ENTERTAINMENTS.

Dominion, Volume 4, Issue 1230, 12 September 1911, Page 7

ENTERTAINMENTS.

THEATRE ROYAL. A large audience patronised the Thealre Royal last night, when Fullers' Vaudeville Company put on a very attraelivo programme. After the opening chorus, the first ilem was a .song. "Monkey Honeymoon," by Dolly Courtney. Bret Hayden, the enterprising comedian, nindo 'lis first appearance, and sang as his programme item, "I Was There a Watchin' Them." Leslie Shipp, eccentric: dancer and'comedian, reappeared, and sang "Near the Garden Gate." "Think of the Girl Down Home" was sung by tho Gambia Sister*. Will Gilbert, a fttnproyoker o? considerable talent, entertained Welliugtoni.ms for the first time with "Hopping' About." The I.ewis Sisters, sen'os and dancers, came on again in "Sunny Ceylon." Another "new" artist was Em Delnvale, who was heartily applauded for n line rendering of "Parson and the Man," a catchy descriptive. Miss Lily Yocklcr opened the second half of the programme with a motto ballad. Miss Yocklcr is new to Wellington patrons of vaudeville, and she made a distinctly good impression. Then the Piijuays did their nightly turn with the usual success. Harry Sadler presented a new repertoire, of comic items, and kept the house amused while he held the tloor. An exceedingly humorous turn .was contributed by Dclavnle and Gilbert, billed as their own original naval scena. The pair kept up a running fire of smart jokss and witticisms which sent tho audience into shrieks of laughter. The song items included in the turn were also very pleasing. Another contribution was made by th? Lewis Sisters, after which Ivarlo's animals performed. Anita, -Diaz, and Len, performing monkeys, who have been one of tho "star" features of the vaudeville stage in Australia recently, are billed to commence a short season at the Theatre Royal next | Saturday, September 16. Tho cleverness of the.so animals is said to be astonishing. Tho Fuller management intend running special matinees to ennblo tho younger folk to witness this interesting animal turn. Although this act has been imported at great expense, the same popular prices of this popular house of amusement will still bo in force. HIS MAJESTY'S THEATRE. For 'pure, unadulterated .fun the farcical comedy "Tho Leading Lady," screened amongst tho new pictures shown at His Majesty's Theatre last evening, will take a good deal of beating. The audience entered thoroughly into the spirit of the production, and laughter and general merriment reigned supreme throughout its run. Ono Sheridan Muggs writes a musical comedy upon which ho bestows the title "The Irish Washerwoman," and to the exacting mind of tho playwright the success of his creation demands a leading lady of a particular type, who will look the part., and to help him on to. fame he secures the services of a brawny Irish ■ cook to fill the role. The leading lady has moro ideas about the kitchon range than about- tho theatre, and trouble commences at the first rehearsal. The lady of tho stovo takes tho bit in lier teeth, as it were, and wants to run,things in her own particular way, and fun of a' fast and furious order is flashed beforo a delighted audience. The culminating scenes show the irate cook fighting the stage mn,nager, and eventually leaving tho theatre in high dudgeon after-a morry few minutes wrestling and jolting with the. conductor of tho orchestra and tho dramatist. Another particularly interesting picture is entitled "Porcelain Making," and gives a.n idea of the whole process in a porcelain factory, from the preparation of tho material to tho finished vases, statues, etc. "Luck Card" covers an exciting Western gambling saloon story, in whicli vengeance is vanquished and love, as ever, triumphs gloriously. The Paths Gazette gives glimpses of numerous items of worldwide interest, the most striking presentation being glimpses of a motor-car race. Te-nnyson's well-known poem "Enoch Ardeu" .forms the. groundwork of tho star item on tho second part of the programme, and in itself is worth a visit to the theatre. "Picturesque France," "Love of' Summer. Morn" (an Indian lovo story), "Tweedleduni's Riding Boots," and "Wage and Wago -. Earner", go to make up a most interesting evening's entertainment. THE NEW THEATRE. The. continuous picture entertainment at tho New Theatre was again responsible for full houses yesterday. The customary bi-weekly change of programme to-day will be headed by a sterling drama, "Tho Better Way." A sensational item, "Tho Outlaw and the Female Detective," is a cleverly-conceived narrative of tho doings of a Western desperado and his experience with a sharp-witted young woman. "Industrial Blind is a collection of views of the various occupations of tho inmates of a largo English asylum for the blind. The picture is intensely interesting to those who have not inspected a big institution for the blind. In a cowboy comedy, "Law and Order on Bar 'L' Ranch" the fun is fast a.nd irresistible. A spectacular fairy pantomime, "Fortune Favours the Brave," is a good example of moving picture fantasy. Among the other photo-plays aro "The Borrowed Baby." a.nd "Tweedlednm's Riding Boots" (comedy). The new scries will be presented from 11 a.m. till 11 o'clock tonight. THE KING'S THEATRE. Tho excellent blending of instruction, dramatic effect, and comedy in the new programme put forward at the King's Theatre last evening at once appealed to t'ho largo assemblage which gathered to< see tho new bill, and tho houso was not slow to show its appreciation of the faro provided. Tho star item on tho programme is "Our Army," which shows in detail the training of tho British Army. This film occupies the greater part of the first half of tho bill, and its variety holds tho audienco from end to end. Different points covercd are gymnastics, ballooning, revolver shooting, 'lemon cutting, tent-pegging, pontoon bridgo building, eto., besides the stirring sight of a battery in action, a church parade at Aldershot, and an inspection by tho King. Taken right through, the picture is a remarkably fino one. Cairo, the city of mosques, is a capital scenic screening, and tho porcelain works at Worcester is a particularly good industrial Jllm which deals with tho industry from tho time of the first crushing of the material used right through to its production in the finished state of figures and models. "The Leading Lady" is a very diverting farce, in which the author of a musical comedy "The Irish Washerwoman" insists on having the services of a particular type of woman who can look the part as his leading lady. His ideal' is an intensely practical Irish I cook,'and she is subsequently engaged for tho part. The training of tho kitchen does not turn out leading ladies, however, and trouble is encountered at the first rehearsal. Tho cook has very definite ideas which do not coincide with those of tho writer of the play, tho stage manager, or, in fact, anyone, and a series of ludicrously funny situations end in the cook (leading lady) assaulting tho stage manager, tho conductor, and the, dramatist before she quits tho stage for good and all and returns'to the moro congenial atmosphere surrounding the stove. Tho Animated Gazette is an interesting selection of events of world-wide interest. The foregoing, together ivith "The Atonement," a dramatic study, ami "Quits," a comic film, make up au altogether excellent programme.

"THE OAT GORDONS." On Friday next, in the Opera. House, Clarice and Mcynoll's new English Opera Company will sta<'o for tho first time in New Zealand "The Gay Gordons," a Highland comic opera in two acts by Seymouv Hicks, tho famous English" playwright and comedian, tho music being by Guy Jones. There is much in the "Tho Gay Gordons" to and delight the eye as well a-s the ear, and tho risible faculties are appealed to by the three principal comedians who are kept busy during tho performance. The production is said to bo as full of detail in tho staging and mounting as a pantomime or spectacular drama, and possesses to a largo extent the characteristics of each. Nothing has been neglected to make tho opera true to nature in every way. The opera is said to be packed with catchy and tuneful music, the choruses are inspiriting, arid the lopic.il numbers particularly mirth provoking. The box plans for the first six performances will ■be opened at the Dresden this morning at 9 o'clock, when there is sure to be a large demand for (scats.

TriE LEONARD BOHWICK RECITALS. Mu->rs. .r. and N. Tail, who are dilating the Australasian tour i>l' the grrnl English pianist., -Air. Leonard Jlurwick, have advi.-r;l Mr. Shaw Stanley, who has charge of the Dominion tour, 'that Mr. Ik-mid; lelt Sydney b.v Saturday's !>»-'t for Wellington. The great artist is to give only two recitals hero, Ihe iir>t. on Thursday next and the sccond on Saturday. Speaking of .Mr. Korwii-k's f ii'-t recitill in Dresden, the "Dresden Press said:—"The concert revealed a star of the first magnitude, a poet-pianist, to whom we listened' with ever-increasing amazement. in the matter of technique he stands on the same level with d'Albert or Snuer, but his own individuality leads him to very different paths. He is a romantic pianist. Schumann and Brahms are his household gods." Biographical sketches of .Mr. Berwick's career are obtainable at the Drr-'den, where tho box plans aro rapidly filling. THE SCARLET TROUBADOURS. That clever band of entertainers The Scarlet. Troubadours will be eoen in 'Wellington again, arrangements having been made for" a short season in the Concert Chamber of the Town Hall, commencing on Monday next, the IStli ilist. The season will be limited to four nights, as tho Troubadours leave on the Friday following for Sydney, on route to Queensland. The box plans for tho coming season will be available at tho Dresden after 9 o'clock on Thur-day morning. The management has decided to hold a "request night" on the last night of the season, when tho programme will be comprised of songs and sketches selected by the audience. ARTS CLUB. . Mr. A. Hamilton. Director of tho Dominion Museum,-will lccture at tho Arts Club on Thursday evening, September 1-1, on "New Zealand's National Art Gallery: What It Should Bo." This lecture is one of the series given at tho club, which are open to members and their friends. COJLPETITIONS SOCIETY. There oyery indication that the Competitions Society is going to bo a great success in "Wellington. The festival opens at tho Town Hall on October 23 next, and lasts for ten days. Entries are being received from all over the Dominion, and tho secretary will bo glad if intending competitors will send in their entry forms at once, as the list will close on September 25. Text book with entry forms may be obtained free of chargo from the secretary, Mr. James Dykes.