ENTERTAINMENTS.

Dominion, Volume 6, Issue 1754, 20 May 1913, Page 8

ENTERTAINMENTS.

THEATRE' ROYAL. Tho potent attraction of vaudeville was evidenced at thu Theatre Royal last evening l'or, although the weather was atrocious, the audience which attended was laige. The change programme included many entertaining items, and till the artists who contributed wero well received. The whole oT thu first half oi the evening was taken up by Mr. Hugh Iluxham's Serenaders, a clever company, y.lio presented a pleasantly-varied musical programme. They were equally good in items grave and gay, and were particularly effective in part-singing and choruses. There were numerous solos. Mi-s Gertie M'Lcod sang a catchy Scotch item, entitled "Heilan Kory," and danced the Highland Fling when she was encored. Mr. Mark Phillips gavo a sympathetic rendering of "Tho Midshipmite," and Mr. Sam La Mert was encored when he whistled some selections from "11 Trovatore." Messrs. Fred. Huxham, Gilbert Laurie, and Norman Leslie scored a great success in a humorous ditty, and Mr. Leslie was equally happy in individual comedy work. Miss Elsie Barber found a suitable subject in "Cairo" and the effect of the song was heightened by tho pretty lighting effects and tho grouping of the company in support. Miss Edith Huxham scored a success with a lively ditty, entitled "Gay Suzuck from Paree." The combined company raised free laughter in burlesque items, which lightened the more serious parts of tho programme. In tho seeoyd part of the entertainment Miss Beattie M'Donald took a prominent port. At her first appearance she was twice encored, and she crowned this success with another when she appeared, with a gro-tesquely-attired male partner, in an amusing comedy wire-act, entitled "Fun <Sn a Clothes Line." While Miss M'Donald retained her character as a vocalist her partner indulged in some antics oil a loosely-hung rope. He displayed skill in balancing, but burlesque humour was the prevailing element: in the "turn," and it brought dawn the house. Farrell and Verroll, billed as the "Australian Patter Duo," were well received in a sketch, entitled "Flirting." They are capable vocalists and comedians, and tho iua!o member of the partnership seems to be little incommoded by the fact, that he has only 0110 leg. Another party of two, Sharrat and Lang, were entertaining in musical comedy work, and their novelty dances and "piano occentricitics" were worth seeing and listening to. Percy Dalton and Lillie Moore (had 110 difficulty in entertaining their auditors when they appeared individually, and wero equally good when they appeared in company. Their songs wero bright and tuneful, and both have a mastery of lively patter. Ilall Rains, a youthful Hebrew comedian, was extremely effective in a song and monologue, entitled "I'm Just Nobody." .His quaint mannerisms ami his jests sot the audience a-roar with laughter, and tho local allusions, which he wove into his talk, wero enthusiastically received. The same programme will be presented this evening and 011 following nights this week.

HIS MAJESTY'S THEATRE. Between "The Thief of Love"' and "The Lost Son" it is difficult really to say which is the star film of tho new programme at His Majesty's Theatre, screened for the first time last evening. "Tile Thief, of Love," a serio-comic study by Pathe li'reres, in which love at first sight, and tho extraordinary resemblance of tho lover to another girl's lover, contributed to an amusing series of misunderstandings, happily set right in tho end, but not before the pangs of jealousy have almost resulted in a tragedy. In "The Lost Son," the Lubin Company presents a powerful domestic drama, well constructed, and quite absorbing from beginning to end. A young man, tho sole support of his invalid father, his mother, and younger son, quarrels with oue of his friends in a billiard room, and throwing a ball at him, to all intents and purposes kills him. The shock of tho tragedy kills his father, and with, the law on his track, the young man Hies. Time passes, the injured 111r.11 recovers, but tho absent one, unaware of this, drifts hero and there, and finally becomes a bookmaker, and . well-to-do. Tho younger brother, now a man, encounters the longlost one during a business trip, both return, and all ends well. Added to these interesting items are "The Pathe Gazette" of topical sketches, "The Valley of Cerdagne" (scenic), "The Advcnturo of the Counterfeit Bill," and "A Day at Bourneville," showing n most interesting series of scenes in and around tho celebrated garden city controlled by a well-Hnown chocolato itnd cocoa firm.

THE KING'S THEATRE. An excellent variety of studies was presented in the now programme of pictures which was screened for the first time at the King's Theatre last evening. Amongst the leading pictures is a very fino Patho drama, entitled "To Right the "Wrong," which tells the story of a Customs officer whoso brother is a wastrel and smuggler. As is inevitable, an encounter ensues between the smugglers and the Customs officers, and the wastrel shoots his brother and escapes. Later 'on in' the story lie returns, and gives his life for the brother whom lie had previously wounded. Quite an exciting sketch is the Selig drama, "Roderick's Ride." The hero of the story is a lad whose little sister is dangerously ill. The doctor arrives and decides that the patient must, have n certain medicine within two niul a half hours, or else sho will die. The nearest chemist is 20 miles away, and Roderick rides tho race of his life to savo his sister. Relays are arranged, and there ensues a mad gallop to tho chemist's and back, tho boy getting home only jusi; in time. "Quarantined" is tlio title of a tiiitghable comedy, which tells of a simple Idan wherewith a stern parent was prevented 'from obstructing tho marriage of his son to a young lady who did not meet with his approval. Ho is reported as a smallpox suspect, and immediately quarantined, put to bed, escaping in timo to bo too late. The supporting items include "Natoosa" (an Indian drama), "A Trip to Capo Kidnappers" (a local scenic study of one of tho New Zealand stormy headlands), the Gaumont Graphic, "Mary in Stageland," and "Mrs. Tweedledum as a 31 ililant Suffragette."

THE NEW THEATRE. Miss Asta Nailscn, the celebrated kinomatograph actress, appears in the title role of a powerful military drama, "A Girl Without a Country," which featured yesterday's new picture programme at Jlfessrs. Macmahou and Donnelly's New Theatre, in .Manners Street. The. setting of the story is the rugged country of tho Balkans, in the vicinity of a frontier fortress. A spy, dUguissd as an artist, prevails upon a Gipsy girl to procure information for him about tho plans of tho fortivss, offering a tempting bribe of money. As a "girl without a country," she has no qualms about the matter, and to facilitate her work coquettes with one of the officers, am! gains an entry to tho intcvirr of the fort. Unluckily "for her sho falls in love with the officer. but doos not realise the fact until, trading u]wn his indulgence, she gains access to the (■•vmmander's room and steals the plans. Her lover discovers tho theft, but the alarm has by this time been given, and both the girl and the officer are caught inside (ho fortress under compromising circumstances. Tho ollic.r is courtmarl.ialled and shot. The film is an excellent one, and the acting of a very high class. 'the supporting ft litis include "The Bravery of Dora" (a Luliin drama), "Tho T,:i>v or the T,.n<iv" (a Vitagraph drama),, and a number of bright comedies.

KMPUKSS THEATRE. "Tho La l -! Blockhouse." the Kalem Company's lengthy, spectacular Indian warfare drama, was presented yesterday as the star feature of (ho new programme al the Empress Theatre. This work is produced on ii scale reminiscent' of "Tho Mas-acre," in which hundreds nf Indians and troopers took pari. "The Last Blockhouse" gives a vivid portrayal of life in Western frontier days, based upon historical incidents. The emigrants on the trail westward reach tho military post, and ask for an escort across the dangerous prairies. . The troopers accompany the pioneers, r.nd stay with them until they have completed their blockhouse. or' fort. The villain appears in one Crow, a half-breed Indian, who takes much interest in Dot, the wife of Jim. a young settler. Dot angrily resents the half-breed's attentions, and then Crow rides away to incite tho Indians against (he while people. ; The TJcdskiiis attack (lie blockhouse, and desperate lighting ensues. The blockhouse is blown lip, and Crow seizes Dot. TTer husband, who had been absent at (lie time, returns, and Oiiickly pursues the Indians, with (ho cusistonco of til? troppcrs. Cvo.w jjlaccs

Dot upon a horse, and tries to escape, but the hand of justice reaches out, and Crow receives tho punishment he deserves. Tho supplementary items include "Annie Rowley's Fortune" (Lubin drama), "A Will and a Way" (Edison drama, featuring Mary Fuller), "Winter Life 011 the Mountains of the North" (travel), and a number of comedies.

SHOR'I'TS' PICTURES. "Following the Star" is tho title of tho loading film 011 the new programme at Shortts' Picture Theatre, screened for tho first time yesterday. The study presents a story of a stage-struck girl, who leaves her country home at night, and runs away, leaving a note to say that she will return when she has made a success of her venture 011 tho stage. Through the influence of friends, she obtains a small part in a piay, but on the first night sho is overcome by stage fright, makes n ghastly failure of it', and runs off tho stage. Tho leading man gives her some food advice, and sends her home to her parents, a sadder but very much wiser girl. Quito an interesting film is that which gives a series of scones in a sportsman's greyhound "kennels, showing the education of tho fleet coursers, with an exciting "kill" .at a coursing meeting, as a suitable Alimax. Another good picture story is told in the Irish romance, "Lady Peggy's Escape," an historical sketch of the days of good Queen Bcs.s. The supporting items include "Finer Tilings" (dramatic), "Cassimer, Gentleman and Pickpocket" (a burlesque detective sketch), tho "Australian Gazette" of topical photonews, and "A Wild Man for a Day."

SCOTTISH CONCERT-. A canital programme lias been arranged for the concert to be given in tho Concert Chamber of tlie Town Hall to-morrow evening untlor the auspices of the Scottish Society of Wellington. It will include Scottish songs and national dances (in costume), to the moving lilt of the bagpipes. A big gathering is anticipated.

OSCAR WILDE. An evening with the works of Oscar Wilde should appeal to tho large number of admirers of that writer. A highly interesting programme has been arranged by Mrs. .Tames Hannah and Mr. .T. M. Clark, who will recite somo of Wildejs verses, and will also appear in Wilde's poetic play, "A Florentine Tragedy," in which assistance will bo given bv Mrs. Martin Williams and Mr. Vivian Rliind. Not the least attractive item of tho evenings (Thursday and Friday next) will be tho animated tableaux, "Tho Wind Driving the Seasons."