ENTERTAINMENTS.

Dominion, Volume 7, Issue 1955, 12 January 1914, Page 6

ENTERTAINMENTS.

f-fkIIW. MAJESTY'S.THEATRE. ;.f : Gorgeous: gowns, a wealth of special scenery, and electric effects, ■■!■ combined with rare cleverness as an impersonator of feminine stags types, are promised during tlio engagement of Huntress, who heads thu bill of an. exceptionally strong progrniufno to be presented by the Hremian-Ftiller management at His .Majesty's, this evening. -.Huntress, a. spherical drapery dancer, is said to be possessed of great ability, .'and, with magnificent .Parisian gowns, gives imitations of leading stars of high-class museful comedy. An act of this kind is one of tiros'© stage productions that must bo seen to bo appreciated, for art attempt to describo the beautiful light effects upon hundreds of yards of costly silk and the marvellous rapidly changing scenic effects that are a part of the feature act of. this clover vaudeville entertainer,., is"', well-nigh . impossible. .Apart from the above act tho management announce, direct-., from America and first appearance on' the Australa* sian vaudeville stage, Tho Straubb Sisters, who present a- novel and original act, entitled "Girls,.. Past and Present.". Those artists have just coneluded a lengthy: engagement in one of the leading American ■ music-hall ■ circuits, where their clever and novel act is said to have'created a sensation. Other new turns will be that of Salmon and Joy, English musical comedy artists, and. Margaret Corby, the charming Australian soprano. * The supporting programme will be made up of such acts as. Henri French, tho, iiYtoxciated genius on ono wheel; Jewell and Jordan, the human mocking-birds; Max and Cameron, singing . ventriloquists; Leonard Nelson, comedian; and Irving S'ayles and Les Warton, who have al-

ready won the high appreciation of Weiungton amusement-lovers. ■ .. f''THE-EMPRESS THEATRE. " ' ■ "The"- Sea Eternal," a ' "feature" drama by the Lubin Company, will be the foremost attraction of to-day's new programme .at tho Empress Theatre Continuous Pictures. The plot, it is reported, represents' life of to-day with a romance interpreted realistically. A young fisherman and his wife fail out over a fish-buyer paying attentions to tho woman, The young couplo part and : tho fish-buyer tells the wife that' her husband has been injured ,• and offers to take her across the channel to him.. They put to sea and are caught in a storm. How husband and wife are reunited forms an interesting story. Supplementary items include; ''Tlio Detective's Strategy" (A.li. Co.'b sensational drama), "Vincennes" (travel), "How the Day w.v Saved" (A.B. comedy), "Oh What a Night" (reliance comedy), THE "SM"ART SET." After'a most successful eight months' tour of New Zealand tho "Smart Set" entertainers will give a limited farewell season at the Opera' House, commencing this evening, wnon an entirely new and original progranimo .will be presented, including a special feature of a revised edition of Mr. Edward Elliott's famous New Zealand rovne, "Kia Ora," or "Keep to the. Right"—a satire on all passing events of the day, introducing anriising caricatures of leading personages, political "and topical allusions. The novel methods adapted by the "Smart Set" as a means of introducing their musical faro are attributes which elicit favourable comments. Original humorous songs, duets, trios, and musical sketches, into which are introduced clever witticisms and smart patter— entirely free from vulgarity. Largo at. tendances are. expected during tho brief season. Tho box plan is now open at the Dresden. : BRITANNIA THEATRE, To-day's new programme at the Britannia Theatre includes as a star attraction a sensational circus drama, ."A Leap of Despair," The. story is said to be a fascinating one. Countess Rispighi,, when her husband loses his fortune, accepts a position in a circus i as a daring performer on horseback. Her act consists in riding up platforms I to. the top of tho huge tent and there, ; ttill on horseback, getting on to a I swing, and fireworks are let off all round the horse. Her husband, in order to make the Countess leave the circus, pretends to make love to another artist. His wife, while doing her act, sees this. Mad with jealousy she jumps with her horse from the swing into tho circus ring. Although seriously injured she eventually recovers. Her husband is the first at "her side, and when the Countess is con•valestent, the real position of affairs is shown to her. ■ The story ends hapnily j with thier fortune nearly all restored to them. Tlio supnnrtnie: pictures include the latest English "Gazette," a comedy, "Two Fathers," by tho Lubin ■Company, and a Vtiagnrph farce, featuring John Bunny and Flora Finch, entitled "A Gentleman of Fashion."

"A MESSAGE FROM MAM" For to-night, at the King's Theatre-, tho management announces ilio first screening in Wellington of tho widelyknown and favourite play, "A Message from Mars,'' by Richard Ganthony. Tho populartiy of this drama is so pronounced thatit lias como to he rogardcd by theatrical caterers as a, second "East Lynno." To-nifllit's presentation of the play in picture form is described as a reproduction of an actual London performance of the ne-ico by tho English actor, Mr. Charles Hawtrcy and the members of his original London cast, which first broutrht it into prominence. Tho film is 4500 ft. long, and comprises'tho whole of tho second part of tho programme. The plot deals with the evils nf selfishness, and this aspect is said to be particularly weir brought out in the pictures. A poor tramp, poor to desperation by '•old and hunger, enters tho comfortable borne of one Horace Parker, a ihorouphIv selfish man, tells him the story of his downfall through drink, and craves assistance and a chance to retriev© himself. Parker, who ignore; his request and sends hiwrforth into the bitter fold of a winter's evening, then falls asl»ep before tho .fir© and dreams. In this dream he is visited hv a Messengerfrom Mars, who strips him of his wealth and home, and drives him out a beggar and nn outcast . Tho MessoiiTcr's object is. of course, to inculcate the lesson of unselfishness and kindness to others, ■ mid by this end he succeeds in doing, as Parker awakes, and, startled by the : vivid message, of his dream, renins his selfishness, and resolves to i\ist it from him. Swcinl sumMftms: films inolti&> "When Dfanis Oomo.-Truo," stated to ii« nn ox'-Mlent Keystone comedy • "Tho Flirt," Vitacraph' drama: "Srrilco Rpe'vos in WoHincfcon" (hsi fieriest "When the Monsoon -Plows," scenic: "Pathe Giotto"; mid "K.K. Animated News." fox plans are at the Dresden.