ENTERTAINMENTS

Evening Post, Volume LXXXVIII, Issue 93, 16 October 1914, Page 3

ENTERTAINMENTS

THE LIEDERTAFEL. YEAR OF ITS MAJORITY. Five-and-twenty gentlemen eeated at tables, and one gentleman conducting them with his baton through part-song and catch madigal^ and canon. Thus is constituted the Wellington Liedertafel, now the oldest musical society in the city. This year the Liedertafel attains its majority, and from its performance last evening it has, with no addition and no depletion of its present members, pleasure to give to audiences for years to come. From its foundation to the present time the Liedertafel has been directed by one conductor. Mr. Robert Parker. The reason for the popularity of the society (notwithstanding its now unfashionable name) wa« manifested once again last evening, when a most enjoyable programme was provided, and to which helping friends of the society contributed with, distinction. Opening with tie canon, "The Spring is Come" (Dudley Buck), the society showed that, aa of yore, it still attracts good voices with intelligence behind them. This particular number is valuable in the opportunii ties it affords for the display of good singing, but in itself it is not remarkable for originality or beauty — not to be compared, for instance, to that old, old favourite^ "The Soldier's Farewell" (Kinkel),* which, no doubt from its intimate acquaintance with "the piece, the Liedertafel sang with tenderness., expression, and taste. The "Battle Prayer" (Stoeh) and "Hymn Before Ac tion" (Walford Davies) were aleo ren»rkable for the excellent treatment accorded them by the society. The selections from Villiers Stanford's "Songs of the Sea" were timely, and were sung by soloists and chorus with great credit to themselves and to their conductor. Both, words and music seem to 6mell of tho brine and breathe the spirit of the British Navy and its great traditions. So much appeared to be recognised by the Liedertafel iaßt evening, The soloists were Messrs. F. V. Waters, Charles Clarkeon, F. Laycock, and Hugh Wright. The society's solokts in other numbers were the Rev. A. W. H. Compton and Mr. F. Tunley. Mr. C. H. Stephen's sweet and welltrained voice was heard in "For the Crown" (Wallace), a number sung with much warmth and spirit, and he also gave "The Sands of Dee." Mrs. Stephens played with much brilliancy a Mendelssohn study and prelude. The accompaniment to the sea songs were delightfully played by Mrs. E, C. Cachemaille. HIS MAJESTY'S THEATRE. An exceptionally fine musical turn is being provided by the Boudini Brothers, a couple of talented accordion players, at His Majesty's Theatre this week. They are in the first flight of players of this particular class of instrument, and are certainly well worth going to hear. Other artists contributing to the programme are Brown and Sorlie (coloured comedians), the Miltons (expert roller skaters), and the Great Westin (impersonator). THE KING'S THEATRE. "The Tragedy of General Villa's Life," the principal film at The King's Theatre, is attracting a great deal of attention and is being received enthusiastically by patrons. The romantic career of the new President of Mexico is depicted in its various stages, from his boyhood as a rancher until he finally enters the capital of Mexico at the head of his victorious army. Included in the incidents are actual scenes >n the recent civil war. "The Fall of Louvain," showing the tragedy of the exodus of the populaoe, is another notable film. To-night and to-morrow evening the programme will be repeated, and to-morrow afternoon there will be a matinee. EVERYBODY'S PICTURES. Among the items on the very successful programme now being shown at the old Opera ' House,- " Everybody's Pictures" include "Old Reliable, a very attractive drama, which has a wide appeal to the popular taste. The latest war pictures from Europe have created much interest among the audiences, and give a good idea of many of the happenings on the Continent. " The Missing Jewels," " Mask At It Again," and "On the Banks of the Dahl " are other films wheh help to make the selection one of much interest. THE BRITANNIA. In "The House of Darkness" the management of the Britannia picture theatre present a very interesting picture-play of an exciting nature. The story is one of two brothers who make a bid for fortune by trying to gain possession of certain treasure which has been left to a j girl, and the idea is worked out with much ingenuity. Another fine drama is "With the Enemy's Help." "Getting Rid of Uncle and "Jane the Justice" are very laughable comedies). Australian news is well shown in the Australian j Gazette, and "The Hawkesbury River" is an attractive film of a popular New South Wales resort. MACMAHON'S~NEW THEATRE. j The remarkable drama, "In the Heart of a Jewess," introduced at Macmahon's New Theatre yesterday, has already attracted very large audiences, and shares with "Men of the Moment" (an excellent war series) the best attention of picturegoers. Both these pictures will run till Saturday night, supported by an excellent group of other films, pn Monday another specially fine dramatic work, "In the Sultan's Power," which abounds with striking incidents, will be introduced. Special features in this picture are the fine scenery and dressing and some sensational aeroplane flights. PEOPLE'S PICTURE PALACE. Several capital pictures make up the currentprogramme at the People's Picture Palace. The chief is an African drama, "From the Lion's Jaws." "The Days of His Youth" and "The Girl Behind the Barrier" are the other dramatic items. Comedy is provided by "A Rest Cure" and "Spanish Omelet/ and the programme retains touch with current events by a fine series of news pictures in the Eclair Journal, No. 86a. STAR THEATRE, NEWTOWN. The merits of that mystifying drama "The Black Triangle," with a really good supporting programme, which includes a very interesting war budget, attracted a , large audience last evening. A matinee I will be held to-morrow at 2.30 o'clock. i PICTURES AT LOWER HUTT. "The Lure of London," a high-class melodrama, will be the leading feature of an attractive programme at the King George Theatre, Lower Hutt, to-morrow afternoon and evening. Miss Ivy Close, a noted artist, will play the leading role, while the other parts are all in the hands of capable film actors. PALAIS DE DANSE. There was another assemblage of dancers at the Palais de Danse, Vivianstreet, last evening, and an enjoyable time was spent. The tango dances, hesitation waltz, and other innovations proved exceedingly popular, while the old-fashioned dances were also freely indulged in. The Palais de Danse is open from 8 to 11 o'clock every night. Special sessions for club_3 and parties may be arranged forj, ' (

"BUNTY PULLS THE STRINGS." Graham Moffat, who has become worldfamed because of his Scotch plays, notably "Bunty Pulls the Strings," which is being produced in Wellington for the first time on the 24th inst., "A Scrape of the Pen," "The Concealed Bed," and other pieces, is one of the few actorauthors to visit New Zealand. Mr. Moffat is accompanied by his wife and Miss Winifred Moffat and Miss Link (sister-in-law and secretary). For the production of "Bunty" a company of full-bred Scota is coming to New Zealand. They have been selected from the various companies now playing in the United Kingdom. Mrs. Moffat, a charming lady, will repeat her original character of "Eelen Dunlop." Mr. Moffat will play "Tammas Biggar," and Miss Moffat "Teenie." Miss Ella Young will be "Bunty," and Mr. David Urquhart "Weelum Sprufit." There is a delightful character in rebellious young Rah Biggar, played to perfection by Mr. Abie Barker, so humorous and so Caledonian that people (says the Sydney Sun) were saying of him during the intervals, "Another Harry Lauder." The box plans | open at the Dresden on Wednesday next. THE EMPRESS THEATRE. The large audience at the Empress Theatre last evening gave proof of the attractive nature of the new programme. "A "Victim of Vengeance," a drama by the Aquila Company, is a powerful story of a man's revenge, which ends in the financial ruin of his enemy. The younger generation in the New York slums are shown at their games and frolics in the streets in "Children of the Tenements." A tale of the stage is unfolded in the Lubin drama "Granny." Deserving of special mention also are " The Great International Polo Match," in which England defeats America after an exciting game, "The Count's, Messenger of Love" (drama). "Secrets' of the Kinematograph " (Milano comedy), and "What Happened to Pimple" (farcecomedy). The programme will be repeated to-day and to-night. SHORTT'S THEATRE. The highly successful current programme at Shortt's Continuous Picture Theatre comprises several interesting and well-produced pictures. Chief of them is an attractive drama, "The Trainer." which tells a well-constructed story, in which horses and jockeys figure prominently. Another fine dramatic study is the Selig play, " A Page from Yesterday." Capital comedies are " Won in the First" and "Ribbons and Boxing Gloves." The news of the world is pictorially epitomised in the Eclair Journal, which shows a number of interesting European happenings, many of them connected with the war. On Monday the new and remarkable "talking pictures" will be shown publicly for the first time in Wellington, and patrons may anticipate a very interesting display.