ENTERTAINMENTS

Dominion, Volume 9, Issue 2757, 28 April 1916, Page 3

ENTERTAINMENTS

THE ROYAL STROLLERS. This party of clever people offered new entertainment to a new audience in the Opera House last night, keeping, of course, the general character of their show very much- as it always must bo, if they are to be true to their designation. They are a very gay and happy band of ramblers, with gifts in no wise common. Mr, Sydney James was in quite tt lot of boisterous fun as the occasion seemed to offer, but his best work was in his ventriloquial foolery with "Billy," who, by his own admission, had been keeping wassail unwisely. It is one of the best chapters 'of intelligent nonsense that has been tried hereabouts for a long tune. Ho carolled a little ragtime, too, and made fun of it afterwards by setting the flippant words to well-known, sedate airs, making ludicrous effects. He was also extremely funny in a few imitations of types well known more in carieahiro than in nominality.. v Miss Connie Milne had a, new 6ong or so, and she also had a musical monologue about strange happenings which caused the moon to pale. Miss Madolihe Rossiter was equally, charming in her songs and in her dances. The audience preferred her as a dancer, for in this branch of her art she is no ordinary performer. She is charming in her graceful dances, and captivating and exhilarating in her eccentric romps—always, in fact, vory attractive and interesting. Miss Gwen Lewis gave tho audience all too little. She sang only two songs, sang them both, with exquisite taste, and the audience, would gladly iiave accepted more. Mr. Desmond sang a little and danced a lot. Mr. Desmond, I as a singer, is pleasant to hear, and he is a very versatile and entertaining dancer. Mr. George Graystone also sang as is his custom, which is to say that he pleased the people very much, indeed. The show concluded with a farcical sketch by the company, and this company does understand humour. This is really at the basis of their popularity. We have had singers as good before, dancers as good, and comedians ns good, but we have perhaps never had them all together, and never before have we had a party who seemed to enjoy their own frolics so thoroughly, so as really to' make the show sprightly .from end to end.

HIS MAJESTY'S THEATRE. The current veek's programme of vaudeville furnished by a clever band of aitists appearing at His Majesty's theatre, has been exceptionally well patronised, and. last evening's entertainment was no exception. Miss Agnes Eawes was given a hearty reception for her ablyrendered vocal items. Carlton Max, the clever ventriloquist, evoked much merriment when he appeared with his soldier dummy.". His patter, -and more particularly his jokes, were quite good. The Italian musician, Perona, showed considerable skill and-talent as aii atcordeon player. Other artists who appeared were Milner and Story, Sharatt and Lang, Aeckelson, Sydney Jones, Mable and M a fo, and Ted Stagpool. A matineo will be held to-morrow afternoon.

THE KING'S THEATRE. The last two days of the big army, and navy pictures, "Britain Prepared," at Che Kings Iheatre are announced. The pictures, which give a complete and comprehensive review of the naval, military, and aerial activities in Great Britain covering every phase of the "great fighting machine" of,the. Empire will be screened this afternoon and evening, and tor the last times to-morrow—both at the matinee and at night. The plan of reserved seats are at the Bristol, where seats may be booked in the 2s. portion without extra charge. "NIOBE." Commencing on Monday night, the King'b Theatre will revert to its ordinary routine, and a strong and most attractive programme has been; selocted. Ihe chief item is a four-reel Famous Players film, adapted from the renowned play, "Niobe," in- which Miss Hazel Dawn, fresh from a starring engagement on the "legitimate" ;stage, .plays the name-part. The story tells now a wonderful and beautiful statue; entrusted to the caro of Peter Amos Dunn, which, when brought in contact with the electric wires of soino careless workmen, comes to life, and by her love for Dunn and his endeavours to explain her presence to his outraged family, giving him many embarrassing moments. Miss Dawn, 'who is creditod with being the most beautiful girl on the films,, is said to be excellent as Niobe, Hie goddess of tears. The usual prices will prevail, and scats may be booked at the Bristol.

EVERYBODY'S THEATRE. ' , Tho London Film Company's drama, Jelfs,' maintains its popularity at Everybody's Theatre in Manners Street. Excellent attendances have been recorded throughout the week, and those who have not yet seen this splendid picture are reminded that! they have only two more opportunities of doing so—to-day ai'd to-morrow. The central figure of Jelfs' is a Canadian cowboy, who ]8 transplanted to the vortex' of -London financial and social life. Henry. Ainley, the noted player, who took a prominent part in "The Prisoner of Zenda" and "Rupert of Hentzau," plays the part of Jelfs. The "Gaumont Graphic" is an interesting supplementary film of the present programme.

"THE SUBMARINE PIRATE." The latest in , comedy, features is promised-, for Monday at Everybody's, when the first of the Keystone Triangle conie,dies that are now the "rage in America will be screened.. This four-reel feature is entitled "The Submarine Pirate," and most elaborate preparations were made to produce the most laughable absurdity that has ever been screened. Syd. Chaplin plays the leading part of the waiter, who overhears a plot to capture a submarine, and he forestalls the plotters with most comical results. The picture of Syd. Chaplin as admiral of tjie submarine is too funny for words, and hysterical laughter is everybody's portion when viewing this latest funny picture from the Triangle studios.

ALBERT CHEVALIER AT THE .EMPRESS. . "My Old Dutch," with Albert' Chevalier in the principal part, of an emotional coster, can be' described as a colossal sue cess. The Empress Theatre has been crowded at every session during the week, and will no doubt be playing to capacity till the finish. "My Old Dutch" has many outstanding merits, but it is the simplicity, and the truth of the story that gives it such a wide appeal. Nothmjj has been' produced of' its class that mingles tears and laughter in such rapid succession. -On Saturday night the last performance trill be given. On Monday a big programme is to be submitted. The Btar feature, will be "Helen's Babies," a picture version of the book of that name. She book has been' so widely read that the picture will be eagerly looked for. Another feature on tho same bill is to be "The Third Command, tnent." It is described as an extraordinary tonr de iurce of fiction. Tenseness and swiftness of action are the big things tn the af.ory, which is said to havo a terrific climax.

CLEMENT L. WRAGGE. After an interval of six years, Wellington is to be favoured by another visit from the well-known lecturer and popular scientific entertainer, Clement L. Wragge. Mr. Wragge i 6 an entertainer remarkable for the'fund of scientific information at his command, and acknowledged as one of the most enthusiastic in the field of astronomical research. Hie entertainments are illustrated throughout by a profusion of exceedingly beautiful lantern slides, and the combination of these pictures and Mr. Wragge's graphic commentary upon thein can hardly fail to indolibly impress the salient features upon the minds of everybody who sees and hears ihera. The lecturer expatiates on thr nihrvels of the infinite, as revealed to .(timet, by the giant telescopes of the world's great observatories, and the sonsitiv-j plate of the camera. The season coiiu..ehccs at the Town Hall on Mondii" next, when the latest addition to Mr AVraggc's collection of- subjects, entitled "the Eternal Universe and the War," will be given for the first time m this City, and during which Mr. Wragge will particularly deal with the lessons inculcated by the war in the light of the evolution of th" human nn The box Dion is at the Bristol.

SHAKESPEARE TERCENTENARY . FESTIVAL. The preparations for the Shakespearean tercentenary festival, which is to be held in the Town Hall on .May 3, 4, and 5, in, aid of the lied Cross Fund, are now well iji hand, and the festival shows promise of being one of the finest of. its kind ever held in the Dominion. The programme will consist of care« fully-chosen scenes, dialogues, and character sketches from, the woiksof the' lui. mortal bard, and will be performed in the correct costumes of the period,, thus adding greater charm to the performance. One of the outstanding feaures of the programme will be a grand pageantry of Shakespearean heroines and their attendants, which will open the programme each evening by parading through the audience and mounting the stago in effec tive groups. The fact that Mrs. J. A. Hannah is having the designing of the costumes and the arranging <<f the groupti is a sufficient guarantee that it will.bo a most brilliant spectacle;

The famous "Trial" scene from "The Merchant of .Venice" is another out. standing; it'ein on the" programme. • .In this, the part of Portia will bo iplayed by Miss Ethel Churchill, and. the part of Shylock will be in the capable hands of Mr. J. Culford Bell. Comedy will bo well represented by tho "Kitchen Scene" from "The Twelfth Night," in which all the parts are being taken by the talented members of the Charley's Aunt Club (Mr. N. E. Aitken, Mr. AV. AV. Crawford, Mr. L. Elton, Mr. Phipps Williams, and Miss Marie, Fix). . ).

The fantastical Bide of Shakespeare's work will be portrayed by the beautiful 'quarrel, sccno between Oberon and Titania, from "The Midsummer Night's Dream."'. This scene is being costumed on entirely 'original designs by Mrs. James Hannah, and will bo most spectacular, 't'he, principal parts will bo taken.by Miss Betty Purdom (Oberon), Miss A r era Pegg (Titania), and little Hazei Hardwicke (Puck).

' The following dialogues will be included in the programme:—The church scene from. "Much Ado. About Nothing,". Miss Hardinge-Maltby (Beatrice), and Mr. Eowell (Benedick); scene from "The Taming of the Shrew," Miss M. Butler (Katharina), and < tit;- Byron . Brown (Pelruchio); scene from "Hamlet," Miss Janie Petrie (Ophelia}, and Mr. J. M. Clark (Hamlet). : Tho following will contribute individual, items:—Mrs. Phil. Nathan, Catherine's speech in "Henry VIII," .Miss Pauline Brown, "Miranda," from "The Tempest"; Miss Zita Chapman, "Prince .Arthur," , from "King John"; and Mr. Sidney Tingey, "Brutus, from "Julius Caesar."

Mr. Robert Parker is arranging for a full orchestra to play Shakespearean music, and also to accompany the various "catches" which occur in several of tho ■scenes.