ENTERTAINMENTS

Dominion, Volume 10, Issue 3199, 25 September 1917, Page 3

ENTERTAINMENTS

HIS. MAJESTY'S THEATRE. ■. Pfttrone of His Kajosty's' Theatre last evening saw Paul ytonhonc and bis company in '•Twirly-Whirly," a revue living duito up to, but not beyond, the character of its immediate predecessor, "liazzlcDaazle." "'lVirty-Whidy , had a cast composed of Spi);u Murphy (described as "one of tho boya"), Sir i'erkius (constable ' nud boss of tho town), Hosie (Si's c'aughter),- Pete (iu love with Ilosie), Henry (a seeker after easy mouc.y), Ethel Strathmore (a widow), β-nd Dot (a. guest). Tho claim of these personages to comicality was to somo extent borne out by patter which had seen much service on tho boards in time past. The plot was quite a negligible and quito a neglected matter. The interest of what would ultimately happen to Mr. Spike Murphy, as the principal character, was entirely secondary to the interest created Jiy his grotestiu" make-up; and his- wonderful smile and his quaint utterances. The setting vas vus'tic-a half.mown Hold, trees, a cottage, highly-polished milk basins, etc. Even, the setting, however, did not greatly matter, as one-half -they -time it -was relevant, and the other half it was rot. what was really an unquestionably delightful feature of tho revue, however, was also something nulte iirelovant to tlio fortunes of Jfr. Murphy. It -was the einsing of the Grafters' Quartet. The Graftcra rendered several numbers, and to hear them was pleasure unalloyed. carollo" they treated in splendid fashion, and they were equally successful with matter of a different scrt. The "Ginger Girls," who mads np tho chorus and ballet of the piece, wore, as usual, good to look upon. Three items of the vaudeville Drogrammo deserve special mention. Piret," and certainly fircmost from tie artistic point of view, was the contribution of Malcolm Jl'Eareberu, who is a late member of the Madame Melba concert party. Accompanied upon the piano, by a lady -who knew her work thoroughly, ho sang, among other numbers, "The Cornieh Dance," "Young Tom of Devon, ,, and "The Yeoman's* Wedding." His line bass voice was heard to particular advantage, in the firstnauied song, which, when treated as he treated it, is one of the moat haunting compositions cf Its kind. Other performers who achieved an unqualified success were The Royies-. a trio comprising two men and a lady. The men both proved to be clever comedians, end the lady to 'oe a most accomplished dancer. The verforraance of all three bore the hallmark of reiln»ry»nt. Rose and Dell, the well-known acrobatic cyclists, ga-ve one of their usual turns, and met also with a good reception. The prgramme will bo repeated to-night. "LA MASCOTTE." Another large audience witnessed a cajy-, tal perrormanco of "ha Mascutte" by the Wellington Amateur Operatic Society latt evening. The extraordinary fiumptuousness of the mounting and dressing, tho admirably-trained chorus, and gifted principals, all oomblned In a really excellent parformonct!. It is good to be able to record tliat Miss Helen Gard'ner, in the role of Bottina, ib xapidly regaining her voice, and her clever performance last evening was enhanced by somo of the numbers which had to bo omitted on Saturday evening. Tho comedy of, Mr. A. W. Newton as Laurent, and Mr. A. Shaw asßocco, iras mellowed a-nd ripened by the first night's experience, and the admirable singing of Mr. Herbert Wood aa Prince Fritellinl. and Mr. Len. Barnea as Pippo, lifted tho performance perceptibly. Once more the grand march of the Amazons in tho third act aroused the big audience to enthusiasm. The booking for the balanco of the season is most satisfactory... Hie Governor-General and the Countess of. Liverpool axe to witness the performance on Saturday evening. - < - ' THE KING'S .THEATRE. the picture version of Hall Caine'e sioTy "The Manxman," which is being- screened at the King's Theatre, is truly an«.rtistio production. The story is laid in the Isle of Man, land lit was there that tho picture story was enacted. The Btory of "The Manxman" is familiar to _ most people, and the screen translation is excellently carried out. Tlio work of the principals is in tho bands of perfect actors, Henry Ainlpy in partionlar being responsible for some Etrong work. A feature of the picture is the beauty of the settings, the camera, having levied toll in tho niOßt striluug t.pftuty spots of tho Isle of Man. It will be screened twice dally throughout tho week.

EVERYBODY'S THEATEE; An aeroplano bomb dropped with splendid precision wipes out the firing party who have their rifles trained to fire' on the luckless pair in "Paws of the Bear. , ; This is one of tlra sensational incidents in tills Triangle feature now Ecreiiiiing at Everybody's Theatre, 'liw swif.tnesß with which the ■ plot unfolds is very refreshing, <md tho play is quite n, new thing in var dramas. Most of the later scenes of the drama are laid in America, and a v.-onl must bo said for the beautiful photgffiipay. The supporting items include a, bright and breezy Keystone comedy. EMPRESS THEATRE. "The Moelstrom" is a particularly good! title for the mystery piny now eorefening at tho Empress Theatre, which, features Earlo Williams and Dorothy Kelly. The plot is very clevev, full of turns and twists, and the eventual solution cf the identity of tho murderer a complete surprise. The film is .remarkable for strongly tinted light ofTctts, and the peculiarly vivid way in which the furious struggles which attend tho detective's investigations are shown in silhouette upon the screen. ICISS ADA EEEVE. . . Owing to the fact that the production of "Lα Mascotte" is holding the boards at tho Grand Opera House until next; Saturday might, ana that another attraction is to happen on Monday. October 8, the forthcoming season of Mies, Ada Keevo niuet necessarily bo limited to six nights, but during that period the talented comedienne and her supporting company will present two complete changes of srogrammo. When the pinna were opened for the recent Auckland season of seven nights there wae, it is stated, a record dtmand for scats, practioally tho -whole of the dress circlo and stalls beine booked up before the. company arrived'from Sydney. In view of this it will probably be advis'able'fpr those wishing'to enjoy Jtics Ada Eecvo's fcenius to book their seats on Thursday next, when the plans will be opened for the whole of her season. It is said that Miss Hoove exerts a % sway over her audience from the off-set, capturing them with .her wonderful personality, and her power of arousing the deepest emotions. In her ,hand 6 the veriest ditty is said to become a symphony; the simplest ballad a complete littlo play. In the foremost rank of artists supporting this famous comedienne is Louis Nikola, who creates lively interest with his shadowgraph impressions of the most notable men of the present day;- Mr. Harry Jacobs, the singing conductor, Controls a. capital orchestra, and uses hi-3 tuneful voico with pleasing effect. Miss Lucio Linda is said to be a beautiful dancer. Mr. Kennedy Allan is the' burlesque comedian of the organisation, and Jlr. Frank Marklcy is said to fairly make tho banjo talk under his expert manipulation, whilst Alvin and Williams, in "Bits from Sonpland," dip into their repertoire with happy results. A snappy sketch, entitled "In the Future, playod by the English comedy company, Is seated to he as amusing as it ie smart. The company will arrive in Wellington on Saturday.

NEW ZEALANDERS AT WAR. ' To-night at tho Town Hall Concert Chamber, Mr. Qerald Anderson will give his lecture. "New Zealanders at Wpr, for the first time in Wellington. The 6tory and pictures cover Seven countries, ana perhaps not the least interesting is the work done fay the übiquitous New Zcalander in the little-known German Eats Africa, 1 where so seribus a campaign is now being- conducted. Tho ten minutes spent in describing the comparatively .unknown but vast Sepik River of the once Kaiser Wilhelm Land, adds also to the interest of the whole. In the opinion of the lecturer this watershed, , long a blot on civilisation, is destined to become peaceful and prosperous when broimht within tho ombraoinp core of the sifted Aneloeaxon. The box plan is at Tlio Bristol.Their Eicellen*ics the Earl and Countess of Liverpool and the Mayor and Mayoress of Wellington have decided to be present.

"A TALE OF OLD JAPAN." Samuel Ooleridge Taylor's masterly composition, "A Talc of Old Japan," which is to be produced in the Town Hall on Tuesday next, gives the Choral Union another opportunity of proving its prowess on ■what may bo termed tho dramatic field of music. The public knows that whatever tho union undertakes is given a true and lander in the little-known German hast lor's "A Talo of Old Japan" is so pictorial in its music that the performance will almost appear to the listeners to bo a drama. The box-plan is to open at the Bristol at 9 o'clock this inornimr, where 2s. and.3s. seats can he reserved without extra charge Miss Helen' Gardner, of Dunedin, is to sing the soprano music, Mrs. Maurice Jones, of Auckland, will undertake the contralto part; Mr.Geo. mny will sustain the tenor rol6. and the bantone by Mr. Frank Charlton. _A full rehoarsalt will he held this crcninc in St. John's, at 8 o'clock, and also on Friday at the earae ploce. /