ENTERTAINMENTS

Dominion, Volume 8, Issue 2566, 14 September 1915, Page 7

ENTERTAINMENTS

"HINEMOA," BY TUB MAORI OPERA COMPANY. At fho Grand Opera Honso on Thursday, Mr. I'. Bennett will present' tho Maori Opera Company, in the charming Maori musical play, "Hinemoa," in threo 'acts, by Percy tflynn, a young: New Zealand composer. The company is playing under the patronage of their Excellencies tho Governor and tho Countess o£ Liverpool, and tho Bight Hon. W. F. Massey, who havo signified their intention of being present on the first night, and tho not profits of the tour go to our Wounded Soldiers' Fund. The play is founded on the story of Hinemoa, a beautiful. Maori maiden who dwelt at Rotorua.' Her beauty, together with her charm?, reflected a sacrcd and an etideariug • devotion in the hearts of all who knpw her. A day arrived when that sublime,mission which comes to conquer and reigns supremo over all our utliov thoughts, came to Hinemoa. Tho die was cast, for when sho first met Tutanekai she loved him beyond all tilings, and Tutanekai loved her in return. But Hinemoa was of high rank, wid was enthroned' highly In tho,hearts of her people, who thought that iio man could be worthy to claim her heart and hand. But soon the truth rovealed itself, and' after many barriers were'broken which stood in Tutanekai and Hinemoa's way, tliey wero united, and, like the Prince and Princess in' our fairy stories, they lived happy fiver afterwards. \ It is a simple and exqnisito story. To sco the opera "Hinemoa" actt'd and sung by the Maori Opera Company, which comprises -10 talented Maoris, each oiio an artist, is, it is stated, a revelation. The complete scenery of tho production is a feature of ,the opera. Tho scenes comprise many beautiful, landscapes of Rotorna, including' tho lake and Mokoia. Then again, tho dresses aro said to bo superb and costly. Ono costume is made from thcjskin of the extinct Maori dog, and is stated to bo valued at,Jj4so. There is a full orchestra travelling with tho company hinder the baton of tho composer,-Mr. I'ercy Flynn.. Many supplementary numbers 'are introduced into the opera, including liakas, poi dances, and other native .novelties. The opera is produced by Mr. Charles Archer, formerly of the Royalty Theatre, London. The box plan is now open at the Bristol.'

HIS, MAJESTY'S THEATRE. , J The advent of an almost completely new company of vaudeville artists was sufficiently attractive: to fill His Majesty's Theatre last evening, and the Fuller management is to be congratulated on the excellent standard the newcomers reached, particularly those in the bill who were quite new to Wellington audiences. Outstanding among these was the sensational and novel act of Mr. Lutes and his. Company with tho emphasis on Mr. Lutes. This performer is bereft of arms,' but thanks to a pair of- gifted feet, with extraordinarily prehensile 'toes, ho :is able to make light of his deformity. When ho; pickod up a slido' trombone, sat back in his chair, and' grasping the slide with his toes, played a rousing march,'he made the audience sit up and marvel—marvel at his skill, and, at the same time, cogitate on the little use the ordinary mortal makes of his feet. With' equal facility ho played the side .and big drum at the, same * time whilst liis part-' ner tootled "Tho British Grenadiers on a fife. Then in a gradual crescendo ho hammered nails in a plank, incidentally throwing up the hammer with a twist and catching 1 it between the big and second toe; drew the nails out again; manipulated a brace and bit, sawed Wood, and chopped, a piece into the finest splinters. Then turning his attention to the rifle, he performed some highly dexterous shooting feats, shooting a swinging ball on a string, a piece of paper from his partner's mouth, and the flame of a taper. Then a lady, enters, an opera cloak over her . evening toilet, and takes her stand on a low swing. ' As she sways to and fro, Lutes shoots tho fasteners of the cloak from each shoulder, and it falls to the floor, amidst gasps of nervous surprise from the audience. The partner is also a skilled musician and shot, and one of his acts is to play a tune on tuned plates with bullets from his gun. The act was novel and wonder-raising to a degree. Another new artist who found immediate .-favour was'Aliss Violet Treveriyoh,' a dainty Eniglish soubre'te, graced ful and stylish, who sings catchily in a nvezzo-contralto voice of fair quality. Her songs were "Dancing the Blues Away," "I'll Make You Want Me," "Sly Dad. Was • Irish," and "If I. Thou gut you Loved Me," all of which suited ner magnetic personality. Miss Hazel Morris, a new arrival from America,' is an experienced exponent of smart soubrette pongs, a la. Americaine. She .'was" most, successful in the ditty, "He's My Cousin if Sho's Your Niece," anji "I Want Everyone in the World to Rag with Me." Lew Hoffman. an eccentric tramp juggler, spices his adroit manipulation o£ rubber balls and high -hats with a humour, that tickled throughout his clever act. The Rosie Rifle Co. is mostly Rosie, a fair damsel who is a ci-ack shot with the Winchester rifle, no matter from what angle she takes her sight. Rosie shot resin balls from tho tips oh her partner's fingers, and not content with that, shot them off his face liithi unerring skill. Edwards and Parkes are comedy artists who talk cleverly along the border-line on the novel question of flirtation and love. Mr. Edwards also recited a/stirring poem on "War,' Ancient ,and Modern," very apt and forceful 'jingle. Frank Horberte sang songs that were illustrated by coloured views, Orphea repeated her musical act, Mr. Ernest Pijeher pattered comically on familiar lines, and the-C'aselli Sisters danced in their finished style. Mr. Frank Ciwthor's orchestra is always efficient.

"THE SPOILERS." , Apparently the films which prove the tnost popular at the present day are the adaptations, of well-kno vn noyels, which, having demonstrated their capacity as good sellers, are snapped up by the big film manufacturers and turned to most profitable account in picturedom. In this way tho public-is having all the .wellknown novels visualised in moving pictures, and overy week ushers in some new picturised vorsion of tho quick-selling novel. Tho latest filmic adaptation, that of "The Spoilers," Rex- Beach's great Alaskan romance, as shown at the King's Theatre' last night, can bo easily ranked as one of tho most successful and satisfying films seen here for some time. Selig Company,, the,producers, have caught the fltmospherp of the story, and the large audience present at tho Ring's last night were transported to Alaska to live again tho wild surging life of tho goldfields as it was"away back in the 'eighties. Tho story is such a, one'as tho public, loves to read, and loves a great deal more to see eo powerfully enacted on tho.screen. Glehister and Dextry, two tj-pical Westerners, ruggedly holiest, yet having an almost primordial savagery cotusing through their veins, arc"co-owners of the richest mine in Alaska. There comes on tho Scene .one M'Namara and a rascally judge, who have schemed to jugglo the laws of that clime (an easy thing in those days), and so convert the mine to their own use. The latter's niece, Helen Chester, is an innocent partner to the conspiracy, and when Gleuister falls in love with her his task in thwarting the conspiracy of the M'Namara gang is made all lli'o more difficult. Cherry Malottc, a ilaiiceJiall girl, ivho, in spite of her wayward passions, has a good heart, lpves Gleuister, and when she scos her love unrcfiuited,. her passions at first overpower her better self. Later,, however, her' real nature triumphs, and she is a powerful ally to Gleuister, in overcoming the scheming of M'Namara. All the thrilling incidents of the great duel between Gleuister and M'Namara make a powerful story. Tho lawlessness of the miners, the storming of • tho Alaskan Bank, the efforts to overcome M'Namara first by li'w anil then by violence, the dynamiting: of the mine, and tho final uniting of Gleuister and Helen are all incidents from a great story. Miss Kathlyn Williams, as Cherry Matotte, the fascinating -adventuress", is the'central figure in the story, and her interpretation is a particularly fine one. The other leading parts- are capably interpreted by Messrs. Thomas Snntsclii (as M'Namara), William Farnum (as Glenister). and Frank Clark (as Leiti'y). The King's Orchestra provides special music most acceptably. "Tho Spoilers," winch occupies the whole of tlie programme, will be repeated throughout the week.-

BRITANNIA .THEATHB. "Hearts in Exille," ilio magnificent five-reel picture which was introduced at the Theatre last week, bids fair to create a tecord in Wellington, packed jwusea nil last

week and is being repeated this week. By next Saturday night it will have appeared on the screen at tho Britannia almost !(I0 times. The fact that the picture lias beeen retained is a tributo to its excellence. The film is an adaptation of John Oxenham's novel of the same title. Tho story is a strong and gripping Russian love story, and the setting, particularly where snow country has been utilised, is splendid. The .programme is, without doubt, an exceptionally fino one.

EVERYBODY'S THEATRE. A splendidly produced Majestic drama, entitled "The Living Death," is the star attraction in the now programme presented at Everybody's Theatre yesterday. It deals with tho 6elfish love of a father, who denies to his only child, 1 a beautiful girl, tho right to accept the love of an upright man. The girl's father is a doctor, and he secludes himself and daughter in a little village near a leper .island. Tho girl meets an attractive youug man in .tho neighbourhood, and a mutual ilovo springs lup. In order to separate 'the two the doctor wrongly diagnoses a. slight rash on tho young man's kinds as the beginning of leprosy, and says that it was contracted froni a skull which was dug up near tho shore.' Tho lover believes this verdict and loaves for tho leper island. Tho girl however decides to accept his living death with him. When ho sees tho result of his scheme the father is frantic, and. an exciting motor-boat race takes to stop the couplo going to the island. This is successful, the father repents, and the story ends happily. "His Phantom fsweetheart" is a comedy containing some strong' dramatic features. It shows tho dream of a young man led into a false lovo by a: beautiful woman whose husband is supposed to be confined in a lunatic asylum. An oxciting drama is entitled "Huriian Chains," and shows a girl's fight to regain a postal package which has been robbed from her. A Keystone comedy "Gussle Tied to Trouble," features Syd. Chaplin. The "Gaumont Graphic" 1 contains many topical war pictures, and "Life of a Swedish .Laplander," a scenic film, all contribute to an excellent programme.

THE EMPRESS THEATRE. "Her Hiisuand's Honour," a Kalern two-part drama,, was produced at the Empress Continuous Picture Theatre in Willis Street for the first time yesterday. It is ofie of the most interesting films seen at- this theatre for some considerable -time,. The plot is well sustained, and tho acting and stage setting are good.. The story concerns tho doings of a woman who is in league with an international ' gaiig of smugglers operating between Ivew York and the Continent of Europe.' Her husband is a Customs officer, who .so duty it is to detect theso crimes. Although the woman is devoted to her husband the fascination of pearls grips her. It is known that these precious stones, are being smuggled into the country, aiid it is her husband's duty to find'out who the culprits are. Ho fails. H"is wife itf suspected by the cliief customs, officer, and he makes it-his''busi-ness to search her luggage and effects as she steps off tho mail steamer i'roiii. New York.. He also is unsuccessful in his quest. It happens, however, that the 'husband of tho woman, seeing some chocolates on .her dressing table, takes one. He is surprised to find that tliey contain' a hard white substance. After investigating he discovers that tliey are filled witli pearls, and incidentally he discovers the secret of the ■ smugglers. Dramatic events follow which have to be scon to'be appreciated. The supporting pictures are-all very interesting. The Keystone Company are represented by a laughter-maker, "A Human Hound's Triumph"—a particularly jjood comedy. This week's Topical Budget is well worth seeing. Many stirring pjotui'cs of the war. such as a cavalry charge in Galicia, return of 400 British ' prisoners of war from x Germany, and othor interesting items can bo seen. The Yitagraph drama, "Breaking In," and "Cupid's Pranks/' a good comic 'complete tho bill, .