ENTERTAINMENTS.

Dominion, Volume 6, Issue 1653, 21 January 1913, Page 6

ENTERTAINMENTS.

HIS MAJESTY'S THEATRE,

There was a full attendance at His •Majesty s Theatre last evening, when tho ivcoK'ly change of programme was screened, llio principal picturo in . nil admirable selection was a splendid pictorial representation ol the making or tho Panama Umnl. : From every point of view-the picturo is probably tho best of its class that has ever been exhibited in New Zealand. Tho work is shown in all its rdmarkablo details, the progress of tho canal being followed irom ocean to ocean, and limny of the. scenes, are impressive demonstrations of modern engineering and scientific skill. Every imaginable labour-saving device was brought to bear upon the construction of this historic waterway, and all of them are vividly pictured in the film under mention, tireat skill has been shown in selecting poiuts of vantago from which to photograph the manitold activities of tho canalbunding in operation, and the result is to'give anyone viewing the picture a perfectly clear and vivid conception of tho undertaking, and all that it implied, lho gigantic machine-tools without the aid of which tho work would,have been hopeless, aro hardly nioro impressive '.to, the spectator than the armies of men who are shown labouring in tho mighty cut which will shortly connect two oceans. By comparison with the work' in which they are engaged, the. men look like so many ants. One of the best features of tho picturo is that it combines a clear and realistic presentation of details with a breadth-of general vieiv which shows clearly .how vast the work as a whole refllly is. An inipressivo scene is that which pictures tho explosion of four tons of dynamite. The. resulting upheaval is simply tremendous. The opportunity of seeing the Ganal in tho making .will probably never occur again, for in a few mouths the Canal . will, bo filled. - /L'ho igigantie locks at' various points in tho length of the Canal are splendidly' depicted, and so also are the model towns by the watorway, and the relics of ; old Panama, and typical individuals of the men who have made the Canal.- Tho film is nearly a'wile long, and'takes an hour in presentation. '

On Friday evening'next the picture is to bo viewed by his Excellency the Governor. •

The supporting pictures in the programme cover a wide range of subjects, and all are good of their kind. Scats may bo'booked at tho' Dresden for tonight and following nights. ■ -' THEATRE ROYAL. There were 110 dull patches in' HiflTTCtr programme presented at the Theatre Royal last evening. The first of. the new artists'to appear was Miss Bessie Slaughter, a lady with a contralto voice of rare quality and power. Jliss Eva Mudgo proved liersalf all exceedingly versatile and clever entertainer, in rin original and clover act. " In all, she appeared in 'six. very dissimilar costumes, which means that she executed five, quick changes/ and in tho end she sang, a cute little song. Fred Rivenhall, an erstwhile Wellington favourite, made some new admirers ill n series of funny song sketches,- and Mark Erickseu saugi a rollicking song called "William," and another not quite so gleeful. The Brackens, a trio who do a. wire-walking turn, and very many other astonishing things combined with it,' won hearty applause, and deserved it all. Miss' Marta Golden had a new budget of songs, perhaps'not quite so good as. her first lot, but tliere"was one entitled something which is American for lxigeyman that would pass muster anywhere. Other artists to appear with new songs' and newjokes were Ernest Pitcher, and Phillips and Jlerritt, and tlio Delroys, comedy jugglers and ■ racketrthrowers, tlicir act', slightly. ' , „• The programme runs until Saturday night." ' ■

KING'S THEATRE. Thero was a good attendance at the King's-Theatre last evening, when, a complete change., of programmo wis screened. Prido of place in a selection of pictures rich in all round merit'is taken by a dramatic picture story entitled "Greed for Gold. It details , the \story of a banker's welcome riso to wealth; his methods, success, and final disastrous downfall. Tlio film is beautifully ■ produced in i natural colours, all the actors engaged bear their, parts with convincing realism, and. the staging is v;onderfully elaborate. , The total result is as fine, a picture drama as ono could wish to see. "Trafalgat and . To-day" is an , impressive record .of the progressive development of ships of war during tlio past century. From wooden • threerdeckers .to tho modern Dreadnought is a far cry, and' the contrast' and the many interest; iiig stages in naval architecturewhich separate these marvellously dissimilar types can hardly ever have- been more strikingly presented than in "Trafalgar and To-day." "JTim's Joy Day" is a delightful comedy in which tho well-known "Foolshead" is as successful as ever in Srovoking unstinted laughter. "Captain arnacle's Waif" is a pathetic pichttestory of a youngster Who/is: relieved from dire necessity by a kindly old sea-dog. "Tho Girl in tho Caboose" is an exciting Indian drama. All sorts of interesting topical items are pictured in the "Pathe English Gazette" and the "Australian Gazette." The , same pictures will', be screened to-night and on' following nights. ' .THE NEW THEATRE. "The' Broken Sword" is the feature item on the new programme at the New Theatre, which was screened for tho first time yesterday. Tho story concerns a young lieutenant, who falls in love with ,au actress. Tho young man, completely infatuated, neglects his regimental duties. His doings' become known to his colonel, who warns the young man tbat.he cannot possibly marry the girl, and he had better makeup his mind to forget her. As. a help in this "direction, tho colonel orders him eight days' confinement in his room.' Tho actress, not hearing of, or from'her lover, becomes anxious,' and iis she is to leave .for another town next day, determines to seo hiin.' Slie finds his room and taps at the window, and the'young man lets her in. At first lie is angry with her for coming, but lio is overcome by-her beauty. The young man's father and the colonel-enter the room suddenly; and discover the. pair. The - colonel .'accuses : his lieutenant ;of breaking his parole, and tho father curses his son and breaks his sword, telling him to leave the house. Driven from home, tho ex-soldier becomes on artist, and travels with his wife—he' married the actress on .being driven' from his home. YearS afterwards they come back to that town, and while performing his turn the disinherited son is badly hurt. Then his real name and parentage become public property. His mother, who has just lost her, husband, rushes to the sick bed, and is reconciled to her'son, and his-wife. Ho recovers, and takes up his proper standing in society. Tho minor items aro also good, and make up a very entertaining programmo.

EMPRESS THEATRE. The management of the Empress Theatre express regret to their patrons that owing to a misconnection of tho Vancouver'mail they were unable to screen' their star draiha, "The Count of Monte Christo" last evening. ■ However, despite the fact that tlie feature item was lacking, a very good programme was screened. "The Spoilt Child" is nn excellent picture, and shows a studied insight into child life and child reasoning. The spoilt child is familiar enough in real life, and unfortunately is generally of a loss desirable typo than flip spoilt child in the picture. This particular child certainly has many redeeming points, and when his twin brother is injured while trying to save their pony out of a burning stable, and the doctors arc of .opinion that 1 skin-grafting is tho best treatment' for him, the spoilt child odors the skin of his arm for'tho operation. Tho photography of this nicturo is of the very highest standard, and is reinrkably. clear, "Papering the Den." is a most amusing comedy, as anyono with any imagination can guess from the title itself. Tho scenic jtems are quito a featuro of tho programme, while tho Gaumont Graphic helps to keep tho pot of daily and topical interest in the world's affairs boiling. The management will make an announcement regarding "The Count of Monte Christo" to-day.

SIIORTTS' THEATRE. ■ Tho new progranimo at Messrs. Shortt's theatro screened yesterday was a complete success. Tho leading film is called "Tho Work of His Hands." 'The antral figuro in Uio play is Marco Andradi, a sculptor. Aiulrndi is consumed with a love for tho beautiful. It is natural, therefore, that hi should fall in lovo at first sight with

Sylvia Marcantelli, a dressmaker's model. Ho ascertains her placo of cmploymont, and securing an introduction to her ho begs her' to sit for 'tho principal figuro in a group which ho intends to create, and which ,is to symbolise perfect happiness. This sho, consents to do, and when tho work is eventually: finished agrees to marry him. Sylvia, however, insists upon returning to tlio' dressmaking establishment until after hor wedding day. Somo days after her return a firo breaks out at tho big shop, iind she, in trying to escape, i falls suffocated by 'the smoke. Andradi, hurrying to tlio scene, rescues her at tho cost of sovero burns and his eyesight. However, they arc married and livo quietly in tho country. Thon comes to their neighbourhood a youlig strolling singer, who also possessed of the artist's temperament finds Sylvia's, wonderful beauty strangely inspiring. Ho sings his 6ongs, in serenade fashion, -beneath her -window, and Sylvia, flattered by; the. compliment, listens interestedly. But tlio songs .aro heard as well by her husband, and lie, jumping to conclusions, is consumed with jealousy, and in;a torrent of rage smashes to pieces his groat work. This brings Sylvia to her senses,' and, she atones for her fault and they once more live happily. Thero aro several good comio items oi) tho programme, and '.tho new Australian Gazette .is unusually interesting.' "THE GIRL IN THE TRAIN." -• "The Girl in ' tlio Train," to bo pro. sented hero by tho J. C. Williamson Comic Opera Company on Saturday, next, is a new musical play-in two acts, adapted from the. amusing story from tlio German of Geschiedeno Frau," by Victor Leon, .witli lyrics by Adrian Ross, and music by Leo Fall. These are three great names to conjure with in a musical play. Three new-comers .of big English and-American reputation will make first appearances. ■ In Sybil Arimdala wo may expect a coinjc opera artist of tho first jyater.' .Miss Ariindale- is a 1 mezzosoprano of fi.no quality, a clever comedienne, and accomplished dancer, and- lias been' a reigning musical coniedy' "star" at the London Gaiety Theatre for several years. ."Mr.' Talleur Atidrews lias' sung firincipal tenor parts in grand opera on uj'-CflJthiejit and America, and .has tho added advantage of being "a finished light comedian. • 'Supporting these principals are'such.proved favourites as: Messrs, W. S. Percy, 1 Reginald Roberts. : Victor Prince;. Fred . Winn,- diaries', Albert,. Edmund Sherras, Migses'.Celia Ghiloni,'. Dorothy Brunton, and. Amy Murphy. Another star artist'will,'also appear in tho'per* son of Miss Vivian/T»lleur, a •'premiere danseuse,. a bare-foot dancer , from the Imperial Opera . .House, St. Petersburg. "The Girl in the;-Train" has everywhere been an'extraordinary success. There aro two' l?i(f, sets'. I ', The-first a. heavy buildup scene, showing the interior of'the Divorco Court at Amsterdam,' the second the palatial interior of tho mansion of .Count Ivareic Van Bnren, 'Thero aro in tho company, exclusive of principals, a of CO, and'i ballet"of'3o. As the' music is a prime factor, 'a band 1 of exceptional brilliance- lins been' secured.' "Tho"Girl in' tho'Train" will bo played for tho first four nights, tb 'be'followed'by "Nitrhtbirds" for four, nights, and by 'The Ciugaleo" and "Dorothy" for, three and two nights respectively. The box plan for the whole of the .thirteen nights' se'ason p'ill to opened dt tho Dresden on Thursday'next.