ENTERTAINMENTS.

Dominion, Volume 6, Issue 1640, 6 January 1913, Page 6

ENTERTAINMENTS.

♦ OPERA HOUSE. Wellington people who have not yot had the joy of seeing and hearing "Get-Rich-Quick Wallingford," have two raoro nights in which to repair their neglect. The comedy will be repeated here tonight and to-morrow night, and tho company engagod in its presentation iviH then remove to Blenheim and Nelson. Saturday's performance was to the full as siic-* cessful as those which have preceded it, and, to borrow a phraso from tho dialogue of the oomedy, tho l<vrge audience which witnessed it was tickled to pieces." There are no weak spots in "T}et-Rich-Quick Wallingford." Nearly every moment has its laugh, and an occasional dash of pathos tends, if anything, to intensify the -prevailing note of comedy. The two principals, who personate Wallingford and Blackio Dawe, naturally monopolise a large share of tho attention of their audience, but they aTe supported by a'really talented company. On Saturday night everybody was in good form, and the piece went with a breezy swing from beginning to end. THEATRE ROYAL. A capital company, embodying a good variety of talent, is now supporting the banner of vaudeville at the Theatre, ftoyal. Les Rinches's Scandinavian strong act is "drawing" splendidly, It is a very pretty ana novel act, and an astounding feature of it is an enormous Ferris wheel, in which seven young men 1 are placed. The lady, lying upon her back, lifts this with apparent ease. Tho antics of tho assistants create laughter, Ernest Pitcher, who ; is one of tho real old-time comedians, _is raising roars of laughter. Besides bedng a clever comedian he is also an instrumentalist of no mean order. Phillips and Merritt, an < artistic dancing, singing, and talking duo, have Raiiried great favour. This jveok they are featuring the "Bunny Hug," the dance that raised the wrath of tho ladies of society in America. A now programme is billed for this evening, HIS, MAJESTY'S THEATRE. The final screening of_ a capital selection of kinematogrimh. pictures on Saturday evening at liis Majesty's Theatre was witnessed by a large number of patrons. At tho children's matinee in the afternoon, a suitable Kcries :of pictures was also .shown. The star item .for this evening's change of programme will lie a historical subject entitled "Queen Bess," in which tho ' famous French .actress, Madame Sarah Bernhardt, will appeir in tho title role. When this production was screened in the/London picture theatres' it was'enthusiastically received,, and' was pronounced an : enormous success.' Thq box.plan is at tho Dresden'. "THE CHILD STEALERS." The feature picture of to-night's change at the King's Theatre is "The Child Stealers" a modern 6tory of crime. 'A gang of -kidnappers.- are approached to 6ecure!a child to replace one just dead, heiress to great wealth. The. substitution is effeoted without discovery, but the:kid : napper is nrrestjfi and sentenced to a long term 'of imprisonment. On leaving prison, ho coracs across tho guardian of the child for whom he was arrested, and ho commences to blackmail him, eventu-i ally demanding the hand of the girl in marriag-3. The mother of tho girl, who was, originally a party to the kidnapping, is housekeeper at the guardian's house, although unknown to the daughter, andsho decides to checkmate "her confederate in crime, and eventually she denounces 'him, .arid imprisonment is his just reiwartl. Some sensational scenes are introduced during the action of the story. The star will be (supported by two. Vitagraph dramas, "Irony of Fate," a pretty little domestic story, and "The Italian Model," a Maurico Costello detective story. The King's Orchestra will play some fa-vourite-selections. L • • THE NEW THEATRE. \ There were crowded sossions at the New Theatre Continuous Pictures on Saturday, when a splendid dramatic, work by the' Nordisk Company, entitled "A Marriage of ttnvttnitoice, was shown for'the first time. Jealousy is occasioned by tho principal character paying attention to his friend's-wife. In order to .allay, sus--'picion he marries the wife's niece. •.Tho marriage is recognised by the contracting parties, as purely one of convenience,. ana apparently it is a .loveless match. .The young bride, howover, secretly loves her husband/ and by degrees he also .comes to love. her. The wife, protends indifference, and'this almost distracts the man. Eventually- he is about to shoot himself when his wifo intervenes and mutual happiness ensues. This production will bo repeated throughout to-day and to-night, together with a new selection of supporting pictures, including "Tho Cringer" (Lubin drama), "Tho Whisky Smugglers (Sehg drama), find othe.rs. SJJORTTS' THEATRE. The crouds continue to find their way into Shortts' Picture Theatre in Willis Street. On Saturday all the afternoon and evening sessions were well Attended, and ample appreciation was shown of the pictorial fare provided. This included, that lino picture entitled "Episodes at Waterloo, in which a host of people aro employed. "Tho Six-cylinder Elopement" was a clever, breezy comic, and "Written in Sand" told a very natural story appealingly. A complete change of programme; including a special. "star" attraction is promised for to-day. Tho. programme to bo screened this evening wilK include: "The', Wild Man" (comedy),. "Pa. Truebell's Troubles" (comedy), "Sergeant Byrne" (drama), "Over the Rhine" (comedy), "Summer in the North" (scenic), "Australian Gazette," and "Antar" (drama). THE* EMPRESS THEATRE. The final screening of the current programme of the Empress Theatre continuous pictures resulted in thronged assemblages on Saturday. Tho new series to'day and to-night will introduce a notable A.B. exclusive drama, entitled "Gold and Glitter." The plot follows the experiences 'of a husband who on leaving for the lumber regions.is given a message by his wife, which is to be opened on arrival ot his destination. Attracted by a maid he forgets the . message, but 'it serves its purpose, for through it, after a thrilling experience, the maid learns the true v»liio of,the man's love, while he, in turn, goes back to his wife. The theme, it is reported, is worked out with the A.B. Company's characteristic skill. The very latest "Gaumont Graphic" will depict many notable European happenings. Similarly, important Australian events will be presented in "Williams's, Weekly." There will bo a number'of other entertaining subjects, dramotic and comic. PEOPLES' PICTURE PALACE. A dramatic study, entitled "A Dead Man's Child," will bo the star attraction nt the People's Picture Palace to-day. This nhoto-play will be supported by two good dramas, entitled "Fighting Instinct?" (Selii: Company) and "A Woman of Arizona"- (S. and A. Company). A scenic subject of interest will bo a relcaso entitled "Norwegian Westland." The above pictures will be screened throughout all sessions to-day, and -until further notice.