ENTERTAINMENTS.

Dominion, Volume 6, Issue 1592, 8 November 1912, Page 3

ENTERTAINMENTS.

JANSEN. Jansen, the American trahsformist, ctntmues to provide mirth and mystery pleasantly at the Opera House. This . detMingcred artist believes in giving the public as much entertainment as it is possible to crowd into a couple of hours, and lie does it with u grace and smoothness that makes his ■ deception a compliment. One feels it a pleasure to bo taken down' by such an affable and' courteous entertainer. He will appear at the Opera House again, this evening, and to-morrow afternoon and night. "FOLLOW THE~MAN IN BROWN." Mysterious knots of adults and small boys moved along the streets yesterday excitedly expectant, between noon and 1 p.m., and many wondered the cause thereof. On analysing the crowds a man in brown appeared to be the pivot of attraction. Whether the American cut of his clothes or hair acted as a'lure could not bo said off-hand, but, if ho chanced to pause to light a cigarette, look in a window, or chat. to a friend, the crowd closed in on him, and the click of a camera told that en impression had been, taken of tlm scene. On inquiry the man in brown—his suit, hat, boots, and tie wero unequivocally brown in the brownest sense of the. colour, so were his eyes, hair, and walking-stick— proved to bo Jansen, the American conjurer, who was seeking advertisement by. one of those novel methods peculiar to the land west of the Atlantic. He offers a prize of ,£3 3s. to the person photographed nearest (but not in contact with) him, in one of tho selected photographs, and if the person is present aj; the theatre this evening. The picture was selected from about twenty groups taken by Mr. Zachariah by a Dominion representative, and a committee to be formed from the audience will say who it considers is the nearest person to Jansen in the photograph, postcard copies of which will be presented to each patron as they enter tho theatre this evening. Mr. Jansen will-parade the streets between the Opera, House and the Dresden Piano Company's warehouse to-day, and \ another £3 3s. will be given to the person j "next to him" in the selected picture, j always provided, of course, that the person is in the audience. THEATRE ROYAL. "The Crimson Ramblers" ate making an innovation in respect to the first part of the programme at the Theatre Royal ithis week.,. The various "turns" follow one another without a change of scenery or the lowering of the curtain. Most of the items have catchy choruses, in which the whole troupe join in with enthusiasm. Most of the songs are also of a light and popular variety that admit of a, certain amount of levity in their production: But Mr. Bletsoo shows that he is capable of rendering in fine style more classical music, which is just as popular with the audience as the less-classical chansonettes. Hamlin' and Mack, with their jolly. "Texas Tommy" dance, continue to few loud and hearty applause from their audience. Tho rest of the programme includes ssveral worthy items, such as the Cliffs Quartet, the Anderson Trio, and Leonard Nelson and Hftrold Heath. FULLERS' PICTURES. After reading the daily cable news of the war in the Balkans, patrons of Fullers' Skftting Rink in Vivian Street cannot but •be interested by, the scenic films that regularly form part of the programmes at this popular picture-house. Last week it. was "Scufarr' and thisweek it is "A Trip from Cettinje to Reika," showing the summer residence of the Montenegrin King, Coming to New Zealand at such a time, this picture is doubly interesting.; Two other-good soenic items figuring on the programme are "The Land of Eternal Summer" and "Sicilian Coasts." ' The leading film oft the bill, however, is an Essanay drama, entitled "The Laurel Wreath of Fame." Principal characters in the piece are Guido, n composer, and Maria Mediei, who sings in opera. Guido is madly in love with Maria, but tho latter,,.declines his offer of marriage, and prefers'to look for fame in a musical career." They drift apart, and ten years later, when" she is prima ; donna, he is living in a garret, poverty stricken, and .unable to get any of his . songs accepted. By chance Maria learns of the state of poverty into which Guido has fallen, and she resolves to visit him. He declines her offer of money, and so she takes his latest song, and promises to sing it that night.' It proves a great success, and towards midnight Guido is astonished to heat the street crowds chanting his work; A little later Maria and a party seek out Guido to tell him that he has won fame at last. The prima donna then offers him her love, but it is now too late. The chord pf life has long been highly strung, and tlm last scene snaps it asunder, Two other good dramatic items figure on the programme, .namely, "The Vagabonds" (Selig) and "Sharp Practice" (Clarendon). The comic, numbers include "Tilly at a Boardinghouse" (Hcpwix) and "A Double Courtship" (Lubin). Altogether, the programme is of high standard. It will bo repeated this evening. NEW THEATRE. i The old-time story of "Rory O'More" formed the chief attraction at the if!e\7 Theatre yesterday. The scene of the story is of course in Ireland, and as reproduced the hills and valleys may appear familiar to Irishmen." O'Jdore was an Irish patriot, who refused to be awed into submission by the red coats. While spending a few precious moments with'his sweetheart, 'he is seen .and recognised by one of the villagers, who, induced by the ,£IOO reward offered for his capture, sets- the red coats on his trail. An exoiti'ng hue and cry is raised/ and O'More is heided off and has to swim for it. One of the spldiers proceeds to swim after him, but .when some distance from the shore is in .danger of drowning. O'More turns and saves his pursuer, thereby earning, the gratitude of the soldiery, who are for giving him his freedom. The informer:,, however, insists on his capture arid detention, and much against the soldiers' inclination they take O'More to prison. Despite the supplications of the officer in charge of the soldiers, O'More. is sentenced to death. The village priest, Father O'Brien, takes pity on the captive, and while he is with O'More on the scaffold, he cuts his .bonds and gives him a chance to escape. The priest immediately pays for his deed -with bis life—shot by a soldier—while O'More escapes. His sweetheart is,waiting for him on the coast, and together they escape to America. To-day the new programme will introduce a sensational 'production entitled "Arabian Treachery." It is a- Storyvof an experience with lions. The effect is ; said to be very realistic. Another leading subject will bo the A.B. drama "With the Enemy's Help," in. ; which the .talented young actress Miss 'Dorothy Nicholson takes an important part. ,

TEE KING'S THEATRE. Big crowds have been attracted to the King's Theatre this week' to witness West's, star item entitled "The Death Leap." A feature of this'thrilling drama is the original scenery, which "includes the meeting of the Aero Club, the performance of a troupe of Russian dancers, the working of a wireless station. and finally the death leap when horse-and rider plunge into the sea from the deck of an ocean liner. The picture, which is one. of the most sensational yet shown, at the King's Theatre, will only he Screened for two more nights. Other good items on the current programme are: "The Inner Circle," an A.B. drama founded on fact; "Interrupted Elopement/' an A.B. comedy; "Oh, my Pipe"; "The Squaw Man's Revenge"; "Barcelona"; and the Pathe Gazette. k Another of West's exclusive star items will be produced at the King's Theatre on Monday next.. This will' be "The Money Kings" by the Vitagraph Company. It is said to be full of sensational features.

SHOETT'S PICTURES. There was a complete change of programme .at Shortt's. Theatre in Willis Street yesterday. The. pictures were screened continuously from 11 a.m. until 11 p.m., and there wore good attendances at the various sessions. The lending film on the now bill was a Vitagraph drama entitled "Conscience." In this nicture the story is well fold and the parts capably acted. Harold Winter takes 'as his wife Eleanor Gale, a city girl. Eighteen months later he deserts her and their young child. " Eleanor goes back to New York, She tries to support herself and flhlMi Hurald hut noma to ,K*w York, jneaUnsr. wealthy Beoplei j&qvins; in 'hjgh

society, and making plenty of money. He and go to the Musee, and Harold wagers that he will spend the entire night alone in the Chamber of Horrors, Just previous to his entering the chamber, Eleanor has been forced to steal a bottle of. milk. Detected, she seeks refuge in tiie Chamber of Horrors, where she falls in a faint. Harold takes a sent just at the entrance of the chamber: At dawn Eleanor awakens and tries to grope, her way through the gloom. Harold gets a. glimpse .of her, and falls dead in fear ot what lie supposes to bo an apparition ot his wife. The janitor, just opening np the building, is attracted by the noise and calls a policeman. At the same time four men arrive to learn of Harold's experiences. They find his body aiid accuse Eleanor of murder. She tells them her story and she is not arrested. Eleanor learns that, tho policeman is her tootlicr-in-law. He takes her and her child to his home. The supporting numbers are of the usual high standard. They include; "A Bear Hunt Romance," A K. drama; "Matrimonial Agency"; "Early Rising"; and a recent edition of the Gaumont Graphic. To.4ay the same programme will lie repeated.

v THE EMPRESS THEATRE. ' The final screening of the current bill at the Empress Theatre resulted in abundant patronage yesterday- afternoon imd evening. To-day and to-night tho management announces tho first of the directly-imported programmes will be presented. At thediead of a lengthy list is the "special.star, feature" drama Arabian Treachery," It is said to be an unusually brilliant' feat of realism. A white woman's child is stolen by Arabs, "wtta white settlers go in pursuit. The settlers faithful d'og then leads the child's mother on the tracks of her little daughter. Eventually the- mother discovers the child in a deserted hut. A number of lions come on the scene, and make desperate attempts to break into the hut "When the excitement is worked up to the highest pitch-a providential occurrence saves the woman- and tho child from the lions. Another "feature" is the A.B. Company's drama, "With the Enemy's Help," which is described ns a thrilling race for a-'-fortune :by ■* woman. Other items include. "A New Beginning" (drama), "Italian-Switzerland," "St. Privat Catalonia,"" "Mary" Had a Little Lamb," "Making jFish-hoo.ks," "Bertie's Book of Magic," aid "iiolly Learns to Motor."

STAB THEATRE. From the display given in the Star Theatre last evening by, the Vancouver cadets one cannot tut conclude that they are men of parts. The theatre was crowded, and the house was most enthusiastic, and heartily applauded the various items. In the: first half of the programme the violin solo by Corporal Kennedy Was very good indeed, and' he well deserved tho double encore that was enthusiastically .accorded to him,' The nest contribution from the cadets'was ft series of drum and bugle items, introducing drum, beatings of the British' Brigade of Guards. The bugle calls were flawless in tone, and gained in their production by the stalwart cadets. The drummer easily gained foremost popularity with, his audience, and his manipulation of the sticks was worthy of a hardened obi drummer in a regimental drum and fife'band. Three times was he encored, an'd three times he had to satisfy Ms applauders, yet at the end leave them still .tlesinms of more. In the second half of the programme the cadets devoted themselves to gymnastics. The physique of the boys is on the whole exceptional. They" turned somersaults, formed spectacular pyramids, and cndeil up with a sample of comic tumbling. Although the contributions'of the cadets formed the basis of the'programme, tho pictorial side Was aptly.; carried out. Tho 'star picture, "Nick "Winter 1 Versus the Petrol Bandits" was sensational and mod-' wlijch in ■pictures 'ensure success so • long as the general setting and acting are koo3. The recent Parisian motor bandits have lent a. flavour of. reality to such pictures, and when they are as well screened as in this instance the idea of reality is hard to dispel. "Cousins" was the best of the comic items, and introduces the well:knowij;.T3ianihous6r Twins. Another item : w&s-' : the "Coronation Display", by the local territorials at Ncwv: town Park. This item appealed to the. cadets, who. are' of course 'interested in our territorial movement; They certainly got a' very fair idea from the picture of the degree of proficiency in marching and ceremonial drill reached so far by u the territorials. The general manager for" Hay ward's, in a short, speech, thanked the cadets for their display and those present for their attendance* Sir. W. A. Beddoe, the Canadian Trade Commissioner, replied in a few .words oft behalf of the cadets, dwelling on the benefits to be derived from the meeting'of the various cadets of the Empire, The management announce a semi-change of programme to-night, when as the star'picture "The Cheat" will he screened. THE COMPETITIONS. The New Zealand Competitions Society has again been fortunate. in. the selection of; its. judges.. For this year's festival some Very well-kndwn men huve been engaged. Mr.. J. F: Montague, of Auck-land,-who judges elocution, is the founder of the Auckland.Shakespeare Society, and on all. matters of the kind on which he is to adjudicate he i$ an admitted authority. ' Mr. Sidney Wolf, ■ principal ■ judge in the voca'land instrumental music sections,, is a sound musician, and an ' authority on vocal: music and production. Mr. Leon Cohen, who takes the i violin and 'cello selections, is a musical, enthusiast who plays on several instruments and the oboe,. and he has made stringed music his hobby.. The compete tions will commence on tjie 13th ( and will continue' for a- fortnight. ' Competitors ftSd their friends are coming in la'gonumbers from all parts of New. Zealand. The general public, after last year's ex-perience,-will probaoly come-in bigger -crowds than ever. . "A .TALE OF' OLD JAPAN," The Town Hall should be'filled to-night, Vh.cn, Coleridge Taylor's "A l'ale of. Old •Japan" will bo given by the Royal Wellington Choral Society, under the conduetorship of Mr. Maughan Baruett, with, a band aud chorus of 300. Tho public will note With pleasure the names of those engaged' to take .the principal parts. Madamo Briggs, of \Vanganui, will sing the soprano solos, and Miss Cora Denhard the contralto. Mr. Sydney Butler, of Wanganui, takes the tenor role. The batitono w?rk has been allotted to Mr. Hamilton Hodges. The.soloists above mentioned should enable the society' to give a powerful and dramatic rendering, of this cantata. Franco Lt'oni's beautiful song cycle, '"Fairy Dreams," wjll precede the cantata, with. Miss Muriel, Bennott, Mrs. Denhard, Mr. E. J. Hill, and Mr. Hamilton Hodges as soloists. The doors will open tonight at 7.15, and. the performance "will conclude .at, 10- '..The.boi plan is stall open at the Dresden'.'