ENTERTAINMENTS

New Zealand Times, Volume XXXVII, Issue 8345, 4 February 1913, Page 10

ENTERTAINMENTS

OPERA HOUSE. “THE CINGALE3.” “Nightbirds,” jjlayed at the Opera House last night before another crowded audience, will give place this evening to "The Cingalee.” There has been quite a large amount of interest at the box office during the past few days in connection with the revival of this delightful opera, of which there will be but three performances. Mr W. S. Percy and Miss H run ton will introduce their clever duet of "Golly-wogs”; Miss Arnndale’s “barefoot” dance is a unique one, besides being the first of its kind ever witnessed in New Zealand. Another feature is Mr Charles Albert's “devil” dance, which is said to be one of this clever artist’s bfest efforts. Miss Vivian Talleur will introduce one of her best and most graceful dances entitled "The scarf dance.” For the two farewell nights Alfred Collier's charming English opera “Dorothy” will be revived. HIS MAJESTY'S. "Adventures of Ulysses,” produced at His Majesty’s Theatre last evening, is a fine imaginative reconstruction ot the legends immortalised by Homer, and those who are unfamiliar with the work of the old Greek bard may find instruction in tho film. There is a wealth of picturesque detail in tho picture, and the Homeric story lends itself to spectacular treatment. It was an age of childlike belief in gods and goddesses, monsters and giants, wondrous adventures and voyages. The scene opens before the famous walls of Troy, and Ulysses and his men set forth on strange seas to find the shores of Ithaca, the hero's island home. Their barque, a frail craft, is propelled by oars, and their perils are many and sore. The expedition is beset by one-eyed giants, the Cyclops with their savage King Polyphemus, tho seven-headed Syylla, firebreathing monsters, “Gorgons and Hydras and Chimeras dire,” and the roaring whirlpool Charybdis. Then the Sirens charm and lure to destruction, but Ulysses ties himself to the mast. Twice is he shipwrecked; he loses all his crew; but he gets ashore and is favoured by the Gods. A kindly king provides him with a craft to return home. Transformed into a beggar, he returns to his wife,, hard-pressed by numerous suitors. None of them can bend his mighty bow; and the final scene depicts tho here, added by Minerva, vanquishing these suitors. The coast of Italy provides the scenic background. “An Assisted Elopement” is an excellent comedy, and "The Water Rats” is an exciting drama, iu which a notorious thief is overcome by the kindness of a girl. Other films are “Beauty Spots in Italy," "Modern Agriculture," "The Pony Express Girl,” and “Won -fty a Snapshot.” There was a large attendance of spectators. THEATRE ROYAL. Last evening the weekly change of programme was made at the Theatre Royal, and it was an excellent one, quite in keeping with the standard always maintained by the management. Several new artists appeared, and the old performers gave new items. A welcome reappearance was made by Miss Maud Fanning. All patrons of the Royal will remember Miss Fanning as air eminent coon impersonator. Last night she introduced a number of new songs and specialties, and for each she was most enthusiastically applauded. The audience would not be content with simply one encore, and the result was that she had to reappear several times. Miss Fanning is undoubtedly possessed of much, talent and wherever she goes she always makes a decided "hit.” While she is in Wellington the Theatre Royal should be crowded nightly. Arthur Elliott, comedian, also reappeared. He is a most amusing comedian, and has a large fund of laughable quips and songs. His singing of "Mr Doyle” convulsed the audience, and. his many other comicalities were the source of much fun. The Elliott Sisters, a couple Of sweet vocalists and neat dancers, wore seen for the first time, and as their “turn” is of merit they had no' difficunity in pleasing Che audience. An especially interesting portion of the programme was that contributed by Hedley and Bartlett. Music, mirth, and harmony is their forte, and they evoked great applause. A feature of their attractions is the oneString violin. On this is played some very sweet music. Though the “turn” is productive of a great deal of hilarity, there is also the serious side, revealing that Hedley and Bartlett are artists of musical ability. They play all kinds of strange instruments, but a peculiar set is that comprising a number of liquor bottles. Victor the Great again astonished the audience by his many tricks of magic and conjuring. His thumb-tie act is a real puzzle to all, and is likely to remain so. Others who added their meed to the entertainment were the Lyntons, Fontenoys, Three Tit-Bits, fried Rrvenhall, and the Brackens. Tho programme wall be repeated to-night. THE EMPRESS THEATRE. Crowded sessions yesterday afternoon and evening at the Empress/ Theatre continuous pictures evidenced the instantaneous popularity of the new programme headed by tho elaborate “feature” drama “The Count of Monte Cristo” by the Selig Company. The play, which occupies over three-quarters of an hour, is lavishly staged and dressed, while the acting is quite convincing. The picture is an adaptation of Dumas' delightful romance. Dantes, tho principal, with one Danglars, occupies the position of supercargo on a vessel, the captain of which when dying entrusts Dantes with tho charge of the ship and with a secret message to Napoleon in exile on Elba. Dantes delivers the message and is given a reply by Napoleon. Danglars is exceedingly jealous of Dantes, and with the aid ol a suitor who is endeavouring to win Dantes’ fiancee, charges are trumped up against Dantes which bring about his imprisonment. During tne awful years spent in the dungeon Dantes grows grizzled, ragged and unkempt in his solitude. He manages to establish communication through a secret passage with a fellow prisoner, an old abbe. The latter is about to die when he reveals to Dantes the hiding place of a great treasure sin the islansf of Monte Cristo. When the abbe’s body is placed in a sack and left for a few minutes Dantes substitutes himself for the corpse. The soldiers fling the imagined corpse into the sea, but Dantes frees himself with a knife, and is rescued by a smugglers’ ship. He finds the treasure on the island, and then lives among the Arabs in a princely state. Eventually he returns to Paris as the Count of Monte Cristo, and revenges himself upon his enemies, the greatest of whom he slays in an exciting duel with swords. The supplementary subjects oomprice “The Divorcee” (A.B. exclusive comedy drama), “Uaumont Graphic." “For Love and Life” (Hepwix drama), and “A New Aladdin." ‘‘The Count of Monte Cristo” and current bill will be repeated during the next two days and nights. THE NEW THEATRE. The change of programme yesterday of the New Theatre continuous pictures introduced a sensational Nordisk drama “The Great Circus Catastrophe." The leading figure is Count Von Ross, who experiences a reversal of fortune and goes to reside at a hotel, where he makes the acquaintance of M. Winge, a oirens manager, and with Mdllo Dore. an equestrienne. The count, who is a handsome young man, attracts Mdlle Dore and he falls iu love with her. Miss Evelyn, a beautiful young circus ballet dancer, is also attracted by the count. A rivalry between the two women is forgotten by them when their hotel catches fire. Miss Evelyn gives her place in the lift to Mdlle Dore. and the former is driven by the flames with Count Von Ross ■ to the roof of the hotel. While clambering along a telephone wire Miss Evelyn falls, but is caught by a sheet spread in the

street below. The count succeeds in crossing to another He has Promised to appear that evening at a bedefat performance on behalf of Mdlle Hore, but ho has reason to be jealous of her, and takes many drinks to relievo nis leelingß. At the circus he rides his horse on to a platform which is raised h-igu. in the air. He loses control of his steed, and both com© crashing to thegrouna. The horse is killed, but the rider ©scapes with sever© injuries. Miss Eveljrn nurses the count back to health and strength, and at the conclusion there is every prospect of their early marriage. The other sterns include "The Needle Industry* ' formed." PEOPLE’S PICTURE PALACE. There was another crowded audience at the People's Picture Palace la«t evening, when en entire change of programme was made. The chief item, was “Nellie, the Lion Tamer/' a story ot circus life, which is finely staged well acted. Nellie and Alfred were partners, the former being one of the most daring lady lion tamers whose appearance is tho invariable sign lor a large audience. The two are in love, but later Nellie conceives a liking for Count Vilhelm* and finally elope© with him. ihe absence of Nellie has taken away the .chief attraction of the circus performance, and the contract with the proprietors has to be terminated. Nellie's happiness does not last long, and she leaves the count to return to Alfred. Tho concluding scene is very effective, showing the re-united pair standing to* getter with their chief lion "Sultan/' The "Detective's Strategy" tells the very human story, or romance, of an unloved wife and mother, who, although, possessed of wealth craves the love of her hudband, who is blinded by his wild rush after the almighty dollar. Stanton Me* Vicker ensnares the heart of the woman, but her husband engages Edwin .Randall, a detective, to prevent an elopement. He is successful, and smooths the path of misunderstanding between the husband and wife. A fine drama is “Tho Fraud at Hope Mine/* Suspecting a leakage in ore the directors of the mine send a young man to investigate, and he learns it is being shipped away at night. 5n an endeavour to imprison the young man the min© foreman explodes a section of the mine, causing a cave-in. He, however, is rescued, and the mystery is cleared up. All the other items are capital- The same programme will be repeated to-day. THELMA PETERSEN CONCERT, The full programme of the concert to be given in the concert chamber. Town Hah, to-morrow evening, when' Miss Thelma Petersen, the young New Zealand contralto, is to give her farewell concert prior to her departure for London, is published in to-day's issue. From this it will be seen that Miss Petersen is to have the assistance of some excellent talent. Instrumental, vocal and elocutionary items are to be rendered by Miss Amy Remington, Messrs Allwright, J. Culford Bell, rt. N. Fletcher, Zante Wood and the Orpheus Quartette Party, Miss Petersen is a young vocalist of great promise, and now. that she is leaving for the Old World to take up her studies there for some years no doubt a befitting send-off will be tendered her.