ENTEETAINMENTS.

New Zealand Herald, Volume LV, Issue 16850, 15 May 1918, Page 9

ENTEETAINMENTS.

ROYAL COMIC OPERA COMPANY. The box plan for the season of the Royal Comic Opera Company will be opened at Wildman and Arey's this morning. A new musical play is announced in the production of "Katinka" at His Majesty's Theatre on Saturday next by the Royal Opera Company. Both musically and artistically the play is said to be on a considerably higher plane than the average comic opera. Resplendent revelry, gay music, and lots of fun; sensational gowning, with the night always young, are the keynotes. It will, moreover, be cast to the highest advantage. Popular artists will appear as follows:— Phil Smith, Thaddeus T. Hopper; Mr. Reginald Roberts, Ivan Dimitn ; John Ralston, Boris Strogoff ; Oliver Peacock, Arif Bey ; Miss Gladys Moncrieff, Katinka; Miss Eva Webber, Olga; Miss Addie Lennard, latiana; and Miss Florence Young, Mrs. Helen Hopper. On Wednesday next will be presented "Mr. Manhattan," a new musical play that has had great success wherever shown. A novelty in " Mr. Manhattan" is the habit allotted to the chorus, at its manifold appearances, to announce its desire in an infectious recitative which throws melodv to the winds. The final production of the season will be " The Red Widow." OPERA HOUSE. At the Opera House this week there are two exceedingly clever American variety artists— Denny and Eddie Dunigau. Their turn consists of latest ragtime " hits " and some original jesting. Others appearing in the first half are the Balancios, two clever athletes, and Vesto and Julian, two jugglers of the first rank, whose turn is mingled with humorous patter. Private Bell, the Anzac singer, is well worth hearing, while De Car, the acrobatic waiter, gives a good amusing few minutes: A revival, " The Kissing Maid." is staged in the second half by the Walter Johnson Revue Company. AUCKLAND CHORAL SOCIETY. The Auckland Choral Society will give tho second concert of the season at the Town Hall on Thursday, May 23. Rossini's fine work, " Stabat Mater," will be rendered by a large chorus and orchestra. The soloists will be Madame Chambers, soprano; Miss Jessie Bartlett, contralto; Mr. Ernest Drake, tenor; and Mr. A. Colledge, bass. The society will also perform filgar's charming " Bavarian Highlands Suite" for chorus and orchestra. The box plan will open to subscribers on Monday next, and to the general public on Tuesday. MUNICIPAL ORGAN RECITAL. The programme for the organ recital in the Town Hall on Saturday evening will include organ works by vierne, Mailly, and D'Evry, and transcriptions of popular works by Chopin and Maecagni. Miss Jessie Bartlett will be the vocalist. KING'S THEATRE. This week the A. Brandon-Cremer Dramatic Company ie staging, at the King's Theatre, the laughable, dehghtfully%bumorous play, " Charley's Aunt." This afternoon the company will give a matinee in aid of the fund to reduce the debt on St. Patrick's Cathedral The play will be the great Irish drama, " Shamrock and Rose." / TIVOLI THEATRE. The chief attraction at the Tivoli Theatra this week is Douglas Fairbanks in a film Wild and Woolly." He is seen as Jeff Hillington, the bored son of a railway magnate, of Arizona. His father is persuaded that a line in the Wild West would be profitable, and sends Jeff to report. Wild scenes follow, for the inhabitants of Bitter Creek, hearing that he has many extravagant ideas of what Wild West life is, prepare a realistic reception for him. Steve, the ranger of the Indian Reservation, called on to arrange a sham massacre, mistakes the purpose, and a real massacre almost ensues. Jeff, with his knowledge of horsemanship and lassoing, creates quite a disturbance, and ultimately saves the situation. Nell, the prettiest girl in the town, is captured by the Indians, and Jeff effects a daring rescue, with the result that he marries a girl after his own heart. Other pictures are shown. NATIONAL THEATRE. Miss Theda Bara is seen at her best in " The Darling of Paris," a picturisation of Victor Hugo's famous novel, " The Hunchback of Notre Dame," now being shown at the National Theatre. Vivacious and bright, she makes a beautiful gipsy dancer as Esmeralda. The setting is the Paris of the seventeenth century, and gorgeous clothes were a common thing in those days. All of these seem to help Miss Bara to live her part. The film is released by William Fox. In support is shown a light comedy with Max Linder as the chief actor. The very subject, "Max Wants a Divorce," is sure to arouse interest in it. It is a strange contrast to " The Darling of Paris," yet to each is added the charm of a French atmosphere. LYRIC THEATRE. Douglas Fairbanks is still showing at the Lyric Theatre in " American Aristocracy. ' He is, pre-eminently, an athlete and a comedian, and in this picture he is seen at his best. The story is good, and consists chiefly of a wild chase after a beautiful girl, who one day broke the boredom of his life by kissing him in Broadway. Other films are shown. OTHER ENTERTAINMENTS. " The Butterfly Girl " is screened at the Grand Theatre, with Margarita Fischer in the leading part. Charlie Chaplin appears in "The Cure." Ethel Barrymore, in the picture entitled "An American Widow," appears at' the Queen's Theatre. The fifteenth and last episode of " The Neglected Wife " is shown. "In the Balance " is screened at Everybody's Theatre. Harold Lockwood and May Alison are the principals at the Globe Theatre in " The Promise." " Womanhood " is being shown at the Princess Theatre this week. Douglas Fairbanks. in " American Aristocracy," appears at the Strand Theatre this week.