ENTERTAINMENTS.

Dominion, Volume 6, Issue 1631, 24 December 1912, Page 8

ENTERTAINMENTS.

"ON OUR SELECTION." That the appreciation of the public for that, capitally-staged and acted play, "On Our Selection," has not • been what it should have been all those who have seen the production will admit: "On Our Selection" is a performance of simple lire on the land, which amuses and-instructs. The., comedy types—both male and female —originally drawn bv "Steele Rudd, are most faith'fullv represented, -and in the casß of Dad (Mr. Bert Bailey) and Dave (Mr. Bertram) tho performances rank as character creations of considerable note. ' .All the parts are well played, and great attention is shown to detail in the mounting. ■ Those who would enjoy a hearty laugh lasting, a couple of hours could not do better than witness the final pertorm- ' nrice of tho play to-night. "GET-RICH-QUICK WALLINGFORD." 'The interest which is being taken, by Wellington playgoers in the production of "Get-Rich-Quick Wallingford" was manifested at the box-office yesterday when ■ these was a very large demand for seats for the initial five representations' of the American comedy. The plans will be on view ; up to 5 o'clock to-day at the Dresden, aiuF during the holidays seats may be selected in the vestibule of the Opera •House, where tickets for the early door stalls and gallery can also ba purchased. "Get-Rich-Quick Wallingford" is said by. Australian critics to be the best "much ado about nothing" laugh-raiser that has over been carried across the ocean to us from America. The play is aii adaptation by. George M. Cohan of one of George Randolph Chester's stones. It runs into four nets, and while there is an" clement of criminality, the "atmosphere," it is stated, is, in a sense, cleared by an abundance of. fun of the class which is defined as "Wholesome." The action, it is said, moves along at a lively pace from the starting point to the closing scene in which, the two reformed "crooks,". J. Rufus Wallingford and Blackio Daw, find how pleasant a thing it is to go straight. The whole of the scenery and effect for ■"Get-Rich-Quick Wallingford" are safely installed in the , Opera House, and through the'courtesy of the management of "On Our Selection" company, a full lighting and scenic rehearsal will take place this afternoon under the supervision of Mr. Sydney Smith'(stage manager). .The members of the "Get-Rich-Quick Wallingford" company'will arrive by the Moeraki- to-morrow.', ' THEATRE ROYAL. Last night the Theatre Royal was closed down. To-night, also, tho hall of vaudeville will be closed; and on Christmas night a special grand entortainment will be given. Among the artists, will he Nance Nightingale, soprano; Arthur Ashton, tenor; and Bert Barton, charactersketcher. A fresh-programme will bo staged on Thursday, December 20. ;■'■•' '■ KING'S' THEATRE. The new programme screened last evening at the King's Theatre was one of the best that Messrs. West have as yet put on —and this means much. There was a star item in-each half of the programme. In the first half the old fairy story of "Cinderella and the. GJass Slipper" is the feature.,. The story isvtoo well'known to need telling, but -the -setting in this case is splendid.. To children, the'picture will appeal just as much as the story, and to ndiiits itWrill bring back to mind the story and all the pleasant memories connected with the. first telling of it. The second feature item is/entitled "Falsely Accused;" and presents Miss Asta "' Neilsen : in the title role. The main story-' is'straightforward enough, and is briefly as follows: A ; loving sister, to ; protect her -brother,, who. is a cheat and. gambler, hides . him from .arrest, and. to obtain money to enable him to leave the country she secretes her diamonds, Which he sells. ,Her lover, .who cannot understand her moods, follows her and denounces her to her parents as having another lover j' but when the parents and lover see that she was saving her bristlier they are filled with,remorse, and, the story'ends happily witli'reconciliation' with her 'lovor'. The photography is good, and Miss Neilseh's .acting is, as usual, beyond reproach. Altogether it is a quiet, unsensational modern play that' cannot fail to appeal to most people. Of the other items, "The Polecat" is a..rcally extraordinary animal study, and "A Girl from the Country," by the Edison Company,, is a solid little drama, showing plainly what tribulations a pretty and innocent girl.has to 'contend with in a large city. On Christmas, evening a special programme will be scr-eeiwd, after which for the rest of the .week the present programme will be're-, verted to. • THE NEW THEATRE. "Between Life and Death" was the title of the "star" film shown at yesterday's change of .programme: at the New Theatre. A young man of fashionand position is'in love.with a girl who, though he cannot see it, is" only seeking to keep his goodwill in order that she may share in the wealth which he ex-, pects to inherit from his uncle. .Secretly she has another lover, with whom she plots to squeeze money .from the other. At her instigation Henry' writes to his uncle for pecuniary help, but his rich relative refuses to see hiiii, and with the girl the young fellow goes to the Casino and seeks to retrieve his fortunes .by a coup at the tables. Fortune is against him, and he loses all his money.. -'..At this stage the woman leaves, him and goes to' her real lover. Henry decides to end his life, and is just in the act of doing so when he is confronted .by a stranger who states that he is president of the Suicide .Club. After the young fellow is initiated cards are drawn to determine which member of the club is to. die, and the ace - falls . to Henry. On reaching home he discovers that his uncle has died, leaving him his fortune. He is dismayed When he reflects the fate in store for him, and goes to tho woman for counsel. She introduces him to her lover, who, disguised as a detective, is installed in Henry's house, nominally to protect him, but really to nttempt to .take his life. Many exciting incidents ■noy>- take.place, the outcome of which is ■that Henry escapes. "The Church and Stage" is a picture of some dramatic interest, in which Miss Gladys Sylvani and Mr. Alec Worcester take the leading parts. 'Other pictures were, "Land Sharks v. Sea Dogs," ■ "Broncho Bill's Christmas Dinner," and a- comic picture entitled "Juggins's Motor Skates." Commencing at 2 p.m. to-morrow, a special Christmas programme" will lie screened, included in which will be "Though Your Sins he- as Scarlet," "The Deluge," and - SHORTTS' THEATRE. 'At Shortts' Picture Theatre in WilHa Street yesterday a benefit was given in aid of the mother of the telegraph nies-. senger, R. W. Jounnax, who recently met his death in the To Aro baths. Tho theatre was well, filled at all series and a capital programme of moving pictures was exhibited. The chief attraction in yesterday's-, change of programme was a nhoto-play in three acts. "Black Blood." It was a story of an Indian doctor under circumstances- more edifying than dramatic. Leo Grange,' a bank manager, and his wife, aro depicted returning from their honeymoon and the husband tells of the time lie spent with'an Indian doctor, . AhvrnKhan. Some days later the doctor arrives in tho town where tho manager lives. He falls in love with the young wife and plans to separate her from her husband. On finding out that the manager tins some valuable goods to take to tho bank that day he finds an opportunity to drug him, then hides the goods. Next day .the manager is arrested on suspicion, and writes4o his wife for her assistance. .The doctor offers to take her to her husband lint acts with The manager, however, is released on bail, and a secret note from his wife gives him a clue to her whereabouts. He immediately engages tho secret services of the police, . and"the final scene depicts the dTamatio arrest.of the doctor',' and the finding of the hidden securities. . The management announce that a special Christmas programme will be shown to-morrow commencing at 2 p.m. and finishing at, 11 p.m. EMPRESS THEATRE. • The new programme, screened at tho . Empress Theatre for the first time yesterday is in all. respects an excellent one. "Too Late," which is tho title of the most . .prominent item, is in itself a fine film. ' The story dates back to the time of the 1 Bourbon Kings of France when dress was ; luxurious; and deals, with the execution ■ of three of the noblesse wlide-3 chief fault was their inability to. keep themselves in , the favour of their sovereign. In this 1 particular .case a friend of the victim ob«

tains a cancellation of the death warrants. He at once sets out for the plan* of execution sparing neither himself nor his horso in a frantic attempt to arrive in time. Even after a furious ride he arrives just after, the fatal axe has descended upon the neck of the last of his three companions and the cancellations that ho had so much trouble in procuring are useless. In depair for his friends lie shoots himself and falls upon the scaffold. The chief merit of tho picture lies in its production which is carried out with jrent regard for historic detail. "The Arrival of the New Governor" is a film of local interest in which many well-known people (including the Prime Minister) may bo recognised. -Tho comic items form a refreshing part of tho programme. There will be a special programme shown tomorrow from 2 p.m. till 11 p.m. The chief attraction .will be a dramatisation of "St. Francis of Assisi," a portrayal of scenes from the life of the famed saint. It is promised that an uncommonly fine series of appropriate supporting subjects will be added. On Thursday a complete change will be introduced, headed by what is described as tho A.B. Company's latest dramatic-triumph, "The Musketeers of Pig Alloy." . . '

THE P.P.P. Yesterday was "change day" at the People's Picture Palace in Manners Street, and this was responsible for large attendances of the public. The chief at traction was "Missionary Work in Darkest Africa." This picture was. one of a series taken by a company of experts which toured Rome and Egypt at great expense. It was taken in natural surroundings, and showed some beautiful scenery and effects. Another gocd film was "The Renegades," a breezy story of adventurous life on a settlement in-the Wild West of America. Other pictures were "Through Dalmatin." a sunerb scenic film, and a comic entitled, "When Jack Comes Home."

A special Christmas programme will be put on to-morrow at 2 p.m., when "The Fall of Troy" will be tho leading attraction.

HIS MAJESTY'S THEATRE. Messrs. Fuller's fine new. theatre in Courtenay Place will be one of the principal attractions in the oily on the evening of Boxing Day. Tho management state that everything is in readiness for the official opening on that night, and that an exceptionally attractive programme has been arranged. The principal item will he a representation of the ever-popular "Sweet Nell of Old Drury," with Miss Nellie Stewart as the heroine. The supporting pictures will, it is promised, be of excellent quality and diversified, interest. The doors of the new building will be opened at G. 45 p.m. and a few minutes before eight the Mayor (Mr. D. M'Laren) will formally declare it open. Some idea of tho size of the interior of this new house of entertainment may lie gained when it is stated that it will seat no fewer than 2300 people.