ENTERTAINMENTS

Dominion, Volume 13, Issue 222, 14 June 1920, Page 6

ENTERTAINMENTS

KING'S THEATRE. A packed-house greeted the Nat Gould racing feature at tho King's on Saturday night, and if "A Fortune at Stake" i» to bo taken as an example of what Of.d England can produce, then nothing i» to-be learned from America.. Gerald Ames, as Martiudalc, the gentleman rider, is the personification, of British lovb of sport and fair p'.ay. An unusual thrill is provided in the great raco scene,. when tho hero strives neck and neck with a phantom rider beside hiin. Tho racing scenes are. tho true atmosphere, and in production, direction, and teting the picture is a credit to the pioduccrs. The King's Orchestra rwidcred Suppe's "Pique Dame" in a manner that caEed forth much applause, and Mr. Eraser Thomson was gntu a warm reception for his character sketches. "GINGER MICK." , Change of venue' his had absolutely no effect on the popularity of E. J: Oarroll's super-feature "Ginger JuVck," which is now in season at Everybody's, continuing there till Thursday. At each of the fivo sessions on. Saturday record audiences were in evidence, and the consensus of opinion was that "Ginger Mick" •is an even, better production, than its predecessor, "The Sentimental Bloke." The six reels of ; "Gingor Mick" are packed full of humorous aud pathetic touches and have a convincing aii of humanity and ■ truth. "Ginger Mick" is in no way inferior to the.kst of the American pictures seen here. The big picture is excellently supported by other subjects, and a full orchestra. Seafe? may be reserved at the theatre or by 'phone. '■' EMPRESS THEATRE. •The programme to-day at tho Empress Theatre is headed by a dramatisation of the famous novel by E. Phillips Oppenr heini, "The Illustrious Prince." Scssuo llayakavra has in this story a vnagnificont vehicle for his'talents. The production lias received masterly treatment, The supporting programme includes a :ollicking comedy, and the weeky Gazette.

. "THE DANDIES." "Tho Dandies" will' to-night repeat a programme that two big audiences have already voted excellent. Almost' throughout the bill 'Mr. George' Sharratt: is pYominent,' and to him belongs tho credit of all tho big humorous successes. Those who relish broad comedy should hear'Mr! Sharratt in. "Tho Policeman's Honeymoon" or in tho series of burlesques that he rattles through with tho assistance of Miss Annette Lang. "Shakespeare's Home," which is the , last item on-the bill, gets as .runny laughs as anything else in tho show. Mr. Sharratt is the principal fun-maker ■ in it also, though. Mr. Benn Millar's caricature of a worn-out nctor and Miss Lang's "Ophelia" are not' to be overlooked. The company possesses clever singers in Miss Hazel Fuller, Miss v. Elsie Orange, and Mr. Cottrill. ,Mis 3 Lang's dancing and Miss Rosa Walton's musical monologues are always popular. Miss May Joyce, bolo violinist, displays a genuine mastery of her instrument. ' "A DAUGHTER'OF SEVILLE." Success attended the production of a pretty dance play, "A Daughter of Seville," by Miss Estello Beere. at the Grand Opera House on Saturday., A matinee'was given in the afternoon, but tho main, performance took place in tho evening in tire presence of Her Excel- , lency the Countess of Liverpool and: a crowded audience. The play, written by Miss- Bfere herself, is delightful in its simplicity. There was a clever cast, ■ composed of Miss Beere's pupils, hud the young children acquitted Jthem-, selves splendidly. Briefly, the story is a pretty little love theme, with Theimit Airken ns Zara, a Spanish maiden, in the principal part... Zara's hand is sought by Juan (Miss D. Donnelly), but there is also a rival for the honour in the person of Jose' (Mis 9 E. Clarridge). Before Juan's claim can be successful, Yarn's father Zilpah (Mr. Zante Wood)' Wlposcs a condition that "two hundred golden nuggets" must be brought to him by sundown* as ho is favourably inclined towards tho suit of Jose. Dolores, the fortune-teller (Miss : Vhea Vaughnn) has told her cards' truly, and 'ere the darkness falls, Juan has vron his bride and all take their, part in the betrothal dance,. The scone.is laid, m the market place in: Seville, and a

Spanish air pervades the whole story,

The dancers, gipsies, Uower-seliera, etc., wero beautifully- dressed and the dancing was superb, especially that of the children. They all showed evidence of perfect training. Perhaps the prettiest scene of all was' the seranaders' song and dance, "Sole Mio," in which the participants were Ira Wolfgang ana Gwen Hopkins (solo),, Dorothy (Jlarridgc, Frances Pollock, Mavis Brunette "and Nanoya Wilson. Grace and beauty characterised tho dancing, and the singing was good. The flower-sellers' dance b) -Nancy Beere, Ena ltridford and Mendail Smith, and the dance of tho rrmt vendors, with Valerie Beere as the Flower Girl, and Verona Jeffries, Ethne Paltridge, Hazel Midlane, Dorothy Buck, Beryll Midlane, and Olga Uilberd as dancers, were also full of merit. Tho betrothal dance and grand finale presented magnificent spectacles of colour, which were enhanced by the very lino stage effects. As Zara, the Spanisli maiden, Tholma Aitken was charniiiigly 'natural, and the remainder of the cast fulfilled their roles with exceptional cleverness. The rest of the programme was composed of various dances and specialties. ,An item which literally "bfought down the house"-was tne song by little Meg Cmiino, "Captain' Daddy, V.C." 1 She earned round after round of enthusiastic applause _ for her work, which ' was full of vivaciousness. Culture and artistry marked the posing in "Love's Awakening," which was the opening tableau of the programme, and which niado the audience feel that they were going to witness something worth while. , This optimism was not; misplaced, for the succeeding items wero each and all thoroughly enjoyed. Little Jean Cokor did splondidly in n charming fairy dance, and she won the hearts of everybody present; she appeared, also, with' Nell Bosher in a*gay Irish lilt. Florence Heyworth excelled in a Russian folk dance which was most difficult of execution. The first part of the bill concluded with a pretty harlequinade in which little Joan Beere figured as a. very sweet Colohibine, Zolda Bailey being the Harlequin, and G'wen If'/pkins the Pierrot. Numerous ballets, etc., filled up tho second half of the programme, and tho display of texpsichorean talent could not have been more joyous and accomplished. "A Daughter of Seville" will bo repeated to-night, , ORGAN RECITAL. A "special request" programme vms provided by the city organist (Mr. Bernard ■¥. Page) at the organ recital in tho Town Hall on Saturday nighty Better music is seldom heard in Wellington at any time than is presented by Mr. Page at tho weekly recitals on tho city's splendid organ, and though the number of pooplo in regular attendance at thoso recitals is hot as large as it should bo, Urn interest they arouse 6'nows signs of increasing. It is satisfactory to notice ■ that a "request" recital consisted of Bound classical music, the selection being an indication of the educative value of the work that Mr. Page is doing. ,Tho chief number in tho first part of the programme on Saturday night was tho prelude to Aot 3, "Tristan and Isolde" (Wagnor). This prelude, intensely mournful in fcono, has weird and beautiful effects, and the city organist's interpretation of it was fully sympathetic.v Tho other numbers in the first part were "Ciaeono" (Pacholbel), "Legend, Op. 1C (Harvey Graco), "Idylle" and "Au Soir" (E. d'Evry), mid "Fantasia," Op. 117 (Silos). In the scrond part of tho programme Mr. Pago played Cesar Franck's "Pastorale" (Op. 19), a peculiarly beautiful «.od harmonious conijpositi'on. He closed with another Cesar Franck number, the Finale in B fiat (Op. 21). This composition, lofty in inspiration and perfect in workmanship, has long boon reeosniiscd as one of tho best of its author'a works. Mr. Pago showed himself, m usual. !o bo a muster of tho organ, and his audionce was warmly appreciative.