ENTERTAINMENTS

Dominion, Volume 10, Issue 3085, 16 May 1917, Page 3

ENTERTAINMENTS

GRAND OPERA HOUSE. The Brandon-Cromer Company, which opened a season in Wellington with tho old favourite, "The Fatal Wedding," repeated tho play before a good audionco last evening. The production was perfectly satisfying, and the talent of the principals quite equal to the demands the play makes upon them.

HIS MAJESTY'S THEATRE. Devotees of vaudeville "in Wellington will-have little to complain of in tho fare offered by the Fuller Management at His Majesty's Theatre this week. A number of new artists arrived in town yesterday, the average excellence of which was at onco recognised by a large'audience last evening. Chief of these is Vaudinoff and Louie, a water-colourist, who works _ at lightning speed, and his assistant. Vnndinoft', who has a pretty taste, in colours, painted with rare skill a very beautiful basket of roses, which in the spotlight looked so real that an auditor remarked that he could catch their perfume. With equal speed he dashed off a palm-fringed water-lily strewn pool, and finally set himself the' task of painting a picture whilst the easel revolved rapidly on an axle in a gradual accelerando. When the easel was stopped it was discovered that tho artist had painted a lovely bouquet. The act is> distinctly novel, clever, and original. Jeanetto Spellman, who is billed as "the cheerful chatterbox," sings in a "jolly-good-fel-low" manner "Ton Dog-gone Dangerous Boy" and "I'm Getting Older Every Day." She amused tho audience with the fun she was -able to get out of "movie" titles, which certainly abound in unconscious humour. Miss" Spellman was quite a success, and should grow in popularity. A rather odd, but not uninteresting, turn was that provided by the crippled champion swimmer, "Skipper" Francis, who on August 27, 1912, 6wam 15 miles of the Bristol Channel in 4 hours 32 minutes, whioh is said to bo a record for that puzzling bit of water. "Skipper" Francis told the audience all about it, and then showed a moving picture of his feat. He concluded his act by singing a song of his own composition entitled "Keep Smiling-, Mother," dedicntod to the mothers of the Empire's fighting sons. The Gadabout Girls aTo also new to New Zealand. They are a quintette-' of bright girls, who present in Pierrot costume a bright little entertainment of songs, dances, etc. One of tbo girls has a pretty and flexible sopranothat was exercised in ballads, and another' charming performer of the soubrette order made a "hit" in the "Missouri" song, with a harmonised chorus. Murfayne, the vigorous and accurate xylophonist, is still one of the star features, as also are Cuskn's Monkeys and •Terry, the intelligent collie. The monkeys are. extremely well trained and continuously amusing. .Jack .Jfa t f.in, Doranto, and Carlton and Sutton also contribute to the gaiety of the evening.

ENGLISH PIERROTS. ■ The English Pierrots, under the direc-tion-of Messrs. Will and Rob Thomas, will commence a winter season at tho Town Hall to-morrow evening. It is six years since the combination were in the Dominion. Novelty is the keynote of tho company, musical gems, monologues, character sketches, burlesque drama, potted plays, dances, and impersonations being amongst the promised bill of fare. The company numbors ten performersfour ladies and 6ix men—and includes the- well-known comedians, Mr. W. P. Turner and Mr. Charles Lawrence. The opening programme will introduce several capital items, affording ample scope for the individual and collective ability of tho English members. The Pierrots present a class of entertainment which may be said to appeal to all classes. A' pleasing feature about their performance is the clean humour presented with novel effects. Box plan at Bristol. '

I KING'S THEATRE. . Tho daring film, "Where Are My Children?" continues to attract- big and enthusiastic attendances both during, the afternoon and. at night. "Where Are My Children?" is a terrific indictment against the great social evil of;race suicido,which it ruthlessly attacks, exposes, and condemns. The last tliTeo days and nights are announced. Seats may bo reserved at the Bristol or over-'phone 3143. In addition to being shown at the King's Theatre this afternoon and to-night, the picture will also be shown at the Crown Theatre to-night.

THE EMPRESS. An excellently varied picture menu is presented at the Empress Theatre Marc M'Dormott, in "The Price of Fame," is excellent, and Naomi C'hilders is as beautiful as ever. Other pictures on the bill are . Fruitful Canada," a. laughable Keystone comedy, and a Topical Gazette, the latter showing Mr. Massoy and many New Zealand soldiers in England.

EVERYBODY'S. Margery Wilson, in "Tho Bride ci Hate," had to faco a curious problem in make-up. She represents a Spanish girl who has to be sufficiently dark to be mistaken for someone with a strain of negro blood. She succeeds in her efforts, yet without detracting from her undoubted beauty. Frank Keenan, as the man who takes such a terrible revonge upon the betrayer of his grand-niece, gives a fine delineation of the role. Billie Burke appears in "The Fugitive Witness."