ENTERTAINMENTS.

Dominion, Volume 6, Issue 1718, 8 April 1913, Page 6

ENTERTAINMENTS.

THEATRE ROYAL, Tho Tiieatro Royal last night turned on a sparkling new programme that is likely to draw lieavily throughout the week. Screamingly funny is the lour Stagpooles' "Crazy Caddie" act. I'ho star of tlii.s clover quartet is Herbert Stagpoole, tlio extraordinary tumbler and haul spinner, whoso work throughout is excellent indeed. J.''alls that would lead less expert people to the hospital he revels in. J.t i-.eems as easy iur him to ijpin on his head as to wjiirl round oil his leet. Ho is splendidly supported by the other members of tha company, and their turn is woven into an attractive little scene..'l'ho Harmonious Uuxhams gave a delightful musical treat. Their liaimonised items were vigjrou.;ly an.i deservedly encored In response to one eVoro they rendered a capital imitation 'of bagpipe music. Stanley and Bernini, billed as two "Yiddish=r Boys," aro Srcmarkably elevei'. Their song imitations ot tho street hawking Continental aro highly dherting, and their Caruso-Tettrazini dtet also provokes tho audience to shrieks ot' laughter. I'ho Sa-enallers, who made a good impression last week, again provide tho lirst hour's merriment. Under the spell of the SerCnaders, the hour ripples along all too swiftly. Bcndo, the "boneless," who folds himself up into weird parcels, reappears, and a farce entitled "The New -dressmaker" is provided by Flank Hawthorne. A great deal of mysterious business is {lone by "Jlysto," who passes articles from one- place to another in the most deceitful fashion, and also "spirits away" a woman in on equally strange manner. lIIS MAJESTY'S' THEATRE. One of the best items screened on the new programme at His Majesty's Theatre last evening,' was an historical production, "Tlio \Vives of Jamestown." Bryan o'Sullivan, a stalwart Irish lad of humblo birth, rescues the La'dy Geraldine, whose boat has capsized. lie retreats with embarrassment etc ilio lady can thank,him, but she learns the location of his'home . and summons him to tlio castle, that siio may express her gratitude. So frank and cordial is tho Lady Geraldine that Bryan, forgetful of his station, falls madly in love with her. Ho learns of her. accustomed haunts and covertly watches her. One day Lady Geraldine discovers him, and proceeds to amuso herself by encouraging the humble admirer. - The O'ltourke arrives at tho castle with his retinue to pay court to Lady Geraldine and Bryaii watches with jealous eyes. Her attitude of acceptancb so angers the young Irishman. that he steps forth and upbraids her for her apparent falseness. O'ltourke, the cavalier, draws lids sword, but Bryan wrenches it from his hand, and breaking it across his knee, tosses tho pieces before Uie feet of the. astonished nobleman. Knowing that 110 can 110 longer remain, Bryan sends ; a message of farewell to Lady Geraldine, and tikes passage for America. He settles at Jamestown, Virginia, where Bryan O'Sullivan, Irishmau, becomes John Pierce, colonist. Lady Geraldine learns too late' that her heart belongs to Bryan. A few years after those events, Ladv Geraldino's castlo is besieged by Oromwellians. Slio suffers uianv vicissitudes and is finally sent with"others' to be sold as wives to the Jamestown colonists. In the market place the women who hava been temporarily sheltered are brought forth. Ths sight of tho Indians and uncouth 'settlers ■ causes them to shrink from the duty which has been imposed upon "them, and tho meadow rings with tho shouts of those who arc : anxious to make their bids. John Pierce stands quietly by, and is suddenly startled b> tin-, arrival ot Lady Geraldine and her unhappy companions. Ho leaves Hie scene heartbroken. Later, .when an ambitious bridegroom persists in annoying Lady Geraldine, John comes to her as. sistancc and she fails to recognise Bryan. O'Sullivan,' whose appearance has been •greatly changed by a 1 heavy beard. She sees that lie is an honest man, and offers to become his wife. The marriage ceremony _is performed and John conducts his bride to tho cabin. "Tho Tire Cop" is another feature item, aiul involves a realistic and exciting fire sccne. ■ "Pooling Their Wives" is the best comedy on ■tho programme. On Thursday next for three nights only "The Panama Canai" will bo rescreened. THE NEW THEATRE. "Tho Last Obstacle" is tho lctest addition to the many "stars" that'have been screened at the New Theatre. The story, though commonplace, is in its way entertaining, if not exactly novel. Lieutenants Harter and Felch are tho two leading maio characters. The lady of tho piece-is called Harriet. The two young officers aro bot'h in. lovo with" her. She is undecided as to which one she should favour. Next Harter gets into-financial difficulties and forges his friend's name 011 a bill. The friend backs, the bill to save him from disgrace. The lady (Harriet) then announces she will marry the suitor who wins a horse race. Harter wins, and the lady is married. It,is presently discovered, however, that In- drugged his friend's horse, and the marriage is thus intolerable to Harriet. Hnrtor drinks himself to death and leaves his twifo frco to marry Felch, and they are thus happily ,united. Of tho other items, "Redwing and tho Paleface" and "Leapoid and the Leopard' 'are noteworthy.. THE KING'S THEATRE. The featuro picture, on the programme which was screened at thi King's Theatre last evening, is entitled "Back from tho Dead." Tho opening scene is ; laicl in .Mexico City, a favourite haunt of international adventurers. It is in a low haunt in this city that the spectators arc introduced to Jean Danglade, a Frenchman, with an evil reputation. He hero determines to change liis name and with that object ill view substitutes the 'papers of a dead man (Joss Ferrer .by nanie) for his own. Danglade returnsVto Prance where he finds his wife who believes that he is dead. She has, in fact, received notice to that effect from Mexico. He blackmails her and she. gives him money' to "keep away." This, however, is not enough for Danglade, and 110 also steals her jewellery, but lie is immediately punished for this theft as his associates demand a share, and this, lending to a quarrel, Danglade is murdered. Further complications arise when a Mr. Ecnand, who has married Madame Danglade (believing her to be a widow) discovers that his wife has another husband living. Tho police find Danglade's body and also discover 0110 of Madame Danglade's visiting cards in his pocket. They therefore arrest Madame Danglade (or Renand. as she is now called) upon suspicion regarding the murder. But it so happens that ono of the men who murdered Danglade. gives away a piece of the stolen jewellery and this provides a clue leading to the arrest of the real criminals. Subsequently the whole matter is revealed/ and > Madamo Renand is cleared. Of the other items "The Wives of Jamestown" is the best. The latest English Gazette includes some interesting views. "Tho 500-mile Motorcar Race" is a good item of modern motor racing. One gets an excellent, idea' of thb tremendous pace attained by expert drivers 011 specially-designed racing chausees. I : EMPRESS THEATRE. 1 A change of programme was screened at the Empress Theatre last night. "The Fire-fighter's Love" is the most conspicuous item. It is a dramatic story involving tiia love romance of a 'fireman. "Dan" . M'Corinick, the fireman, is engaged to Violet. Dale. She, however, reconsiders her position, and breaking off her engagement becomes re-engaged to another fireman, "Steve" Lantry. This causes animosity between the (wo firemen, who were previously friends, 'iiie brigade receives a call, and moves out ' t.o a fire. During the progress of this fire, M'Carmick is caught in j:ho falling debris. "Stove" forgets the feud between the two, and rushes to his rescue. After a hard fight tho two are extricatcd, and all ends happily. Quite a featuro of the picture is tlio actual lire scene. Of the supporting items, "A Father's Lesson" is a concrete Wcslvrn drama; "The Sheriff's Luck" is good also. Altogether (lie programme is very well chosen and arranged. ■ SJIORTTS' THEATRE. At the change of programme iauguratcd at Shortts' Theat.ro yesterday, "Tli? Money Lender" is at tile top of the list of items. The story is of a usurer, Goffman, who has designs upon the wealth of one Gaston do Sombreuli, 0 witless young gambler. To get the youth well into his clutches, lie secures tho help of on equally unscrupulous lady, and the plot then develops. "Where Destiny Guides" lis the next item; "Three Girls and a Man" is ulsu b'wd, as are ui«t of tho other items.