ENTERTAINMENTS

Dominion, Volume 18, Issue 58, 3 December 1923, Page 5

ENTERTAINMENTS

. EMPRESS THEATRE. With rare enterprise .an English company has produced a picture version ot "The Bohemian Girl,” one of the most popular operas, and the result, to be seen at the Empress Theatre this week, is entirely successful. Such an ambitious scheme demanded a cast of high order, and that was secured in Ivor Novello, Ellen Terry, Gladys Cooper, Constance Collier, C. Aubrey Smith, and Maurice Vibart. all noted .English actors and actresses. The settings of the picture are particularly fine, especially the woodland scenes for the Gipsy incidents, the old feudal castle, and the picturisation of the vision "I Dreamt I Dwelt in Marble Halls." The wellknown songs of the opera are neatly turned into titles and carry out the atmosphere. The supports include an Empress News Film and a. comedy, featurj ing Buster Keaton in "The Searecrow. ’ A beautiful prologue is staged bv the Gipsy Chorus Company. Mrs. Rosenthal sings "I Dreamt That I Dwelt in Marble Halls,” Mr. Jenkins “When Other Lips.” and Air. Franklin “The Heart Bow’d Down,” The orchestra renders music from "The Bohemian Girl’ opera. KING'S THEATRE. “Bella Donna,” now showing at the King’s Theatre, .is a drama which gains in attraction and interest from the fact that the principal part is taken by t.hnt extraordinary dramatic actress Pola Negri, who plays the part of a thoroughly had. but remarkably beautiful and fascinating woman. Falling in Jove with an Egyptian millionaire, she endeavours to poison her husband slowly. She is discovered by a doctor, but the husband refuses to believe the story nnd orders the doctor from the. house. The woman is cast off by the .Egypt'nn millionaire and the final scene is a most striking one. Pola Negri plays the lovely. yet loathsome, poisoner te perfection and wears a number of remarkable costumes. There are excellent supports, while the orchestra renders a capitallv selected musical programme. HIS MAJESTY’S THEATRE. Good jazz is hard to find, but Linn Smith’s troupe of instrumentalists, now appearing at His Majesty’s Theatre, have given many of the patrons a better idea of jazz than they had before, ine characteristics of jazz music are brought cut most meritoriously, and each of the five men is an artist on his particular instrument. To-night, which is to be the commencement of their last week in Wellington, the jazz band will give an entire change of programme, which 1 3 to include among other popular numbers that latest craze, “Yes, We Have No Bananas ” The new revue by the George AVallace Company is entitled, “The Pickled Porter,” anz is said to provide continuous rounds of laughter. The thousands who have enjoyed this young producer’s clever shows will need not further reconunendatibn. George Wallace, as the Pickle- Porter, has a very “rough passage" indeed, and patron's will scent without further description the great possibilities here afforded a comedian of Mr. Wallace’s skill, tonight the George AVallace Company is being strengthened by the inclusion 01 two new members, recent arrivals from Sydney. Of the newcomers, Aliss Alarie Nyman is a lady of daintv personality, and. sweet soprano voice, who has had much experience in musical comedy work. Aliss Sadie Tilbur.ll is said to be a comedienne of very high order. The remaining artists on to-night’s new bill are Ray Kemble, Aston and Marshall, and Alable and Alalfe.

IMELDA FAMA. Considerable interest is being taken in the pianoforte rpcital to be given by Alias Tama in the Concert Chamber of the Town Hall on Tuesday, in view of the praise given to her by Benno Aloisolwitsch, who, after hearing her play, enthusiastically declared her to be a future great artist. Miss Fama has chosen for 'recital purposes such well-known masterpieces as Beethoven’s “Moonlight” Sonata. Chopin’s "Ballade in F Atnjor,’ and Ravel’s “Jeux D’Eau.” There are also a number of delightful pieces from the works of Bach, Scarlatti, Brahms, Debussy, and MacDowell. The box plan is open at the Bristol. COMMERCIAL TRAAHiLLERS’ CHOIR.' Accommodation in the Concert Chamber of the Town Hall on Saturday night was at a premium for the third concert of the season by the Wellington Commercial Travellers’ Alale Voice Choir. A delightful programme was rendered, the choir being heard in many of the most choice part songs. The instrumental and vocal numbers were submitted in pleasing variety, and the appearance of Mrs. Wilfred R. Andrews, the well-known Dunedin contralto, who is on a‘visit to AVcllington, was made tho most of by an enthusiastic audience. Mr. H. Temple AVhite led the choir with distinction. The following comprised the programme: —Part songs, “Strike the Lyre,” “Tho Long Day Closes.” “Yea, Cast Ale From the Heights," “Whether I Find Thee," “Pussy’s in t'he Well,” “Twilight,’ “Serenade," “Every Rustling Tree," and “AVatchman, AVh'at of the Night” (soloists, Messrs. B. S. AIL wright. E. AV. Lewis, F. IV. Laycock); bass solos. “The Curfew" and “A Sailor’s Paradise,” Mr. W. J. Robbins; instrumental trio (Messrs. L. Logan violin, R. Booth ’cello, Frank Thomas piano), “Allegro Scherzando,” “Andantino” (Gade), /‘Andantino con Moto,” and “Atignonette” (Goddard); solos, “Home Song” (Liddle), “Break of Day” (Sanderson). “My Ships (A. Barratt), “CurlyHeaded Baby,” and “Five Little Piccaninnies,” Mrs. Wilfred R. Andrews; tenor soles, “Sweet Early Violtta” (Sherrington). "Alorning” (Oley Speaks), Air. Frank Brvant; basa solos. “Forging ths Anchor” (Rodney), and “The Deathless Army," Air. W. W. Aturshall; tenor solos. "For You Alono" and “Live, Laugh, and Love,” Mr. T. J. Jenkins. Mr. Harold Whittle was accompanist. DRAMATIC RECITAL. On Wednesday and Thursday next Mr. nnd Airs. Culford Bell will present their pupils in an attractive programme of recitations, fairy plays, character sketches, and dialogues, musical monologues, and scenes. The recitals will be held in the Concert Chamber, and tho proceeds go to the Wellington Free Kindergarten. Alost of the items are to be given in character. Tho programme will be varied each evening. Aliss Turner’s string orchestra wrill play selections. Seats may be reserved at the Bristol. ORGAN RECIXAL. Air. Bernard F. Page (City Organist), contributed an artistic programme at the Town Hall last evening. The items comprised Largo in G (by request), (Handel); Naiade, Op. 15. No. 1 (from the five Melo mimics) —(Rebikoff) : Pastorale—(Claussmann); Walther’s "Prize Song,” from Act 111, "Die Meistersinger”—(Wagner) ; Fountain-Alusic and Duet from (Act 11. Scene 1) “Pelleas and Melisande” —(Debussy); “Finale,” from Symphony No. 6 in B. Minor (/'Pathetic”) —Tschaikovsky).