ENTERTAINMENTS

Dominion, Volume 8, Issue 2534, 7 August 1915, Page 3

ENTERTAINMENTS

THE RED DANDIES. CONCERT CHAMBER TO-NIGHT. As surely ns tho winter comes round so do one or other company of Jli\ Edward Branscombe's Dandies, who have for the last few years made merry in Wellington. Of nil tlio Dandies' Companies that have visited us, none has been so universally popular as the Reds, who appear at tlio Concert Chamber to-nigh:. During tlio two years' absence frjin New Zealand, .the personnel of the company has changed somewhat, and it is claimed that the combination is stronger than ever. Few comedians who have" visited this country, liavo gained tlio wide popularity of Mr. Claude Dampier, and niaay will be pleased' to hear that lie will mako his reappear, anco with the company, as also will Miss Irene Vere, tlie dainty comedienne, Mr. Oliver Peacock, the popular tenor, and Miss Rosina Young, pianist. Tho nowcomers aIL come with a budget of flattering Press notices. Miss Mona Thomas is a soprano, Miss Ida Now ton. a dashing soubrett'e; Mr. John Welby., a young artist, possessing a fine baritone voice; Cyril Connolly is not onlv a violinist, but also an expert dancer; Harry Bomdale is a light comedian, who makes a feature of catchy chorus songs, aud is also an elocutionist. This com-pany has just completed a most successful season of eight months in Brisbane, and they bring with them an entirely new and very extensive repertoire of novelties. The box plan of reserved seats is now open at the Bristol. After 1 p.m. to-day it will bo transferred to Christeson's. A bumper house seems assured to greet this popular company^ THE ALLEN DOONE COMPANY. Tho Allen Doone Company met with, another good reception at the Grand Opera House last night, when they repeated "Tho Rebel. In this patriotic Irish, play, Mr. Allen Doone was 6een to advantage as tho rebel leader, and the various songs contributed by him were loudly applauded. The versatile company showed to great advantage in this play. To-night "The Parish Priest" will be presented, THE KING'S THEATRE. Tonight will terminate the run at ,the King's Theatre of tho electric film success, Elinor Glyn's "Three Weeks," which the management states has during the week attracted the largest attendances known, at tile King's. As tho demand for seats this evening is sure to be abnormal, intending patrons are reminded that reserves may be secured at .tho Bristol until 1 p.m., and after that hour at tho theatre. A matinee exhibition will be given this afternoon at 2.30, which will afford an opportunity for avoiding the evening crush. On Monday next the star attraction will bo a very powerfully executed dramatic production (in three parts) from the Edison studios. The lead is played by little Viola Dana, who is fast becoming a favourite with American audiences. The story:—Ruth Eenton, the idol of her parents, is acquainted with Alec Peters, a brakeman on the train which conveya , her to school in the adjoining village every morning. When she is graduated from school, Alec sends her a. note inviting her for a walk somo evening, as ho has been put on a new run with, a two-hour lay-over in her village. Unsuspectingly, she meets him after choir rehearsal. Mr. Eenton admonishes her bitterly for keeping company with Alec, who, ho says, is no good. In his ultimatum to Ruth, who is appealiDgly innocent, ho tells her she may nevsr darken his door again if she is caught with Alec. She meets Alec, and he persuades her to go away, with him. Hor life in the city and her subsequent home-coming ana tragic end are. worked out in strong dramatic situations. Others include:— "Pathe's Gazette," "The Challen Isles" (scenic), "Billy's Wager" (comedy), and "Cartoons in a Barber's Shop."MIS MAJESTY'S THEATRE. There will bo a matinee as well'as, the usual, evening performance at His Majesty's Theatre today. "The Butterflies" are still providing mirth and music as their share of the entertainment,' and they aro earning great praise. Turns are also provided, by Montambo and Wells (comedy acrobats), Maude and Gill (aerial gymnasts), Nellc Kolle (vocalist), "The Goolman's," Gracio Graham, awl "Baffling Baker." EVERYBODY'S THEATRE. At the popular Everybody's Theatre tho stirring Australian war drama, "Tho Hero of the Dardanelles" is still arousing great interest. A very realistic and dramatic landing at the Dardanelles is a scene that appeals to all. Tho supportfilms'are very interesting, and an especially laughable Lubin comedy is given in "Mixed Flats." "A Hero at the Dardanelles' .will bo 6hown for the last timo to-day, THE EMPRESS. : Densely crowded attendances throughout yesterday favoured tho splendid programme at the' Empress Theatre. Bronchos masterpiece, ''Winning Back," is unquestionably among the finest dramas shown in Wellington for a very long time, while Keystone has never contributed anything funnier, or, it may be said, cleverer than "Gusslo Rivals Jonah." ICalem's "Box Car Trap" is a sensational play, while "The Gazette" is most interesting. Indeed, every picture possesses gi-eat merit. Tor Monday, at 11 a.m., tho management' will screen by special arrangement what is described as one of the greatest melodramatic successes of tho screen, A Daredevil Circus Queen." Tha Ration of the play is eaid to be one of the most extraordinary and daring episodes ever filmed. Tho heroine, to win a wager of 000, made by an American millionaire, takes the place of the Yankee magnate and rides a circus horse oyer the, "Big Wheel" at Paris. The ■ i ' s 'be Eclair studio, is 3500 ft. long. Keystone will be represented by Mabel Noriuand and Fatty Arbuckle in the latest fun. farce, "Wished on Mabel." The latest Topical Budget will also be showing. "A SCRAPE 0' THE PEN." Mr. and Mrs. Graham Moffat, who will be well remembered in Wellington, will open at tho Grand Opera House on August 21, in their latest Scottish -production "A Scrape o' the Pen," which has recently had a very successful season in Auckland. Mr. and Mrs. Moffat have associated with them ou this occasion a greatly augmented company, the newcomers including Misses Mattie M'Lellan (as Jean Lowther), Margaret Noble (Flora M'Gilp), Gertio Henderson (Mra. Baikie) Mr. Alec. Hunter (Hugh Menzies), and Mr. Robert "Purdie (Alec. Inglis) all of whom have played in the production of this comedy drama in England. -Mr. and Mrs. Moffat will be seen in their original parts of Mattha and Leezie Inglis, while old favourites of the Bunty Company will include: Misses Nan. Taylor, Winifred Moffat, Messrs. Abio Barker, David Urqubart, and Bob Anderson. The stage settings will show the interior of Honevneuk Farm, and the cross-roads at Minniehive, and in the latter scene the tympany give a realistic representation of the old Scottish custom—Hogmanay. The season hero will only last seven nights, and on tho last night of the season "Bunty Pulls the Strings" will bo re vived.

"TEE MAN WHO STAYED AT HOME." At 9 a.m. on Monday at the Bristol tho box plans will be opened for tlio representations of tho great spy drama "Tho Jinn Who Stayed at Home," to be staged by J. C. Williamson's dramatic company to? a brief season, commencing at tho Grand Opera House on Wednesday night next. The production is being looked forward to with great interest, and playgoers will probably appreciate an outlino of tho story. Tho aotion opens in the pi'ivato sitting-room of a fashionable hotel on tho east coast of England. This is tho battleground of tho competitive strat. egy of six spies four of them Teutonic, two English. It proves to bo a strenuous fight, and the man who wins is tbo apparent "silly ass" Christopher Brent, who affects a toy monocle and inane laugh. Tho enemy agents take him at his foco value, and it is not until it is too lato that they become aware of his acumen and resource. An officer of the secret service, he has taken up his abode at a seaside hotel, and has discovered a gang of German spies. The proprietress, under cover of an-English name (Mrs. Sanderson) is deep in intrigue, and sho has the advantage of a son, Carl, in tho British Admiralty, a German waiter, who talks in Dutch, and a German governess. Brent, early in the piece, discovers a M-irconi wireless in the fireplace and removes tho deflector pin to render it useless, he shoots tho carrier pigeon which was taking plana of minefields and of forts to Potsdam, solves the spies' code book and does other important services for his Empire. This is why he stayed at home, and why, too, he was unable to disclose to his iianccfl the reason of his apparent cowardice in not volunteering to go to the front. Brent accepts the white feather from his fiancee, and insults from his friends with a nonchalance that annoys his sincere little lover, and sends his fussy future father-in-law into irascible hysterics. Tho thread of sentiment is delicately handled in the play, and offers winning contrast to the energetic contest of the supremo plot. The comedy element is a relief from the intensity of the dramatic situations. NORTH ISLAND TOUR. At the termination of its Wellington season, the great spy drama will be staged at Palmerston North on August 21, at Feilding on August 23, at Wangaaui on August 24 and 25, at Elthain on August 26, at Hawera on August 27,' at Stratford on August 28, at New Plymouth 1 on August 30, at Auckland September 1 t.o 10, at Gisborne on September 13 and 11. 'at Napier on September 16 and 17, at Hastings on. September IS, at Danncvirko on September 20, at Masterton oh September 21. The production will bo staged in each town on the exact scale of completeness as in the large centres. Th box plan will be opened three days prior to the opening performance in each town; SUNDAY CONCERT. To-morrow evening at His Majesty's Theatre the Professoinal Orchestra makes its fifth appearance this season, under the baton of Mr. Herbert Bloy. The outstanding items on the programme are tho "Egmont" and "Zampa" overtures, and Tschaikowsky's "Maiche Slave," while initial performances will be given of Leoncavallo's "Spanish Suite" and a "Hungarian Fantasia," by C. J. Roberts. Messrs. A.' P. Truda and H. Moscliini will contribute "Lo! Hear the Gentle Lark," as a flute and clarinet duet. A silver coin collection will be taken up at the doors.