ENTERTAINMENTS.

Dominion, Volume 6, Issue 1748, 13 May 1913, Page 6

ENTERTAINMENTS.

OPERA HOUSE. "The Queen of the I'edskins," a melodrama, tlic action of which alternates between tho leafy retreat of the .lied Indian and the stately homes of wealthy cityfolk, was presented again last evening bv the Marlow Dramatic Company at the (jpora House. The play has a clear story, made exciting bv tho activity ol' a particularly bin :kgiuirdly villain, who is never at a loss when called upon for a thrill. The leading parts are capably played by Miss Dorics, and Messrs. Herbert Bentlev and Billiard Vox. On Thursday evening the company will stags its last change of bill for the present season, when Frederick Melville s London drama, "Her Forbidden Marriive," will be produced for three, nights. Tho full strength of the company will take part in the production, which, when lately produced in Sydney and Melbourne, ran for seven weeks in each city. Iho scenic effects are stated to have been painted from actual photographs of tho localities where the action of the piece takes place. The box plan is now on view at the Dresden. THEATBE ROYAL. Of all the weird turns which have been submitted to patrons of the Theatre Royal that of De Lea and Orma is perhaps tho weirdest. Miss Orma is over six feet in height, and so thin that her gay partner describes her in an introductory manner as "the human toothpick," which is distinetly apt if not delicately flattering. The lady's lengthv arms are semaphoric in the meaning they convey by gesticulation, and her attempts at dancing would make Terhsichore weep. But it is all extravagant comedy, and as Miss Orma is gifted with a tense x>f humour those in tho audience are doubled up with laughter. Tho Excellas are tennis racquet jugglers extraordinary. One performer in particular leaves nothing umlcno with the gaily-tinselled racquets. He also gives a clever exhibition of balancing by climbing up and over an electro-plated ladder. Hall Raii:e is a moderately-good singer of Hebrew songs, and a capital slat dancer; and Farrel .and Vet-rol. "tho three-legged two," patter and danco amusingly. Mr. Percy Dalton and Miss Lillie Moore were unfortunate in having their luggage-left behind at Lyttclton, in which strait their individual turns had to bo dispensed with. They combined in a sketchjrather clcvorly, and sang "The Rag-time Violin" catehily. The Serenaders,. who.alCrfU'2\ favourites, gave a capital perfornianco during tho first part of tho programme. Miss Edith Huxham, whoso singing is a jov, scored in tho comedy specialty, "Will You Let Mo Take You Out?" which was accompanied by some clever business on the part of the male members of tho company. Mr. Mark Phillips sang acceptably, and Sam Lo Mert whistled a number of Scotch airs. Tho Serenaders are always particularly happy in concil'ted numbers, and in "Go to Sleep hid "Tell Mo, Dusky Maiden" (which lv.s a "Floradora" basis) they were quite admirable. Mr. Norman Leslie scored in the broadly comic, "Squirty the Fireman" and "Tho Night I Fought Jack Johnson." Miss Gertie M'Leod, Miss Elsie Barber, Messrs. Lanri, and Fred, and Hugh lluxluun all assisScd cleverly in a capital entertainment. This evening Mr. Percy Dalton, a talented rag-time dancer, and Miss_ Lillie Moore, comedienne, -will be seen in new turns.

HIS MAJESTY'S THEATRE. "Bectlo's Deception," a lovo romance enacted entirely by beetles and flys, is the title of tho chief film on tho new programme presented at His Majesty's Theatre. Whether the beetles aro alivo and have been trained to act as they do, or whether tliey aro manufactured forms, representing tho insects is left to patrons to dccide, but nevertheless the scenes are very clever. They "act" as though they were human baings, t'hey rido in miniature motor-caiv, ride en jiioyclos, go to a miniature picture show, dwell in a miniature .hotel, walk about with ease, and show affcction for one another just as ordinary humans might do. One scene depicts a specimen of a fly riding a miniature cycle, and at the same time carrying a small kinematograph machine. Jumping off his cycle lie commences to tako moving pictures, under tho same occasional adverse conditions as some of tho snap-shot photographers of to-da.v do. This . picture should certainly prove a . very strong attraction at His Majesty's this week. "Fate" is the titlo of a very interesting dramatic study by the A.B. Co., and "Men Wore Deceivers Ever" is a comic which provides much laughter. THE NEW THEATRE. "A Gipsy's Hate" is tho chief of the new pictures now being shown at tho Now Theatre. Tho leading roll in the drama is taken by Saharet. Tho story begins in a Gipsy settlement, where a couplo of theatrical mot.fists meet Mirza, a beautiful Gipsy girl. Tho girl likes them, and afterwards is not prepared to marry ono of her own community. Trouble ensues, and she flics, and again meets tho theatricals, who take her to the city, and in the course of timo she becomes a famous stage dancer. Meanwhile, her father bauds the Gipsy lover his money, and bids hini go and revenge "the wrong." The Gipsy searches many days and at length a poster outside a theatre, bearing a likeness to .Mirza, puts him on the track. 110 takes a job as a stage hand at tho theatre where the girl dances, and one night he appears at the wings just as she is going oft'. Startled, she walks backwards away from him, and her dress catches fire in some lights which have boon used for effect during the dance. The burning she receives results in her death, to tho grim and grinning delight of tho jilted gipsy.' "The Smuggler's Revenge" is another exciting drama, and among tho other pictures aro two excellent comedies.

TIIE KING'S THEATRE. A fine selection of new pictures was screened at the Kim's Theatre last evening. the premier film being a Nordisk study entitled "The Court. Intrigue." A lave romance in Koyal circlcs at the Court of Ossava. A prince wishes to marry a commoner, but an unscrupulous countess sets out to frustrate his plans and marry him to her daughter. A series of incidents ultimately loads to lier plans being upset, and the princc marries tho poor girl, while the shock kills the fcnuile adventure's. The picture is superbly mounted, the costumes and uniforms being snecial features. The latest edition of the "Gaumont Graphic" depicts all the most'interesting of recent happenings, in all parts of the -world. A drnnratic study of interest is "The _2\urso of Mulberry Bond.'' Rose, a ho-pital nurse, enters ail Italian's liome to nurse a sick babv. The. father, in his anxiety, tells tho nurse that she shall not leave until Hie baby is well again. Ko-e is rescued by a doctor, who saves the baby and wins the nurse's love. Other pictures worthy of mention are "The Price of Jealousy" (war drama), "Trauville" (Pathe colour scenic), "Simnie Simon on tho War rath" (comic), and "Planting tho Spring Gardenf' (Vitagrnph cr.meily). The ,-tbnve pictures will be rescreened this evening.

EMPRESS TIIEATKJ3. "A Day That is Dead," a pictorial representation which has for its main theme Tennyson's poem "Break, Break, Break," is the title of the star item of the current programme at the Empress Theatre. The pathos of it is concentrated in tho lines: "Heart, strings that ones were rent asunder 'neatli love's most gentle touch,; oft limes in old age quiver, when memory strikes with sorrow wrung." So is it in (his pictorial veiulerini; of Tennyson's poem ami those to whom (ho poem is familiar, wilt no doubt appreciate the manner in which it has now been produced. The A.Ti. Co., which is noted for dramalie studies, is responsible for an absorbing domestic drama entitled "A Welcome. Intruder." The picture unfolds a pathetic. little story, in which a very pretty child plays the chief part, and causes a great deal of worry to his father. "A Cripphul Champion." is the title of an interesting film, which shows AV. AV. Francis swimming the Bristol Channel, si lid training at various athletic sports. "All Hail the King" is an A.B. comedy, which created much amusement anioivsf, the many patrons who visited the theatro yesterday. The Edison Co. has scored wi'tli the remedy-drama "All Old-fashioned Elopement," which depicts early-day fashions, with much realism. Other pictures are: "Iio?s of the Knty Mine" (S. and A. Drama), and "O'itv of Jaipur" Scenes in India).'

SilOhTTS' I'lCTin'.ES. A complete change of programme was tir.-mit.Ml at tjhorlU' Continuous t'ieluro TU«atro yesterday. .tho 6tar item bsjng

a detective drama entitled "Tigris." This is a clover criminal, who in another role, makes friends with a deteetiyo who is tracking him, and i'or a long time avoids capture. "Tigris" is tn be replaced today I>v a 'fhanhauser dramatic study entitled'"Under Two ria ß s." New pictures of interest are: "The Boomerang" (drama), "Ilor Heart's Desire" (drama), "Bloomer's Adventure" (comic), "Tweedleduin's Ma-in-law" (comic), "l'at.lie'.s Australian Gazette," and "Friends of Birds." The programme will be repeated throughout all sessions to-cliiy. HORACE HUNT'S CONCERT. The concert, to be given as a farewell fa Mr. Horace Hunt is to take place at the Town Hall this evening. Mr. Hunt has for many years Iwcn a ready assistant at many concerts for various purposes, and his talent as a brilliant young pianist_ of great promise is generally admitted. Owing to Mr. Baxter Buckley's inability to bo present, the Beethoven Concerto for two pianos will bo played by Mr. Hunt and Mr. Christian Hellc-mann (the new conductor of the Hoyal Wellington Choral (society) whose ability as a pianist is well established in Sydney. Others wlio will eonh-ibuto are: Miss Gertrude Hunt, Miss Gladvs Watkins, Miss Doris Dall, Messrs. C. H". Stephens, H. Hodges, Herbert Bloy, mill Frank Johnstone. Mr. Robert Parker will conlrol the orchestra and the accompaniments will be played by Mesdames Stephens, Montague, Bloy, Qucree, and Messrs. Hunt anil Hellemann.