ENTERTAINMENTS.

Dominion, Volume 6, Issue 1772, 10 June 1913, Page 6

ENTERTAINMENTS.

THEATRE ROYAL. Er Mey, equilibrist, is tha star performer in this week's bill at the Theatre Royal. A man of exceptional strength, ho does most extraordinary balancing feats with wonderful ease and grace. Walking up and down ladders on his hands is merely one of tho simplest of his efforts. Ono ot his best acts is hand-balancing on the backs of two chairs, both of which are tilted at a considerable angle. His most daring performance is his hand-balancing on three rods of the size and sliapo of billiard cues. Miss Violet Carmen and Alf J. Lauranco scored a great success with their turn of song and story. For a pretty "Brittany" ballad, composed by Mr. Lauranco and sung by Miss Carmen, they were loudly applauded, and gave as an encore another of their own creations, "Coino Down tho Wanganui," an item in. which Mis 3 Carmen captured the house. Carl Merlyn, tho amusing illusionist, kept tho house rocking with laughter during his occupancy of the stage. Tho reappearance of Bletsoo's Crimson Ramblers was the oocasion of many a bright song and skit. Several of tho soloa were delightful. Tho two clover children, tho Esma Duo, sang and danced as brightly as usual, anil tho programme was brought to a close with a comedy, entitled "The Other Eellow," enacted by Frank Hawthorne and Miss Ida. HIS MAJESTY'S THEATRE. The clianjre programme screened at his Majesty's Theatre last evening, is distinguished by all-round merit. It lias numerous good items, grave and gay, and they combino to provide material for an evening's entertainment in which tho interest never flags. A prominent place is taken bv a picture-drama of Irish life, entitled "Kathleen Mavourneen." Kathleen is loved by Tcrenee, an honest lad not gifted with position or wealth, and also by the Lord of' Kavanagli. While sho is still in doubt as to whether she should wed the ■ peasant or tho peer, Kathleen falls asleep and dreams that she becomes tho wife of the' Lord of Kavanagli. Tho continuation of tho dream is pictured in a series of scenes which point, tho moral that it is foolish to marry, without love, for wealth and position, and Chat such a marriage can lead only to misery. Kathleen awakes cured of her doubts, and decides to marry Terence. "Tho Man Higher Up" is a "John Bunny" comedy, in which the actor so named takestho part of a polico officer, nnd engages in a contest for the hand of ail attractive widow. "Maori Aquatic Sportfi" pic(|nrtis Isomo merry activities on tho Waikato River, in which canoe-racing and canoe-hurdling are prominent features. "Dr. Maxwell's Experiments" is a striking picture drama. Tho principal character is a medical man given to daring experiments. By performing an operation on tho brain of a criminal, lie revolutionises tho man's character, and transforms him Into a respectable citizen. Ultimately tho doctor himself falls into evil ways, tut is in turn reformed by tho subject of his former experiment. Tho recent disastrous inundations in America are interestingly pictured in "The Grpat Ohio Flood." and "Tho Unprofitable Boarder," and "An Amateur Blondin" aro effective nictures of tho comic order. The "Patho Gazette" is as entertaining as ever in its presentation of topical events in tho Old World. The programme will bo repeated this evening, and on following evenings this week.

THE KING'S THEATRE. A 'highly sensational picture-drama. "The Hidden) Message," is tho principal item in the excellent change, programme screened at tho King's Theatre last evening. It deals with tho adventures of a factory girl named Emily, whoso employer endeavours to coerce her into marrying him. ' Disliking his attentions/ and wishing to find a protector, Emily writes a letter and hides it in a vase which is soon afterwards bought by a wealthy socicty man. Ho finds and reads the message, and responds to its appeal. Despite strong opposition) bv Emily's employer, Grundbel, ho becomes tho girl's accepted lover, liiis thread of narrative sorves to lead up to tho sensational developments wmch are tho notable features of the picture. Pursued by Grundbel, tho lovers run away, at first on foot, later in a motor-car, then in a motor-boat, and finally in a balloon. Grundbel doggedly maintains the piirsuit, and ono exciting race aftor another is pictured. The scene showing the motor-boats racing ovor the water is finely pictured. When' the lovers depart in a balloon, Grundbel clings to a guy-rope, but ultimately falls into tho sea, and swims ashore. Here ha cta'tors another balloon to continue tho pursuit. The chase comes to a sudden, termination, when Grundbel, carelessly lighting a cigar causes his balloon to catch lire aaid explode. Iho explosion in mid-air amd tho rapid _ descent of the wTcekago to earth are < wnvimungly pictured. "Trixio and the Press Agent" Fs a lively comedy which details entertainingly the adventures of an actress, whose jewels aro stolen, and of a press agon who contrives to recover theni. Otlier good pictures figuring in tlio propamine are: "Her Fireman," a romantic drama, "Ceylon, Pearl of the Orient, a charming collection of pretty views; Wlnto Gazelle's Error," an "Indian 4r , a "The Versatility of Jenny. and . Uie Gaumont Grapliio.' The .samo_ will bo screened this evening and duimt tho rest of tho wieek.

NEW THEATRE. ' . . , "Leah tho Forsaken" is tho principal item on tho bill at tho New Theatre. I is, in many, ways, an admirable film, and should meet tlio approbation of to patrons. "Lfcut. Daring Defeats the, Middlc-woight Champion is ostensibly the next best item .on tho programmo, but many will prefer it to tho leading item Lieut. Daring champions a protly and attractive lady, who, prior to his arrival, has a penchant for tho society of one French, tho middle-weight champion of England, no takes her out boating, and capsizes her. Daring effects a rescue and French, out of jealouq- publishes a chnllcngo of .£IOOO to fight Daring. DaTing (tho champion boxer of tho navy) at onco takes np the challenge. His antagonist, however, is afraid that ho will bo beaten, and, m an underhand way,'schemes wjtii a pair of rufhans to do away with Daring. The latter howover, is released by the efforts of his junior lieutenant, and is m tho ring on time. An exciting fight ensues. TnE EMPRESS THEATRE. "Tho Little Tease," a striking dramatic character study by the A.B. Company, was tlio "feature" of yesterdays chaiigo of bill at tho Empress Theatre continuous pictures. Tho thonio has for its central figuro a beautiful girl, who resides with her aged paronts in tho lonelv"mountains, but are happy and contented with their lot. '"heir daughter is an inveterate though almost guileless tease. Sho plays upon the nft'ections of her rustic lover until one day a handsome stranger comes up from the valley and soon fascinates the tease. Tlio girl forgets her duty to her parents and leaves surreptitiously with tho stranger for tho township in the valley. Tho uowlyfound suitor, however, finds himself embarrassed when an old 'lover demands his attentions. Tito "Little Tease," fatefnlly saved from the stranger, when thrown on her own resources, soon obtains a position to earn her livelihood. Tlio rustic lover of tho little teaso discovers her in the village, and, following his advico to return home, she sols out for the mountains. After a narrow escape from a mountain lion, tlio little tease finds herself homo again, penitent and sad. Tho father at first orders her from tlio door, but human nature asserts itself and tho girl is clasped to the parental bospm. I ho supporting is well supplied with entertaining subjects. SIIORTTS' PICTURES. A largo number of peoplo were nimble to gain admission to Shortts' Theatre last night, when the bi-weekly change of programme look place. Tho "star picture, "The Parting of the Ways," is ono of tho most attractive pictures screened for smno time. The pint, which grips from start to finish, depicts a father's endeavours to marry his daughter to a man sho does not like. In order to avoid this she Kce.retly leaves her homo and goes to a lighthouse on the coast. During tho absence of the lighthouse-keeper slio accidentally sets fire to the lighthouse. Tlio fire is seen from tho shore, and then follows the rescue of the girl from tlio burning lighthouse by tho use of an aeroplane. The other pictures are well varied and go to niako up an excellent evening's enjoyment.