ENTERTAINMENTS.

Dominion, Volume 7, Issue 1956, 13 January 1914, Page 10

ENTERTAINMENTS.

i WISB;JTHE^SMART:SST.|^||i§ COMPVM OMLLUK : 6tortaiiiers iiavo - conui.bi'.ck : .t' hotiieinselves UO iVvcl-:.. i •lingtoiragai'n,'for»«;<»'sliprt^seasoii'only. it' ■ vs' i 11... a .ss u f ecll y- -j1 j o e rry.i'- s> t -:ti'so ii, for Uper# i House l;i •>vc.s : at'lc asi ss nnrthi. ,1 iduk aiiy: ciiini'iiy' company.-. Ini» ■ ever ; pa'sonUMi ' hpicai!'."i'ii. .. I'lioy - are a ; sinaii :^>ixiHj^^ii!it=: in^all " ai'ndersian'iiv!li.e l;usineL j i. of making fun i: and in«sii',-; aiuitin'y ■ ■succeed i,iii-.com-v honiv iu--a :Uei:i;hiiui v i lncdk-v. '< Their aiKiSl.'aiiibi'iious- effort is a lar'cicali busi'iics's; called a Revue; with tho ! good 'u'aine'of Kia.Orav'i.As it is claimi ed, -.-tho- l{cviie?.-.>!tlicr-first: : and only ■ Ivcviir.' ever^produccd;-.'in '.the Southern Hemisphere,fS^is'ija.;very ...vapid "review ■of Iccal 'and general; liappcliuigs." Plot of any .kind, thereiis'none.- ..Various well-known . men and. ■ women are impersonated,' sometimes in caricature, by members-;bf the company, and when tho occasion "sconis- ; to -demand it one or another of them-sings a song pi 1 makes a speech. i S-.-.A fow'j'ortho people imper'sonated :w'CTo.;the. Governor, tho Prime Minister, Sir Joseph-Ward, Mr. Baey- : oitz, John M'Corinao!;, Mr. James : Dykes, .V!Profess-or'!».Mills,"Bob Semple, "Zak," .-'Geneo, :H: B.' '-Irving, ■ Miss Florence': Young!-. Madame Clara Butt, and typical ;".Lambton Quay flappers.'' Best of all tho-impersonations was that of • "Professor"- Mills..; The make-up was' perfect. Tiso Rem is a string of : jokes'with and against local, and other celebrities, ..with referoiicoi to recent and' current.; evc : nts. ; :'."r Cleverest, perhaps of all tho was Miss . Georgie;.-Martin's Gelico. ■ This clever littlo lady .had ;caught- mpny of., the groat danccr's most striking gestures in Coppelia, ; 'arid reproduced them, with proper frolicsome, method, to tho life. Tho'-rest of . the .programme, was after tho ordinary light-concert model. Miss Georgie Martin, 1 , who assuredly was the favourite of tho party, lent lifo to the ensembles: sang a bracket of coon songs, .in . as-.- stylo '.quite uucommon in this appeared, in a clever sketchy.biirlosquq. duet- with Mr. Waiter. .George.'.ifjTh'o; latter is a robust ■ comedian ~ with'i'a frcady sinile, and lots ■ of humour,: : afid'he"is ior.tunato enough to-, have these' Qualities and a.scrvico--1 able ,'voico::as. well. i The sketch aboyo referred to, as"',well as. half a score of otlier it-cms:'ill which he worked with '.Miss Georgie jMartin," was exceedingly amusing:.'. '. 3lr. : ,Maynard Dakin has'a now song''or-so, but his old ones are ■ still tho test,'.as tho audience certainly decided last night when he tried then). 1 Mr. ■ Ernest Parkes sings "The Torea* dor" .and-other-songs as well as ever. ! Edward Elliott ■■ has. taught his dummy ' more absurdities,, and ho produces a ' ventriloquism act which' is still one of the best .oPits kind over shown.here. ■ Miss Mona Thomas and Miss Gwenvth Evans are vocalists puro and simple. ■Both have, good-.,voices and good taste, ! and they sing songs which are popular, . Of course :they -join in the combined frolics, loo.' The only other member of tho company.is Mr. Edgar Hulland, tho pianist-,-'whoi.plays'- an occasional piece I of good'imvisic here and there ill the revelv s,>:*>■■., . ■

■- -THE KING'S THEATRE, • "A' Message From Mars" was produced 'in " animated pictures at tho Ivmg's Theatre last .evening,'when' the famous'actor, Charles Hawtrey and his complet-e London' company were seen in the play - they have made famous for yc-ars. Tho film/ which is 4500 feet in length, took up the whole of tho second part, of tho progralijnie. ' Tho impressive human drama, teaching a great ksson of the evils of selfishness, is undoubtedly ono of tho best motion pictures seen, in "Wellington for some considerable'-i.timo. - : Eac)u, incident in the-'stirriiig drama' Was faithfully portrayed,'and seated, in the theatre lasv evening" one could . well imagine that the. original actqi's"'.'wero producing the play'before'., one's eyes. In fact, tho movingpicture showed'more than the play y itselflt showed incidents which are left io the imagination during the ~tho'.drama when acted npon the stage;?'Tho'.'story is a familiar one to- theatregoers.' ' Horaco. Parker, - ut- > rly,'yet uiifonsciously, solfish, is engaged to'a'Winsome girl.- Love closes her eyes.':tp«.lier lover's, besettinj, sin—' selfishness. Yet this regrettable fault is apparent, to others in his-every action. At the opening of tho story Horace is-under : a ,! promise-to convey his 'iancce and her, aunt. to a dance, but, noticing that tho night ' is cold, and outsido V conditions unpleasant, and, thinking of self only,-, ho decides that ho would be. much more comfortable in an armchair before'' a cosy fire. The ladies go to the drama, and''a tramp calls at'" Parker's elaborate apartments, and then in contrast arc seen affluence and poverty.. Tho tramp relates' to Parker the.-.story of his downfall, but selfish Horace is callous, and turns to the fire .with a shrug/ . Ultimately ho sinks into'.-.'aHleep. slumber and dreams. Tho. vivid,drea'm is the pivot, on.which iho playS'revolvcsf ;' Almost -. imme--Messenger 1 -From -to. Parker, and with all the impressiveness,-;of tlie men of the planet Mars proceeds to inculcate iho lesson that."there is none so cruel as the- unkind," ; :Ho emphasises the enormity of Parker's habits of life, alid in punishment transforms him into a man seeking foodand ■ work after tho manner of tho poor' tramp lip has just spurned:-..-The'marked change from tho luxury : of,'tho home-to the squalor of the streets' 1 is so vividly pictured that tho impression imprinted on tlie mind of the' spectator is virtually everlasting. Pnrlwr' falls to the lowest depths of poverty,, and consorts with tho poor and downtrodden. The crux of the great lesson is''reached when Parker is seen struggling with the tramp ho had spnriied for possession of' a piece of bread, and,-: being'unable to obtain it, he touches the depths of degradation in being forced to cry in famished pleading, "Halves, partner^.halves." Thence* forward " Horace begins to feel for the sorrows of' others, begins to realise liow much others have done for his wellbeing 'aiid 'comfort through life, and how "scant has'been his appreciation of their 'efforts.-/,; The Messenger's teaching has vits effect, the seeds of that teaching-:iiaw>fall'. on fertile -soil, .and the regeneration of the formerlv selfish j Horace''Parker is complete.. The Messenger's.. own;.. redemption is brought l'about; f bv'.the-.success- of his efforts in curing .Parker. of' his . selfishness. In addition-to .the "star" film, there were otheri.- -.-splendid ■ attractions. "When PreanVsViCome True" is ,an excellent coniic-.picti!rc'...'. During the time it'w.is .•Kpiiif?.'.screened the. house roared with laughter/; and the picture was worth 'laughing/at. It is one of the best of its kind tsoen ■ here. "When the Monsoon Hlows'S;w>isv a 'scenic film of great beality.:p."The Fiirf'. was a VitagMph •dra'ma'-iof.'' hinli order;' ■ and "The- Xew :Zerdand'«-Animated Gazette" gave one .a ■capital?, impression; of the. latest hajilieiiings'Jinj.Xcw" "Zealand, especially at Hhe .. Auckland:; Exhibition. ' Other picf nres w«r.->. ..'i'aiii!> 1 Gazette", and '•Strike Scenes in . Wellington." . ■ ■■ • The piograremo wit! he., produced throughout the week. ~ riic, M \ ir.b'iTSTHEA'mE-. tlio best vaudeville turns yot at this popular theatre was ji given'..at His Majesty's last evening. This was/the,; turn of "Iluntiess" and i company}^.''starring'' 'from America. '•'"Huntress",is tho assumed name of the ; leading character,' a young man. claimed to liq' tlw.: world's greatest character im- ' perssinator; '-/Appearing fiist'in ordinary Zmalo/attire, ho makes-up in view-of the 'audience ; into ' -an attractive-looking .'■yoiingi ; lady , and "contributes a numbei' j"ot f'ehte'rtaiiiing : 'songs. But it- is ; in ['classic, dances that .VHimtress" appears l/te/greaterj-.advantage. .. .In "Dailce Egyp-,

tienuo" he represents au Egyptian prints*; dancing to win tor'lover. A very pleasing -sUgo setting adds attraction to- l.lio scene, but it is .when- "Huntress" a butterfly, and b.v the aid I of. colon red slides, does a. berie6 of.ro-' marluible looking poses, that tho height ; of the piece is rcaclied. Weird coiotir combinations were worked to great adso that one moment the figure on. tho stjgo appeared shimmering in all the colours of the.rainbow, to be tho next moment dimly seen through a deep purple haze. This would be quickly followed by a dazzling white light in which tho giisteniug dancer went through some amazing ovoljtions. It was certainly a high-class turn, and was greatly appreciated by the,largo audicnco. Miss Margaret Corby, the Australian soprano, made a good impression on her First appearance, while Salmon and Joy proved very popular comedy sketch artists. Leonard Nelson, tho favourite comedian, with his impersonations. of different people singing "Mister Booze" still holds a -strong place in tho bill provided, while Henri French, "The Intoxicated G-enius on One Wheel," did some amazing tricks on his-abbreviated cycle, and showed himself a master in make-up bv his impersonations of famous musicians. Jewell and Jordan showed to advantage in their entertaining whistling act. while Sayles and Wharton, with amusing absurdities, and Max ana Cameron add greatly!.to au excellent entertainment. ■■ THE EMPREISS THEATRE. A now programme was screened at the Empress Theatre, yesterday, the premier picture being a drama by the Lubin Company, entitled "The Sea Eternal." It is represented in ,tlio plot that John ■Tapley, a fisherman, Mary, his wife, and their baby iiye happily, until one Mason comes to buy' fish, outbidding Corson, a local dealer. ' In paying his attentions to John's wife, Mason causes a break in tho family friendship. Many exciting scenes of daring rescues in open boats in stormy seas are-depicted, before the closing scones show a, liappy reconciliation. full of sensation. is tho A.B. Company's feature drama, entitled "The Detective's- Strategy," and "How the Day Was Saved" -is a farce-comedy by the ; same company. Other pictures .'on the programme, are "•Vineennes" (travel), '.'On 1' What- a Night!", and many- others. The., programme will bo. repeated-throughout-, all sessions to-day. . "• BRITANNIA. THEATRE. "A Leap of Despair", is the title of the principal picture o£ the new programme screened -yesterday, at tho Britannia Picture Theatre., Countess. Lil- . ian' Rispighi, and Albert Mariani, a wealthy sharebroker, are married, and live happily for some time in a mansion. Lilian is a remarkable horsewoman, nnd performs some wonderful and daring feats 011 her horse. Later 011 Albert's shares become worthless, and as a result of constant ill-fortune, ho has to reduce his extravagant Jiving. He finds himself. incapable of earning a living, and he bewails tho fact tliat he has to live on his wife's income. Lilian, knowing tho state of affairs, .desires to do something to bring more.- money into their home. - Hearing of tho- death of a, famous circus -rider and that tlio manager-of the circus is in urgent need of a substitute, Lilian applies for and secures the position. Being such an accomplished rider, she makes a success of the turn. Albert, who is worried over the thought, that ho is living on his wife's earnings, endeavours to free himself from her, and with this end in view ho pretends to mako love with a tight-ropo walker named Solottc. Whilst swinging on her horso 011 a platform high in the air, Lilian notices Lolotto and Albert embracing each other. In her despair she jumps her. horse off the. platform and both; fall to -the-ground. ■ Although seriously injured Lilian is not beyond recovery, and Albert, who sudden]}' becomes very wealthy again, effects a reconciliation; Tho picture throughout is well mounted, and tho many dramatic situations wlueli culminated in the during leap, are realistically depicted. Other pictures on tho programme are: "Tho Two Fathers" .(comedy), "A Gentleman of Fashion" (John Bunny comedy), and the latest topical gazette, which contains many scenes of up-side; down aviation, "THE SHADOW OF THE CROSS." "The Shadow of the Cross," the picture which mystifies everyone who contemplates it, is still being exhibited by Mr. Edwin Kilpatriejk in Harcourt's Rooms, Panama. Street. 'The secret of the picture is iindiseoverabio, but that there is something extraordinary about the painting no one who lias seen rt denies. The picture in bright light is 01.10 of : the Christ walking in a garden. No such thing as the shadow of a c.foss is visible anywhere, but when the lights are turned down tho shadow is visible after a little time. .

To say that tho upper roaches; of the Wauxaiiui Kiver—-in fact, the whole-river —are liow teeming with magnificent trout is 510 wore figure of speech, savs the AVaugnnui "Herald." Number? are'caught frtm'the docks of the Houseboat and from motcr-canoes and roivrhoats kept at the HoufeKiat for the coiivenienM of visiting fishers. 'A gentleman staying at. the Houseboat last 'week states that the size and tho large number of■■ trout was Mirprisint*. Visitors sit of an evening in their deck chairs and watch the trout rising and jimipih?, similar to schools ot porpoises. hut,, of course,' smaller in' size. Tho opinion of Xtr. .Woslley Pronw and others who annually visit Lake Taupo, and have .fishetf on'the "ffangapni, is that tho Wanxanai, already so famed for its scenic attractions, will, when known batter become ono of the finest trout streams in 'the ' world. On .'the Houschont-Tau-iiiarunui section of the : Tiver tho boots on the up-trip are stopped frequently and trout caught by both crew and passengers. Every figure needs distinctive corsettine—we have a Warner's Corset for pvVt 6»ure, and guarantee every pair. Kirkcaldie and Stains, Ltd.—Advt.