ENTERTAINMENTS

New Zealand Times, Volume XXXVII, Issue 8356, 17 February 1913, Page 3

ENTERTAINMENTS

“THE FOLLIES.” “The Follies,” a Costume Comedy Company that is in no way inferior to the best troupes in this Ime, such as “The Red Dandies” and “The Scarlet Troubadours,” who have played hero, commenced a return season in the municipal concert chamber on Saturday evening before a largo audience. The company is a very strong one, comprising eleven artists who are all capable performers, and they present a programme which can be well recommended to lovers of refined drawingroom entertainment. Everything they do is clean and bright, and, from a musical standpoint, of much merit. Since its last appearance here the company has been strengthened by the addition of Mr Balfour Fergusson, a tenor soloist, who on Saturday evening made a very favourable impression! The comedy element is in the hands of iir Percy Clifton, so long associated with some of the best London musical halls, and who in “'The Arcadians” is pleasantly recollected. Mr Clifton’s repertoire is a very wide one, and from this he selected a series of sketches on Saturday which enabled him to show his gifts with the best effect. His “Captain Ginjah” and the coster's parody on various people, and on judges in particular, were excellent efforts, which secured for him numerous recalls. The ladies of the company, Misses Lulu Lussane, Lily Lussane, Lily Moore, Cissy O’Keefe, and Iris Edgar, are all talented singers and dancers, and they introduced various novel specialties which gave pleasing variety to the programme. Mr Percy Dalton, whose good work' has secured for him a high position as a vaudeville artist, made quite a “hit” with his clever dancing, and he entertained everybody so heartily that his appearance on tne platform in individual items had to be considerably prolonged. Messrs Hugh C. Steyne, Clifford O’Keefe, and Kennedy Black were no iess successful than the other members of the company in their combined efforts at entertaining patrons. The stage grouping is very effective, being backed by a number of statuettes from, which are suspended coloured lights, an innovation which helps to brighten the surroundings of the gay performers. “The Follies” will appear in the con cert chamber all this week. THE NEW THEATRE. The New Theatre continuous pictures were well patronised on Saturday when' the current programme was screened for the last time. To-day’s new series will include a powerful modern drama, “The Schemers Outwitted,” which shows how the plans of a pair of adventurers are cleverly defeated. Some surprising sensations are introduced into this play, including the fall of a motor car into the sea and a diver subsequently examining it beneath the waves. The S. and A Company will be represented by a' thrilling yet pathetic Western drama “The Shotgun Ranchman.” The scenic study, “The Valley of Otta,” a characteristic Norwegian item, will be one of the gems of the evening sessions. “THE EMERALD ISLE.” Everything is now completed for the presenting of tnis popular play to-night and to-morrow night, and theatre-goers are promised a real artistic treat. The leading roles are in capable hands, whilst the scenery and costumes are in keeping with the country and the Irish character. No energies have been spared by those taking part to make the production a unique The dancing is said to have been made a speciality, and the well-known songs rendered are made to fit in with the scenes enacted. Those attending are promised a pleasant evening’s, entertainment. ORGAN RECITAL, The weekly organ recitals were resumed by Mr Maughan Barnett, City Organist, on Saturday night at the Town Hall, under very encouraging circumstances. The silence of the organ for a couple of months, and Mr Barnett’s departure for Auckland in April, no doubt conduced to the increased interest taken in the resump siou of the recitals. A large audience greeted the organist. The programme was a very fine one, judiciously selected. and included many of the gems with 'Jtiich Mr Barnett has delighted ma audiences on former occasions. Be tore commencing the programme proper, he played very impressively the “Dead March” (Handel) in memory of Captain Scott and the other Antarctic neroes. It had a marked effect upon his listeners. Bacn’s “Toccata in Fugue in D Minor,” the “Suite Gothique” (Boellmann) and “The Ride of the Valkyries” (Wagner) were all played in masterly stylo. The Wagner selection was pai

ticularly enjoyed. In lighter vein were me ‘‘Melody and Intermezzo” (Horatio Parker). Illvnski’s "Berceuse” (a cnarmiuE number which had to be repeated), "Am Meer” (Schubert), “Moreeaux de Concert” (Hollins), and Schumann’s "Traumerci.' 1 the latter piayed witn a rare touch of feeling that deeply moved the audience. Mr Barnett throughout the long programme was in his best formThe vocalist for the evening was Mr Hamilton Hodges, who sang “Margarita” (Lohr) and “At Parting” (Clayton Johns), besides encore pieces. Mr Hodges was in fine voice, and his singing was in keeping with the general high standard of the recital. . Mrs Qucree was the 'there will be another recital next Saturday evening. HIS MAJESTY’S PICTURES. The main evbnt at His Majesty’s .'hcatre to-night will be the presentation of a motion picture adaptation of Theodore Krcmar’s well-known melodrama “The Fatal Wedding.” During the action of the piece the amusing "Tin Can Band” scene will be made more effective by a chorus of trained children. Every feature of importance nas been portrayed, and the play will seem as realistic as the actual stage production. Another important film will bo the Gaumont Company’s wilduimal sensation, "The Panther’s Prey.” Tne climax is reached when a woman is attacked in a lonely house in Rhodesia by a wild panther. The fearful ordeal terminates in the death of the panther by a well-aimed bullet from a settler’s rifle. "The Gaumont uraphic,” and "The Way of the Mountains” will also appear. THE EMPRESS THEATRE. To-day there will be the customary complete change of programme of the Empress Theatre continuous pictures. The subjects at the matinee performances will represent every blass ol film. This evening another change will ne submitted, when the “star” item will be a superb mediaeval drama, •The Knights of Rhodes.” This is a gorgeously mounted historic enactment dealing with the Siege of Rhodes, when the citj v»i attacked, by hordes of Turks and stubbornly defended until privation 'and disease compelled the garrison to surrender. An appealing love story is associated with the plot. An event of national interest, “The Unveiling of the Cook Memorial,” will bo added this evening. "Broncho Billy’s Heart” (a stirring Western drama by the S. and A. Company), “Gaumont Graphic” (topical), “Strong Arm Nellie” (comedy), and “The Editor Millionaire” (comedy drama) will also figure in to-night’s programme. Entries for the “Christopher Columbus” prize essay competition will close at 10 o’clock this evening. THEATRE ROYAL, To-night’s change of programme at the Theatre Royal presents many attractive features. Not the least of these consists in the first appearance of Pedrini, an artist from Siam, who is said to be the champion foot-balan-cer of the world. Pedrini with his feet does everything that the average person can do with his hands, and a good deal more.- Among his most interesting turns is the balancing of a cannon weighing, with its artilleryman, 4501 b, on his toes. His “assistant” is not exactly human, being a large baboon, Tony by name. This animal displays a marvellous intelligence in its work, and is a picturesque novelty. Jules Garrison appears in his Italian fruit-merchant sketch, and with the help of his Roman maids presents a series of “living pictures”—imitations of the world’s great artistic masterpieces, ranging from Lord Leighton’s “Wedded” to the Christmas number illustration of “The Sundowner.” Victor the Great has an entirely new ventriloquial sketch, and complete changes are made by Maud Fanning, Arthur Elliott, and the Fontonoys. OPERA HOUSE. Hugard, the magician, concluded his season at the Opera House last Saturday evening. His clever feats, performed with apparent simplicity, quickly bewildered the spectators. A wonderful exposition of magic and several illusions were produced by Ching Sung Loo, whose act presented in silence was very mystifying.