ENTERTAINMENTS

New Zealand Times, Volume XXXVIII, Issue 8736, 19 May 1914, Page 7

ENTERTAINMENTS

ms MAJESTY’S THEATRE. J-osopliine Gassman, with her troupe of piccaninnies, mado her reappearance before a Wellington audience at His i\l aj esty's Theatre last evening, after an absence of thirteen and received quite an ovation. This _ artist is a particularly pleasing coon impersonator, while the piccaninnies are clever dancers, a.nd singers. Their items all elicited rounds of well-merit-ed applause from the largo audience. The “turn” was the star attraction on a. really good programme. , La Trance proved herself as popular as ever, and she gave some really delightful impersonations of children reciting and singing, which created great merriment. Denis Carney, tho Yorkshire comedian, had a new budget of highly amusing songs. Tho audience apparently could not hear enough of this artist, for ho had to respond to numerous encores. One of the most humorous “turns” is that of Fernandez and May. The former gets music out of anything, and “hands it out” at a great rate. A barrel and a tin with a piece of string are quite sufficient for him to produce a popular air on, and while he and his partner have the boards mirth reigns supreme. Knowles and Leo are a couple of pleasing specialty artists, who entertained the house with song and dance, and their contributions were all heartily applauded. An interesting display of ventriloquism was given by Carlton Max. The performance is brought to a conclusion with a fine lantern display, depicting the flags of various nations. Tho effect is beautiful, and it was thoroughly appreciated by tho audience. The same programme will bo produced again this evening. UNCLE TOM’S CABIN. The final presentation of Mrs Harriet Beecher Stowe’s story of early American slave life, “Uncle Tom’s Cabin,” will he given by the George Willoughby Dramatic Company at the Grand Opera House this evening. Tomorrow night the first of four performances of the sensational Annerican cLrama of western mining life “At Cripple Creek” will eventuate. It is stated that the story is intensely human and absorbing, and is staged in the midst of wild scenes of one of the most famous mining camps of the States. The scenery and effects are said to he elaborate, and patrons are promised many thrilling incidents throughout the four acts of the drama. Mr Cyril Maokay is to appear as Joe Mayfield, who finds the gold at Cripple Creek, and Miss Nellie Fergnsson will portray tho part of Dynamite Ann. Among the many fine scenes are Martin Mason’s dance hall, Joe’s cabin among the rooks, the daring and sensational rescue of a child in mid-air, and tho interior of the “Last, Dollar” gold mine, which are said to be of outstanding merit. The management describe the production as being in every way unique and the antithesis of anything hitherto submitted in the melodramatic lino in the Dominion. Incidental to the action of the play the Era Comedy Four, the Jubilee Singers and the National Duo will render items, embracing negro songs, dances, melodies and ragtime numbers, whilst the National Duo will appear in spooialty features. THE DANDIES. The popularity of tho Orange Dandies, who have made tho Town Hall concert chamber their home for the time being, continues to grow apaco. Every night sees the individual and concerted items vociferously applauded, and it would bo hard to find a brighter little show. The voices of all tho performers are above tho ordinary level, and the efforts of the four comedians, Messrs Roland Henry, Andrew Pace, George Taylor and Harry Webster, result in a large supply of good clean comedy being scattered through the entertainment. The present programme, of which the feature is, perhaps, a comic sketch entitled “On a ’bus.” by the whole company, will be repeated to-night. THE KING’S THEATRE. “London, by Day and Night,” tho chief “draw” of the new programme presented at tho King’s Theatre last evening, goes a long way towards gratifying the almost unsatiable demand for motion picture representation of life in the world’s metropolis. The film reproduces life, street scenes, notable landmarks, and arohitecfcuraJ features of the centre of the Empire. The spectators are whisked from place to place, and so vivid is the reproduction that one can almost feel that London is actually appearing in substance and not in the phantom light of the cinema projection. Among tho principal scenes witnessed are Waterloo station, Somerset House, the loading theatres, world-famed hotels, Trafalgar square, Hyde Hark, Westminster Abbey, Albert Hail, Houses of Parliament, Thames Embankment, Covent Garden market, the Lifo Guards, King George and Queen Mary being rowed in a State barge near Eton college, Piccadilly circus, Buckingham Palace, Bank of England, Mansion House, King George presenting new colours to the Irish Guards at Buckingham Palace, Queen Victoria’s statue, and views of Windsor Castle. Another picture that won immediate popularity is the “Liverpool Grand National, 19 14.’’ This great event brings out the finest jumpers in the British Isles, and the distance,

about four miles ■ and <a baßq.«,oQlls for, both stamina and jumping ability./! The picture depicts all tho biggest jumps. Sunloch, tho •winner, moves i at such, a- rate that he-soon establishes a good lead, and - wins-comfortably byi several lengths. There are -sowecaji had falls, but _no fatalities -foccnr. * Other meritorious numboEß are: I “Thieves” (Vctagraph. drama),, ““Mar—l vols of tho Ircvisiblo World,” (microscopic study), “Ganmonrt Graphic’ l ’ (topical), “One Round O’Brien. Cornea in the Ring Again,” and “Making a! Living” (Key stem© comedy). The programme- will hetscreened-, agfHaito* night. ' THE, EMPKESSTCHEATBE. " “The Banker’s Bus©,” a lengthyi and stirring drama by tbo-Cinca Company, is 'the prime attraction of the change of programme introduced at the Empress Theatre yesterday, Morale j os, an eminent young barrister, is defending a man. who is charged with., a capital offence. Mataiejoe, is called/ away to Madrid, hut prior to-his departure bo gets Dohosse, a. wealthy hanker, to lock up in a private sate documents which will establish tho innocence of his client, Miohol, tha banker’s secretary, is jealous of the love existing between Mataiejoa and' Claudia, the banker’s daughter. During the lawyer’s absence tho banker' dies, and. on his return the former finds difficulty in procuring the documents, i The jealous secretary protends ho -can-) not open the safe, and when an op- i portuznty offers ho .steals the papers. I A detective makes hrvcetigationß, and! there is an exerting motor-car pursuit, j which terminates in a startling advon-i tnre on tho sido-of st-diffi. Eventually; justice is done to-all.and Maftalejoe and! Claudia have happy prospects in viow.j Supplementary subjects are- ‘The Harem of Haschem” (Lubin drama),, “Williamson Weekly”’ (topical), “The Vosges” (scenic), “Andy Goto on the Stage” (Edison comedy), and “A Watorsoafced Hero” (Lubin The series will bo repeated rthroughont to-day and to-night.