ENTERTAINMENTS.

Dominion, Volume 6, Issue 1736, 29 April 1913, Page 9

ENTERTAINMENTS.

"THE BLUE BIRD." That "The Blue Bird" continues to attract largo audiences to tho Opera House is not surprising. It is a play which improves on acquaintance—new beauties nro unfolded as ono cultivates a closer knowledge of Maeterlinck's enchanting lilies, and what lies behind them. The performance is a. very good one, and the elaborate scale on which the play is nresented calls for high commendation. The linal threo performances are announced.

HIS MAJESTY'S THEATRE.' A large audience filled His Majesty's Theatre last evening, when an exceptionally fino series of plioto-plays was presented. A feature in the new programme is a length film entitled "Foul Play," adapted from Charles Keade's well-known novel, and produced by the Edison Company. Tho story of the play lins been closely followed, and those who have read the book will have no difficulty in recognising the various characters as they flitacross tho screen.' Special mention may be made of. Mr. Alfred Boothmau, the veteran . Australian elocutionist,' whose ably-delivered lecture adds greatly to the picture. "Leap Year Proposals," a comedy sketch by tho Vitagraph Company, tells' the story of how a lady reporter wins the love of her millionaire employer's son. Other'excellent items are:

, "Wrong Bottles," • a powerful dramatic story -by the American "St. Gotha'rd," "Near-Sighted Cupid,' a comic skit by the Selig Company, the "Gaumont Graphic," a weekly newspaper in pictures, "Wild Wales," . a beautifully-coloured scenic study by Pathe Freres, and "Heroic Rescue." The programme will be screened during the remainder of the week. THE .NEW THEATRE! . ' Thero were good attendances at the New JTheatro Continuous Pictures throughout nil sessions yesterday. A new and varied programme was submitted, the premier picture being "Tho Mills of the Gods"— a picture version of G. P. Dillenback's novel of that'title. The main incidents in the novel are embraced in tho photoplay version. "Lieut. Rose and the Muscotfi" unfo)ds another exciting tale of the daring exploits of this supposed naval officer. A scenic picture of interest is one entitled "A Geiieral View of St. Kilda, Jersey." The film depicts in detail howthe residents-of this quaint place occupy their time, which is principally devoted to wild sheep shooting and fishing—both being in'abundance. Mitfir other pictures of interest are Shown, all new to Wei-, lington.

"VENGEANCE OF DURAND." ■ Picture patrons were present in force at tho King's Theatre last night, when West's Pictures presented their weekly: change. The attraction was undoubtedly Itcx Beach's drama, written specially for the Vitagraph Company, entitled "The Vengeance of Durand." Tho story centres around a life-long feud of hate, which Durand nurtures in his bosom for tho foster-brother of his wife, whom he thinks lias supplanted him in his wife's affections. In one scene Durand fights a duel with-the foster-brother, but his wife receives tho fatal bullet. Tho final scene, wherein Durand's (daughter seeks to encompass her foster uncle's death, is the essence of realism, the fire scone alone, where Durand expiated his vengeance, being most impressive. Two good'dramas of the Western style, "The Eldorado Lode" and "Young America," form the heavy items on the bill. 'The comedies are well represented by "Peter's Pledges," "Bidoni Hard-Up," and the "Patho Gazette." "Winter Sports at Moritz" and "Chateaux do Blois" form the topical and scenic items. Tho attractive musical selections by the King's Theatre Lyric Orchestra," under tho conductorship of Signor Truda, added considerably to the enjoyment of the evening's entertainment. The 'programme will be repeated . every evening this week. . ' SHOHTTS' PICTURES. . • Tho feature pioture at Shortts' Theatre at present is it film entitled "The Affair at Raynors." It is an Edison drama and is the fourth of .a series entitled "What Happened to Mary." Tho first picture, si.oini some time ago,,depicted Jtnry-wan-dering off iii search of. employment, and' tho subsequent, numbers depict various advintures, which she ■ afterwards encounters. The latest number is a' good one. Other interesting pictures are included in tho programme. ■ ■ THE EMPRESS THEATRE. A capital set of new pictures was screened at the EmjireSs Theatre yesterday, tho feature 0110 being an Ambroiiio dramatic study, entitled "A Prisoner of War." Tho plot involved deals at length with tho war in 'Turkey, and the principal character is a Bulgarian girl, who has been captured by the Turks, and has becomo an unwilling inmato of a Pasha's palace. ' However, when hostilities break out, sho becomes tho means of rescuing a number of her fellow-countrymen from dire peril. Many war scenes aro introduced, and tliay made the picture a most interesting one. 'The A.B. Company's dramatic study, entitled ''Broken Ways," deals with life in tho American West in the early days. A young lady telegraphist marries a man of whom she knows little. 'He (later on) proves to bo a most dangerous person, and his wife leaves him. i Tho man," finding his wife gone, circulates a report that ho is dead. Meanwhile his wife has taken up her former work, and captures tho heart of a young sheriff. Whilst fleeing from justice ■ her husband takes refuge in tho office where his wife is working. A most dramatic scene follows, in which the husband, who is really an outlaw, pays tho fullest penalty of tho law. Eclair Journal," "Bloomer and his Cousin," "Gontran and his Accomplice" are among other pictures shown.

"THE STOLEN INVENTION." People do not usually regard anything connected • with their own vocation as recreation, but the children of tlio "Bluo Bird" Company seem to be the brightexception. Not content with giving'eight, performances a week of tho charming Maeterlinck play, they have been busy for some timo rehearsing a quaint melodrama, entitled "Tho Stolen Invention," which has been written by Eileen Hayes, the littlo girl who appears as "Cold-in-the-Head" in the Palace of Night Scono. All tho character;? are to bo played by tho littlo girls, and tho stage management is solely in their hands. Everyone has duties other than playing parts, such as attending to the properties, arranging tho scones, etc. Indeed, tlio only assistance which tho mites will deign ■to rcceivo is concernbd with shifting tho scenes. "The Stolon Invention" is to rcccivo its premiere at tho Opera Houso this afternoon, whon tho girleens will have as an audience tho adult mombers of tlio company and a fow friends.

"THE MONK AND THE WOMAN," Next Saturday niglit at 'tho Opera Houio George Marlow's combination of dramatic artists will commence tv short season. Tlio play to lib produced is tho sensational drama, "Tlio Monk -and tlio Woman." Tlio management stato that this play in Sydney ran for ten weeks, (lie linn s Adelphi Theatre bciuy nightly crowded to overflowing. In commenting on tlio piece, the "Sydney Morning ilernitl" said'"Jixcited tremendous enthusiasm. ... A volcano spouting' flames and red-hot cinders. . , . Tlio curtain had to lie raised several times on tho well-managed ourthiiunko scene, with. Iho ruined chateau in llames," In this play the management promise something entirely novel and thrilling; in short, a wries of wonderful spectacles, including the earlhi|iiiiko scene. The box plan opens at Iho Dresden tomorrow morning,