ENTERTAIMENSTS.

Dominion, Volume 5, Issue 1439, 14 May 1912, Page 7

ENTERTAIMENSTS.

OPERA HOUSE. Continuing their season of melodrama at the Opera House, the Marlow Company staged last night for the second time Arthur Shirley's play, "The Mother of His Child." It is the story of a woman betrayed' by ft man who. wnen too late, tries 'to make amends. The central characters are played satisfactorily by Miss Louise Hampton and Mr. Herbert Linder respectively. Miss Hampton, especially, acts with naturalness and commendable restraint. Mr. Cecil Mannering, as the heroic Salvation Army officer, David Grant, has a part that suits him, and he rises to the occasion. Mr. Godfrey Cass, Mr. Vincent Scully, .Mr. Stewart Garner, Mr. J. P. O'Neill, Mr. Crosbic Ward, Miss Harrie Ireland, and Miss Alice Deowyn, also contribute to tho success of tho-. piece. "The Mother- of His Child" will bo repeated to-night and to-morrow. The fourth production of the season will be .entered upon with the drama "Driving a Girl to Destruction." This play' has been recently produced in all the principal Australian centres. The story is said to contain many novel and powerful' situations, and is described es the crowning effort of Mrs. liotton Powell's stud£ of human nature, Many new and' original scenic effects aro nioinised. Tho box plan is now open at '"the Dresden. FULLERS' PICTURES. Practically every seat was occupied at the Skating Rink, in Vivian Street, last evening, on tho occasion of the weekly change -of ■ programme.- j The pictures screened covered a wide range of interesting subjects. One of the best <s a romantic drama in which the actors are a tribe of cliff-dwelling Indians. The .picture was made ill Colorado, and wild and rugged mountains and canyons give a very" effectivo setting. "The lied Indian" is a lengthy film depicting a series of forays anil adventures on the American frontier. A bison hunt, an Indian foray, a massacre, and a punitive expedition are successively pictured. A thread of narrative running thrqugh the drama tells how a brave mother rescued her baby, which had been carried off by Indians. Interest-ing-items are "Pottery-making in America," and ."From Ostrich Farm to Feather Baa." The last-named picture is parti-, cularly good. It illustrates the life of the ostrich from the time when it emerges as a chick from the egg, aiid also the ■handling and preparation of feathers for the market. "Two Old Pals" deals amusingly with tho adventures of an old showman and a tame elephant. In the cjmie pection, one of tho best pictures is "Willie the Hunter." As a hunter, "Willie" does not shine, but the way in which he is hunted by a ; comrade-disguised in a bear-skin is irresistibly funny. The programme will be repeated this evening. THEATRE IIOYAL. That dainty comedienne, Miss Carrie Moore, is proving a magnet of rare jJower at the Fuller-Breiinan management at the Theatre Royal. Last evening even standing room was at a premium and hundreds of perspiring patrons had to becontent with a place in the crowd at the back of the dress circle. Miss Moore, as bright as aluminium, smart, and chic, was in capital form, and the caotivated audience could not get enough of fier. She •touched the emotions of the yearning Londoner in a pretty song entitled "Dear Old Bow Bells," chortled vivaciously through the telephone in "All Alone," infused a gay spirit in "Take a Look at Me Now," and delighted once more in the musical comedy song "They Never Do That in. Yorkshire." A feature of.Miss. Moore's act is tho dainty setting, and the beautiful dresses which she wears so becomingly. Her nights at the Royal are numbered. The M'Bans made their first appcarance. They are a duo of deft Americans who are the last thing in fancy double club-swinging and juggling ami hat-spinning. At one time they are man-, ipulating three clubs a picee, and so rapidly are they interchanged between the two that the air is .aflash with gaily-col-oured 1 clubs. ;i The'' cWver people also introduced seme electric specialities, including the, laughing demon, and a gigailtie rooster.' which lays' illuminated eggs, froui which illuminated chicks'break forth. Mr. 'Tom Lee, billed 'as an English dapper comedian, has plenty of style and a glimmer of comedy to help hiin into favour. Maie Vine appeared in the light and airy attire of a pantomime boy, and sang a giddy song in approved style. Others included in the bill were Frank York, Bella I'erman, Flo D'Orville, Nellie Kolle, Daniel Llewellyn, Marshal Palmer, Jack Bonny, and May Aplin. On Monday next (the management announces) tho following artists will make their'first appearance:—The Reese Trio, instrumentalists; La Petite Lawrie, hand balancer and contortionist; Wong Toy Sun, Chinese magician; and Roya and Rejan, dancers. THE NEW THEATRE. "A Royal Divorce," the Napoleonic dramagraph,- will be revived to-day and tonight at tho continuous picture entertainment at the New Theatre, Manners Street. Messrs. MacMnhfln and Donnelly have imported a new copy of this production which last year -entertained several thousands during its presentation at this theatre. The picture story purports to show the rise of Napoleon, the notable events of his life, including his divorce from Josephine, and some of tho military side of his career. The management state that tho battle views bear' evidence of elaborate preparation, and have involved the assistance of crowds of trained performers. The episodes aro said to be well selected, and the management is further responsible for tho following statement:—"Allowing for the artistic touch of the director of the production the theme is consistent with tho facts of history." The supplementnrr programme will be headed bv an effectivo Vitagraph drama "The Heart of a King's Jester." Amid delightful palace surroundings, an ill-shaped court jester woos the princess who is inamoured with a young shepherd. The jester, jealous of the shepherd, informs the King who has tho shepherd arrested and sentenced to death. The jester repents, ,-ets tho shepherd free, and assists the lovers to flee beyond the reach of the King. The story is quaint and romantic. The remaining items will be selected from the following: "By Decree of I'ate" (Champion drama), "Serve Her Right" (Cincs comedy), and "Oxford v. Cambridge Boat Race." The feature subject, "A Royal Divorce," which occupies fiver an hour, will be shown at all sessions until further notice. THE KING'S THEATRE. An entertaining and varied .selection of pictures, screened for the first time, attracted a crowded attendance at/ the King's Theatre last evening. A pretty item in the first part of the programme was "The Geisha's Love Story." It is produced in colours, and the various parts arc borne by Jnpane.se actors. A very fine film is that depicting the Liverpool Grand National in 1912. Fifteen cameras were Employed in producing it, and it presents the great sporting event with vivid realism. Nearly every jump is seen at close quarters, and time after time, horses and their riders arc seen to fall. In Hie latter part of the race a riderless horse is seen running in the van. "Bobby's Masterpiece of Art" is a clever trick picture, in which a dot within an outlined shield expands swiftly into the armorial bearings of a country, with its (lag and a portrait of its ruler, and then as swiftly contracts to a dot again. Flags, arms, and rulers of about a dozen countries were pictured in this way. "Two Old Pals" depicts the amusing adventures of a distressed showman and his performing elephant. A One dramatic. picture wa- that entitled "The Rights of Youth." The programme was pleasantly lightened with pictures of the coniie variety. The same films will be icrecned this evening. "KVEUYWOMAN." "Emywoman" is to be staged hero for the first six of the coining nine nights, season of Mr, J, C. Williamson's Company, commenting at the Oporu House on Tuesday night next. It enjoved a run of two seasons in New York". Iu Melbourne it ran for close on three months, and in Sydney it was taken off while it was still attracting record houses in order to send it to New Zealand. Its New Zealand career opened auspiciously in Auckland, where report states that it created something like a sensation. Miss Hilda Spong will make her re&ppea.rance here in the title role. Mr. William Desmond, who will take the role of Nobody in the coming production, has. already made himself popular with playgoers by

his representation of the leading part, in "Alias Jimmy Valentine." Others who will 1)8 welcomed will be Hiss Lmma Temple, Mr. Herbert Leigh, and -Mr. A. J. Patrick. Altogether there arc over 80 people concerned in the performance, including two now arrivals in Mr. George Miller and Miss Elsio Clarens. Tho management ytato that a feature, of the production is tho incidental music, which, was written specially by My. Whitefield Chadwick, anil which will bo performed try nil orchestra ol seventeen picked musician*, who will be under the baton of Mr. Fred. Qnintrell. The company also includes: Dorothy Gumming, Enid Bennett, Bene Gold, Cissie Jamieson, Florrie Ferguson, Madgo Grimths, liene Taswell, 'Hetty I'atey, Flomc Elsie, Glory Chandler, Eva Browni, Vi Martin, Vie 'Scott, Mesm-s. John Ralston Robert Whyte, jiin., i. A. Williams, William J.ockhart, Herbert Ijeitih, Robert Beeston, 0. Gushing, T. Curtain, Leslie Barclay. Only six performanws of 'tvorywoman will be given. The last three nights of the brief season will witness a production of "Passers By," a comedy drama by Haddon Chambers. The p ans for the two productions will bo- opened at the Dresden on Friday next, at 9 o'clock. THE ENGLISH PIERROTS. The English Pierrots, under the direction of Messrs. Will and Hob" Thomas and Maynard Dakin, announce a six-nights season at the Town Itall, commencing, oil Thursday evening, when programmes of musical eicelleiice and high standard aro promised. DonWless, many retain pleasant recollections of this combination last year, and will w-elcome the return visit of the company. The whole of tho items to be presented during the season are stated to be entirely new, and many liavo been specially written by members of the company. Humorous songs, duets, trios, and ensembles, sentimental songs, coon songs and choruses, musical monologues, dramatic recitals, concerted items, t instrumental selections, form the principal features iu their entertainments. The plan is open at the Dresden. MUNICIPAL MUSIC. To-night tho Town Hall should prove a strong attraction to all music lovers, when tho Municipal Orchestra will give another of its musical evenings. Tho pt'ogrammo has been selected with the view to catering- for nil tastes. The programme consists of Boildieu's "Caliph of Bagdad, Jarnfeldfs dainty "Prelude," Elgar's march "Pomp and Circumstance," Beethoven's "First Symphony," Gounod s "Funeral March of a Marionette," one movement from Delibes's "Sylvia Ballet," and tho prelude to Act 111 of "Lohengrin!" Mr. Maughan Bainett, the city organist, will conduct, and Mr. Herbert Bloy will act as leader. Mr. Hamilton Hodges is tho vocalist.