ENTERTAINMENTS

Dominion, Volume 10, Issue 3186, 10 September 1917, Page 7

ENTERTAINMENTS

REVUE AT HIS MAJESTY'S. "Wellington vaudeville patrons win 110 doubt remember with pleasing tho curious drolleries and quaint antics of that versatile revuo comedian, Mr. Paul n.tanhopo, who appeared hero under tho Fuller agement a couple of years ago, with ma Hovuo Company. Since that time Jlr. Stanhope has been back to Ins, nivuvj America and, reorganised end winroicea his combination of players. The new company is said .to.'have created ninbounaed enthusiasm wherever they liavo appeared over the big Fullex circuit,/.anil keen interost has been manifested to the' advent in Wellington of this much talkod-about show. Wellington P'easuiclovers may, thereforo, look f° rw , ar<l „ 5 high-class production when Stanhope ana his company commence oppratwns at ■ Hi Majesty's Theatre this evening. llie> coi ps do ballet introduces several of Australia s prettiest, eifls, and tho vocal items aio strengthened by tho combined tal-nt® oi the well-known Grafters Quartet. Mr. vai Newman and Miss Lottie -will Helen Lecain, Miss Edna M Co;II, Mr. Will Raynor, and Mr. Geo. MOoll arf ; ', ] ] of tho better known ' of in tho company's personnel, flicie:at or tho combination has full OPP" 1 : 1 displaying undoubted talent. J 1 dresses are the work of Swan and Mb" . London, and Farmers, Sydney- The man ager announces thcro will bo no lncieaeo in prices, and tho - box plants now on view at tho Bristol. "Safety First is the title of the opening production. llie vauderfllo portion of the programme will include the M'Kays, who' ere to Wellington, in then' potpourri or Scotch novelties; George DA]lm». lar "Gold Banio Boy"; Milner and Storey, the popular English artists, in a > n sketch; and Signor and SignoraHolinari, ffi6 HJHan operatic vocalists. A is scheduled for Saturday afternoon next.

- KING'S THEATRE. "The Magnificent Meddler." a Vitagrapl! production, in which Antonio Moreno and Mary Anderson cany tli heavy part of the work, gave Pl easurc ™ a crowded house at the Kings ■F lleat Saturday evening. The story is clever y worked up, and into It is crowded a worm of art, cxcitemcrit and humour. A young newspaper reporter full of enthusiasm acquires a powerful dally, with which wen con he proceeds to wage war on the boss. who. tor his own ends, rules the town m whicli the paper is published. lulo tbo theme la woven a pretty lotc story. Dainty Mary Anderson, the heroine, is tho daughter of the corrupt "boss." and assists the yountr editor to overthrow the powers that are sirarigling the town. Sensational episodes abotind'in the picture, and they wore much to tho lSkln? of Saturday's audieuce. Tho suporttng programme is a strong ono, including the screamingly funny Chaplin production, "The Kink," which kept. the nouso in an uproar.. Tho programme will •bo screened ior the" real of-the week.

EVERYBODY'S THEATRE. . A very picturc, entitled "The Girl Glory," heads the bill at Everybody's Theatre this week. ' The "story is by C. Gardner Sullivan, and the beautiful kuid Bennett plays the loading p&ft. Euid Bennett is a star who lias of late been frequently upon Wellington screens, and on all occasions her name has been associated -with productions that wero ft grea-t» success. 'She fits .her port of Glory excellently. Glory Wharton is the granddaughter of Jed Wharton, a Civil War veteran, whose besetting weakness is a lilting for alcohol. Apart from Ills drinking habits he is a fine old gentleman, and Gl»ry determines to use what skill she possesses to wean him from the—evil. Thinking ovor, and• conicnn£ w*ith • the young -minister of- tho-little village silo lives in, she finally hits upon $ plan—a daring and original one. To the dismawof her neighbours, she prenteas to have developed a tasto for liquor, and one ,day she staggers out from an open bar. flushed. and apparently intoxicated. The old man learns his lesson quickly, and Glory's happiness fs complete; nnji, of course, tho young minister helps to render Glory's joy more radiant than over. Walt Whitman performs the part of Jed Wharton splendidly. An interesting picture of tho barouo which was rorently Oil the Wellington Patent Slip is included in tho programme.

THE EMPRESS THEATRE. ''Tile- Family Honour," a World Film drama,'starring Robert Warwick and June Eivioge, is tho ncnv headliner at tho Empress Theatre. Tho story tells how Marcia.' fares with hc» suitors. Erie Maimvaring is in love with her, and he tells Anthony that she ,is a woman to bo bought, not ■won by loving: Anthony is also infatuated with Marcia, and, spurred on by Jlainwaring. he decides that by hook or by crook ho will securo enough money to attract the girl. Ho opens ■Is father's sofe and steals from it some Government fundi placed there by his elder brother Stephen. Later, Anthony loses all the money to Mainwaring. at cards. Stephen on discovering the loss from the safo is driven to the conclusion that Marcia has induced Anthony to commit tho theft, snd he hurries to Harcia's apartment. He discovers Jlainwaring there, and overhoars tho latter saying: '"Hero is tho money I liavo cheated from Anthony Wayne at cards! 1 know that you arc iust what I told him—a woman to be bought. Horc iB tlie money to buy you,' reply causes Stephen to doubt whether ho lias rightly judged her, and the upshot of his meeting with her is that lie falls in love with lier. His fortune, is better than that of the other suitors. The story is splendidly staged, and the photography of the film is distinctly good. Svpporting tho big picture are "Arroys of Hato" (Chapter 9 of "The Iron Claw") and "Tho. Rink' 1 (n. Chaplin film).

THE ENGLISH PIERROTS. The English Pierrots had the doubtful pleasure of turning away about as many people' as they entertained on Saturday evening, which shows that their popularity is not ephemeral, but a lasting one. In this caso tho judgment of the public is without flaw, for tho Pierrots certainly out-distance their competitors in almost every respect, and each new programme appears to be hotter than its predecessor. The one presented on Saturday evening was excellent in every respcot. That little gem comedienne, Miss Elsa Langlcy, was in admirable form, and never failed to fascinate and entertain every unit in the audienco She made a hit with her housemaid song, "Since I "Walked Out With a, Soldier." and was equally , qui/,zic.il and charming in "My Young Mali:" One cf tho best items of the evening was the duet telwetn Miss Langloy and .Mr Chas. Lawrence, entitled "Eyes of Rlye,' which has a fascinating 'melody, end was very daintily interpreted. For an enooro they sing "I'll Dig a Subway to Your Heart. Mi'. David Lyle, who is returning to form, sang in good taste "Love's Valley, "My Love in Brittany," and "In Dreams.' Another performer who showed "his vocal quality to great advantage was Mr. Lulls Mitchell, who gave a very ilno reading of an exceptionally good song, "Speed the Plough," which is- really worth hearing. He was equally charming in "A Hose. Miss . Billio Wilson made a hit in her pretty pyjama- song, "Slumbcrla-nd," which has a tornic finale. When 'encored, she gave one of her "kiddy" impersonations, ill which she is extremely clever. Mr. Leslie Austin in comic mood sang the smart song, "You've Got to Put Up V/itll It,'' a funny story about a motor-car. Mr. Chas. Lawrence, always a favourite, was extremely laughable in "Fact fiii.d Fiction," but was even better in the tragic recital. "Tie Gardener's Story." Mr. Roy Cook was tho soloist in the ur using "Cottage by ihe Sea" number, and sang "Nirvana" in. fine style,. The" finale of tho first part was "Good-bye," a burlesque without a vartebrac, which /had something to do with the.good-bye Tosti wrote. As a bit of pure farce it was- most amusing. "Shopping," tho farce which conclude! tho last act. was also a scream, each and every member of the crmpany doing his or her bit towards the general merriment.

"THE MAGIO CARPET." Lovers of dancing will have the. opportunity of witnessing some beautiful dancing by the pupils of Miss Gladys Campboll at the production of "The Mugio Carpet" at the Grand Opera .House, commencing Saturday next. Miss Campbell has several promising pupils, who aro putting great zest into their work. Ihe several ballets are distinctly unique and artistic, being entirely new to Wellington. In fact, everything is being dono to placo .before the public a performance at once pleasing and of a high artistic order. The box plan opens at Uio iiristol this morning, at 9 o'clock. The proceeds will be devoted to ihe Countess Liverpool's Trench Comforts Fund.

' "SONS OP THE EMPIRE." Ail unusually fine opportunity for studying the wiir at close quarters by proxy is promised the public when Sons of tno Empire," described as a remarkable series of war pictures, will be exhibited at the Town Hall. The spectator iB. conducted to various parts of tho front, including the sccncß of hot battle, with iierco bombardments in full progress and infantry attacks going on. The intricate detail 01 the Army and its work, the unlimited complication which seems to defy order, is shown, yet all works to tho appointed cuei. The mass of men and material are an vividly nictured. A preat variety ol w.ulike implements is shown in use, including the famous ,tnnkn. which perform some of their most notable feats in front of the camera. Ail-crafts figure prominently and the watcher of.the screen in elTiot looks down from a lieipht ol more than I,wo iniloH upon a broad vision 01 shell pitied battlefield. The fleet, in. its raany brandies. oecnpies a Jarce section ol tno programme, and this portion of tno series has sonic particularly interesting features. Submarines aro shown on the surface and diving and with puns in action, and their companion novelty, lho seaplane, flies

high above tho water and illustratively drops high-power bombs. As a whole the series is Bald to be an exceptional collection worthy of the Imperial forces it re* presentsi and as instructive as it is winning to the beholders. The pictures are beinsr shown by the Y.M.O.A. under arrangement with the' National Government, in order to obtain further funds for patriotic purposes'. The receipts are to be devoted to providing comforts for our fighting men in trench and camp, or wounded nnd convalescent in New Zealand or abroad, under tho direction of the-Minis-ter of Internal Affairs (the Hon. G. W. Itussell). The season will open on Monday next, and ail exhibition will be given each night, and matinees on Wednesday and Saturday. Seatß may be reserved at the Bristol on "Wednesday next at 9 a.m. OKGAN RECITAL. A good deal has been Baid and_written lately about tho failure of the City Organist's recitals to attract the public, and , whilst admitting -the many musicianly qualities possessed by Mr. Bernard I Page, it is to be regretted that these recitals have not and are not accomplisxiing;the task allotted to them, namely, educating the public up to a better appieciation of high-claes music. It is not easy to say where the fault lies, as it is the common lot of organists, particularly those who will not "stoop to conquer by playing more popular music, to play to benches that are not crowded. An organist who is not above "tickling the carß of the musical groundlings" may visit us occasionally, and give undeniable pleasure, but wherever there is a rigid adhevenco to the classical [though some classical music is extremely popular) or that of the ultra-modern school (which musicians themselves find difficult to understand ill some instances), tlio rule.tho world over iB that the audiences are thin to emaciation Mr. Page takes a lofty view of his duties; prefers the best in musio;. scornß tho use of tricks, and will not use the vol liumana stop except in combination, and therefore plays to a few score peoplo -the same peoplo on irregular occasions. It is not the Saturday night arrangement that keeps tho people away, for Saturday is admittedly the best evening in the week foi' any kind of entertainment. Tho reason in plain language is that tlio average run of the music played by Mr. Pago Is over the heads of ninety-nine per ccnt. of tho public, and as such music docs not entertain them they stay » wa yOn Saturday evening, a line night with very little in tho way of counter-attrac-tions, about the usual number of people paid for admission. The programme was attractive to those Mr. Page lias trained to appreciate some of the most delectable of organ music. It Included Faulkess "Sonata ill D Minor," a very fine composition, well defined, melodious, and dignified; the now familiar "Prelude and Fugue in D Major," by Glnzonnov;' Cesar, Francks arresting "Fantasia in 0"; Wagner's 'Hclgfriod" idvll; and in ltaht relief a "Prayer and "Oanzona." by^ffuttniotit; an attractive number by Jongen, entitled "Penseo d'Antoinne," and Scrlabino's "Prelude." There will be another recital next Satur-. day, evening.