ENTERTAINMENTS

Evening Post, Volume LXXXVIII, Issue 54, 1 September 1914, Page 3

ENTERTAINMENTS

— HIS MAJESTY'S THEATRE. The artists appearing at His Majesty's Theatre last evening had the encouragement of a large and appreciative audience. An interesting and varied programme was presented. An English comedian, Mr. Phil Percival, made a valuable addition to the entertainment. He is an experienced comedian, has a good repertoire of songs, and a humourous manner, which carries his performance through with flying colours. He is also an accomplished musician, and his work throughout was warmly received. Stirling and Love, also newcomers, made an effective team. Their turn was onfc of the brightest on the pi-ogramme. The stage was set as a hunting scene., and the pair happily entertained tho audience with a number of hunting songs, to the accompaniment of stirring "hunt" music. The item was as fresh as it was novel. The Bright Sisters, two graceful young ladies, made a re-appearance, and were also welcome. The Aerial Bartletts, two athletes of exceptional skill and ability, again kidded their clever and successful turn, which won warm applause. The Era Comedy Four contri. buted several songs of a patriotic character, with appropriate vigour and spirit. Phillips and Merrifc delighted lovers of ragtime. Stan Stanley, who possesses valuable gifts as a comedian, made his part of the programme as clever and as amusing as if it had been his first appearance. Music was well represented in its more serious side by Messrs. Havt and Kenny. Their singing of "Ora Pro Nobis" and "Old Madrid" was one of the most enjoyable items on the programme. The evening concluded with a bright comedy sketch, • entitled "The Other Fellow," which was responsible for roars of laughter. , HARRY LAUDBR. . Since the box office opened yesterday morning, an unusually large number of seats have been booked for the Harry Lauder season, which commences at the j Grand Opera House on Saturday next. ' During the Wellington season the publip j will have an opportunity of hearing tho j famous comedian in all of his song successes. Each evening the programme will be varied. One matinee performance will be given during the season, on Wednesday, 9th August, when the programme presented will be exactly the same as given at the evening performances. The box plan is at tho Dresden. THE KING'S THEATRE. • The weekly change was screened at The King's Theatre last night. The main attraction is "Lost in Mid-Ocean," depicting the somewhat adventurous life of the young daughter of a wealthy man. A wealthy Japanese is violently in love with the girl, but she loves and marries an artist. The Japanese plans revenge, and after the young couple's honeymoon trip to Japan, when they are on the point of leaving for home, the wife is decoyed ashore and is kidnapped by the Japanese. She makes a lucky escape, and follows her husband by the next steamer, but the ship in which she sails strikes an iceberg and founders. She is not among those- picked up by the rescuing s>teamer }i but is rescued by some Japanese fishermen. The eventual reunion, after many months, makes a capital ending to an exciting story. The shipwreck scene is a wonderful one — by fai\ the most realistic thing of its kind shown hero. The supporting films include "All for Science" (an A.B. drama of exceptional merit), ••ihe Gaumont Graphic," "The River Avon ' (Pathe colour), some topical views of Samoa and "our boys" leaving Wellington, "Mabel's Busy Day" and "The Strategy of Conductor 786 (comedies), and others. THE BRITANNIA. A brilliant detective drama, running into four reels, and the product of the famous Eclair Company, is the "star" pictuie in the current piogramm© at the Britannia Theatre, Manners-street. Monsieur Lecoq unravels "The Mystery of the Pepper Box Inn" in a remarkably ingenious manner, and the happenings are of an exciting nature. Tho supporting programme includes: "Bidoni's Dream," "The Eternal Duel" (drama), and tho Australian Gazette. EVERYBODY'S PICTURES. " Waa* Dogs of To-day " is the' title of a patriotic film, which heads tho picture programme at Everybody's Theatre this week. It is a special compilation of pictures showing the combatants in the present • greai war. Last night it was received with great enthusiasm. During the screening Mr. Harold Grey sings " Britons All, ' by Messrs. Bert Royle and Frank Crowther. The latp^t edition of -the Pathe Gazette is also shown, and in addition " Mother and Wife " (Edison drama), " Back to Broadway" (Vitagraph), and "A Barnyard Flirtation " (Keystone). THE NEW THEATRE. AH' day yesterday crowds of people visited the New T-heatre in Mannersstreet, and some favourable comments were passed as to the many comforts provided as -a result of the recent renovating process. The principal picture in the current programme is an (Adaptation of Maxwell Gray's famous story, "The Silence of Dean Maitland." "The Rajah and the Ring" is an impressive drama, and "Ostrich Farming in New South Wales," an exclusive production, is full of interest. PEOPLE'S PICTURE PALACE. "The Cry for Blood," a Lubin masterpiece, heads the bill at the People's Pictura Palace, ll ia a splendid feature, quite up to the high staoidai'd set by tho popular Lubin, Company. It was s"hown for the first time yesterday, and at each session it was well received by the large number of people present. The remainder of the programme is made up of a. set of pictures exclusive to the "P.P.P." management, and all are meritorious, CONCERT AT LOWER HUTT. On Friday evening, Mr. H. Temple White, accompanied by Miss B. Brittain and Mr. S. Laslett Exton, journeyed to the Lower Hutt and entertained a fairly large assemblage at the Methodist Church. Mr, White, in his organ recital, made the most of the small organ, giving a fine performance of a uumber of wellknown compositions, including an item of his own. Miss Brittain and Mr. Exton were both_ in excellent voice and did ample justice to their various solos. The appreciation of both playing and singing was evidenced in the enthusiastic applause which greeted each item. The financial result will help considerably to pay for the new blowing plant just added to the Hutt organ. A well attended concert in aid of the Good Shepherd Mission, Mitchelltown, was held in St. Peter's Schoolroom last evening, resulting in a good sum of money being realised. Songs were given by Mrs. Foster, Master Pankhurst, ami Miss Clapshaw. piano solos by Mr. Kellett. and several violin items by Master O'Brien. A feature of the entertainment was a comedietta entitled "A Domestic Entanglement," which was well carried out by Misses Thornton. Wixon, Hogg, Fuller,'Lyon, and Thompson, while a character sketch. "David Copperfield and the Waiter," by Masters Denticc and Power was much applauded. Miss Lulu Arnold and Master Power also gave several recitation*. Mra. Barcham played th«» accompajnimenU, „

THE DANDIES. > After an absence of some weeks the Orange Dandies inaugurated a sixnights' bcasou in Wellington in the Concert Chamber of the Town Hall last evening. The company ig .only a email one. but for the whole two hours there is never a dull moment. Tho bill of fare prowcled was entirely new with the exception of one or two of tho aucoro numbers, and it was characterised by the usual freshness and brightness that pertain to all programmes submitted by the Dandies. The most ambitious concerted effort lafit evening was the operatic excerpt, "The Bohemian Girl" (Balfe), which was in marked contrast to the other items in lighter vein. The voices of the sextette were well in harmony, and the number was one of tho successes of the evening. , Miss Ethel Walker, who sang "Carmena," possesses a strong, sweet voice, and was heard to the best advantage, as also was Miss Linda Bradford in the tuneful number "Melisande in the Wood." Ons of the moot popular performere was Mr. Andrew Pace, whose comic song, "Dingle Dongle Dell," made a great "hit," and wa« /ollowed by "Tickled Me ac Well," which alone tickled the audience. Mr. Oeo. Taylor, another old favourite, was very successful in "All the Girls are Lovely by the Seaside," and, when his reappearance was' insisted upon, sang another amusing absurdity, entitled "When Father Bought a Bag of Tools." Miss Naomi M'Quoin, a. charming little soubrette, sang "What's It Got to Do with Me or You?" in a dainty manner, and Mr. Roland Henry, m a. character sketch, "The Boy in tho Gallery," gave an amusing representation- of an ill-cul-tured "cockney" lad in an East End show. * Messrs. Roland Henry and Andiew Pace contributed a comedy duet, "The Duke and the Duchess," and Mr. Harry Webster, who is a clever •■comedian, sang "Seaside Trippers," "A Ragtime Melody/ and "P.O. 49," after which the audienc« reluctantly allowed him to depart. The programme will be repeated tomorrow and Wednesday evenings, and on Thursday a change will be given. THE EMPRESS THEATRE. Crowded sessions prevailed at the Empress Theatre continues pictures last evening, when the chief attraction was the lengthy dramatic film " A Celebrated Case." the first of the Kalem Company's new "World" series. This is a story of the days of war between France and England, about the middle of the eighteenth century. The Battle of Fontenoy is enacted by hundreds of performers. There are also enjoyable supplementary films. Appropriate selections are contributed nightly by the Empress full orchestra. SHORTT'S PICTURE THEATRE. A new programme was shown at Shortt's Theatre la-st night, and the screening was attended with much success. "An Eye for an Eye," the "star," is a sensational military drama, 4000 ft in length. It is crammed full of incidents particularly appropriate just now. "The Weaker Sister," "Pimple's Trousers, " and "Nan,' Good for Nothing," are included in a very strong supporting programme. STAR THEATRE, NEWTOWN. A Vitagraph drama, " Lost in MidOcean," provided a strong attraction at the Star Theatre, Newtown, last night. Other pictures shown are : " All for Science " (A.B. drama), The Gaumont Graphic, and some topical views of Samoa.