ENTERTAINMENTS

Evening Post, Volume LXXXVI, Issue 54, 1 September 1913, Page 3

ENTERTAINMENTS

"BELLA DONNA." "Bella Donna" found favour with a large audience in the Opera House on Saturday night. The weird nature of the play and its dramatic force sustain interest throughout the whole of the four acts. The piece ib laid partly in England and partly in Egypt, and the scenery on the banks of the Nile is strongly picturesque. Indeed the whole play savours of the mysticism of the East. Bella Donna will be succeeded on Thursday by the representation of Bernard Shaw's comedy masterpiece, "Man and Superman." This unadulterated comedy scored an instantaneous success in London, and in it Mr. Julius Knight appears in the role of John Tanner and Aliss Irene Browne will take the part of Ann Whitfield. THE SMART SET. "The Smart Set" paid a second visit to the King George Theatre, Lower Hutt, on Saturday night, and were received even more popularly than before. To-night this little band of entertainers who have made themselves such warm favourites here will return to the Concert Chamber of the Town Hall. A completely new programme will be presented. It is announced that a "revue" is to be produced in the programme tonight. It may be explained that a, "revue" is a satire or burlesque of passing events ofjthe day. In the Wellington edition, prepared by Mr. George Elliot, everything that is happening in the present or future, or not likely to happen, in the city, is to be shown. For instance, the Governor will be seen opening the Nairn-street Park. THEATRE ROYAL. After this week the Theatre Royal will be closed down, and vaudeville will take up its new home in His Majesty's Theatre. The programme for the concluding six nights is a strbng one. It includes Bryant and Bryant in their , sensational novelty act ; the Lyrical Four, in solos and concerted work ; Gloria Maine, "the Indian Tettrazini," and the Leopold Sisters, balancers and tumblers. ■ THE EMPRESS THEATRE. A new programmp of all-round excellence appeared to-day at the Empress Theatre continuous pictures. The main attraction is "Women and War," a drama of the American Civil War. There are two sisters, as totally dissimilar in dispositions as they are unlike in physical appearance. The elder sister is plain, but sweetly sympathetic. Her sister is pretty, but frivolous. A neighbouring young man of vyealth is undecided in his affections towards the sisters'. Ridiculed by. her sister, the elder one leaves the field clear to the younger one, who thus secures a proposal from the suitor. The elder sister joins the regular army as a nurse. Her sißter's fiance responds to the call for volunteers, and enlists so a captain. He is wounded by a shell, and the nurse attends him till he. regains his health, but he finds that he is blind. The younger sister, without any pangs of regret, hands him back his ring, whereupon he proposes to the one who has nursed him so kindly, and she consents to be his wife. There is a mystic air about the «Rex drama, "The Stolen ,]' „» A number °* other subjects in i?° 'rF arkets of Cental Asia" (travel), "The Hicksville Epicure" (A.B. farce-comedy), and "Bunny v. Cutey" (Vita comedy). - J ■ THE NEW THEATRE. The Edison Company heads the new programme to-day at the New Theatre Continuous Pictures with an attractively staged dramagraph, "Kathleen Mavourneen. The story, is artistically expressed by noted players. Another commendable item is the Lubin drama "Dr. Maxwell's Experiment," which shows how a surgeon altera the criminal inclinations of a convict by an operation. "Maori Aquatic'sports," "American Floods," land an assortment of comedies complete the bill. ~a#w» , ' SHORTT'S PICTURES. T^»y'B change of programme at bhortts Theatre includes a picturesque drama, " Chrysanthemum," which is a happy combination of much exciting incident, with a charming love story. A special attraction is provided in the shape of " Czernowski," a lengthy film by the Cines Company, the makers of the " Quo Vadis?" picture. This is the story of the treachery of a governess 1 who has been engaged by Count Zaccini, a widower, to care for his two young children. By her wiles she' induces the Count to marry her, and then to obtain his fortune decides to do away with him. She makes several attempts upon his life, and in each case is circumvented by the Count's faithful servant. The latter proves the guilt of the Countess, and she ends her days in prison. "The Black Hand " and " The Goodly Nigger " provide excellent comedies, and the Warwick Chronicle is full of topical subjects. " STAR THEATRE, NEWTOWN. , Both the matinee and night performances at this theatre on Saturday last were crowded to see the last two screenings of "With Scott to the Pole." Tonight's change of programme is headed by " A Regiment of Two," a special Vitagraph star comedy, 2000 ft long. The plot is said to be exceedingly good, while the acting is quite above the average. Other good pictures to be shown in support of the main feature include " Two Little Kittens," "Canoe Race," " Round about- Cairo," and Pathe's last. English Gazette. ' CITY BAND CONCERT. The concert provided by the Wellington City Band in His Majesty s Theatre last evening was well up to the band's high standard. The opening selection was "Under the Austrian Flag," Wagner's well-known march, the martial rhythm of which received a very masterly interpretation. One of the most popular pieces played was a selection from Verdi's "La Traviata," a feature of which was the solo work of the different instruments. For his euphonium solo, " Seknsucht" (Hartmann), Mr. D. Coyle had to respond to a recall, and Messrs. Shardlow and Glennie were also very successful in their duet (cornet and trombone), "Antony and Cleopatra" (Riviere). A quickstep, "The Passing fiegiment" (Beyer), was the band's final selection. The programme complised vocal quartettes by the, popular Orpheus Party. They opened withi Fletcher's "Affcon Water," and later sang "Good Night," and for both efforts were enthusiastically encored. Lieutenant T. Herd conducted the band, and the accompanist was Mr. H. Hollow. " OLYMPIA SKATING RINK. The evening sessions at Olympia Rink On Saturday were well patronised, when tho presentation of prizes took place. Tho couples musical squares was won by Miss Jacka and Mr. Bryant, with Mrs. Williams and Mr. Keegan second. ■Fresh attractions are being arranged. KILBIRNIE SKATING RINK. The presentation of prizes won at the fecent carnival at the Kilbirnie Rink attracted a large attendance on_ Saturday evening. To-morrow evening the vink will be privately engaged. , The band will bo in attendance on Wednesday afternoon*

HIS MAJESTY'S THEATRE. "With Scott to the Pole" drew crowded audiences afc both performances on Saturday and was received with great favour. To-night will mark the initial presentation in Wellington of " The Heritage," a Pathe colour drama of the French School, which measures 2000ffc of film length. The plot of this pictureplay is said to be exceedingly powerful and to be founded on facts connected with a celebrated "will" case which held the attentions of the law courts of Franco for some time Othei* selected subjects to be screened in support of the star feature include, " The Stronger Sex," a Vitagraph, dealing with the evils of gambling at Monte Carlo; " Scenes on the Engadine" ; tho last number of the popular Gaumont Graphic ; " A Double Wedding." a Keystone comedy; "Professor Wm. Nutt," an Edison comique, and other films. His Majesty's Orchestra will accompany the screenings with appropriated music. Box plans are now open at the Dresden and seats may be reserved without extra fee. THE KING'S THEATRE. To-night's change of programme is said to be strong, both numerically and as Regards merit. The leading feature is " A Kegiment of Two," described as ai superior* Vitagraph star comedy. The vicissitudes which befall a couple of married men who mislead their wives' with a view of securing a night off land them in innumerable complications, and their satisfactory extrication from their difficulties is brought about by novel devices. The supporting films include 'Round about Cairo," a Pathe colour scenic; "Two Little Kittens/ a dramatic idyll by Edison; "Canoe Race," an exciting Pathe colour sporting record; "Jean and her Family," a Vitagraph nature study ; Pathe's last English Gazette ; and other selected pictures. PEOPLE'S PICTURE PALACE. Screened for the first time to-day, "The Banker" (a Cines production), the star picture at the People's Picture Palace, is a good drama. The story mostly concerns Mrs. Rivers, a widow, and her daughter Nellie, who, though living in a palatial home, are desperately in need of money. Everything depends on Nellie marrying a wealthy husband, but she loves and is loved by a man as poor as herself. A wealthy banker desires Nellie for a wife, and on learning of her mother's desperate position she makes the sacrifice Everything, from a finan* cial point of view, now runß smoothly, but despite her luxurious existence Nel* lie is desperately unhappy. Suddenly a war comes; securities fall in value, and the banker is ruined, Nellie being forced to sell her jewels. In a moment of panic and indecision Nellie consents to meet her old lover, and during this interview a most dramatic happening precipitates matters to a crisis. Several of the scenes are artistically worked up, a very fine one being that in which Nellie lells her lover of her coming marriage to the banker. The supporting pictures are varied and entertaining.