ENTERTAINMENTS

Dominion, Volume 8, Issue 2533, 6 August 1915, Page 8

ENTERTAINMENTS

THE ALLEN DOONE . COMPANY'. A particularly well-filled house greeted tho rise of the curtain last evening, when '.'Tile llebel" was staged at the Opera Iloii!*e by the Allen Doone Company. "Tho liebel" is described as a patriotic Irish play, and as the rebel leader Mr. Dooue is seen to'the greatest advantage. As the cool, courageous patriot, he is iu his true element, and one might easily imagine that tile part of Jack Blake was specially created lor him. Truly, Mr. Doone is versatile. As a singing comedian ho excels; as the daring burglar of iron nerve he is superb; and now as the leader of the so-called rebels lie fills the bili completely and convincingly. Tho story told iu the play is one of the most exciting of its kind. "The Rebel" is a designation given the leader of the Irish patriots by those whom the.lrish regard as.the King's worst enemies. The rebels decide to strike for liberty and justice, and their leader is Jack Blake, who, besides hi? patriotic obligations, succeeds in becoming entangled in a delicate lore undertaking. The hazardous predicaments in which love and war place the valiant leader of the patriotic band lead to many highly exciting situations. Finally, however, the gallant Blake triumphs over all the apparently insuperable obstacles, and after killing the chief of his villainous adversaries in a duel, he sails for France with, the girl he loves, now his bride'. As Jack Blake, the rebel leader, Mr. Doone is excellent; Miss Edna Keeley is the sweetest of brides; Mr. Onslow Edgeworth is a capable Captain Armstrong; and the remainder of the company iill their, various'roles well. "Tha Kebel" will bo repeated this evening. THE BED DANDIES. To-morrow night the popular Red Dan. dies will appear at the Concert Chamber. This company toured New Zealand just over two years ago, and time, it is stated, has only served to add to their store of good humour, musical abilities, and entertaining powers, and they should be certain of ft hearty welcome. In tho present company there are nine artists, and the. programmes are nover dull or patchy. Each individual artist is an important piece of the human mechanism 'that Works-'smoothly with the one view in mind—to entertain the audience. Mr. Claude Dampier is the fun centre, and he as stage manager and producer is responsible for the. artistic representation of everything the Dandies have gained a reputation for. In addition to Mr. Dampier there .are two other members of tho original company, Miss Irene Vere, comedienne, and Mr. Oliver Peacock, tenor, who will make their reappearance to-'morroiv night, and the ,new artists are Miss Mona Thomas, lyric soprano, Miss Ida Newto-j, soubrette, Mr. John Welby, a young baritone with a: fine voice and artistic interpretative powers, Mr. Harry Borradalo, an elocutionist and a light comedian, and i Mr. Cyril Connolly a talented violinist and dancer. Tho box plan is now on view at the Bristol. "THE MAN WHO STAYED AT HOME." Much interest is being taken over the production of the great spy drama, which is tu bo staged here by J. C. Williamson's Company at the Grand Opera House on Wednesday; night next. Although tho box plans do not open until Momky morning, there have, it is stated, been an unprecedented number of inquiries regarding the booking arrangements, and a largo pile of applications for seats have been received through the post, indications pointing to record booking. The (success achieved by "The Man Who SUye:l at Home" in Australia lias been, it is stated, phenomenal. ■ Besides being intensely dramatic, "The Man Who Stayed at Home" has a lot of the comedy element in it. Much of the amusement is provided by 'Mr.'"; Arthur. Cornell, in the role of John Preston, J.P., a fussy old gentleman, who. says that the country is going to the dogs, but who resents anybody, else being ' so unpatriotic. Another type, introduced is the girl who indiscriminately hands out white feathers to anv able-bodied man she meets. A good deal'of the success of the drama ,Tepose3 on the impersonation of Christopher Brent by Mr. Frank Harvey., His, lijjht-. ning changes from the monocled "Johnny" to the (iuick-witted secret service man,' and his diplomatic fooling, it is 'said, is a positive delight. Tho drama is full of strong dramatic situations, and the duel between the man who stayed at home and his ally, Miss Miriam Leigh (Miss Violet Paget) and the four Germ;in spies, "is watched by the audience with breathless interest. During the progress nf tho play Miss Violet Paget and Miss Dorothy Gumming, it is said, wear soma charming .costumes. ' ' HIS MAJESTY'S THEATRE. "The Butterflies" are still filling in an"enjoyable first half -to the programme at His "Majesty's Theatre this week. The time occupied on tho stage by this tal' ented company passes only too quickly with music and mirth.. The remainder of the programme is made up of vaudeville. Turns" are contributed by Montambo and Wells (comedy acrobats),-. Maude and Gill (aerial gymnasts), Nellie ' Kolle (vocalist), The Goolmans.' Gracie Graham, and "Baffling Baker." A matinee will bo given on Saturday afternoon. KING'S THEATRE. Crowded houses are tho rule nightly at tho King's Theatre, where the great filmic adaptation of Elinor Glyn's "Three Weeks" is being shown. The picture has, been powerfully portrayed, while the photography is excellent. Miss Madeline Traverse takes tlie. leading role of the Queen of Severia, while all the other characters are capably interpreted. There is an excellent supporting programme, which will be sSlovh this evening aud tomorrow evening as well as at a. matinee to-morrow afternoon. ' EVERYBODY'S PICTURES. The Australian production, "A Hero of the Dardanelles," now being shown at Everybody's Pictures, is equal, if not superior, in acting and photography to .any of the . dramas of the English and American' producers. The story is one that/appeals to all, and the scene of the landing of tho forces at tlie Dardanelles is realistic and very exciting. ' Among a strong list of. supporting pictures is "Mixed Flats," a laughable Lubin comedy. THE EMPRESS. It'is not often that such a remarkable collection of films are gathered together on one programme as those now being shown to crowded and appreciative attendances at the popular Empress Theatre. Broncho's masterplay, "Winning Back," is one of the very finest film dramas yet seen here. The acting, mounting and dressing are all far the average. The plot deals masterfully with, tho theme of a neglected wife whose thoughtless husband worships at the shrine of an alluring Venus of the ballet, and in the course of unfolding many powerful situations occur. The screening of Keystone's remarkably clever farce, "Guzzle Rivals Jonah, was punctuated by roars of laughter. Syd! Chaplin has never appeared to better advantage. Still another very excellent picture drama is "Kalem's "Box Car Mystery."" Other items are the Australian Gazette and War Cartoons. • WELLINGTON LIEDERTAFEL. Tho first concert of the WellingtonLiedertafel's twenty-second season "was given before a sparse audience at tlie Concert Chamber last evening. The Liedertafel was under- strength in numbers and its tone .body suffered slightly, on' that account, but the programme was tastefully arranged, and proved interesting throughout. It opened with the patriotic part song "Union" (Marsehner). Then followed the cameo cantata "The Nun of Nidaros," by Dudley Buck, which was new to most of.tlioso present It is a work of rare distinction, which- would stand repetition. • The lines, by. Tennyson, ni'o peculiarly applicable to the times, being poetically symbolic of the struggle between right and wrong,' love and hate, "?aee and war, and concluding with a final note of sublime faith, beautifully expressed in tho line—"God is still-God, and His faith shall not fail us!" Tho music is strikingly_ unconventional in melody and harmonic construction, ani was fairly well interpreted. Tlie tenor solo was taken by Mr. K. S. Farmer, whose voice was too thin and nnsnre for the task imposed on him. A choral gem was Mendelssohn's vivacious "Vintage Song," aud Ratton's graceful nart song, -"When Evening's Twilight," nicely, sugRcsted th» cool pkflldlty of eventide?, In our school days we used to sing "A Wst rkwiajJay.'! .Mit m,

a much livelier and more melodious setting than the colourless one given by the Liedertafel last ovoninpr, but there were compensations in tho humorous chorale, "TJio Deil's Awa Wi tho Exciseman"; Sullivan's peaceful part song, "Tho Ijong bay Closes," and Dudley Buck's "Buplo Song" (words from Tennyson's "Princess"), Amunj the soloists Mr. Charles Clarkson stood imt. He ivas never heard to better advantage than in Land's fine song "When Niglit is Darkest," which ho treated in an artistically decorous manner, and with much clearer enunciation than is his wont. As an eneoro ho sans "I Do Confess," a charming song in the early Victorian style. Mr. F. V. Waters sang with gusto "The Song of tlie Bow" (Ayhvard), and "Drako's Drum"; Mr. J. B. Ferguson, a light tenor, contributed the song "Come, Margarita, Come," which suggested only an apprentice effort of that master molodist, Sir Arthur Sullivan; and Mr. James Searle, in healthier tone 3 than usual, sang "O Night, of Stars and Solendour." Miss Nellie Simpson, a capable flautist, played "Am Meer" of Schubert, and an cncoro number. The Liedertafel was conducted by Mr. Robert Parker, and assisted by Mrs. E. C. Cachmaillc, and Mr. D. J. Kenney, as accompanists.