ENTERTAINMENTS.

Dominion, Volume 7, Issue 1992, 24 February 1914, Page 8

ENTERTAINMENTS.

WILLOUGHBY DRAMATIC CO, The Wittoughby Dramatic Company appeared again at the Opera Houso lastevening: in the melodrama "No Mother to Guide Her," a play in which virtue is relentlessly harassed without, just cause, and villainy.is finally vanquished, in time-honoured style, Good work, as far as the authoress permits, is done by Mr. George Cross, tho hero, and Miss Vera Hemce, the persecuted lady, who fails a victim to the villain's machinations. Mr. Ward I/ypna, as Dili Dunce, a burglar, and Jfiss Erris as Nan, a sprightly waif, also work conscientiously, "No Mother to Guide Her" will, be played'for the last'time to-night, and to-morrow evening "East Lynno will bo played, .with Mr. Cross as Archibald Carlyle, ami Miss Borneo as Lady Isabel, ] "ALADDIN." There is always a, fascination about pantomime, ibut tte production of "Aladdin" by George Willoughby, Ltd., a,t the Opera. House, commencing oh. : Thursday next, is of m»re than ordinary interest to theatre-goers. Miss Carrie Moore's appearance here as principal boy, is sure to recall some rccolkc* lions of her previous cxcfeijeiit work -in ■ this direction. Miss Grace Palotta is an important engagement Sot this pantomime for this numerous admirers will seo ker here far the first time in pantomime, playing the role of the Captain of the Bmperor's Guards, I Miss Mabel Batchelor, who plays the Princess, is an artist with grand opera experience, and iter iyric soprano voice is said to do moro than justico to the several tuneful numbers that she renders. Mr. Edward Stanley is reputed to play the famous Widow Twaiikcy on entirely original lines, while Mr. Percy Clifton, as Abanazer, comes hero with a big reputation gained in several Eng-: lish pantomimes. The specially import- ! Ed acts in "Aladdin" include. Leon Morris and his wrestling ponies, brought from New York for this production. Tiny Tot Marjorio, in_ her wonderful] acrobatic and contortion act, reminds: one of an. india-rubber ball, while' Mar- '• ri.s t -and Shand provide'a contrast with' their acrobatic feats and impersonations of animals. The bos plan for "Aladdin" is now available at the Dresden. Seats may be reserved at ss. each, BEEMAN-FITLLER COMPANY, The quality of the vaudeville fare at His Majesty's Theatre was raised by last evening's bill a good deal higher than the average, a fact that the Bren-nan-Fnller patrons were mi slow to appreciate. Foremost among tho new. comers were Bernio's Fire-Scotch Lassies, a quintet of young ladies who, attired in an idealisation of the. garb of old Gaul, discoursed. music on a widevariety of instruments with n snap and vim that fired-the-audience to a mea« sure of enthusiasm. Without disparag,ing the musical .'capacity of the Lassies, their opening number was perhaps tho least impressive tjf their efforts. • Tins was tho popular Barcarolle from Gppenbaclt's "Tales of Hoffman," played by two cornets," a French honi, saxaplioiie, ancl. violin, a. oonglo'meration that' t'ftiW to blend as •sweetly as could bo desired. As an all-brass quintet, massed round' a huge circular contra-bass with a tone like the last trump,, tho Lassies played admirably, and again, when all were furnished with cornets they played the "Robert E, Leo" ragtime strain excellently well. As soloists one strapping Lass played a solo on the contra-bass, and other individual members performed creditably on tlio saKftphoHe and bagpipes; another snn.g indifferently well, to a violin obbligato. The Lassies are given a picturesque setiiiiß. which is enhanced by some- pretty lighting effects. Chief Eaglo Horse, an American Indian baritone, who sing 3 . in the beads and .wanvnunt, of his fore'fathers, has-'a fine, ringing' baritfijie' voice, very musical in'fbe tipi>er register. He sang "The Tramp," "Big Red ; Shawl," and-"Till the, Sands of the" Desert. Grow .Cold.": Mr. Charles Zolimad© a. distinct hit in his clever Dago ! songs, particularly the. very amusing ' ''Toreador" son-g, witii its comical fan-' dango '.cmbellisbinent. Jolly Fanny; Rice's clever- character impersonations wore given a novel Betting:, and scored . an immediate suceess. Within a frame ■ of oleetric light she lent her expressive ' face to a variety of miniature figures, who impersonated Harry Lauder. Baby Rosy, Madame Screccher, and Sir Joseph' Ward, the latter a very happy, caricature in Make-up and manner of the member .for Awacua. .Vernandi was responsible for some. deft and daring hand-balancing, and Mr. Wilson Welch and Miss Louise Carbasse were untisuftllv dirertiiig in their smart sketch "The Tom Kate Dinner Party." Howard's trained dogs and boars • (which skate,, cycle, and dance) provided a lively interlude, and Miss Margaret : Cara'bor, who was scarcely up to true pitch, sang "Farewell in the Desert," and "Havana." Westnn and HiH, Carl-, ton and Sutton, awl Little Molly also contributed acceptably to the entertainment. THE KING'S THEATRE. Many geod pictures found" a place in ■ the change programme screened at the King's Theatre last evening, and it attracted a packed attendance. One of tho best items was a Sherlock Holmes drama, entitled "Silver Blaze." .Tho story deals with the mysterious disappearance of a racehorse, and with tho manner in which the mystery is. unravelled. ' "Silver Blaze." the favourite for the Wcssex Cup, is removed from his. stable during the nigli*, his groom being drugged. •' Next _ morning Sherlock Holmes and th« owner of the horse, following his tracks, find upon th«> adjoining moor tho dead body of State,' the trainer in whoso cars "Silver Blaze' had been placed. The' subsequent researches of Holmes, which lead to the discovery of tho place in which the horse has been hidden," and of the maimer in which Straker can» by his death, are. admirably pictured. "Another picture, '"Baf- ■ flpsV' «s a most entertaining comedy. It portravs the adventures of;a gentleman "crook," v,-to specialises in robbing police officers and old ladies, Tho manner of his pursuit and capture, by the "Keystone polico" provoked unstinted laughter. Interesting topical items are presented in the, "N.SJ, Animated News" and "Patho's English Gazette." Other good items are; "An Animal Acrobat and "Better Days," the late a picturedrfttna of considerable merit; winch.:' a fflcrrv coinedv, and some ' charming views of Florence. Tho pregramnift will be repeated to-night. BRITANNIA THEATRE. A Vitagraph drttmd "The Other Woman," featuring Leo Delaiwy and Norma Talveradge.. was the "star" film in the new programme at the Britannia Theatre yesterday. The chief character in the play, John, is introduced to the actress,. Marie Forrest, and becomes infatuated with her. Ignorant of his family ties she accepts him as a friqnd, but his wife and faniily soon'notice his estrangement. By chance tho actress ■stays at a hotel where John's wife and ehiidrea are staying, and the two women become great friends, John moanwhile suffers remorse, and, missing .his family, takes a- run to the seaside. There his wife is seen bathing with their little girh She suddenly is.in danger of drowning, -from cramp, but' 1 the actress pluckily goes to her rescue and saves her. 11l the excitement of tho Moment John and Marie, during the. process of resuscitating the former's wife,-do Hot recognise one another. Recognition at last takes place, and John decides to renounce tho woman of his infatuation and return to his happy heme, while the actress seeks consolation in increased-work. "The Cactus Country Lawyer" is another good drama,'with a Western setting,,and "A i'lyleai' of Fate" is interesting. CW-

cuy ss provided by "Zepherin s Duel." and ;"'JVo Men in a liar-room." An interesting Topical Tiudgefc is also shown. The pictures wjft bo' repeated to-day. TiiK EMPRESS TIIEATH.E. Miss Mary Fuller takes tire leading role in the Edison Company's . jsront "feature" drama. "Alexia's Strategy," which was presented with tho new programme at the Empress Theatre Continuous Pictures yesterday. The play is lavishly mounted mid the plot, which is most attractive, is artistically interpreted, 'ilia story relates that the'beauiful young daughter of a, banker is much admired by her father's accountant and also by. the cashier, Tho giri prefers tho cashier and encourages his suit, much to the chagrin of the- other. Taking advantage of tho temporary absence of the cashier the accountant "fakes" tho former's books'6o that lie appears to have ombc-xided a large sura of money. Tho accountant himself steals the money and awaits developments. Upon this basis the story develops into a drama that holds the spectators. A dropped note-hook ami a vagrant play their part m developing the climax, in which the accountant is arrested, and justice is done to the cashier. Another worthy drama in yesterday's new list is tho Vitagrupli Company's "Tho Ont» law," and there, is also an educative industrial theme, "Sice Cultivation'," with a splendid selection of comedies.