ENTERTAINMENTS.

Dominion, Volume 6, Issue 1695, 11 March 1913, Page 6

ENTERTAINMENTS.

"THE BUTTERFLIES." "The ■ Butterflies," who made so favourable an impresMun on their first appearance on Saturday evening, appeared again last evening before n large audience at the Opera House,'when they gave further evidence of their individual "ami combined ability to entertain on original lines. Mr. Jack Waller, the coinedian-iii-chief, raised plenty of laughter with his burlesque songs and witticisms, and as the violinist in the eccentric Hungarian Band, ho hit'off many of the extravagances of foreign musicians. He was capitally supported by Mr. "Wvlie Watsun, who is a gifted 'cellist as well as a cap'able laughter-maker. Miss Cecilia Gold, Miss Ada Smart, and Miss Armitage contributed songs in various moods. ;md Mr. Foster-Hine sang the "Toreador Son«" from "Carmen" with plenty of fire. Mr. P. Dennett, at the piano, is also ;l vainable member of the company. The ••Butterflies" will appear throughout the week. THEATRE ROYATOne of the most daring and unusual acts seen at the Theatre Royal for some time is that introduced by Electra, the human dynamo, last evening. Electra surprises his beholders by receiving enormous charges of electricity without sustaining injury ot any kind." This ho illustrates in many ways. In one instance lie makes a connection, between his own tongue and the point of a sword, the wires being connected with his wrist, and the hilt of the sword, and the thread of electric fire darts between the tip of hi? tongue and the sword-point. Tn another instance ho holds a stick of carbon as a cigar, whilst another is held close enough to make a flame arc powerful enough "to illuminate the whole theatre. With livewit? still attached to his wrist he makes a contaqt between the tip of his finger and a sword, and lights a cigarette by the wriggling blue flame that dances between. Tlie most sensational feat Electra performs is his reception of 2COO volts whilst sitting in a facsimile of the .electrocuting chair used at; the Sing Sing prison iii the United States, and while in the chair his assistant lights pieces of paper by applying them to his arms, trousered Tegs, aiid boots.' An element of- comedy is lent to tlie act by trilling experiments with members of the committee who were invited upon the stage: To demonstrate his contempt for electricity, Electra announced that the cify authorities had been, approached to allow him to take a full charge through his body from an overhead wire of the city, tramways in the street. If permission is given, Electra states, he will stand barefoot on the rail as lie takes the charge from a wire thrown over the tramway wire. Atlias and Collins sketch artists, repeated their, ridiculously amusing burlesque of melodrama, and incidentally Athas flings a light foot rhythmically in sand-jigs and clog-dances. Fred. Curran, a oomic singer who is humorously billed as "England's greatest comedian," made merry in "Woolloomooloo" and other humorous ditties, broader than they were long.' "La France" posed prettily as the centre-piece in a series of highly-coloured dissolving views, and gave vocal imitations of artists not known in New Zealand. Slavin and" Thompson

"pattered"- and sang to the amusement of the audience, and Hassan, Austin, and Cowan, and Miss Lillie Thompson contributed acceptably. • An entirely new bill will be presented on, Thursday next, when several new artists will appear. They include Marsh Little, tho Three Marsdens, the Esme Duo (dancers), Henry and May (clever trick cyclists), and Louie Duggan (the Yorkshire nightingale). his Majesty's. The principal item in the new bill presented at His Majesty's last evening was reproduction by the Selig Company of the story of Cinderella. The story has been told in pantomime and elsewhere so often that the 'main features of it are well enough known, but in. this version attention has been given to every detail, and the result is almost a new story. The mounting of tho photoplay is remarkably fine, and the acting is altogether exceptionally good. "Regeneration" is a picture story which points the moral that the way of the transgressor is hard. A sensational story of life and adventure in tho far Western States of America before the Red Men had, given over their unpleasant habits of murder and the like. The spectator is also taken for a trip through the picturesque country and villages of Holland. The selection of places visited has been exceedingly well made, and the film is a charming one. Another beautiful scenic item describes tho picturesque mountain scenery of Chartreuse, and, of course, includes views of the famous monastery, with its magnificent architecture. "The Vandal Leopard" is a comic picture, original in conception and exceedingly amusing as it is executed. The whole programme is'a well-balanced and varied one.

.THE NEW THEATRE. The management of the New Theatre screened a fresh programme yesterday. Tho feature item 'is entitled "Sealed Lips," announced as a woman's drama. The theme is rather unusual, but at the same time refreshing as being out of the ordinary. The piece is well-mounted and well photographed. The'film would gain in popularity with less detail. However, some of' the incidents are intensely dramatic, and- arc acted with precision. The supporting .items are decidedly better than usual. "Glued" is an amusing little , comic-burlesque, involving the stereotyped "chase," in which the police get a bad time. They are in the end rewarded with a capture, and the miscreants, in this case a penniless ptfet and a couple of Mfers, are successfully looked up. This programme will be repeated again to-day and to-night. THE KING'S THEATRE. A new selection of pictures was projected at the King's Theatre last night. One of the most., beautiful films imaginable was a coloured picture of' n trip through a valley in France by way of a light, railway. The magnificent Roman roads, the beautiful scenery, the quaint mediaeval architecture of the villages on tlio route, all combine to make the picture a delightful one, and the illusion of the train running is perfect, so that it is difficult to believe that one is really seated in a theatre. A striking, if somewhat unpleasant, drama is entitled "The Model for St. John." A painter chooses his son, a youth with finely chiselled features, to sit as model for a study of St. John. The picture is a masterpiece..Then the son becomes a wine-bibber and is turned adrift, only (o become a hopeless blackguard.. His father finds him again, but does not recognise him", when lie is looking for a model for. a picture of a leering drunkard which fie has been commissioned to do. The denouement may be imagined. "Nick "Winter and the Ace of Clubs" tells more about that curious detective, who has a faculty for getting into scrapes with the e'reatest nossible facility, and allowing his friends, the police, tj. rescue him and catch the criminals. His adventures and his hairbreadth escapes make solendid subjects for the picture man. The chief item of the second part of the programme is entitled "In the Springtime of Life," a beautifully coloured film of a thrilling Swedish drama. The setting of the piny is remarkably fine, and photographically the reproduction is perfect. EMPRESS THEATRE. The management of the Empress Theatre are featuring a Selig production, -Masters of the Forest," on their new programme, which was screened yesterday. As suggested in the title, the storv deals with wild animals. The scene of the story is laid in Africa, the hero and heroine being simple country folk who lovo and marry and set up liouse. Tho hero, builds his-new home and sets to work 011 his rough farm. For seven years they are a happy and devoted couple Then arrives an oid friend- who, tnking a friend's privilege, kisses tho heroine, aiid is seen doing so by the hero. The hero flies into a fit of passionate jealousy, and tho heroine makes for home. Going through the iungle, she is attacked by lions, and after an exciting' tinie is rescued by her placated husband and friend and all ends happily. "Billy M'Gratli-'s Art Career" is an amusing skit 011 the work of th.e impressionist painters. It is a pity more of the picture comedies' seen here do not have an underlying argument such as this one. Other pictures include "Three Friends," "Cocoa Industry." "Kissing Kate." and an excellent scenic picture of Rouen. The Allen Doom: Comedy Comnanv commenced a tour of New Uoalaud at Auckland last evening.

SIIORTTS' THEATRE. "For Her Country's Hake" is tiie inspiring title of the best of the items an the new programme screened nt Shortts' Theatre yesterday. The drama is reaily a (jootl one, ami likely to he popular with the patrons ot' the theatre. Some of tho scenes are wiry fine indeed, and show that no expense has been spared in the production of the piece, '"l-'iill or Heroine" is a less sensational pieee, but with .Florence Turner and Maurice Ccstello in the two principle roles it is vastly amusing. "The Hand-Bag" is likewise a Rood eonnc item of the belter class. The latest Australian Gazette is, as usual, full of interesting and topical events and happenings on "the other side." "A Simple .Mistake" and an excellent scenic film showing the beauty ot Rhodes are included in a delectable programme, which will be shown again to-day and to-night. MR. 11AI'(ill AX BARXHITS I'AREtV liUOn Thursday evening at the Town Hall the public should take advantage of the opportunity of being present at the farewell concert to be tendered to Sir. J. Maughan Barnett by the Royal ■Wellington Choral Society; A first-class miscellaneous programme has been prepared to suit all musical tastes, and will include the songs, "My Shins," .M'ss Dora Read; "Hush, lly Little tine." Hiss'"Muriel Benn;tt; "Onibra Mai l"u," Miss A. Segrief; "Vitoria—Vitoria." Mr. John Proline; anT "Mine Enemy," Mr. Hamilton Hodges.