ENTERTAINMENTS

Dominion, Volume 10, Issue 3060, 23 April 1917, Page 9

ENTERTAINMENTS

GOOD-BYE PERFORMANCE. There was a' largo audience at the Grand Opera Hotisu on Saturday evening to witness the final* performance of "The Travelling Salesman" by the Williamson Comedy Company.- "i'lio exhilarating comedy was played with such dash and spirit as to keep the audience in a perpetual state of giggle, and at tlie fall of tho curtain on "the clinch," thero was a scene of enthusiasm "which wa3 sufficient proof of tlio popularity of tho members of this capital little'company. Tho company left for lyttelton after the performance.

• "WATCH YOTJE STEP." A brilliant combination of Aueklandovs is expected in tlio company which will arrive in AVellington to-morrow to take part in the production of the revue, "Watch Tour fjtep,*" which recently concluded a very successful season of ten nights 'in His Majesty's Theatre, Auckland. Iho object is to raise funds for tho Returned Soldiers' Association, and the members of the company, also the producer, Mr. Owen Cardston, are to, be commended for their enthusiasm on be-, half of so worthy a cause. As all the members of tho company 'and tho management are giving thoir serviced free it is hoped that the public of Wellington will patronise the effort liberally. The rovue company bring with them a great reputation, and the Wellington season, ■which opens at the _6pera House to-mor-row* night for two nights only, should be quite as successful as those in Auckland, Gisborne, Napier Hastings, PalmerBton North, and Wanganui. The box plan, is at the Bristol.

HIS MAJESTY'S THEATRE. Considering the troubled times, the strenm of talent into. His Majesty's Theatre, the Wellington vaudevillo house, flows very strong. Amongst the newcomers to-night will l>e the Kloss Sisters/ an act that* is said to have created great enthusiasm in Australia some years ago, when first" introduced there by the lato Harry Eickards. Tho feats performed oii the wire by those two girls,are said to be almost incredible,- and-must be seen to bo believed. Since their, first Australian appearance these two remarkable young ladies have headed, the programmes of many of the largest vaudeville • circuits of England, America; and the Continent, and their act is now said to rank amongst the world's best. Another newcomer will be Mr. ' George Wheeler, "the musical tramp," who, besides an eccentric line of oomedy, possesses a remarkable ability for extracting music from'tKo most crude implements. His melodies from a row of "dead marines." are stated to surpass even those of an accomplished musician upon Another welcome reappearance will be made by Tiny ■Tot Marjprie , 'and Little Eileen, tqs two juvenile* acrobats who are already too well known to require further description, lieut. Gordon, a ■•ventriloquist, who is eaid to be as different from other performers of his genre as'tho proverbial chalk from cheese. Fred. Arthur, tho "shabby genteel",, comedian; Walter Emerson and Gwennie. Hnsfo in 'their screaming burlesque, "Tho Lady Barber"; Dan; Crew, ithe Scotch laughterraiser;. Huntly' Sponcor, coloured tenor, and Maud Fanning, , assisted by the Elliot Sisters, will complete what promises to be an excellent programme. Tho same bill will bo presented nightly throughout tho week.. .

. •■■■■■' < jim jving's. ; Arseno,' LupiD,, the brilliant pracTcsnmn, whose. i>lace in literature is comparable with that of Baffles or Sherlock Holmes, is tho horo of a very diverting film that heads tho- current . bill at ..the Kiug'p. The picture shows -Arsono iu some of his most daring and ingenious exploits in deiianc© of law-and order. Arseae's chiof opponent is a powerful detective named Guichard, who invariably proves to .be anything but a match for the wily "crook." Xho adventures portrayed involves a'duke* a coffee king, and an heiress....: What moro, suitable porsoutiges could tho cracks'man: find to exercise his art upon? '■ Each of tho characters has some "pet ambition. ■ Tho duke is eager to servo , his. country, the millionaire desires a titled son-in-law, the daughter would bo a duchess, and Guichard would' crown his career with the capture of the most notorious criminal of his day. In all theso little, projects Arseuo, ■unexpectedly, and' without encouragement or invitation, takes a hand. Tho results of his work are surprising; though it .'-wonM hs. a pity to disclose them hero. Suffice it to say that there is .material in the story for many n good laugh' and an occasional thrill. The supporting bill is varied and attractive.

■ THEATRE. A Triangle Kay-Beo play, entitled "Tlie Female of tho Species," is tho principal attraction at Everybody's Theatre this week. Two features of the picture are the expensive gowning of tho women artists and the threo leading artists, namely, Mies Dorothy Dalton as the siren, and Howard Hickinon and Enid Markey as the husband and wife. Dorothy Dalton, as Gloria Marlev, a queen in Bohemia, is on intimate terms with Howard Hickmau, who, however, fails in love with_ Enid Markey and against all the cajoling of Gloria, marries her. Gloria determines to regain hie affections and the cards appear to be in her favour when they aro both travelling, in the same train, and it is wrecked by a collision. As a result of the accident Howard loses his me.mory, and it is easy for Gloria to chance his coat to another man who is dead, and;thus the wife is advised that he has teen killed. Meanwhile Gloria forces herself on Howard as his ivifo, arid they go to live in- an out-of-the-way place. Later, the true wife hears of the whereabouts of tho supposedly dead man, and arrives on the scene. Howard does not, of course, recognise her, but again, much to the disgust of Gloria, falls in lovo with her. The only thing left for Gloria to do is to quit, and sho does so in surprisingly graceful manner. Tho plot on the wholo is a most thrilling one and great excitement prevails when the two trains get past their last stations and rush headldng to'a collision. Amongst the supporting films is the tenth chapter of "Gloria's Romance." THE EMPRESS. Charming Clara Kimball Young appears at the Empress this week in a picture play that ought to prove no less popular than "The Common Law." "The Rise of Susan" is a story of a-woman's sacrifice and the final reward of her nobility. Following is the plot in, brief:— Susan, in her employment aV a'model in a fashionable establishment, attracts by her beauty-and dignified'bearing the notice of. a society lady, Mrs. Luckett. The latter intends giving a reception to' a countess, but' at the last moment the guest of honour finds it impossible to attend. Susan is prevailed upon to impersonate the titled guest, and at the reception she meets and falls in love with Clavcring Gordon, upon whom Mrs.. Luckett's daughter Ninon has set her mind. On the wedding day Susan eiposes the v secret of her sham title, and renounces Gordon. Ninon-marries him, but becomes deranged as a result of using drugs. She is taken to a hospital, and Susan, who has become a nurse, is deputed to watch her. In a fit of insanity Ninon attacks. Susan and then commits .suicide. In tho final scenes Susan''comes into her own. The play is admirably staged, and-the beautiful Clara appears in appropriately. attractive costumes. The photographic work is particularly good. ORGAN RECITAL. The programme submitted by the City Organist (Mr, Jiernard'F. Page) at the recital given in the Town Hall on Saturday pvening wits all that lovers of the best in organ music could desire. Owing to tho frequency with which it has been; played in Wellington for ten yours nast, Boellmann's "Suite Gothique" Ims" becomo familiar to many- ears, and its deep and varied beauties, and tho full measuro of devotional atmosphere encompassed—notably, in tho Choral" and "Priere a Notre Damo"—aro qualities that have.won world-wide appreciation. Orchestral music which Mr.. Paso interprets so well, was ' represented by an "Air" from a Suite (Opus'4o) by Greig. It was delightfully lilnycd. • For a long time past Mr. Pago has repeatedly, included tho ''Prelude and Fiiguo in I) Major" of Glu'zounor in his programmes, a valuable contribution to modern orga'n mu6ic by tho noted Russian composer,

who has not given a Ereat deal of attention to the ovcau. It is a scholarly composition, ponyentional in form, but exactly the reverse iu its bizarre colouring. Mr. Pago has trained his audiences to a keen appreciation of the -work. Other notable items in tho programme were Scriabine's Prelude" (Onus. 16). tho second movement from ■ Cesar Franck's "Symphony in D Minor," and Paulke's "Rhapsodie."