ENTERTAINMENTS.

New Zealand Herald, Volume LII, Issue 16007, 27 August 1915, Page 5

ENTERTAINMENTS.

OPERA HOUSE

A Porr-LAR feature of last night's proI gramme at the Opera House" was the j first round of the "Charlie Chaplin I contest." The conditions of these nove? I competitions are that each competitor | must attempt to give the best and most I consistent impersonation, in make-up, j dress, and characteristics, of America's ! famous photo-play comedian. In order j that a scene from a Charlie Chaplin play may be played each competitor is allowed the use of two assistants. In last night's contest two of the competitors availed themselves of the privilege of having one human assistant each, while another had a bulldog for company. The first imitation of Charlie Chaplin to appear was Mr. James Wilson, who. with an assistant, played a scene from Ford Sterling The make-up and impersonation was good •and the quick work with the walking cane and the boot were characteristic '. ."Charlie's Night Out" was the title of I Mr. W. Brown! effort. Aided by an

'accomplice dressed as a dead- beat" and with a string of sausages as an indispensable adjunct, a good farce was achieved, though it was not altogether Chaplinesque. A big bulldog was the assistant of Mr. W. M. McCready. who impersonated Chaplin as seen in the first scene of The Champion." The impersonation was excellent, but the scene selected was too quiet, though, like the other two who had preceded him, Mr. McCreadv had a hearty reception from the audience. The next competitor was Mr. P. Jones. He played " Charlie, the Drunk." with complete success. The house .? reamed with laughter and the applause was loud and long. Yet it was a discriminating audience, and " Charlie, the Flirt," as presented by the fifth competitor, was not so warmly received, though his winning Charlie Chaplin smile more than counteracted other lapses in make-up and other characteristics of the popular cinema star. When the competitors were reass3iTib]ed before the footlights the audience voted Mr. P. Jones first and Mr. W. M. McCreadv second. These competitors will therefore take part in the prand final on Saturday night. A long list 'of competitors have entered for tonight's contest. The other items of the programme were all brisrht and fully up to the standard of the Opera House.

"VIOLET DANDIER." Another large audience greeted the "Violet Dandies" at the < on cert chamber of the Town Hall last evening, when the bright programme presented for the first time on Wednesday was successfully repeated Owing to alterations in their engagements, this company close their Auckland season on Saturday night. A new programme will be submitted this evening. The repertoire of the " Violet Dandies " is an extensive one. and the company promises a choice selection of items for their final programme.

KfXi: GEORGE THEATRE. A. pleasing series of pictures was presented for the first time at the King George Theatre yesterday. 'The Rider in Silhouette.' which head's the new programme, is a story of an outlaw in the Canadian Rocky tfounlains. The picture presents some beautiful scenery, and the .story portrayed is a very interesting one. A feature of the new programme is a twopart comedy entitled •'The Funny Side of .Jealousy." The chief role in tins film is taken by .Jefferson de Angelia. a comic opera star, who appears in some ludicrous situations. An interesting nhoto-play is presented in " Tuny Soul of Peter Rami." Rind, who is on the stage, tells his mother thii he is a great actor, and when he loses his job he is forced to keep up the deception. Life's Furrow," a tory of a ycuint: spendthrift, and "Auntie's' Portrait." ■~. comedy, are the remaining fijms of 'vhe programme, which will be repeated to-day.

"AS YOU I.IKE IT." The llrafton Shakespere Club will give a reading of "As You Like It" at '"the Grafton Lilnary tonight. Madame WiHaeit. as Rosalind. Professor Maxwell Walker, as Orlando, and Mr. Thomas Harris, as Jar-ones, "ill lake part in tonight's entertainment. ORGAN RECITAL. The programme for the organ recital in the Town Hill mi Saturday evening will include the "Man-lie Pontifical?.'' hv id,if. a " ('uiitihile "by louden. .-. pi-..-,. inineiit lt'h;i;iii composer, and works hv Sil.chus. (.'v.s.'ir Frail'k, and the city organist. IMCI'IRK ENTERTAINMENT? The ("ollingshy Pearls" is the rhief ti!m .it the Queen's Theatre. "Brother Officers" heads the programme at the King's Theatre. 'lie Prim Theatre is presenting " Hearts in Exile."' " Our Dare-lh'vil Chief " is the chief film at the Glohe Theatre. '" '1 he Lion's Cubs,'' drama, appears at the Lyric and West End Theatres. "Sunshine and Shadow " heads the programme at the Palace Theatre. " His Prehistoric Past " is the chief film at the ft rand Thent re.