ENTERTAINMENTS.

Dominion, Volume 6, Issue 1701, 18 March 1913, Page 6

ENTERTAINMENTS.

THEATRE ROYAL. , Irish songs and dances, in honour of St. Patrick's Day, figured prominently in the rlinuge programme winch was received ivilh approval by a large audience at the Theatre Royal lust evening. Miss Louie Duggan, the Devonshire gave a melodious rendering of "Alolly iMalone," and succeedcd eminently in delighting her audience. - She scored another success with a playful ditty enntled "Will He Answer Goo llouf" but her beautiiul voice was heard to much better advantage iu a spring song, wUicii she sang in response, to an insistent encore. .Marsh. Little signalised St. Patrick's Day with a spirited rendering ot' "Ulf to t'niiadelphia," and the clever little ladies billed as "The Hsma Duo," were ap'plauded lor their rendering of "Tipperary Mary," and w : ere .etjually successtui when they danced an Irish jig; Apart from his Irish contribution, jltarsb Little, assisted by a small .company,, repeated his scena, "Going Hack." Henry and May are an extremely clever pair of trick cyclists. May is a lady who pcrtorms a great variety of acrobatic awl balancing feats awheel with graceful ease and dexterity, and her partner supplements some clever, tricks with pleasant fooling, which is greatly appreciated by the spectators. Slaviu ami Thompson introduced new patter songs am! parodies in a way that earned merited applause. Some ot' their rollicking ditties provoked roars of laughter. The Three Marsdens utilisa both strength and skill in a series of remarkably clever feats. The lady member of the party is a graceful dancer, and the cabinet posing of one of the men provided a most effective spectacle. The culminating scene of tho.turn was watched with breathless interest. The lady of the troupe mounted a bicycle, which was hoisted aloft on a loiik steel standard, and this was supported on his chin by tlio strong man of tho parly. Slaviu, in his individual items was as successful as in his earliw appearancc with his. stage . Acceptable vocal items were contributed by Miss Lillie Thompson, lilectra gave another successful display of Uis powers in dealing with electricity. Cast evening he included a demonstration :>f the methods used.in bloodless surgery, flo passed an electrical current of high amperage through the'body of a subject, and massaged his arm, explaining that in this w»y the blood could be driven right out of the limb under treatment, so that if it were pricked or cut 110 blood would How'. T'if programme will be repeated this evening. ' At tho corner of Johnston Street, and Lahibton Quay at a quarter to eight this evening Electra will give a public demonstration iii the nature of receiving the electricity from the tramway' wires through his body. HIS MAJESTY'S,THEATRE. A comolete change of programme ■ was presented at His. Majesty,'s Theatre .last evening. The , new bill is a well .varied one, and contains many interesting plc'tures. ."The Stolen Treaty-' is. the.,star item, and.the plot deals at;some length with the numerous'unsuccessful attempt's to-steal a valuable-document by the secret agent of a foreign. Power. He. is an officer, who-is a very .influential man .in society, and- he employs, two spies.; Tlie.su are closely connected with their prey,, and t'liey go to no end of' trouble in order to secure the prize: --A-chase in- a motor is followed by an exciting encounter in a country inn. Scenes at a brilliant, ball follow, and further attempts are made to secure the document. The closing situations depict' the men endeavouring to escape, and their eventual death. "A Guilty, Conscience" is an exceptionally, good co'mic.iiem. . A ydung man.comes to a picture show brandishing a revolver, and informs-the manager that.his wife is in the theatre with, a young man. In order t'o prevent trouble,, the manager informs the patrons of tho position, and calls upon the guilty- person to leave the theatre by tlio rear exit. , The scene following creates much laughter; first.one couple leaves, then another, and another, until tlio theatre only contains a sprinkling of the. male sex. Scenes on board the Dominion's giant battleship New Zealand are. very interesting, several prominent New Zealaiiders figuring conspicuously. Capital musical, items, arc supplied by. an excellent orchestra uiider the conductorship of Mr. John Garry.

THE EMPRESS THEATRE. A dramatic picture entitled "The Telephone Girl" took pride of place in' the change programme which was screened at the Einpress Theatre yesterday. The story is interesting, and is heavily charged with exciting episodes, which lead up to an effective climax. The picture is splendidly produced. Other good picturedrainas screened were "A AVolf in the Fold," and "Lady Angela aiid the Boy." "A'Trip to Tahiti" reveals many lovely scenes in an island that is world-famous •for its beauty and rich in historical associations. "The Fly Danger" is a scientific picture, which drives home a useful lesson not to be so easily taught in word-of-mouth presentation. The comedy section is particularly strong in the current programme at' the Empress Theatre. "The World-weary Man" is a capital comedydrama, "and "Best Alan AVins" and' "I Saw Him First" are- also worthy repre--seritatives of the -class of pictures that are produced for the purpose of raising laughter. . Tho same pictures will be screened to-day, when, as usual, the Empress Theatre trill be open from 11 a.m. to 11 p.m. SHORTTS' PICTURES. "Alone in Paris," a Pathe coloured film, and "Pals" are; tho two best items on the new programme screened at Messrs. Shortts' theatre yesterday. The latter is a sad story, very well screened. "Alone in Paris," besides being a romantic drama, has the extra merit of depicting some of the notable and historic buildings of tho great French capital. The programme also includes several fine scenic and comic films. THE NEW THEATRE. "Dearly Purchased Friendship," ; a Nordisk dramatic photo-play, is 'the star attraction at-.the. "New Theatro continuous pictures. The opening scenes depict a iieutenant named Udo paying the gambling debts of his comrade, Lieutenant Ralph, who promises in the future to refrain from card-playi'ug. Unfortunately force of habit overcomes his promises, and Ralph continues to play cards, and when cheating uses a marked card, which results in a big win for him. Udo keeps the marked card, nnd declines to accept the money with which Ralph offers to repay liini. Later Ralph is injured in'militarv manoeuvres, and is invalided home. Udo asks his fiance to look after Ralph, who mistakes her kindness. A bitter quarrel follows between the two.men, and Ralph compels Udo to fight a duel. The lattfr's fiance produces Ralph's marked card, and prevents her lover from being branded as a coward. Other items are "A Race with time" (drama). "By the Sea" (drama), and "The Gulf of Spezia" (scenic). THE KING'S THEATRE. ' "The , Black Mask,"' an American drama, is the title of the piece de resistance on tho current programme at the Kinsr's Theatre. It is a. powerful production abounding in sensation, and features Lili Beck, one of the most daring tight-ropo Walkers of modern times. Tho Ltibin Coninany supplies quite a good drama in "Tho Power of Silence." Tho plot is full of excitement, mystery, and dramatic and introduces Rome capital scenes .-relating to farming in a AVostern country. As usual, the Pathe London Gazette is full ,of interesting situations depicting the principal happenings of,the moment.' Events of interest in the Commonwealth ar<> given in the Australian Gazette. A rather interesting picture is one which depicts King Georie V's insnection of the NewZealand gift ship at Portsmouth prior to her departure for tho Dominion. "Among those on board the ves=el are the Hon. Thomas Mackenzie (N.Z. limb Commissioner), Hon. James Allen (Minister for Finance), nnd Sir Joseph Ward. Amow» other pictures shown are "Ireland, the Opnre=sed" (drama). "Dunin in search of Quiet" (comic), "Albion Docks" (interest), and "The Horseshoe that Upset the Family" (comedy). The above pictures will be shown throughout (he week.