ENTERTAINMENTS

New Zealand Times, Volume XL, Issue 8981, 2 March 1915, Page 7

ENTERTAINMENTS

GRAND OPERA HOUSE. The production ot “ Seven Little Australians” by the Beaumont-Smith Company is delighting thousands of Wellington people. Yesterday afternoon saw a, crowded house for the matinee, and botli tho children and their seniors revelled in the sweet and wholesome Australian story. There is added interest in the production for AVcllingtonians by reason of little Cecil Haines’s appearance as Suds, and she is enjoying tine receptions. The piece will bo staged again to-night, and tomorrow the management has decided upon another matinee for the afternoon. EVERYBODY’S PICTURES. During tho earlier period of the moving-picture boom, tho public were treated to romantic “cowboy” films until any desire they possessed for this class of subject mUst have been com ; pensated even to the verge of satiety. A change of type, however, was introduced in representations of actual AVestern festivals, such as the . big “round-up” at Pendleton, and a new interest was awakened. This will bo sustained by an exceptionally fine production which heads the now bill at Everybody’s Theatre. It is entitled "Tho Rodeo,” or, in less theatrical language, “Tho Californian Round-up. - ’ The “Rodeo” is held annually, ahd here it is that men ride for love, honour and glory. This is the centre for a groat variety of challenges, where a man or woman brings tho reputation of a true cowboy or cowgirl to tho test. Many desperate contests have been waged,on this battle-ground of man and beast. The picture is> one which is full ’of thrills, and should not be missed. Other good subjects are “Polishing Up” (Vitagraph comedy, featuring John Bunny), the latest ‘/Topical Gagotto” of ' war news, and •‘Noidra, the Dream AVoman,” a mysterious and weird romance filmed by tho Thanhouser Company. There will be a repetition at all sessions to-day and to-night. • THE KING’S, THEATRE. There is something pathetically impressive in the stirring dramatic photoplay “ The Ordeal,” which was shown with the new programme at the King’s Theatre last evening. Although the story, which, is based on a poem, goes back to the days of the Fran co-Prus-sian war, the theme cannot be dissociated from the present terrible strife in : Europe. “The Ordeal” was therefore quickly brought under the cynosure of the German element in New York when it was displayed at Hammerstein’s Opera House. As the picture introduces scene of German atrocities such as were said to have been ena,cted in the Franco-Prussian war, a protest meeting of Germans was held, and pressure being brought to bear, the Commissioner of Licenses requested the producers, the Life Photo Film Corporation, to withdraw the picture. The matter was the subject of litigation when the mail left America. In “Tho Ordeal” war is : declared between Franco and Germany. Helene . persuades her lover (Jean) not to enlist. Jean’s action grieves, his father, an old soldier, who eventually .rouses his son’s patriotic spirit, and, regardless of his sweetheart’s pleadings, he enlists. Jean subsequently falls asleep, and dreams, the tragic episodes that ensue. He sees himself on horseback fleeing from the Prussians, until finally his progress is stopped; and ho seeks a hidingplace in his own home. Pierre, a (cripple, who is jealous of Helene’s love ifor Jean, brings the Prussians to arrest Joan. His father is killed when {barring the soldiers’ entrance. AVounded and distressed, Jean is seized and led before the Prussian general, who demands that he shall betray where his regiment is located, but he remains mute. Then Jean’s mother, sister, and sweetheart are shot separately before his eyes, but he steadfastly refuses to speak. But help is now at hand, for the, gallant French advance, recapture the village, and set poor Jean free. The fiendish Prussian general is laid low with a shell. * AVith a cry of horror, Jean wakes up and finds that it was all a nightmare. Father, mother, sister, and sweetheart are there to speak words of comfort and to convince him that the phantasm has passed away. The i battle scenes aro, brilliantly realistic. AVhile tho principals give a masterful interpretation of their parts,, there is nothing stage-liko about the 1 production. Tho “ Pathe AVar Special,” “ Gaumont AA’ar Graphic,” and jtwo comic films comprise the first half of the programme. The pictures will he presented again this evening. THE EMPRESS THEATRE. “The Odalisque ” (or “ The Slave of ■Dress”), a powerful dramatic “ feature ” by the Reliance Company, takes precedence in the change of programme screened yesterday at the Empress continuous pictures. The story centres upon an attractive shopgirl, whose extravagant liking for fine clothes renders her a favourable prey for an unscrupulous man of the world, who is in a position to pander to her weakness. The girl has a faithful though ,humble lover, who, becoming heartbroken at her apparent disregard for him, takes to drink. One night he follows her to a house to which she has been lured, and when danger faces her ho breaks in upon the scene. A desperate fight ensues between him and tho girl’s would-be deceiver, which ends in the latter being stunned by a blow on the head. The true qualities of her lover aro now realised by the girl, and the happy day is arranged. Supplementary films include “ The Topical Budget ” (animated world’s news), “Eiffel Tower” (travel), “Shorty” (Edison drama), “Cursed by his Beauty” (Keystone farce-comcdy), and “Brown’s Cook” (Lubin comedy). “ THE COURT CARDS.” Those who appreciate the pleasure of holding a series of good hands in i quiet little game of cards will equally appreciate, the hands to he dealt on Saturday next by that excellent costume comedy 'company, “ The Court Cards.” The initial shuffle on the rise of the curtain ‘discloses an unusual pack, consisting of three queens, two kings, two knaves, and a joker—quite a good hand in a card-room for “five hundred,” hut good for much more than that from a theatrical point of view, for these Court Cards, as entertainers, aro said by critics in the other centres of New Zealand to be the strongest hand in the entertainment line yet dealt to a local public. > And well they ought to be, for, chosen and trained at Home under the experienced eye of Mr Sydney Mannering, who stage-managed the Scarlet Troubadours, the members of the present com-

bination have toured through India and tho East for the past two years, and have acquired that perfection and smoothness in concerted work only attainable by long association; On Saturday next they present “Tho Village Choir in Oratorio," in which, amid some excellent buffoonery, that wellknown “rag,” “You Made Me Love You,” is treated a la Handel. Tli.i ” Lyttelton Times” declared this' finale to be quite equal to the “Hungarian Band” presented last year by the " Butterflies.” The box plan for the brief Wellington season opens at 9 a.m. to-morrow at tho Bristol. HIS MAJESTY’S THEATRE. The Rahdell-Jackson Company, consisting ot five excellent musicians and entertainers, can be said without the slightest exaggeration to be the best costume company which has mad© its appearance in Wellington., They proviao tiie first half of tno programme at His Majesty’s this week, and an admirable first half it is. It would be hard to individualise, as the entertainment is ono bright, swinging series of numbers in which all the entertainers give adequate expression to their musical ability. Mr Herbert AVinter. the light man, .is exceedingly clever, anti Mr George Nash and Mr RandellJackson are most pleasing singers. Miss May AVindsor and Miss Florenca West make np the group, and are equally good in their individual items. The audience last night was lavish in its praise, and there are signs of a most successful season for tho company. James Teddy, described as tho champion jumper of the world, is certainly a wonder. Ho turns his skill to startling feats of high jumping, and his main performance is to jump from a platform some 25 feet high on to the stage level.; Mann and Franks give a pretty musical sketch, “Tho Candy Girl,” in which they sing nicely and act well. Other artists appearing this week aro tho Three Starrs, Mr Georg© Whitehead, Mr Max Martin and Worig 1 Toy Sun, the Chinese magician. Tho programme will he repeated this evening. ARTHUR ALEXANDER, Mr Arthur Alexander, the young New Zealand ' pianist and composer, who is giving /a pianoforte recital at the Town Hall concert chamber tonight, has beer, absent from the Dominion for eight years. \Mr Alexander’s programme to-night is a varied and interesting one, all the great composers, including a. “Fantasia in C Minor” (Bach), “Rhapsody in O Minor,” op. 79, No. 2 .(Brahms); “Barcarolle” op. 60, “Nocturne” No. 9, in B and “Sonata in B flat Minor” (Chopin); three preludes from op. 17 (Blumenfeld) • and the concerto in E flat “Emperor” (first movement) (Beethoven), with the orchestral accompaniment played on a second piano by Miss R. ’lsaacs. ; The box plan is on view at the British and Continental Piano Company, 33, AVillis street.