ENTERTAINMENTS.

New Zealand Herald, Volume LV, Issue 16909, 23 July 1918, Page 6

ENTERTAINMENTS.

OPERA HOUSE. i Another farce with music was staged at the Opera House last night by Mr. Tom Haverly and his company. It appealed to the risible faculties of a large audience. Mr. Haverly again appeared as Dan j Murphy, and Mr. J. P. O'Neil as Michael I Casey, though the programme desoribed ' them by aliases. The former relied for I his laughs upon a droll assumption of intoxication with a mild attack of delirium tremens, and his faith in those methods was not misplaced. Mr. O'Neil shared with him the task of keeping the mirth of the spectators on the boil. On the musical side of the piece the duet, " The 1 World Was Not Built in a Day," sung ' by Miss Merle Stewart and Mr. Reg. Moore, was the' most pleasing item. Mr. Moore's solo, " Down Texas Way," and I Miss Stewart's "Hello, my Dearie," were also very tuneful numbers. Mr. Billy Maloney was successful in the chorus song, " Who'll Play Puss 'in the Corner." The Kewpie Kids were as animated as usual in their ballets and choruses, their j wooden shoe dance being warmly ap- ' plauded. Misses Dollie Dormer and Ethel Shepherd were seen in a double song and dance turn. In the first part of the programme the only newcomer was Mr. Carlton Max, ventriioquist, who with the aid of his doll, Jerry, provided a very . amusing interlude. Miss Maude Court--1 ney and Mr. C., warm favourites with Opera House patrons, reappeared in a new budget. Miss Courtney's songs were well rendered ai d popular. Mr. C's happy style as a reconteur enabled him to keep Ids auditors in a constant state of laughter during his fivo minutes or so of jesting. Tho versatile pair introduced neveral new topical subjects in their duet, "I Should Still Love You." Mr. C. announced that he was inviting the public to compete in supplying verses to this number tor use next week, and that prizes, for tie three best would be given. Mr. Ward Lear, comedian and mimic, and Wells and Wells, comedy acrobats and tumblers, wcro other i contributors to the entertainment. Mr. ; E. J. Burke's orchestra rendered invalu- ' able service. The programme will bo j repeated each night this week and at Wednesday's and Saturday's matinees. " LES CLOCHES, DE CORNEYILLE." The charming comic opera, " Lee Cloches de Corneville" will be presented to-night and for the rest of the week in His Majesty's Theatre by a company of Auckland amateurs. The performance will be under the patronage of Their Excellencies the Governor-General and the Countess of Liverpool. " Les Cloches "de Corneville" — The Bells of Normandy"is a famous and always popular opera, and members of the cast may be expected to give an attractive presentation. Over 100 performers will be engaged, and the dresses and scenery will be special features.- The music will be provided by a full opera orchestra. The plot and characters of the piece are so well known that particularisation is unnecessary, but one or two of the principal roles may be mentioned, especially in view of the success attending the rehearsals. The " Biillie of Corneville" is an extremely humorous character, especially in the scencs in which he is associated with his shadow, "Gobo." Then theije is the impudent minx Serpolctte, who after many adventures blossoms out into a marchioness. In marked contrast to the humorous baillie i! the miserly Gaspard, forever gloating over his hoarded gold. Other characters who play a leading part are Germaine, Grenicheux, and the Marquis. Among the ballets probably the best is the ghostly dance in the haunted castle. The production has been organised and will be directed by Mrs. Sutherland and tho stage managed by Mrs. Ernest Davis and Mr. W. J. Crowther. As the proceeds are in aid of the Victoria League's Red Cross Fund there should be large houses at every performance. Seats mav be reserved jrfthout extra charge at Wildman and Army's.

1 THE ENGLISH PIERROTS. | Good quality musical items were the rule at the concert given by the English [ Pierrots last night in the Town Hall con--1 cert chamber. All the artistes were warmly applauded. The accompanists, Miss Rima 1 j Young, was much appreciated, Miss ' i Elsie Rosslvn and Mr. Roy Cooke sang I well, especially in their duet, " Here Is ' My Heart." Miss Elsa Langley waa well received; as was Mr. Leslie Austin. , As a child impersonator Miss Billie Wilson received hearty applause. Mr. David Lyle sang well.' All the other items were well rendered. KING'S THEATRE. Gardiner and Le Mar present the chief attraction at tho King's Theatre this week. Their exhibition of ju-jitsu is very clever, 1 | and well shows {hat a woman is capable ' of defending herself.. The rest of the programme is good. ROYS' FIFE AND DRUM BENEFIT. The proceeds at the Globe Theatre this week will be devoted to the fund for the purchase of new instruments for tho Grey : Lynn Drum and Fife Band. TIVOI.I THEATRE. "Bab's Burglar" is the title of the leading picture at the Tivoli Theatre. It is a Paramount feature of more than usual appeal. Founded on tho well-known story by Mary Roberts Rinehart, it has proved very popular. Marguerite Clarke takes the leading role, which is well fitted to her style of acting.\The story is extremely humorous and loses none of "its brightness i in the picturisation. A young girl wh». | cannot make her debut in society until her I elder aster is married, is the heroine. I Given an allowance of 1000 dollars a year, [ she imagines that her funds are inexI ] haustible, and immediately proceeds to ' "splash," with the result that she is as | far as ever from "coming out." The story i is intensely human. NATIONAL THEATRE. The leading film at the National j Theatre is " The Secret Game," featuring ; Sess.ue Hayakawa. This film is exciting in | the extreme, and shows tho patriotism, j perhaps the fatalism, of the Japanese. The ' story concerns a leakage in a departmental ! office. A Japanese detective is deputed to discover from where the information comes. ' Hie method is scientific, and entails many I dramatic scenes. j OTHER ENTERTAINMENTS. : The second of Olga Petrova's pictures from her own studios is " The Light Within," now being screened at the Princess Theatre. " Tho Price She Paid," featuring Clara Kimball Young, is the leading picture at the Grand Theatre. This is a highly dramatio film, with a cast of strong characters. , "Big Trcmaine," an adaptation of the novel of the same name bv Marie Vnri Vorst, is the leading picture' at the Globe Theatre this week. , The leading film at the Lyric Theatre , is " The Other Man," an exciting drama, • w.tli an unusual plot. Harry Morey and Grace Darnwnd are the leading actors. I : " Stolen Hairs," now being shown at j i the Strand Theatre, has an unusual plot | that is appealing and dnmatic. Ethel Clayton has been given the leading part. " The Other Man,' a Vitagraph film, heads the cunent programme, at the Queen's Theatre. This picture is a dram* of unusual interest. Mae Marsh takes the leading part in 1 "The Beloved Traitor," n-w being screened at Everybody's Theatre. It is • a pretty story well told.