ENTERTAINMENTS

New Zealand Times, Volume XLVI, Issue 10688, 7 September 1920, Page 7

ENTERTAINMENTS

HIS MAJESTY'S. The novel spectacle of a clergyman appearing as an entertainer on a vaudeville stage was witnessed by a crowded audience at His Majesty's Theatre last evening when the ttev. Frank. .Gorman, the latest addition to the Fuller. Vaudeville Company, mad© his,, amnal .appearance.' The Rev. Mr Gorman is a •young ilhglishman, who went to the Onitcd States, where ho entered tho Church, but, as he explained to his listeners last evening, finding the remuneration insufficient,- he .ventured into a more lucrative* profession. . His. success was instantaneous lufet evening, and his sweetly-attuned tenor voicewae used with such artistic skill that fhc audience insisted on several recalls. liie Kov. Mr Gorman's vocal numbers wore; "Heart of a Rose," "Bye-Lo (plantation lullaby), "Oh, What a Pal Was Mary, "When Irish Eyes are brmlmg, and "Ireland is Ireland to Me.' Between each son;? Mr Gorman caused hearty laughter with his humorous anecdotes which, while bein<r decidedly new, were related in a quiet but most effective manner. Suffering slightly torn a bronchial catarrh, the Rev. Mr Gorman solicited the- indulgence of the audience, but his vocal silts gave such pleasure that no excuse was required. Ho is assured of a most successful season, Two talented performors. Guest and Newlyn. put on a ettylishly-drossed etooentnc masher-and-maid comedy vocal and gro-. tesquo dancing act that aroused most] demonstrative enthusiasm. The - dialogues were distinctly "witty and kept everyone immensely amused. Their j songs comprised "Think," "East and West" and "Minnehaha." Another couple who distinguished themfselvea were Vinoe and Eva Courtenay. who eclipsed all'their previous efforts by their crisp and laughter-compelling; patter and humorous cross-fire vocal duet The ever-popular Mr Leonard Nelson, Australia's premier charaoter. vocalist, was heard at his best in "When Sfou re Married," "'Ave a Heart," "The Same Old Walk." "What Would I Do With the Kaiser" (character impersonations), and hi« melodious chorus 6ong, "Dear Old Pig Island." Ml- Nelson was awarded prolonged applause after each number. Mr Hall liaie. who sings.well and accompanies himself on the piano, distinguished himself with a fine rendition of the sonsr "Back From the. Land of Yesterday." The Smithsonians sane acceptably as solos "Annie Laurie" and "Ka Mate, Ka'Mate" and as duets, "Come Back to Erin" and "Blowing Bubbles." That team of juvenile singers, dancers, iancl acrobats, Fullers Nine Wonders, appeared in new items, which seemed even more clever than their past performances. The . climax' was reached when the tiniest couple, a boy and girl, figured in an Apache dance that was delightfullv well done. The new programme, which is well above the ordinarv standard, will be repeated nightly this week. THE ENGLISH PIERROTS. The concert chamber of the Town Hall was again filled last evening, Wihen the bright and versatile company • 01 artistes, "The English Pierrots," repeated the present programme to an enthusiastic audience. The -whole performance is' particularly commendable, owing to tho fact that' the; present' performers are doubly taxed; due to the illness Of two members of the company; but despite this fact, not a dull moment i U allowed to creep in and mar a really enjoyable evening. This week's pro'gramme is of a very high standard, and the singing, of Miss Gordon, Messrs Roy Cooke, and David Lyle, the dry hxsaour of Mr (Shades Lawrence, and the .remainder of the company in. their various pleasing turns, still maintain I the crispness previously .established. A I repetition will "take ..p.lace to-night, and j a. complete* change" is. announced for"to; morrow. HARMONIC SOCIETY. AN "ELGAR" RECITAL The splendid programme presented recently by the Wellington Harmonic Societv, consisting entirely of choral works by Sir Edward Elgai, wan repeated at the Town Hall last evening before a largo audience. The performance of the great English composer's masterful scoring was fully up to the'standarU of the previous recital, t-nd the auditors were no tess appreciative. The most successful numbers wore the "Spanish Serenade," •'The Snow," a beautiful compos-'tion for the soprano and contralto voices with accompaniment for two violius and piano, and with words by Lady Elgar, and "My Love Dwelt in a Northern Land." Miss Mabelle Esquilant, tho well-known contralto, was in 6plendid voice, and gave sympathetic renderings to all her solos. As an encore to her opening soleotion "Like to a Damask Kose," sue sang the brief but delightful -'Down," and in the second half of the programme Miss Esquilant achieved a still greater success with "When Song is Sweet," which was repeated. Miss Laurie .Anderßon played as violin soli a portion of a sonata by Cesar Franek ("Allegro poco mosso") and "Romance" (Svendsen), the encore uuinbers being a "Cradle Sons'' by Tor Bulin, and "Melodis" (Tschaikowsky), respectively. Mr Frank Charles's sturdy bass was well suited to Elgar'b "Pipes of Pan," a number to which ho added a "Bussia-n Love Song" aa an encore. Mr Harold Whittle's accompaniments were all that could be desired. Tho proceeds of the conocrt ar\s to be devoted to the funds of the Y.M.C.A, EMPRESS THEATRE. Tho star picture at the Empress' this week,' entitled "Tho First Law,' was again screened yesterday. It is an adaptation, frpm a well-known , novel by GiiMon Willots, and ilie appearance or' Irene Vernon Castlo and smiling Antonio Moreno in the principal' parts, make the picture a' thoroughly enjoyable one. The plot is intensely mysterious and contains an appreciable dramatic element. Tho central figure. Mrs Castle, comes in touch with a nefarious gang 'of blackmailers, and it is not until the excitement has reached its height that the play ends in quite an unusual manner. Tho "Grocery Clerk" affords just as much amusement as tho other picture seriousness, and* refleote credit upon Larry. Semon as a producer of comedies. KING'S THEATRE. "Slaves of Pride," featuring the delightful screen a-ctress Alice Joyce, was the central attraotion at thei King's last evening, and is undoubtedly one of Vitagraph's best productions. The picture displays human nature and that study is always interesting, and points out the evil of false nrido and hypocrisy. The supporting items are of the highest order, and include a splendid comedy featuring Larry Semon in "The Grocery Clerk." Mr Charles W. Moore again delighted tho audience, with his rendition of "Friend of Mine" and "MadeIon," and the King's grand orchestra always appreciated, gave selections, in which were included selections from "Tho Mikado." A repetition will take place this evening, and a full orchestral matinee is billed for Wednesday. EVERYBODY'S THEATRE. Earlo Williams is always welcome, on the screen, and in "When a Man Loves," the leading picture at Everybody's this week, which was again screened yesterday, he excels in tho part of tho son of an English peer, who, when visiting Japan, falls in love and marries a little shop girl. The' picture contains a large element of romance and concludes successfully, tho disappointed father of the lover finding that tho girl is a long lost daughter of a friend of the family. The scenic eettings are very beautiful and tho" picturo an unusual one. Tho ninth episodo of "The Mystery of 13" and tho latest "Patho Gazette" eompleto a vory interesting programme

"OUR REVEILLE" Keen interest is now being taken in the forthcoming production to he staged at the Grand Opera House for a season of six nights, commencing Wednesday nest. It is claimed by tho prcducor, Mr Lints, to be absolutely a "professional ' production staged by 233 talented amateurs." The Ohristelrurch .'Press*' reported that for an amateur production to run crowded house-s for a fortnight seems almost unbelievable, t>ut such la the record established by "Our Reveille." There are numbers to please all tastes, from little Jean I'*ullcr, who is certain' to take the audience Oy storm, to the brilliant stage spectacle, "The 'Grand Liberty March," by 130 performers. Amongst tho soloists will be Miss Williams ■ (Wanganui), - who scored such a success in her Dutch numbers; Mrs Clarke (Gisborne), who established herself as a-universal favourite in that city; also Miss Dorothy White (Christchurch), who, in her aerial fox trot number in conjunction with tho producer,' w*as reported in Dunedin, Wanganui, and Christchuroh as having been the best they had seen. In acrobatic dancing, Miss White is a star performer. The box plan is now open at the Bristol. "Tli-ER . ROSE."

Last night Messrs J. and N. Tait's Dramatic Company, which has' be-en presenting David Belasco's play, "Tiger Rose," at tho Grand Opera House to tho citizens of Wellington for over a week, brought the season to a • close. There was an appreciative audience, and the artistic performance of Miss Marie Ilka, who wah entrusted with tho name part, left nothing to be desired. The supporting company, with Mr Ethan Allen at tho head, played their respective roles with ability, while the scenic effects were of a distinctly realistic nature.