ENTERTAINMENTS

New Zealand Times, Volume XXXVIII, Issue 8739, 22 May 1914, Page 6

ENTERTAINMENTS

WILLOUGHBY NEW DRAMATIC COMPANY. Despite the inclemency of the weather, n largo audience witnessed the second portonnanoe of the Western mining drama "At Cripple Creek" at the Grand Opera House last night. The piece will be played for two further nights and on ■Monday evening Messrs George Willoughby ltd , will stage a new dramatisation of Marcus .Clarke’s well-known novel, “For the Term of His Natural Lite. It is doubtful if there has been any Snore widely-read book on an Australian subject than this, and the management is confident that the play will meet with the approval of the public. In this version some entirely fresh incidents will be included. The first scene will show the accusation, in England and the sentence on Rufus Dawes. Then will follow the life on the convict ship (said to be a feature of the production - ), pictures ot life in Van Diemen’s Land, a representation of the barbarous treatment meted out to prisoners in thttse days and the touching final scenes. Mr Cyril Mackay will appear as Richard Devine and Miss Nellie Fergusson will enaot the part of Sarah Pnrfoy. The mounting is to be on a most complete scale. HIS MAJESTY’S. There- were several new "turns" at. His Majesty’s last night, having come direct from London. The Waldrons, clever sketch atrisfcs, appeared in a very funny "burglar" skit, showing the adventures of anovel-reading servant girl A welcome reappearance was that of Charles Zoli, who had many old friends in the audience. His contributions were greeted with loud applause. But the most popular "turn" of the evening was undoubtedly that of the clever musical burlesque artists, Fernandez and May. The male member of the combination appears to be able to play the violin in any conceivable position. Carlton Mass vehtriloquial turn amused many, and Misses Knowles and Lee arc prime favourites. Recall after recall was the fortunate lot of Miss Josephine Gassman and her picaninnies. Denis Carney and La Franco also contributed to the programme. which will be repeated to-mgbt. THE EMPRESS THEATRE. A complete change of programme at the Empress Theatre yesterday was headed; /by the Vutagraph 'Compan, "feature" drama "Heartsease.” The plot represents that a beautiful French girl is attending to a flowerbed planted with heartsease, when an .English tourist who has lost his way asks her to direct him to his destination. From this accidental meeting springs up a warm friendship, and eventually the girl consents to wed the Englishman. Years later the young wife, finding her husband's disposition cold and unsympathetic, pines for her native land. Her only solace is the company of her second sou, who is considered a weakling by his father. The boy’s mother diets and he is inconsolable When the Englishman’s mansion catches fire the despired weakling heroically rescues his mother’s photo from the blazing building. The remaining items comprise: "His Indian Nemesis” (Ealem drama),, “An Itinerant AVedding" (A.K. ‘feature" comedy), "The Shadowgraph McesagS” (S. andi A. drama) and "Simple Simon’s Family Drama". (Gaum out comedy). THE DANDIES. Notwithstanding unpleasant weather. The Dandies hod. a numerous audience at th© Town Hall concert chamber last evening, when they presented a change of programme. The introductory chorus, "Hi, Hi.-Walk Up,” was followed by a trio, “Three Gay Sparks," by Messrs Roland Ham- Harry Webster and George Taylor- In response to an' encore they gave "We Don't Want a Girl.’’ A pleasing item also was the concerted number "I’d Dike to Gaze upon your Sunshade." Miss Ethel Walker was heard to good effect in "Sing Sweet Bird.’’ A welldeserved encore was acknowledged by Miss Walker with "A Song of Summer." A comic item, "Ballymony,” by . Mr George Taylor, was much appreciated, and he was compelled to add “A Chip of the Old Block." Miss Naomi McQuoin proved most successful in her rendition of "Green Ribbon" and “AVhoop, Let’s Do It Again." Mr Andrew Pace’s comic items, "I Want to go to the Beautiful Country" and "Five Little AVhit© Heads,’* won fresh laurels for that popular performer. Mr Roland Henry’s pianologucs, “Our Wedding" and “The Camel and the Ass," were vociferously applauded. "A Song of Thanksgiving" by Mies Linda Bradford was a meritorious achievement. The singer added "If I were a Rain Drop" in compliance with insistent demands. A tasteful contribution, "Come into the Garden. Maud," by Mr David Lyle, -was enthusiastically received. __ In response to a recall Mr Lyle sang "Because." Mr Harry AVebster made the most of the humour in “The Ragtime Navvy" and “Take Your Umbrella with You, John.” A number of enjoyable duets trios, quartettes and sextettes were ’included in the programme which concluded with an original and most laughable item "Militant Suffragettes. The Dandies will appear again this evening. • THE KING’S. The remarkable travel picture entitled "London by Day and by Night,” continues to attract crowded audiences to the King’s Theatre. The film in its scope and interest is said to be far and away above any similar production. The "Liverpool Grand National is another picture that takes the fancy of the crowds Other fine items on the programme are "Thieves" (Vitagraph drama) “Makintr a laving _(a Keystone comedy), “One-round O’Bnen Comes Rack." “Gamnont Graphic" and Marvels of the Invisible AVorld’(a microscope study. The King’s Orchestra discourses attractive music during the progress Of the picture programme. Tomorrow afternoon there will be a matinee, commencing at 2.30 o clock.