ENTERTAINMENTS.

Dominion, Volume 7, Issue 2128, 21 April 1914, Page 9

ENTERTAINMENTS.

.TNiM'tffi UPPER HUTT FUND. :GMND CONCERT TONIGHT. ' A reminder is given of the concert which is'to take place in.the Town Hall to-night under tho. a.uspices of tho Royal Choral Sooiety, in aid of the Upper Huttdisaster fund. The society ie to sing several choruses from oratorio and opera, and tho assistance of Mr. Hamilton Hodges, Mr. .W. Eiby, Miss Teresa M'Enroe, and Miss Caldow has been secured as soloist. The programmo is a very fine one. and should serve to attract a crowded audience;

■ "THE GRAFTERS." "The Grafters," a bit of vaudeville puff-pasto in farce form, which is now being presented by the American Musi--cal. Burlesque Company at the Grand Opera House, is highly palatable fare to thosowho like American broad travesty. The kind of humour purveyed in "Tho Grafters" has been a staple __ on the American stage for a couple of decides, and is still going strongly. . It is a comedy born of a travesty on character types peculiar to "the melting-pot of the nations," but they are all very merry:and bright. Bert Iβ Blano is very amusing as the loud-mouthed dogmatic Jew tramp, and Paul Stanhope as a Dutch dead-beat is an exoellent foil. Mr. Dave -Nowlin, too, is unctuous as a protester against work, and Mr. Harry Burgess as Rubo Skoggs, the village constable, gets in the best bit of character work produced by t!he company. "The Grafters" quartot sing in harmony very sweetly, and provide a vocal accompaniment to the tableaux which are produced in the "San-Francisco. 1915," interlude. ■ "DREAM CITY." "Dream City" is tho title of a merry oonoeitwhioh Jβ to succeed "The Grafters" at the Grand Opora House on Thursday evening. It has the merit of a good musib score which was written by, Mr.. Victor Herbert, who composed such well-known successos as "The Serenade," "The Fortune-teller," and "It Happened in Nordland," and ."Little Nemo." It concerns the curious episode in the life of Farmer Dinglebender, who is approached by some real estate "bunco" men with a schemo to create a town to.be.called "Dream City" on his property. At tho time the tale is being told to the old man a clam-bake jollification is being, held on the farm,' and Dinglebender, who has quaffed liberally or huckleberry wine, tails asleep whilst conning over tho draft plans of the new city. He sleeps and droams that the cjty has come to pass and that ho is the Mayor and everybody else concerned are his vassals. In the troubles that accompany his new-born greatness ie a plot .to destroy the city with dynamite, whioh is to happen by pressing an electrical button. At longth he becomes so tired of his responsibilities that he hiree his friend, the Dutchman to press the fatal button. There is a tremendous upheaval and Dinglebender awakes only to hear the clam-bake song and dance still in progress, and his city one of dreams.

FOR THE UPPER HUTT FUND. Tho committee of tho Upper Hutt Disaster Fund have approached the management of tho Amorican Musical Burlesque Company to assist in flio raising of funds tor the sufferers by tho lamentable disaster at the Upper Hutt. In response tho management havo agreed to give a speciaj tango tea at tho Opera House on Friday afternoon, when they will submit a highTy_ entertaining programme, which will include an exposition of the various forms of the* tango, as well ns special songs, danco9, and concerted vocal numbers.

HIS MAJESTY'S THEATRE. Lovers of the classic in statuary were charmed with the very beautiful series of statuesquo poses by Weston's Living Models at His Majesty's Theatre last evening. Tho models comprise two -ladies and a gentleman very perfectly proportioned, who, in a make-up representing Parian marble, poso with grace in tho limelight against a black background. So-exquisite is tho grouping, and immobile the figures that one might pardonably, doubt its reality., One

patron of the circle audibly called it a "fake," but, a moment after ho spoke, tho statues came to life, to the discomfiture of the premature critic. It was a fine testimony to the nrt of tho performers. The subjects represented were: "Music," "Forward" (a battle pose), '"Marathon" (a. Grecian runner), "The Prodigal Son," "The Spartan Mother," "The Call to Arms," "The Gladiators," and "Apollo." Another altogether novel turn was that of Horr Henri Kubelick, who introduces a new string instrument, which lies on a stand, and is played with a full-arm bow as a violin lying flat on a' table would have to be played. This queer instrument the inventor calls the Kublophone, and its particular virtue is that the sounds which it produces are wirelessly emitted from any point in tho auditorium, whether there are wires or not is left to the audience to decide, but. without question, the point of sound emission varied at the manipulator's will. "Como Aboard, Sir," is the title of a naval sketch by Mr. Harry Griben and Co. II pleased the audience greatly. It concerns the merry prank of a young naval officer, who, in female disguise, induces his susceptible superior officer to make love to him. At a certain stage the youngster throws off his disguise, to the great discomfiture of the victim. Mr. Gribben was delightful as the "girl," and raised whole-hearted laughter by his imitation of female arts and graces. Still another good, new turn was that of Phillips and Merritt, two talented American sketch artists, who patter comically and sing rag-timo in a spirit of. true comedy. The Juggling Normans, Biff and De Armo, Cahill and Moran, and William' Summer (a talented negro comedian and dancer) made up a bill .well up to the excellent standard which is now being maintained at His Majesty's. ■ KING'S THEATRE. "Honesty" is tho plain title of a very interesting Pathecolour picture that found favour with a large houso present at the King's Theatre last evening. The story, which is effectively worked out on the screen, deals with the troubles experienced by Jean Morin, a draftsman, in remaining honest in the face of a relentless fate. He is first discovered philandering harmlessly with one of the girl employees at the mill, and is instantly dismissed. After obtaining work at tho Nanto Steel Work's, his old employer secures his dismissal. And he then, goes into the country, seeking work, and has the good fortune to rescue an old farmer, who is in difficulties. The farmer forms a liking for Morin, and advances him until the sons become jealous of tho stranger, and contrive to secure his riddanco by damaging the thresbiug-machino and throwing the blame on Morin. Later he sells papers in the street for a living, and; one day, finding a numbar of bank notes in tho street, overcomes the temptation to- appropriate them. The owner is M. Preval, tho proprietor of large cotton mills, and so impressed is he tbnt he offers Jean employment, and subsequently taakta him hfs privbte secretary. A fire breaks out in Proval's house, and it is Joan Moria who braves the flames to rescuo his employer's daughter, whom lie has long loved. Needless to say, honesty has its reward. The programme also includes some clear views of the Easter racing carnival at Auckland, which should interest the many who follow tho sport. Other pictures are Scottish scenery, calculated to carry all true Caledonians back to their beloved banks and braes. "The Lackey," an ingenious dramatic Study,'•end.'"Why I am Here," a lively comedy containing much food for laughter. Tho big picture for next week's programme will be a picturisation of t:harles"Klein'a' clover polioc play "Tho Third Degree."

THE EMPRESS' THEATRE. ' Yesterday's new programme of tho Empress Thoatre continuous pictures introduced the Kalom Company's ."feature" drama "The County Seat War." Elsie Gordon, annoyed by the attentions of Ziegler, a political tout; prefers Itodney Gilbert, son of the District Attorney. Ziegler plans to put Elsie's father against young Gilbert. The timo draws near for the periodical election of the District Attorney. Ziegler urges Elsio's father to accept nomination lor the position, which means that if ho is returned tho county seat will be moved from Elk City to Rayton, where Gordon resides. Gilbert, father of Elsie's lover, offers himself again, as a candidate, and is returned. Elsie's father is so aggravated at his defeat that he orders hie daughter to discourage Lieutenant Rodney Gilbert's attentions. Ziegler, tho .schemor, nest organises a raid by Rayton citizens to remove tho books and documents of the District Attorney from Elk .City, to their pity. Iu the riifjht attack on the District Attorney's oftce, one of the militia guarding the place is fatally injured, but ho scribbles a note in which he names the person responsible for his. death. The raiders set fire to .the office and retire. The Elk City militia pursue tho raiders to Rayton, where a pitched battle ensues. Eventually the Rayton people surrender, and (ire arrested. Gordon is charged with the murder of the guard at the District Attorney's office. By the merest chance tho note scribbled by tho dying man is found, and through it tho fact is made clear that Ziegler was responsible for tho man's death. Tho story ends pleasantly, for tho lovers are reunited and their parents are reconciled. "The Engineer'* Daughter" IB an exciting Western drama, and other good films are tho Keystone Company's comedy "Lovo and Gasoline" and the "Eclair Journal." Then? is also a scenic displaying tho mountain beauties of Switzerland.

MISS ALLAN'S GREAT ART. . Of Miss Allan's performance a great musical critic "has this to say:—"ln Miss Allan all the noblest arts, the musio of the roasters, the rhytnm of imaginary poems, the triumphs of Greek soulpture, and of Botticelli s br\ish aro suggested or expressed in the measured movements of a perfectly shaped body— movements the like of which have not been seen in modern days and in' Wcettern countries. Ancient Greece may have known such dancing, who knows? Again and again Miss Allan translates into life dancing and piping maidens' painted on Greek vases and carved jn Greek relief, Her body shrinks arid expands with the movements and' accentuations of the music. Now she is an impish sprite, dancing in angular maundering rhythm across the stage; then suddenly eho becomes a Diana chassouresse of the French eighteenth century, and then, with the crowing intoxication of the music, a reolmte Bacchante, reeling but still rhythmically moving until sho collapsos with the same grace with which sho makes us realise, as never before, the close links that connect the plastiquo and pictorial art of tho period, divided by many centuries from tho Etruscan vase, throuch Botticelli to Carpeaux. Miss Allan dances, not only with her leps and feet, but with every part of her body. The movements of her arms aro indescribably and strangely beautiful. Sho moves them, not as we havo seen other dan.cors move them, blit as though longitudinal waves' wore running from shoulders to finger tips. And her hands dnnce; every finger dances; everything becomes movement and rhythm." Miss Allan appears on April 27 at the Grand Opora House. Seats can bo booked at the Dresden. The wonderful Russian instrumentalists —Leo, Jan, aiid Mischel Olierniaveky—will be with Miss Allan on this tour.