ENTERTAINMENTS

New Zealand Times, Volume XXXVII, Issue 8441, 29 May 1913, Page 8

ENTERTAINMENTS

"PUSS IN BOOTS.” Bach succeeding pantomime staged by the J. C. Williamson, Ltd., management seems to outshine its predecessor, and now we are informed by critics that "Puss in Boots.” which is to be staged at the Opera House for a season of nine nights, commencing on Thursday next, eclipses all previous efforts by the J. C. Williamson, Ltd., in the direction of spectacular effects, ballets, marches, and general excellence. Two complete sets of sceneiy and effects have been brought for the Dominion tour Crowded with attractions to suit the taste of the Juvenile as well as the grown-up, the pantomime has been written by those two clever librettists, J. Hickory Wood and Frank Dix. and a feature of the book is the prominence given to the humorous side. Miss Minnie Everett has invented and. arranged some striking ballets and marches. Specially attractive is the music, composed by Andrew MacCunn, and the musical side of the pantomime is also noted for the inclusion of some of the biggest song successes of the year, many of which will feature the all-per-vading '"Ragtime” or “hustle music” at present the craze. Mr J. C. Williamson and Mr George Tallis have been on the other side of the world securing the absolute cream of theatrical productions, and attractions and specialties are presented representative of the best obtainable in London, Paris, Berlin and New York. The two acts of sixteen scenes embody a procession of brilliant features : —The Gipsy Caravan, the Cat Revels, the Children’s Sports Ballot, the’ Pierrot’s Wooing, the Wonderful Horse, the Golden Grove, the Ogres’ Haunted Forest, the Peripatetic Picnic, the Silver Nymphs, the Dazzling Ballet of Felina’s Fairies, Harnessing the Horse, In the Picture Gallery, Australia’s Brown Battalions. the Ogres’ Hall of Magic, Magnificent Ballet of Tear’s Plays, the Court of King Cat, Procession of Catland Courtiers, and the ballet specialties from Theatre Folies Marigny, Paris, together with .the specialists Collins and Ilart, acrobatic comedians, the Gaudsmidts, clown acrobats, with dogs. Owing to the brevity of the New Zealand tour only the nine evening performances can be given in AVellington, and the initial matinee will happen on Saturday week. The plans for the first four nights and for the initial matinee performance will he opened at the Dresden on Monday, at 9 o’clock. A queue will be formed from 8 a.m. DANDIES AT THE OPERA HOUSE. To-night the Dandies will appear at the Opera House, a fact that will be welcomed by the many hundreds who were unable to gain admittance to the Concert Chamber of the Town Hall last evening. Never, since the Dandies were last hero, has the concert chamber been so packed, and never have so many people endured so cheerfully the ijask of standing through au entertainment. There can be no two opinions about the Dandies. In their line of business they have never been surpassed in Wellington, and it is doubtful if we have seen in recent years a show to vie with theirs. It is a delightful musical treat, spioed with, that inimitable humour for which Mr Claude Dampier’s. name has become a by-word. Every member of the little company is clever, and every item is hut an inducement to the .enthusiastic audience to clamour insistently for more. To-night and to-morrow night are the last two evenings of an all too brief season, and those people who have been dissappointed by going late, and those who have committed the error of not going, should make a special point of going along to the Opera House early—the show wiU be ample reward. HIS MAJESTY’S THEATRE. An excellent programme of pictures is now being shown at His Majesty’s Theatre. The films are of a very high standard, both in subject matter and from a photographic standpoint. "In a Fix” is one of the best comedies which has yet been screened in Wellington, and it is doubly popular owing to the fact that Miss Asta Neilsen is the principal actress. In the piece, she indulges in some excellent work. The best of the dramatic films is "What he Might Have Been,” and there are a number of other very good pictures. The programme will be repeated to-night. THE NEW THEATRE. "The Shaughrann." a famous Irish drama, will top the list of new subjects to be shown to-day and to-night at the New Theatre continuous pictures. "The Shanghraun,” which is the work of the Katem Coni',pany, was produced amid natural scenery in Ireland, which imparts an atmosphere of realism not attainable in stage performances. Among the other pictures will he “The Pace or the Voice" (Vita drama), “Valley of Versubie,” "Albion Docks at Louise” (travel), and some comedies. THE EMPRESS THEATRE. . "Tho Secret Cupboard," a sensational detective drama occupying over half an hour, will bo the "feature” of the change of programme of the Empress Theatre continuous pictures to-day and to-mghv. The plot refers to the daring kidnapping of a wealthy gentleman by a, gang of thieves, who intend to steal his valuable collection of jewels. The old gentleman’s aged valet summons Nat Pinkerton, the noted detective, who outwits and captures the gang. The Edison Company’s powerful drama "False to their Trust.” the Luhin drama "The Female Detective," "Deep-sea Trawling,” and a series of comedies make up the rest of the bill. THEATRE ROYAL. The Theatre Royal was again well filled fast evening, and a delighted audience gave a cordial welcome to a galaxy of artists. The bird and animal mimicry of Fritz Yon Liston was especially good, while clever work was done by the performing cockatoos. Miss Beatie McDonald, Miss Lillie Moore, Amo and Almo, and Percy Dalton wore others who contributed to a most diversified programme. The Serenaders performance was a feature of the evening. JOSEPH McCABE. Mr Joseph McCabe, dramatic lecturer, is possessed of rare gifts as a speakerextreme clearness and lucidity. He is said to hold the attention of his audience from start to finish. Mr McCabe begins his Wellington season of four nights at the Concert Hall on Monday evening, when his subject will be "The Storv of Life on the Earth, or AVonderful Chapters in Evolution”; on Tuesday night, the absorbingly interesting lecture "The End of the World.” The subject of entertainment for Wednesday is the "Evolution of Man,” and for Thursday night "Life in Other Worlds.” Plans at the Dresden. AVELLINGTON LIEDERTAFEL. For the first concert of the present season, to be given in the Concert Chamber of the Town Hall this evening the Liedertafel will present an attractive programme. The well-balanced choir of male voices will be heard in a selection of part songs, and will also perform Lloyd’s short cantata. “The Longbeards" Saga.” Amongst other new items will be a vigorous setting, by the late Coleridge Taylor, of a "Viking Song,” written by David McKee Wright, the New Zealand poet. The Liedertafel soloists will be Mr J. W. Gard. a tenor recently from England, and Mr W. H. AVarren, baritone. The assisting performers are Miss Teresa McEnroe (soprano vocal i-t). Miss Mathieson (violinist), and Miss Nellie Simpson (flautist). Seats may be reserved at the Dresden. POLITE VAUDEVILLE. The Wellington season of Mr V. M. Beebe’s ‘Polite Vaudeville de Luxe” Company concluded at the Opera House last evening, when a large audience listened with appreciation to the excellent entertainment contributed by this talented band. I