ENTERTAINMENTS.

Dominion, Volume 7, Issue 1650, 6 January 1914, Page 8

ENTERTAINMENTS.

THK OPERA 110 USE. There will lm Only two more opportunities to witness the exciting Anioncan ilramn, "WiLliin the Law." now being produced by the Williamson Draliiatie Company m thp Opera House. Wednesday night will bring a most successful season to n closv. HIS The new bill at His .Majesty's Theatre last night was a vast improvement on (hat of last week. Tho best "turn" amoiiK several good ones was the sensational net of Henri French "The Uenius on Ono Wheel.' , Ho comes on- to the stage apparently tipsy, ridinjr on one wheel with a scat, pillar and pedals attached, .as comfortably as most men would ride a .tricycle. Ho goes on with a little humorous, but not very marvellous, conjuring, to lend variety to the performance, and then ho does other things-on other wheels. He rides a higher one with the greatest- confidence, alighting from and mounting the crazy contrivance as, if it were the easiest thing in the world. . His most elegant feat is a skating exhibition in which tho skates are. singlo .wheels which aro fastened by suitable fixings to his feet. Two Americans, Jewell nnd Jordan, called "The Human Mocking Birds," aro also new to Wellington. Their stage description fits them .well, for they arc two remarkably clever and versatile sif. flours. They, whistlo music of all kinds with good effect, and 0110 of the. pair gave some really wonderful imitations of animal and bird sounds. Carlton Max and Miss Camiello Cameron are associated in a turn which is part- music and part ventriloquism. Miss Cameron, who has a sweet and true soprano.voice, supplies the music, and Mr.. Max has - a dummy who talks with great volubility and winks and smiles promiscuously. Irving Sayles and his partner Los Warton, have a lot more, new business with now jokes, introduced by new songs,. kit Mr. Sayles's inimitable grimaces are just the same and just as funny. Two clever people are Miss Myria Galo and Little Sadio, tho latter a small, but precocious, performer with somo skill in dancing and no Jack of abandon in.singing a character song. The other artists who leappeir are Noil Cant, Maurice Chenoweth, Leonard Nelson., and Mounier and Franz.

"THE BATTLE OF GETTYSBURG." The major portion of tlip change programme at tho King's Theatre last night was taken up with nn historic battlo film, describing the Battle of Gettysburg. Tho picture was startling in its life-like realism, and the ■ lovo story unfolded lent to the film sufficient of human interest to make tho story one eagerly followed. The King's Theatre was packed, and tho programme watched with tho keenest interest. _ "Tho Battle of Gettysburg," shown in four parts, commenced with the affairs in a little Southern town, whero Jack Lamar, tho sou of tiie editor of a local paper, falls in love with the heroine of tho piece, -Virginia Burk. He has a rival in Major Pollard, who denounces Lamar's opinions as traitorous. Father and son have to leave tho town, and Jack allies himself with tho North'. Throughout the war Lamar continues in his devotion to Virginia Burk, and after many exciting events, is able to receive the reward of his dovotion. The scenes connected with this powerful subject are spectacular in their grandeur, and faithful to historic record. The charge of T'ickctt's Division is one of the most thrilling scenes while the famous fight at "The Little. Round Top" may be described as realis-' tioall.v perfect in its report of the tornblo struggle. The film conveys tho idea of an actual battle, and the combatants appear to bo fighting in stern reality, 'j ho town of Gettysburg is tho scene during ihq progress oi the war of tho Federals being driven-, through tho streets. Heavy righting between tho "l'ederals" and "Confederates" takes place on a little ridge near tho town, and horses and men fall as if actually destroyed by the cannon balls which ever and anon fall into their ranks. General Leo is depicted after tho chargo ot 1 ickett'B Division, the "flower of tjie South," bowed in grief. Jim, Virginia's brother, and Major Pollard are among the mortally wounded on tho field of ths bloody battle. The film is undoubtedly a triumph in kinematography. and 4300 feet of tho scenes of tho civil strife aro shown. One realises as tho film is unfolded, tho horrors of civil war, for the art of motion photography has so far advanced that tho spectator is carried away at the realistic scenes shown. The whole subject is a great romance in love and war, and should prove a big attraction to pictiire-lovers, for its remarkable interest and educativo value. While the film is being presented special music is given, by an augmented orchestra. Of tlie other films one of the most pathetically interesting was "Tho Higii-born Ch'ild and the Beggar Maid," founded on tho son.?, "Children's Homo," which was capably sung by. a lady vocalist. "Playing the Piper" was an amusing comedy, whilo ''Curious Caterpillars" and "<Oaumont Graphic" went to make up a varied and interesting programme. EMPRESS THEATRE. The leading attraction'in the new bill at tho Empress Theatre is an Edison drama entitled "Tho Foreman's Treachery." The scenes aro laid in Wales. Anna Lloyd is wooed by David, a young inii>er, but Griffith", tho foreman of tho mine, has designs on Anna. The mine is not paying, and tho proprietor offers it for sale- at iIODU. Griffiths, the foreman, discoyeni a new reef, and determines to raise tho money by fair or foul means to buy the mine. He sees Anna's miserly old father hiding money near an ancient abbey , whero Anna and David had chanced to pass a few minutes previously. Griitith throws' old Lloyd down the well, and decamps with his /money, leaving Davidl's tobacco pouch near tho well. Old Lloyd's halfwitted son is an unseen witness of the murder. David is in danger of being arrested for tho murder wheu tho halfwitted boy points out Griffith, and describes how the murder was committed. Griffith bolts, but meets his death through running too close to a dynamite blasting charge. Another picture is "A Kiss of Retribution." Tho story tells of a young business man, who leaves his country sweetheart to go on business in the city. There lie becomes fascinated by a wealthy adventuress, who also falls in love with him. . Notwithstanding his devotion to the sweetheart, tho man cannot tear himself invaiy from his now acquaintance- until with a supremo effort ho decides to return to the country. Tho adventuress-is broken-heart-ed' to see the man leaving her. She wets her lips with prussic acid just as ho is about to kiss her for tho last time-, and in a few moments both collanso and pass away. Other pictures me: "Aviation at Blackpool," "South Bong," "A Creole's Lovo Story," "The Somnambulists," and "Mixed Nuts." BRITANNIA THEATRE. An interesting society drama entitled "Man and Woman" is tho, leading subject at tho Britannia Theatre, during the run of flip program mo which commenced yesterday. Tho story concerns a certain stage in the lifo of an American lawyers wife. Tin , lawyer and his wife wore invited to a ball, but business detained him, and sho went without him. There sho met a famous violinist whose playing charmed her. This meeting led to others, and to her a (lending a supper party at, the musician's rooms. She remained behind alter the others had trone, but finally realised her folly and lied from tlin mini. Slio cliscon.raßp.rl. his attentions after that with the result that Uβ drank heavily, and wrote auuoune-

iiiß liis in tension of' rushed to his rooms." ].lis:atTeiidantt\Vfisj out, and the dved had bwn.coininitted j she found him dead. -, .: AtWouijtJijvsanie: time that she entered ihn lmiisfc'a/ypiiris" : man, whoso child,' was'' ness and starvation,'entered ltito'istoaiS As ho canin out lio..■was : (ict( ; ciefl;fa"ifaJ arrested. . The musician was ihijifitdiiii , covered dead, and the straightway ncctiaed of li'aving t Sm\'ifS dered him. The society, ins behind a door asul heard sation, but she slipped away ; and ; kepther secret. At ' the murder , , trial;the': refused was del ended by this v \vomaii;sl husband. .She was ii , resistibly-' , dra\ni'' to tho trial, and after the Court Sad-? iourned that, evening slip handed lo'hor.; husband the letters v.hicli.niadc.it'clearj that tho violinist liad died by liisVowni hand. He insisted on her giving' ovi-'l deuce next day, ami, after some tiinc, she consented to cln result of her . evidence . was that':-the'l accused was nc<juiU«l. The society : wo-i man had learned h>r lesson.* .The-uro- , - firammo also includes a topical budget', I '- "Love and Potatoes" (comedy),:. V'Tivo' Cowards" (drama), "On 3loiiiit- Stv'Gothard" (scenic), arid. "Tho .'Partner'sDaughters" (comedy). , . „■ >vyj.vijC| JOHN JI'CORMACK.'"I|;^ BOX PLANS OPEN TO-DAY?!'® The.bos plans for the tn - o concerts to bo given by-Mr. John M'Cormack, the celebrated tenor, on Friday and Saturday next, will open'this morning at tho Dresden, when,, judging bv the interest already being manifested,'' a" large demand for seats is anticipated Soon after Jlcsei-s. J. and N. Talfc announced that Mr. John M'Cormack had been secured for su Australasian concert tour, the most popular member of Jladame Jlelba's Grand O;«ra Company Hi 1911 received letters'from adnurors in Sydney and Melbourne asking to include certain songs and operatic selections in his programmes. Several of these requests reached the artist in New York. Others were delivered-to him a little later at the Covent Garden; Opera House, London. One letter from a country, town in Now South •'Wales' which was delivered to the astonished singer in New York was addressed:— 'John Jl'Corniack, the tenor with tho heavenly _ voice, United States, America." While prominence is to he riven to operatic music—ltalian, German" and French—during tho tonr of Australia and New Zealand, provision has been made for popular English, Irish and Scottish songs. Mr. M'Connaek may sing some old Irish songs in Gaelic, as ho did at several concerts early' this year in the United State?., and many of the favourite songs made known to New Zoalanders through the medium of the gramaphone. Mr." M'Cormack will he assisted at his concert by Miss May Huxley, a noted Pjiiglish soprano, who has become very popular in Sydney and Brisbane; and also Mr. Donald M'Beath, a clever young violinist. |/ ? MYSTIC PAINTING OPENS ■%■ WEDNE&AY." " :€'

Tlic celebrated spiritual painting, "The Shadow of the Cross," thworiginal opening of which was postponed owin» to a. eerious accident to Mr. Edwin Kilpatriek, will positively be on view to-morrow in a studio in Hnrcoiirt's Rooms, Panama Streot, where continuous receptions will be held from 1 to 3 o'clock daily throughout the short season allotted to ■Wellington. A small charge of sixpence for. adults and threepence for children will bo made to defray expenses.