ENTERTAINMENTS.

Dominion, Volume 4, Issue 1242, 26 September 1911, Page 6

ENTERTAINMENTS.

OPERA HOUSE. , This evening "Tlio Gay Gordons" will be staged for the last tiino nt the Opera House, giving place to-morrow to '"Sergeant Unie," u musical piny with a rather unique characteristic, namely, a smart and original "book." Tho tlirco acts arc crammed with witty sayings and epigram, and the plot is well worked out. , Tlio humorous ioaturos of, "Sergeant Drue" may be due to tho fact that the piece was originally writteu ns a farckal, comedy, subsequently being converted into a musical comedy. Tho piece, it is stated, gives tho principals of tho. Clarke and Meynoll Comic Opera Company more scope for their ability as comedians than any previous play they have staged here. Tom Graves lias a fine part as Crookie Scrubhs, Frank Lincoln plays Michael Drue, in which ho is quite at homo, while as Sergeant Bruo Mr. Percy Clifton gives ono of tho best performances in which that clever comedian has yet been seen, here. "Sergeant Bruo" will bo staged for the last four nights of the foawm, which will tcrniinato on Saturday, September 30,

HIS MAJESTY'S THEATRE. Tlio change programme exhibited at Ilia Majesty's Theatre last evening included many good items, and not a lew of tho pictures were remarkable for their beauty. In the latter category must be mentioned an exquisite' submarine picture of sea anemones. Few fields are now sacred from the invasion of the camera man, but Ms enterprise- has seldom booa more happily rowarded than by this. lovely representation ot a portion ol the world beneath the water. "Her Sacrifice" is a melodrama, picturesquely set in Mexico, and rich iu, unexpected developments and surprises. "Neighbours" is a comedy worthy of the designation. It must be seen ere i)s humorous breadth can be appreciated. Side by side witli this may bo mentioned "Tronblesonio Secretaries," a characteristic vitagraph comedy. These productions are known as equal to anything in the department to which they belong, and the latest addition to their number is well up to standard. "Tree-felling in Norway' pictures an open-air industry in surround' ings not devoid of beauty. Snow-clad hillsides, tho busy axemen, and tho sweep of. tho pino trees in their descent to earth . combine to form a. cheerful scene of win» • ter activity which lends itself admirably to pictorial representation. "The Palhe Gazette" is packed as usual with interest, ing illustrations of jcent important events iu Europe, and will repay scrutiny. "The Primal Call" is a romantic melodrama picturing tho love affair of a rough. American Westenpr and a lady cradled in the lap of civilisation and luxury. Tho subject is happily conceived, and,in presentation is seasoned with a pleasant (fash of humour. A particularly.good item in the latter part of tho programme is tlio film entitled "Capturing Crocodiles." Needles to say, the pursuit and rapture of the floundering; nmpliibiaiis are more exciting than rabbit shooting, and the picture is one of tho best iu a capital selection. Other good items in the programme, arc "The Changing of Silas Warner," "A Comedy of Misunderstanding," "Forgiven in Death," and "Absorbing Game." All are excellent of their kind, and the programme as a whole is certainly up to standard. It will be repeated this evening. It was intended to have screened some views of tho cadet review at Newtown Park last evening, but the dampness of tho atmosphere made it impossible for the (ilm to drv iu time. This will be screened to-night. The Dominion Day matinee in the afternoon was well attended, THE KING'S THEATRE. Tho star attraction at the' King's'. Theatre this week is "The Circus Girl,"a splendidly-staged drama, well acted, ' which occupies uknost tlie. oiiire portion of the second half of the programme. As ' the title of the drama suggests, tho heroine of the story is a circus slar, who, as ' is tlio fortune—or fate—of popular stars, is besieged with admirer?. The plot is concerned with tlio rivalry, jealousies, plots, and counter-plots of tho two principal, swains, a. wealthy Jew and a German count. Tho former is a. tirst-class schemer, and' a dangerous scoundrel lo boot, and by his cunning succeeds for a time, and placing die girl andl.tlin count —who is the true hero of the'piece—at his mercy. All ends well, and the schemer is left lamenting, or, rather, execrating, his fate. Other excellent studies include "Tree-felling in Norway," a charming mid-winter scone in a typical Norwegian pine forest. "The Primal Call'. , is a seriocomic study presenting.'a contrast in the artificiality of society life and the primal ruggeduess of elemental man—honest, ' brave,'but without polis-h. Between this typo of man and a coarse-cut nouveauricho, a society girl, urged to a marriage ' do convenauce as a means of retrieving tho scattered fortunes of her parents, has to choose. She finally chooses under tho irresistible influence of her primal instincts, and elopes with elemental man, much to tho indignation and discomfiture of tho nouveau-riche. Comedy is repre- , sented by "The Troubles of a Bailiff" nnd "An Absorbing Game," which Pathe's popular Gazette, "Lean Wolf's End" (a Wild West melodrama), and some delightful views of Sydney, complete, on excellent programme. The matinee show given in honour of Dominion Day was largely attended, THE NEW THEATRE. Tho New Theatre continuous picture entertainment was well attended yesterday and last evening. To-day and to-night ,a new collection of kinematograpbic productions will bo introduced. The Edison Company arc to tho fore with a picture-story "Tho Test of Love," a narrative dealing' with a young girl who has been blind sinco infancy, and her guardian—one of "Nature's gentlemen," though plain and rugged. Tho young girl's sight is restored by an operation which costs her guardian all his small store of money. He fears that tho sight of his plain features will kill her love for him. That ho was mistaken is beautifully shown. "Tho Primal Call" is an old, old story of tlio Bacrilico of a girl's happiness for tho hope of her parents that her union with a wealthy man. will enable them to pay their debts. In this instance the girl elopes with a primal man after an exciting encounter on the beach with the millionaire bridegroom-elect and his friends.' Two sconic subjects, "In tho Dauphino , Country" and "From Brindisi to Gallic poli," nro of merit. "Pansics" is a charming Nature-study. The Bison Company's exclusive drama, "Tho Desert's Lure," is a splendid Western story of the cowboy type. Tho comic numbers are irresistibly amusing. Tho new programme will be, • shown from 11 a.m. till 11 o'clock to-night. i ST. THOMAS'S HALL. West's Pictures, Ltd.,,will reopen St Thomas's Hall to-morrow with a .special programme of star attractions.- This cosy theatre has .been reseated, new machinery has been installed, and tho management state that it will'be found to bo one of tho most comfortable in the Dominion. All tho latest n-oveltifs will be shown in St. Thomas's Hall, and a special feature, will be tho music, for which West's Pictures, Ltd., are noted, and for which an orchestra has been engaged. IiENE QUEKEE-FAREWELL CONCERT "New Zealand should send this girl to Europe to study and New Zealand will be proud of her." This was the expressed opinion of Madamo Carreno, the greatest woman pianist of tho age, who strongly urged Miss Qnoreo to continue her studies on the Continent.' The artists who are assisting Miss Quercc at the farewell com. plimenlary concert at (he Opera House on Monday next ars: Miss Phoebe Parsons (soprano), Miss A pics M. Sogricf (contralto), Mr. C. H. Stephens (tenor), Mr. Frank Johnstono ('cellist), Mr. D. Kenny (pianists, . Mr. Frank Charlton (baritone), and M. Hamilton Hodges (baritone). ' Mr. Hodges comes specially from Auckland to sing for this concert. '... THE COMPETITIONS. - Entries for the Zealand compctK lion-; to be- held in Wellington next month closed Inst owning. These nro ns yet unclassified, but they nsgrcsateil 1500, states Mr. J as. Dykes;, secretary °f " 10 New Kenland Competitions Society, who expressed himself as being highly pleased nt tin largo, number of cn'.rics from all narta of New Zealand. There may yet lie a few additional late arrivals to swell tha total.