ENTERTAINMENTS

Dominion, Volume 9, Issue 2792, 9 June 1916, Page 3

ENTERTAINMENTS

PAUL DUFAULT,

The first concert of the Paul Dufault season will be given to-morrow night at the urend Opera -House, and 011 the booking a crowded house is assured to welcome tile popular singer. To-morrow niglit's programme is a very line one, and covers almost every variety .of emotion. In addition to a number of new songs, Mr. Dutault will repeat two of the greatest successes of his last tour, "How's My Boy?" and "An Pays," the delightful il'ronch inarch song. His big aria will be "How Many Hired Servants of my .father," from "The Prodigal Sou," Ly Sir Arthur Sullivan. ' Two new English ballads, which have ' already achi»/ed great popularity, will be included. 'JUiey are "Sometimes in Summer" and "If You Would Love Me." Commenting on this latter song, the "Lyttelton Times" says: "It is impossible, with the memory of the song still fresh, to analyse the qualities that made it" one of the finest love songs heard here, but 'If You.Would Lore Me' will certainly become one of Paul Dufaulfs most .electrifying numbers." The box plans for the Dufault season are at the Bristol. Day sales at the Grand Opera sweet shop.

THE PINK DANDIES. Pew, if any, of Mr. Branseombe's enterprises that havo visited Wellington previously have excelled his present .90111pany of eutertainers—the "Pink Dandies." Among them are some old favourites, .who" have been welcomed enthusiastically. There is also a sprinkling of new artists," and they, too, have been well received. Jlr. Ford Waltham, who lias teen here before, sings- that difficult bass song /'Forging the Anchor," and also "Drinking," in a highly pleasing manner. Mr., Joseph Brennan, in a characteristic French song, and several other catchy items, has scored a decided hit. Mr. Joliiiv Campbell is a clever comedian, and his songs havo taken well. Misses Eita and Lilly Fitzgerald and Miss Ida Newtown sing sweetly some very pretty songs, whilo their duets witli 'the male members of the company ure greatly appreciated. From the opening number to the fall of the curtain there is.not a dull moment, and the "Pink Dandies" will havo a successful run in Wellington.

HIS MAJESTY'S THEATRE. ' An excellent programme is being produced at His Majesty's Theatre this week, chief placo being given to Miss Pearl Ladd and Mr. Villiers Arnold, late of J. C. Williamson's Comic Opera Company. The duo have delighted audiences with their singing'and acting. Both these artists have had to respond to repeated encores. Very graceful dancing by the McLeans last evening was a feature, while .iliss Nan ,Taylor sang sweetly several' Scotch songs. Doranto produced some pleasing music on quaint Chinese instruand filavin and Thompson, patter comedians, were as entertaining as ever. Others who contributed to the programme ■were: Skipp and Gaifney, Vernon and Eeid, Mertonand Eydon, Hazel Morris, George D'Alma, and Grace Quine.

THE KING'S THEATRE. As is usual, the star feature showing this week at the King's Theatre is up to the high 1 class in acting and clear photography! The Fine Arts Studios have left littlo if. anything to be desired in the production .of „"The Lily .and. the .Rose," which is a very interesting story, :and one that is easily understood. Miss Lilian Gish - plays' the Lily, and Rozsika Dolly plays the Rose. The letter's dancing of the "Spirit of Incense" is artistically performed. Other pictures which support the feature . -play • are:. "The l J athe .Gazette," "Mr. Fisher Reviewing the Anzacs," "Across Egypt," and a comedy, /'Playing the Same Game." - There will be a matineo ou Saturday afternoon.' MARX PICKFORD. Frances Hodgson Burnett's great drama, "The Dawn of a To-Morrow," featuring Mary Pickford, is .to be .screened at the King's on Monday. .In this celebrated play Mary Pickford portrays the wonderful character of Glad', the beautiful ragged girl of 'the 1 Londou slums, whose undying optimism,,'and,,, heroic ..courage even starvation., and..deadly peril were' unable to quench. The .delicacy 7of Miss Pickford's . portrayal and the threads of forceful symbolism ~'woven ■ about the drama, are said to make an unforgettable impression on the spectator. How the ignorant little- slum ■ girl', by her beautiful faith 'in the mysterious power she but vaguely comprehends, is enabled to. save her lover's life from the gallows, keep a great financiei\from. suicide, bringing him new hope and meaning of life, and awaken his reprobate nephew to n better manhood, are vividly told. It has been said that this drama of human suffering and hope lias brought to many a despairing'soul a new inspiration to bear the trials of to-day in the expectancy of , to-morrow's dawn. EVERYBODY'STHEATRE. The last iwo daj-s ' of. the successful photo-play, "The Innocence of Ruth," are announced. The picture, which has attracted large audiences. all the week to Everybody's Theatre, has all the .elements that make for popularity—a strong, vivid story, well told, and which develops to a logical climax, exciting situations, clever, bright conicdy, some excellent interpolated numbers such as the classical and grotesque dancing of Miss Dana, splendid production, artistic photography, and finished and convincing acting. Miss Viola Dana is seen to grant advantage in a part that suits her admirably. The supporting programme has been well selected. "DIZZY HEIGHTS AND 'DARING HEARTS." ■ Such is the title of the latest Triangle Keystone comedy, which will be presented at Everybody's Theatre next week. Chester Conklin, better known as "Mr. Walrus," is chief comedian, and in the course of the picture he kidnaps a girl, escapes in a stolen aeroplane, drops bombs, and dynamites a factory,, wlnlo the girl escapes by the means of an umbrella parachute. Sensation and fun run riot. An exceptionally/ strong supporting programme will alto be screened. EMPRESS THEATRE. ! "Should a Wife Forgive," which is filling the Empress Theatre with delighted playgoers at.eyery session, will be withdrawn on Saturday. Apart from the story, which is a powerful one, the gorgeous settings, and the magnificent costumes worn by \ the leading characters, make lor the drama's popularity.' On the same; programme is a brilliant, laughably comedy, "Billy's Lucky Bill," in which the popular Billy. Reeves is featured. The "Topical Gazette," is also a good number. - "MONSIEUR LECOQ." "Monsieur Lecoq" is the favourite detective of Emilie Gaboriau; the famous writer of exciting mystery stories. The 6tory concerns tlic blackmailing of a countess, this is accidentally discovered by Lecoq, and lie determines to fathom 'the mystery of the cause for the blackmail. This- necessitates a tremendous amount of experiences in all classes of life in Paris, when that city was at its gayest, and most dangerous. The detective is baffled' at every turn, and the solution seems impossible, till by a curious twist in the story the family skeleton is discovered, the blackmailers brought to justice, and the drama has a happy ending. The story is a very human one, and the spectators follow the grief of the countess at her unhappy plight with beating hearts, and joy when tne burdens of her life aro removed forever. CROWN THEATRE. At the Crown Theatre there will be screened on Saturday a > picture which deals with the lovo, romance, and adventures of a great Hudson Bay trapper. It is a strong and intensely dramatic story, in which the elemental passions clash and struggle for mastery. Virtue and crime aw ongagpil in a deadly conllict, and virtue winß through and love is triumphant. Hobart Boswortli is featured in this drama and tho photography is excellent. The scenes are full of delightful surprises. The first episode of a striking serial drama, entitled "Tho Broken Coin," by the Trans-Atlantic Compauy, will also be shown. Miss Grace Cunardi takes the rolo of Lucillo Love, and Francis Ford that of- Hugo Loubeque. There will be a matinee at 2.3(1 p.m. to-morrow, when I every child present will receive a "Broken Coin" button.