ENTERTAINMENTS.

Dominion, Volume 6, Issue 1805, 18 July 1913, Page 9

ENTERTAINMENTS.

THEATKE ROYAL. The present vaudeville bill at the Theatre Royal contains many interesting items. Prido of place is occupied by the ltolvos, who provide a very clever handbalancing performance. Otbor members of the company contribute turns in a satisfying maiuxer. The programme will be repeated this evening. HIS MAJESTY'S THEATRE. "Great Possessions." the chief picture in tho current bill at His Majesty's, is a film >vell worth seeing. The supporting pictures, too, are good. A matinee .will be given to-day. • "QUO VADIS?" Monday night next at His Majesty's Theatre will witness the initial screening of "Quo Vadis?" in Wellington. That the public is seized of the fact that it is advisable to secure seats well ahead for this picture is evidenced by the patronage already bestowed 011 the box plans, which, according to the management, show seats booked for each night next week. "Quo Vadis?" is now ill its ninth week of continuous screening at Sydney, and the last nights are a3 yet unannounced. It completes its second week at Auckland on Saturday, where it is said, its success is unbounded. .The Auckland "Star" states: "The popularity gained b.v tho magnificent picture 'Quo Vadis?' at ■tho King's Theatre is enormous. Jinny hundreds were turned away last week and 'Quo Vadis?' Ims easily broken all previous records as a picture-house attraction." The photography of "Quo Vadis?" is said to be incomparably in advance of anything' previously achieved by kinematography, while the acting is described as artistic in the extreme. Hundreds of artists ore concerned in the production and the'massive film took many months to perfect in all its magnificence and completeness. The work is stated to follow Sienkivich's notable'book so closely that not one portion of the author's conception .or treatment of his subject is lost; indeed, the film is said to bring an added lustre to the book. The special • music, arranged by Mr. E. J. Burke, of 'Auckland, chief conductor of the Circuit, is said to be excellent and he will personally control His Majesty's orchestra during the run of "Quo Vadis?"'in Wellington. Seats may be reserved at tho Dresden for. any night of the season without any extra booking fee. "THE DANDIES." Mr. E. Branscombe's new English Costume Company made their appearance at the Opera 1 House last evening. As usual, this talented company of versatile artists preseuted a capital programme, full of bright catchy songs and humorous dialogue.. The quartet singing was a feature of the evening's entertainment. Miss Lily Fitzgerald and Messrs. Agncw and Ford Walthain were especially good in a trio, and were compelled to respond to an enthusiastic encore. One of the best items on the lengthy programme was a duet by J{i6s Eita Fitzgerald and Mr. George Edwards. They we're recalled again, and again. Rag-time singing is their specialty. Mr. Joseph Brennan kept the audience in roars of laughter each time he occupied the stage. His impersonations of tho fair sex were well done. Mr. Brennan has a vein of humour which is infectious. Another clever artist was Mr. Athol Tier, eccentric dancer and comedian. Last evening Mr. Tier was so much in "demand tbat lie had to make" quito an address to the audience before they would allow him to take his final departure. Mr. Ford Waltham's bass voice was heard to advantage in popular airs. Other contributors to the programme were Miss Peggy Ross, Mbssts. Agnow, George Edwards, and Marshall Lawrence. The last two nights of "The Dandies" are announoed." THE KING'S THEATRE. A large attendance at the King's Theatre last evening witnessed the screening of the present entertaining programme. " 'Till Death us do Fart," a modern lifo drama of u lioblo man and woman, holds pride of place on tho bill till' Saturday, when another feature drama will replace if. Other items of interest include: "Pilgrimage to tlio■ Crimea," "Tho Pawned Bracelet," "Puzzled," "Pathe Gazette," "It Made Him Mad," "Mount Egmont," "Hadji, the Upsidedown Man," and "Max Lmder and the Pancakes." This series of pictures will be repeated again this evening.

SHORTTS' THEATRE. A new programme was screened, at Messrs. Shortts' Theatre yesterday. N "Tho Mystery of the A.V.Z. Gang" is the leading item. The A.V.Z. Gang exists for the illegal purpose of kidnapping children, and the story tells of the abduction of a small boy, w'ho since his father's death has been under a faithless guardian. His sister, however, has a friend, a youn" lieutenant, to whom she appeals, and earger to please her he commences operations against the A.V.Z. Gang. The vicissitudes of this young gallant provide ample scope for dramatic action, and form the basis of the drama. The young soldier eventually escapes with his charge from the gang, and an exciting, chase ensues. "The Dead Man's Secret is the second of the items. It tells tho story of the rehabilitation of a man who has suffered for the fault of another. EMPRESS THEATRE. The chief attractipn of to-day's- programme of the Empress Theatre Continuous Pictures is tho A.B. Company poetical fantasy "The /Wanderer.' This is a story of a wanderer who prefers to seek through his Into the spirit of truth that he may give it out into tho world as he passes through his various journeys, and thus mako earth a better and fairer place. He prefers this to the perpetual present-day,' strife for gain. The scenes are quaint and original. Another splendid dramatic achievement is the Edison portrayal "An Accidental Alibi. A young farmer of good family,- but somewhat wild in his habits, is arrested on a charge of murder. He protests his innocence stating that he was in New York far awoy from the place at the time of tho committal of the alleged crime, but is not believed. His sweetheart has faith in his innocence, but his case seems hopeless. The young farmer is convicted on circumstantial evidence. After the trial his sweetheart visits a picture theatre, and recognises her lover in one of the films which proves an alibi for him. A fresh trial is obtained and the picture is screened before the judge and jury. The result is that the jury returns a verdict of "not guilty." "■

"TUB NIGHT SIDE OF LONDON." The box plans for "The Night Side of London," tho drama to be presented hero for tho first time at the Opera .House on Monday ovoniug next, will bo opened at tho Dresden this morning at 9 o'clock. George Harlow, Ltd., have sent to New Zealand for this tour an entirely new company which is the identical one which played the pieco throughout Australia. Tho Night Side of London" is stated to have proved a big success wherever staged and to be full of thrilling situations; but the author has so cleverly evolved his story that the dramatic situations, tense as they are, are relieved at opportune intervals with' excellent comedy. Vivid pictures of the life led in London by many sections of the community are said to be faithfully pourtrayed with tho necessary tableaux to secure the maximum off effect, while incidents of tho white slave traffic are also touched upon. The company is said to be the most powerful ever sent to this country by the Marlow management. The day-sale tickets may be 6ecured at Christeson's.