AMUSEMENTS

Evening Star, Issue 15308, 7 October 1913, Page 6

AMUSEMENTS

HIS M.UTSTTT THEATRE. The second performance, of ‘ The Night Side of London ’ by George Marlow’e Dramatic Company was witnessed by a largo audience last night. The play is purely melodramatic, with a. moral attached. Though, it may bo hoped, its lesson has no immediate bearing in this Dominion, it is as well to be forewarned, and the object lesson may not be in vain. The personnel of the company do good and honest work in their different characters, and the. General arrangements help to make for (he success of the representation. There is a liberal vein of humor in the piece, and the accessories are ample. •Staging, dressing, and setting are all that can be expected ; in short, a. melodrama up t-o date is presented that will take the fancies of those that way inclined. ‘ The Night Side of London’ is to bo repeated this evening. —‘ The Girl Who Took the Wrong Turning.’—

On Thursday evening next the company will stage for the first time in Dunedin the sensational London drama ‘ The Girl Who Took the Wrong Turning.’ The plot of the play is the story of a young man who. through intrigues of his cousin and Ids marriage with a girl “ beneath his station,” is away from his home, and working at Newmarket in a racing stable. A sister of his wife is persuaded to leave homo and forgot her sailor Inver, and find pleasure in fine dresses in London. The sailor, after a long absence, returns to find his sweetheart missing, and pathos, ccmedy, and sensation follow each other in rapid' order. There is a double love story which runs throughout the piece. The scenery will be identical with that used in the" original Australian production. Racing stables at Newmarket and a well-known English village will be among the many scenes. This piece will be played for two nights only. On Saturday, when the season closes, there will be staged, in response to innumerable requests, Mrs Henry Wood’s famous play ‘ Last Lvnne.’ The box plan is now open at the Dresden. THE KING'S THEATRE. The new programme at the King's Theatre reached a’ level of merit last night highly gratifying to the largo audience. Forsyth and Boyne, two English sketch artists of repute, appeared in a. smartlywritten farce entitled ‘ A Sister to Assist ’Er,’ which was so cleverly handled by Mr Boyne las the very uninotherly nurse) and Miss, Forsyth (as the landlady) that the house rocked with mirth. This is an unusual kind of act. and it wen the warm favor of the audience. Corona must be accounted another importation of stellar magnitude. He appeared in a musical turn described as ‘ The Wandering Musician,’ and in_ his first offering, ‘The Lost Chord’ (Sullivan), proved himself a virtuoso of the cornet. Intonation and tone were alike pure and faultless, and in this and his subsequent contributions ho won access to the. antechamber of his auditors’ hearts. If these may bo considered the prime offerings of the programme there are yet many contributors of hardly less importance. Thus, Klimo and Clifton, two gymnasts, one cf whom exploited the comedy side very cleverly, disclosed a. symfinished act on the Roman rings ; Vaughan and Berry, acrobatic contortionists. repeated the bewilderingly clover contribution that made them warm favorites last week ; Ruby Wallace made her first appearance in serio songs and dances ; Branscombe. the singer with the double voice, evoked both amazement and mirth; and Joe Lashwood, a new comedian, made a hit square in the bull’s-eye of popular esteem. This last performer's work was somewhat discounted by the introduction of one or two quips which were vulgar without the redeeming point of cleverness. A couple cf good pictures completed an excellent hill, which will be repeated this and every evening. HAYWARDS’ PICTURES. A varied and interesting programme of pictures was presented for (he first time at the Octagon Hall last evening. The principal attraction was a dramatic subject entitled ‘ Wamba.’ It is an excellent production by the well-known Selig Company, and many wild animals of the African forests are introduced in a remarkable way. The story is that of a native woman whose little child becomes sick and has to bo taken to the doctor’s some distance away through the thick jungle. Hero the child dies, and the mother finds some compensation for her loss by lavishing her wounded love upon the doctor’s beautiful little daughter. One day, when its mother and father were out riding, the child wandered away into the lion infested jungle, and Wamba, the faithful native woman, recognising its danger, seizes a gun and follows. A number of exciting adventures ensue, and eventually Wamba tees the child seeking safety from a. big lion by hiding in a hollow log. The lion is just about to pounce on its prey when a timely shot from Wamba’s ride settles his intentions and saves the child's life. It is a well acted story, and one that should become popular with patrons of the Octagon Hall. The Runaways ’ is a pretty and exciting love story. The photography is excellent. ‘ ihe Evil Thereof’ is a story of the sweated conditions of girl labor in some of the large American stores. It is one of Edison’s best. ‘Bunny Dips into Society’ is a remarkably clever comedy in which Bunny excels himself. The ‘ Pathe Gazette ’ is most interesting as usual, while ‘The River Cobra’ and ‘Jura’ (France) are two fine scenics. A very instructive film is ‘ The Uses of Dynamite,’ while another good comic is ‘ Simple Simon’s Disappearance.’ The present programme is one that should draw large houses for the remainder of the week. The playing of the orchestra is a feature of the .entertainment provided at this popular picture house.

The anniversary of St. Kilda Methodist Church was celebrated by a. musical and elocutionary festival, given in the Coronation Hall last evening. The programme comprised 31 items, contributed by the Sunday school scholars. These were rendered to the evident satisfaction of a large audience, and indicated careful instruction on the part of the teachers. In commending Sunday school work, the Rev. A. J. Seamer deplored the seeming lack of interest in these matters taken by many parents. To Mr Aslin and those associated with him credit is due for the excel-

TOLLERS' PIOTDRES. f n6 i W Programme at the Princes last night’s audience infr?m to end. If tin management so chose, they might justifiable tiinv llre wYj ,aurnol 't Craphic scenes, fo) they embody a big fund of up-to-date information «« 10 the wwld’s doinga Horso and dog shows, air flights, vnehtius pictures, and specially the views of the .Australian fleet, were passed before th< oyo quickly, but with all the requisite clearness. Such subjects, are of hid, educational value. ‘ Scenes of Other Daws 1 r'® C< ’-, s ,|- sUrr, "S tim «s of the American Civil \ v ar. A Con fed orate sharpshootoi is potted as he is about to fire ; a Federal scout comes along and succorn hini; the two become fast friends, and after the war, when both arc elderly men, the onetime Confederate shows his deliverer th« sights of Atlanta City. The Valley of the Bourne is a charming colored film tliat traces the river from its source and shows groups of very old houses on tho banks. Phis is about tho prettiest picture in a pretty programme. ‘ Tim Lost Combination’ is a drama that reminds one of ‘AJias Jimmy Valentine.’ A drunken safebuilder practically drives his wife from home, and she marries a mil I ion aim. One day her little girl, tho drunkard's daughter, playing 'hide-and-seek, secretes herself in the sate, and, the lock combination being lost, the child is nearly smothered, when an expert from the gaol is sent for and effects a rescue. The rescuer is, of corn's©, the father. Hie story is elaborately told. ‘One-Round O’Brien’ is a gcnuiuelyfunny comic that particularly appeals to lovers of “the manly art.” In tho second part we have a. scientific film showing strange sea-water creatures, the jelly fish in quaint and shapely forms, and other little-known denizens of the deep. Very seldom, indeed, is the opportunity presented of inspecting these oddities at close quarters. ‘Tho Two Spies’ is a realistic and pulsing tale of the Balkans War, made real and instructive by the splendid background of the true scenery. The story is also striking, and one that can bo easily understood. ‘How Hiram Won Out’ winds up the programme in a pleasant manner. The bill is one that ought to draw, and patrons are bound to he pleased with the music supplied by Mr Alartinelli and his follow members of the orchestra. THE ‘SMART SET.’ On Saturday next at the Garrison Hall the ‘ Smart Set ’ Entertainers and Maynard Dakin will make their first appearance in Dunedin, alter a continuous season of eight weeks each at tho Town Hall, Auckland, and Wellington, where this party of eight artists entertained large and appreciative audiences during the whole of that time with contributio’ns of music, mirth, and melody, musical gems, concerted numbers, solos, duets, burlesque, dancing sketches, and the first, and original Now Zealand Revue, entitled ‘ Kia Ora,’ or ‘Keep to the Right.’ The company consist of artiste who have made their mark in tho musical world in the four quarters of the globe, comedians (character. eccentric, and light], and dancers of more than ordinary ability. AVith tho ‘Smart Set’ combination is Air Maynard Dakin, the very popular comedian, wlnso visit to Dunedin (in conjunction with the English Pierrots) will be remembered by his refined and true spirit of innocent comedy and extremely lino acting. Tho box plan is now open. NORDIOA. Mine Lillian Nordica, who appears in Dunedin for the first timo next Thursday evening, is a prima donna with a worldwide reputation. She studied in Italy, made her debut there., and was at onco hailed as a great operatic artist. She has scored emphatic successes in London and all the other European capitals, and has probably a greater repertoire than any other living singer. Wherever she has appeared she has created groat, enthusiasm, and her present Australasian lour is proving no exception to the rule. At her first concert in Melbourne tho big audience forgot their usual conservative calm, and after the Tendering of Brunnhilde’s ‘ Battle Cry ’ the house rang with cheers and bravos. Although this great Wagnerian number docs not appear on Mine Nordic,Ts programme, it is promised that it will ho given in her list of encores next Thursday evening. It is cause for rejoicing that wo are at last to have tho opportunity of hearing the polished Canadian tenor Mr Paul Dufault r who is n prominent member of Mmo Nordica’s concert party. Last year he sang his way into the hearts of North Island music-lovers, ■cvl th' imtimssion lie created then )v>s been confirmed on the present tour. Air Dufault is an artist of intellectual qualities. backed by a strong musical temperament. His voice is a tenor of sunr-rb quality, sympathetic, resonant, and marked by case of production. That ‘ Invictus ’ is to be included in his items on Thursday evening is pleasurable news. Mine Nordica, accompanied by her associate artists, reached Dunedin this afternoon. Tho Nordica season is absolutely limited to two concerts. Thursday and Friday evenings. The, plans are. at the. Dresden.