ENTERTAINMENTS.

Dominion, Volume 7, Issue 1937, 20 December 1913, Page 2

ENTERTAINMENTS.

rs M A .IE STY'S '.Til KATKK.' : ' ■ - r?-?V! ! ial of Die 'artists who have been liit'tijicling-tho crowds to His Majesty's l '"' s week -will make a last apppranco' to-night in order to provide room ior big turns that have been book,c!!,;lpr.;tiic holiday season. ■. 'j'iiis af'ter•nocii at L'.3D tlicro nil! be a children's grand matinee. The prolamine for .this afternoon's performances are eareiull.v. selected by the maniigemclii, with .a vie.v to. finding choice and wholesome amusement for the children.

i: TliK KING'S THEATRE.' '/Large and . appreciative attendances have.,ridou at llayward's pictures dur■!!|i». the run of the present strong programme, the chief feature of which is :lw great historical picture "Tho Fail ,ol Constantinople."' Other good reproductions iiselmic: "Strike Scones in Wellington," "Xho Master I'ainter," "In tile North Woods," and others. There v. ill be a matinee this afternoon at 2.30, and tlio final screening takes place tonight._ On Monday night the longest detectivo drama yet made,'. "In tho Bishop's Carriage," will bo shown for tiic- first, time. The length of tho film is 4300 ft. A special programme, and ono very suitable to the occasion, will bo exhibited 011 Christmas Night, tho chef d'oeuvre being l'athe's wonderful reproduction in motion , photography, artistically-coloured, of "Tho Birth, Life, and Death of Christ." . Sacred instrumental music will accompany tho unfolding. .

THE EMPRESS THEATRE, , A filial screening of the current series of tho_ Empress Theatre continuous pictures is announced for to-day and tonight. Foremost on tho list is the Vitagraph Company's "feature" drama '■Tho Spell." This is 11 remarkable story of a young lady who falls under the sinister influence of a public naedieino vendor during a demonstration of iiis hypnotic powers. Tho victim, accompanied by a girl companion, pays a .private visit to tho quack, to test his ability as a hypnotist. Ho finds that he is able to get complete control over tho. young lady, and ho prevails upon ■ her to join his troupe. Her fiance, .however, learns of her danger, and lusrries to her rescue, which he effects after an,.exciting adventure. . Tho supplementary items include: "The Dumb Messenger" (Kalem drama), "Tho Evil One'|. (Lubin's Indian drama), "Tho lurt'ie Industry,"' and a collection of comedies. A new programmo will bo submitted 011 Monday.

BRITANNIA THEATRE. : \ ' p.'p'Prospecting for Gold" is the principal film on the .current programme of moving pictures at the Britannia thej atre, in Manners Street. ■ Iho other pictures are all interesting, and aro screened to tho accompaniment of "music by an efficient, orchestra. Tho theatre is open daily from 11 a.m. until 11 p.m. TO-NIGHT'S ORGAN RECITAL. The attendances, at tho organ recitals j havo improved very much during tho past few recitals, which can be taken as an indication that the public aro beginning to rcah'so. that they have ail artist of exceptional capabilities occupying the position of City Organist. Tho Prelude and Fuguo (011 tli-p name of liacii), by Liszt, is oho of many fugues written upon his name. The hearer is impressed by the quality of distinction and the woudorful employment of colouring throughout this great work by Liszt. The composer has treated tho work freely and fancifully, w-ith a depth of feeling, and all tho freshness and charm of his wonderful imagination. Mr. Page is again playing tho .Air and Variations upon a themo of Handel's bv Karg EWt, also a Finale in U Flat of Cesar Franek. An old English composition, "Concert in H Flat," by Wm., Fcltcm, will also'bs looked forward to. xV beautiful Intermezzo (Brahms) has been chosen to illustrate one of the characteristic moods of tho composer. This is tho first time the name of Brahms has appeared on the programme; of this series. A "Scherzo," by Gigout, will bo of interest, as there are very few scheraos written for the organ, owing to the difficulty of interpreting so light and gay a movement upon this instrument. Works by Wolstenholmo and Guilmant make up a very attractive programme.

PROFESSOR NORWOOD. This evening Professor Norwood, tho v,-ell-known American hypnotist, will appear at tho Kino; Gcorgo Theatre, Lower llutt. Miss Winifred Norwood, wliose power of mental telepathy has made lier famous, will also appear. The Norwoods, siuco their appearance in the Wellington Opera House last September, liavo !>eon touring with success in tho north, and arc nosy oil their way to tiio West Coast to fulfil their Christmas engagements at Greymouth and elsewhere. Hypnotism as a means of merriment has''been successfully employed by Professor Norwood for a number of years, and in his hands is stripped of pretence at being a foarsomo power, and is presented as a formless and amusing entertainment, and the manner in which ho has accentuated its ludicrous aspect has mado it a popular occasion of laugijtor. Tho more seriously interesting side of mental suggestion is not neglected in Professor Norwood's performances, but the mainspring of his success ia the exploiting of tlio frankly ridiculous. Even tho most hardened sceptic is forced to join in the laughter which greets tho demonstrations, and to ad-mit-that, whatever scepticism lie may cling to, he has had his money's worth of merriment. Patrons are advised to secure their seats early. Reserved seats are to be had from Mr. IT. Job, Town Hnll, Lower llutt. Prices will bo 35., 25., and Is.

"WITHIN THE LAW." l!ox plans for tho J. C. Williamson Christmas Opera House attraction aro announced to open at the Dresden 011 Monday morning. Bayard Yciller's stirring drama, which is still drawing strongly in New. York and London, and has broken all dramatic records in Australia, is a story of absorbing interest, carved cut of human experience. It has been 'said "There is lifo in every line-of it. It is a real drama, vivid, strong, and gripping." Crystallised, the story is as under: —Mary Turner, an innocent shop girl, is convicted oi stealing, aiul sentenced to three years' imprisonment, as an example to others. She- lays the responsibility of any stealing tiiat may be going on at the door of tho proprietor of the emporium, who pays starvation \vages. Tho law rail bo moulded, she finds, to suit tho wisSies of the rich. So once out of gaol sho lays her plaits accordingly. Surrounded by a band of clever "crooks," sho soon becomes rich.. The system which she pursues in her depredations is to keep within the letter of tho law l though constantly defeating its spirit. Meanwhile slip is steadily pursuing lie; plans for revenge —for the debt of injusiico Society owes her sho is determined to rolled. How, in carrying this out, sho marries her old employer's son, and then crushes liiin with the announcement that she is a gaol-bird. How the police "stool pigeon," or decoy, is shot «■ itli a silent revolver, and •Mary a'itd hor luisbnsu'l are dragged intfl the' net of Volice-li'tspcetor Dnrke,'arG incidents in the progress of the play, which work up to a climax that is said to hold tho : audience breathless with excitement. .' It is said that there is not a moment throughout llio four nets in which .'the interest is relaxed, and tho whole'drama iv.akes a stirring appeal to the sense, of justice and humanity, although there are many, langhtcr-bring-iiigr lighter touches.