ENTERTAINMENTS

Dominion, Volume 11, Issue 3, 28 September 1917, Page 3

ENTERTAINMENTS

"LA. MASCOTTE." The smoothness, 'smartness, and precision that aro being shown by the amateurs make Audran's lisht' opera a very satisfying entertainment and all |who would witness a very delightful exposition of this fascinating comic opera should not miss the performance, which is to bo (?iven for the last time to-morrow eveningr. Miss llelen Gard'ner is singing the role of Bettina with fine case and security, and her acting leaves next to nothing to desire. Another uniformly good performance is that of Princess Fiametta, by Mis? Isabel Wilford. She. is the petulant, changeful demoiselle "of the ,blood royal to the life. A surprisingly good study of the role of Priuce Fratellini is siven by Mr. Herbert Wood. One of the features of this rcposoful characterisation is tho clarity of the performer's diction both in speech and song. Mr. ten. Barnes jnakes a robust "Pippo, and tho fooling of Messrß. A. W. Newton (as Laurent) and 'Mr. Alva Shaw (as Hocco) makes laughter unconfined whenever they are in view. An especially pleasing effect is successfully achieved in the final act, where the girl Boldiers execute a military march in great style. Armed with coloured lanterns they also make a brave show at the midnight wedding of Pippo and Bettina. Mr. Tom Pollard deserves much credit for the manner in which he has "produced." A SPECIAL PERFORMANCE. Tho Bociety has consented to* give a special matinee performance of *'La Mascotte in the Grand Opera Hous© to-mor-row afternoon in aid of the "Our Day" Red Cross Funds. Reduced prices will be charged./ Tlie performance will commencc at 2 p.m. sharp. MISS ADA REEVE. Miss Ada lteeve, who is to* begin a si* nights' season at the Grand Opera House on Monday night next, ranis amongst the greatest artists 'the English-speaking stage has yet produced. This she proved by the fact that she has held undisputed pride , of place in the estimation of London playgoers for many years past. That she has more than realised the expectations of New Zealanders was demonstrated., in i Aucklaud, where, after the opening night, j the plans were rushed, and tho local thea- J tre proved far too small to accommodate the number which nightly endeavoured to obtain admission. Miss Reeve has fallowed up her Auckland success by attracting record houses iat 1 Wanganui, Napier, Hastings, and Palmerston North, and judges by the booking recorded hero yesterday at the Bristol, the same will apply to Wellington. The estimation in which Miss Reeve is held by Australian soldiers was demonstrated in Sydney recently, wheii the Lone Pine Band and a large number of soldiers met the popular comedienne on her arrival from Melbourne, and escorted her, in the presence of thousands of people, from the railway station to her hotel, and later from her hotel to the theatre! This demonstration timent was the outcome of a deputation of returned soldiers, who, remembering Ttiiss Reeve's splendid work on their beI half in Egypt, and the great interest eho j had. taken in the London Anzao Bunet, i waited upon their commanding officer, who gave them the necessary permission, to show their appreciation of the patriotic little comedienne. It is stated that from the moment she makes her appearance on the sta&o Miss Reeve quickly gets on terms of intimacy with her audience, ana she has invariably to present at least ten numbers before she is allowed to l e . a y° the stage, v Miss Reeve and the thirty members of her company will arrive from Masterton to-morrow morning at she will be met at the Lambton railway station bv tlie Trentham Military Band and the Trumpet. Band, and also by a number of returned soldiers who will escort her firstly to the Eetnrnod_Soldieis Olub, and thence to the Town Hall, and the returned soldierß will hold a reception in Miss Reeve's honour at the Soldiers Club, Lambton Quay, at 3 o olock the same afternoon. The plans for the season aro now open at the Bristol.

: HIS MAJESTY'S THEATEE. Malcoliu jr£a«hern, who.. \ym formerly known as a member of the Melba, Concert l'arty, still occupies tile foremost r4 ace at His Majesty's .Theatre,- and his singing is nightly the delight, of large audiences. His rendering cf favourite numbers is so far above the average in Quality that It- comes as a pleasant surprise to the blase frequenter of theatres. Mr. M'Earchern's genial smile and line bearing count for a great, deal, and 6° to complete one of the greatest artistß that have over appeared m iSiew z,eaiana. The Boyle Trio continue to dance ana sine to the unqualified satisfaction of Uie house, and "Twirly-Whirly," Paul Stanhope's revue, still occupies the whole 01 the eecond part of the bill. KING'S THEATEE. • "The Manxman," a photo dramatisation of Hall Cainc's great novel, featuring Henry Ainlcy, will bo screened for the last time to-night at the King's Theatre. The leading picture of the new programme," to be screened at the matinee to-morrow, is a frohman drama entitled "God's Man and the Woman." The cast includes more than twenty well-known screen actors, who are assißtcd by hundreds of supporting characters, The plot has been taken from G. B. Howards novel, which discloses the sordidness of certain phases of life in New York. It is said that the result has been a most intense and dramatic photo play. The story deals with three young men who set out to > New York with the liishcst ideals and hopes, but are in every part of the play overwhelmed by the snares that the huge city lays for thein. H. B. Warner, who was such a success in "The Haiders, is cast in the leading role. • EVERYBODY'S'THEATEE. The final screening of "The Paws of the Bear," a stirring and dramatic war story, will bo given at Everybody's Theatre tonight. "Bawbs of Blue Ridge," the latest Triangle play, iB to b6 shown to-morroy. Bawbs is a child of the wilds, living the life of a savage in the Blue Eidge Mountains of Virginia. She knows little of civilisation until she meets an American author who goes to the mountains in order to obtain material for his novel. Bessie Barriscalo is cast in tho leading role, and is said to give a delightful sation. A Keystone comedy Pinched m the Finish," featuring Ford Sterling, will also be shown. EMPRESS THEATRE. "The Maelstrom" will be soreencd for the last time to-night at tho Empress Theatre. "An Amateur Orphan" will be the star feature of tho new programme commencing to-morroto. Mercia is tho daughter of a millionaire who disposes of Quincy, a sedate governess, by /sending Mercia to a hoarding school while he and bis wife go to Japan- Mercia finds the intonated Quincy just as she is discharged, ana implores her to let her go to an orphanage in place of Quincy'a niece. The incidents that occur at the orphanage are said to bo extremely humorous. Gladys Leslie will appear as Mercia. Also on the same programme will be Chapter 12 tOi The Iron Claw" entitled "Haunted Canvas.