ENTERTAINMENTS

Dominion, Volume 9, Issue 2836, 29 July 1916, Page 2

ENTERTAINMENTS

HIS MAJESTY'S THEATRE. To-day will be 'the Inst - day of the season in Wellington of the Victor Prince Revue Company at His Majesty s Theatre. This particular band ot funmakers have had a notably long season in Wellington, and havo managed to produce some good comedy farces. Nelson and Nelson put on a novel acrobatic act, all their performance being carried out on stilts. "The World's Worst Juggler," in the person of Freddy James, is also well worth seeing, and other items are: "Chums," by a talented trio, Charles King, Virginia Thornton, and Rupert Drum. Tho usual inatinee will take place this afternoon at 2.30 p.m. Next week the "Travesty Stars" will appear at the theatre. BERT LA BLANC'S TRAVESTYSTARS. Bert Jja Blanc's Burlesque Company, composed of artists specially selected from tho leading English and American theatres, will make their initial appearance at Ilis Majesty's Theatre' on Monday evening. The whole production is said to bo made regardless of expense, and great care has been taken in engaging clever and entertaining principals, supported by a chorus of picked voices. The company has just concluded a very successful season of eleven weeks in Sydney. It has also been a. huge success throughout Australia, and tho principal comedians, Bert La Blanc and Jake Hack, are faid to bo great funmakers. The box plan is now open at The Bristol for this big attraction, which will be supported by a new programme of variety stars. THE KING'S. There will be a matinee to-day at the King's Theatre, at which the magnificent picture-play, "The Chalice of Courage," as well as the cartooon comedy. ''Mutt and Jeff in a Kitchen," and the Pathe Gazette will be shown. Children will be admitted at half-price to all parts of the house. The same programme will be screened for the last time to-night, commencing at 8 o'clock. Seats may be lwoked at the Bristol till noon, then at the King's Theatre.

"BULLETS AND BROWN EYES." The attraction at the King's Theatre next week is the fivd-part romantic drama, "Bullets and Brown Eyes," a story of love and war, in which the popular actor who toured New Zealand some time ago, William Desmond, and Bessie Barriscale, the clever and charming actress whose work in "The Golden Claw" will be remembered, have . the leading roles. Tho story deals with a war between two States in Poland, and the producer introduces not only a fully equipped modern army, but elso shows it in' action. It is described by a Sydney contemporary as "a wholesome love romance, full of life and action, showing two popular artists at their best in the most pleasing play of the year." An excellent supporting programme has been arranged. EVERYBODY'S THEATRE. Charles Chaplin will be seen for the last time to-night at Everybody's Theatre in his latest comedy role, "The Shopwalker," which lias been amusing crowds of people during the week. Also the Keystone comedy; "Stolen Magic," featuring Mabel Normand, Mack Seiinett, and Raymond Hitchcock, three verypopular artists. Other good subjectsare "The Trickster," a powerful drama, "Snow Scenes Around London," and the Gaumont Graphic. Next week a very strong programme will be screened, in which Elizabeth Risden, as the toaif, will be seen in "Charity Ann," a pathetic story with many strong dramatic scenes. A Keystone-Triangle comedy, "The Janitor's Wife's Temptation," featuring Fred Mace, the popular comedian, will also be shown. Other strong supporting items Svill be "Submarine Warafare," a fine. Patho subject, and the popular Gaumont Graphic. ' EMPRESS THEATRE. The last day, of "The Shopwalker," featuring Charlie .Chaplin, is announced for to-day, and a special children's matinee will bo held, this afternoon to enable the children, to 6ee this extremely funny production. Another feature on the' progranime is k good drama entitled "The Commanding Officer," whicli is a very fine play, and worth a visit. Other piotures are "The British Official War Films" and tho ever.popular "Topical Budget." "From Out of the Big Snows," the.latest American dramatic success, will be the feature in the new bill to be produced on Monday. TIVOLI FOLLIES.' A feast of merriment is promised the-atre-goers when tibe Tivoli Follies open their season at the Grand Opera House on Wednesday next, under the direction of Hugh D. M'lntosh. The combination has over 60 performers taking part, including a picked' ballet and chorus. These Follies will be led by Vera Pearce. Thelma Raye is a newcomer to New Zealand, and her musical numbers are enhanced by rich costuming, and elaborate stage Bettings. Jack C a,m ot> tlie ,re "* known comedian, is assisted by three humorists of different types, George Welch, Walter. Weems, and Billy Rego. Follies will be supported by star vaudeville acts.. Miss Ella Caspers, "the girl .with tlie voice of itold," has gained a great reputation in England and Australia for her,rich contralto voice, and she will be heard in favourite items, while the Belgian Conpert Party, a combination of musicians from.Belgium, all of whom are said to be ex-soldiers, will be heard in classical masterpieces, including the overture to "William Tell." These artists will also assist Frank Greene, baritone, in his delivery of fun, m&erts's stirring lines, "Sing, Belgians, Sing," which will be delivered with spectacular effects. The box plan is. now available at tho. Bristol. ~. HARMONIC SOCIETY. Keen interest is being. manifested in tho appearance to-night in the Town Hall (Concert Chamber) of tho Wellington Harmonic Society, under the conductorship of Mr. H. Temple .White. This concert which will, bo-under viceregal patronage, and' in the presence of Her Excelloncy the Countess of Liverpool, promises to bo one of the best efforts of the society. A choice programme of part songs will be rendered by. the choir of 50 picked, voices, assisted, by Miss Frieda Walter ac;i Mr. lilric Meier, violinists, and Mr. Hamilton Hodges, baritone. The concert will conclude with Percy Fletcher's great jiatriotic chorus, "For Empire and for King," which will be sung to accompaniment of tiiano, organ, and drums. In view of the heavy booking at the Bristol, those who havo not taken tho precaution of reserving seats are advised to bo in attendance at tho hall early; DRAMATIC RECITAL. In tho presence of Her Excellency the Countess of Liverpool, a dramatic recital will lie given in the Concert Chamber of the Town Hall on Saturday, August 5, by the adult pupils of Mr. Culford Bell and Miss Betty Purdom. The programme is an exceptionally varied one, and includes many new sketches which have never before been presented in Wellington. There will bo three comediettas, one by Mr. Culford Bell and M iss Purdom, musical monologues, Shakespearean selections, and several costume sketches, including Indian Squaw, Jack Tar, Pierrot, Italian Classic, and a quickchange sketch, wherein are impersonated in turn a French Maid, an Irish Colleen, a Cockney "slavey," a Yankeo girl, slid a Spanish woman. The box plan cpens at tho Bristol on Monday, and fho proceeds of the concert go to the Mayor s Sailors' Dependants' Fund. MISS DOROTHEA SPTNNF.Y. Miss Dorothea Spinney concluded her season in Wellington Inst evening by the performance of two brief plays, one an Irish play by Lady Gregory, '1 he Travelling Man," and the other a Pierrot play, "Tho Maker of Dreams," by Oliver Down. Miss Spinnoy is not so successlul in her portrayal of Irish character, as sho is with tho characters in the Greek drama, with which she has been delighting her audiences during the past fort-1 night in Wellington, and the Irish peasant woman in the play was not the Irish woman as wo know her. As a mattor of fact, the play was in tone i too reminiscent of Greek tragedy, and thero was not the quick play of light nixl shade that is so great a characteristic of Lady Gregory's women, and for that

matter of Irish women ill general. The picrrot play, "Tho Maker of Dreams,'" was a delightful whimsy, and Miss Spinney, by her artistry, made it a very-real presentment. The posies' from Greek vase 3 which followed were very beautiful, and there is no doubt of tho fact that Miss Spinney has made this field of Greek art peculiarly her own. _ The poses were given to tliei aocompaninient of music in keeping with the figures portrayed.