short of six feet in height does a succession of standing somersaults from bending attitudes, and with his hands in his pockets electrified the audience' with his head springs. The comedian of She • pair, _ who oozes the right class of humour, is adroit in extraordinary falls and quaint somersaults, one of his tangled excursions landing him alongside the double-bass player in the orchestral well. For their finale they ascend into mid-air. One table js placed on another, a barrel is placed oil the uppermost, and on top of the 'barrel is< placed' a chair in which, one of the perforiners siis; and another chair is placed over his head for the other. After some laughable foolery which is calculated to give the nervouslyinclined the. jumps, the whole structure tips over, and the two, after somersaultin" in- their descent, are found -comfortably ' seated on tho stage. The public quickly recognised tihe quality of these performers; and' showed it in their applause. Maude and Gill, with their bouncing table, repeated their clever act with all their original skill and daring, and the Goolmans reappeared with their musical fit-up. •■', Miss Gracie Graham made her bigfeest success in the patriotic monologue The Women Who Wait,'? '.yhicli'. sounds a new note, as ;to the sad lot of women in the present war. There was no more popular artist oir the bill than Nellio Kolle, whose big, masculine and richly sympathetic voice were heard in "The .Romany Boy," "An'lrishman I'll Die," and tho kHaki 6ong "The Soldier," in the refrain of which tho audi--ence joined with a will. Any notice of Miss Kolle's turn would be incomplete without a reference to the lad in tho gallery, who sings the refrain of her songs in a strong, vibrant voice that has a curio'us resemblance to- the quality of the singer on the stage. "Baffling Baier" is still, on the bill with tricks new and old, and a puzzling illusion entitled "She," 1 in which a young lady goes up in smoke in ay most mystifying manner. "The Butterflies": provided a .most interesting and amusing'first part. Mr. Foster Hine sang "The Yeomen of England" is great style, and Jack Waller gave an impersonation of the late Wilson Barrett in the -'.-well-known dream speech 1 frony ."The Silver King," and appended some humorous tit-bits from his extensive 6tock.' .Messrs. Wyiie, Watson, and Hino tickled the audience in their fßecruitinig" sketch. Messrs.. Gregory - Ivanoll (violin), Wj'lie , Watson ('cello), and F. W. Dennett (piafio).made excellent music in their Continental. Orchestra interlude, and Miss Marion Armitage revelled in broad .low-comedy songs.-- "The Welsh Railway Station, a comic sketch, terminated tho flight of "The Butterflies," n'ho. are deservedly popular.'

THE KING'S THEATRE. No picture drama previously shown in Wellington has been looked forward to with) such curiosity as has "Three Weeks." In the first place the book with the same title gained much notoriety, though the author, Elinor Glyn, admitted that to some it would be "but

a. sensual record of 'passion." Then the picture version, which has been passed, by. the Board of Censors as free from anything offensive, achieved remarkable success when screened in Auckland, and the season had to be several times extended." All tho circumstanccs considered it nas natural enough J:hat the Kind's Theatre should have been crowded to tho doors last night, when the film was produced for the first time iu this city. It will be crowded again and again probably, for the general excellence of the .film is beyond doubt—beautiful scenery, gorgeous dressing, and superb acting, m order to sustain interest, the plot of tho book has been altered in the dramatisa'tion. A villain is introduced to add more of the dramatic element, but the play still recounts tho love story of bonia. Queen of Severia, and her brief sojourn in what tho author has written down as Paradise. Miss Madeline Traverse, . who was selected for the part of tho erring queen on account of her physical beauty and artistic attainments, had a difficult task to phq leading lady in this passionate Slavonic romance, but everyone who sees 1 the picture tnust credit her with having performed that task ably and ncell. She is supported by a strong caste and had the picture been a failure instead of the unprecedented success it has been, it would not have been due to tho acting. A special programme of music lias been arranged for the season of "Three Weeks,"- and the King's Symphony Orchestra provides an important part of the evening's' entertainment. Minor, .films of, good quality preccdo the big picture.

EVERYBODY'S' THEATRE. Deeds of desperate daring are portrayed'in the great war film ; introduced, at Everybody's Theatre yesterday under the title of "A Hero of tho "Dardanelles." 1 The story is a sequel to tho big recruiting film, "Will They Never Come?" and the slacker in tho first instance, becomes tho subsequent hero, andachieves great honour and glory on the occasion of tlie landing at the Dardanelles. Here was a .wonderful themo for a .thrilling drama, and certainly tho producers have made the most of it. Nothing has been exaggerated, but the exciting situations which arose in connection with tho storming of tho Turkish positions, have been truly pictured, and those who have read the odicial accounts of the wost wonderful military operations in the world's history will follow tho screening of tho film with keen 'interest. Right through the drama there is a charming love story, which might almost have been intended for the Western theatre of war in that country which the poet described as "the chosen borne of chivalry, tho garden' of romance." Whilo "The Hero of the Dardanelles" is shown at this theatre, it is sure to attract ' the crowds. Among tho supporting items may bo mentioned "Tho Fall of Prsomysl, a topical subject of hisL&M JtejUßdU

weekly Gazette with a budget of war news and other topical views. Two splendid comedies also figure on the bill. One of tlliese is "Mixed. flats," a most amusing production by the Liibin Company. 'The other is a Majestic film entitled "Her Grandparents." AVhilo the pictures are being screened, musical accompaniments are played by an efficient orchestra.

THE EMPRESS, A capital array of all-new pictures attracted crowded attendances to the popular Empress Theatre yesterday. One of the cleverest Keystone comedies seen in Wellington for many a day is prominent oil the list-, and scores unmistakeably. This is 'Tatty's Faithful Fido," and the honours of the laugh-creating absurdity are evenly divided between popular "Patty" and his wonderfully clever dog. The pair between them elicited roars of laughter. - The famous studios furnish the star drama. "Anne of the Mines," "a very fine story of-love and devotion, most capably acted. Another dramatic play of deep interest is entitled "Indiscretion." "The Frosli Agent" is. a laughable love interlude of merit. The "Topical Budget" amongst other sections of interest shows: The King's Tour; German Red Cross Bearers Carrying Arms; The Great Railway Disaster at Gretna Green; and the laet of the German raider, Ivronprinz.

TO-NIGHT'S PATRIOTIC CONCERT. An excellent programme has been arranged for the great patriotic concert in the Town Hall this, evening, when the Tramway Boys' Art Unions are to bo drawn, including the v£looo gold nugget. By permission of Messrs. Fullers', Ltd., and Jack Waller, the services have been obtained -of - Mr. Gregory Ivanoff, M.A. (lato solo violinist to the Tsar's Imperial Orchestra, Moscow). Mr. Ivanoff'3 contributions to the programme will be "A Military Episode of the Day" (Russian Life Guards March), and ."Folk Songs/' "Russian Anthem," and "Cossack Dances" (arranged and composed by himself). By request, Mr. Ivanoff is to appear in his national costume.. Mr. Ivanoff will also be associated with Messrs. W. Watson, 'cellist, and-F. Den. nett, both of the "Butterflies," who will give an" instrumental trio. In addition to the services of these musicians, the following Wellington artists will contri. bufe to the programme:—Mrs. E. H. Queree, Miss Mina Caldow, Miss W. Lonsdale. Messrs. Hamilton Hodges, H. F. Wood, T. H. Heketa, and the Lyric Quartette (Messrs.. H. F. Wood, W. Goudie, W. Jennings, and C. Connors). The box plan is now open at The Bristol.

• THE RED DANDIES.. To-morrow morning at Tho Bristol Piano Company the box • plan for the lietl Dandies, who appear at the Concert Chamber on Saturday next, will be opened. These popular entertainers and the name of Edward Branscombe should be sufficient guarantee that the performance will lie of a high-class and entertaining nature, as refinement, variety, legitimate wit and humour, are what tne management invariably presents to its public. On Saturday night a special programme of gems from the Dandies' repertoire will be presented, including their latest successes in song, dance, sketch, burlesque, scenas, dramatic recitals, instrumental items, and humorous interludes and finales, all of which will be staged and costumed with a wealth of detail.. Tho old members of the famous Bed Dandies who will make their reappearance are Mr. Claude Danipier, character comedian, Miss Ireiio Yere, comedienne and dancer, and Mr. Oliver Peacock, tenor.' The new members include Miss Mona Thomas, soprano, Miss Ida Newton,. soubrette, Mr. Harry Borradale, elocutionist and light comedian, Mr. John Welby, baritone, and Mr. Cyril Connolly, violinist and dancer. Special attention is drawn to the prices of. admission, which are reasonable, and no booking fee will be charged or early dcor extra, charge made.