ENTERTAINMENTS.

Dominion, Volume 7, Issue 2015, 24 March 1914, Page 3

ENTERTAINMENTS.

HIS MAJESTY'S THEATRE. The Brennan-Fsillcf management d> n.tinuo to supply their increasingly large number ot patrons' with refreshing turns weekly. Last evening the programme was brightened up by the introduction of a number'of clever teams, mostly from America to judge from the accent and twang. Mitchell and King bounded into popularity, more by reason of the boisterous comedy of Mitchell, or was it King'r ■Whoever lvo may bo he is intimate with his audience at once, and, with his phlmj? laughter and ludicrous allusioM, dfaivs merriment right through. The- partner is quitp a serious person with .% husky hollow baritone voice, who sings ballads whilst the audience is reeoverrog from the onslaught of the comedian. Cunningham and llosOf another duo of American performers, hit home hard mid often with their capitally; contrasted qualities. One parades the stage in a gaily-illuminated dress suit, suggestive of a, New Orleans dandy on the '■'Glorious Fourth," and carols with tine repose in a pretty alto voice t&at lends itself to the jodeljing habit Bis 'partner is the most delightful negro' softedioii seen for a Very long time on the Icical stage. Ranged beside tho alto bis roi.Ce is>eally a whoop. Be is an. adept at weird noises, sings in rag-time.' with easy unction, and has-a lot ..of'original business. This.tu.rli. is going to be popular for a week or two at His Majesty's, Another pair of newcomers are Kihgsley and Graham, tenor and soabiretfe, who sing acceptably and colour their woric with the element of refinement, Then there is the volatile and magnetic Millie Doris, who is a m-isture of Marie Lloyd »nd Louie Freear. Tlioro is no denying her ability as a contedifiWie. Her bitrlesque of "FausV in wKch she eatiea-' tures Marguerite, was mirtb>pFoVoJsiiig even if it did extend as far ag. the border line of good taste- Her Salvation Army song is a-flotber rftthei. , daring. 'vocal venture.' The Phillip Si-stets are an improvement on the usual "sister doubles," and one lias- a voice tlvat is distinctly of the baritone order.. Valentine and Bell repeat their tevilderingiy, clever bicycle dot, and hftve'i no difficulty in maintaining tlieij- rightful place at the' head of the bill. Others o« tlie bill are Toin Leonard, in tiuvlcsq&e ballads, and Cariton aiid Button. ' THE KING'S THEATRE. , "One Hour Before Dawn" (ail aseellent female detective drama) is the till© of tho principal picture of an entirely new programme screened for tlio frrst time at' tho King's Theatre last eventing.' Tho plot 'features the (liswvery of infra red ray by Signer JDlivre, a.h Italian engineer, fcofessor .Wallace, a' 'scientific authority, objeots to Ms soli Richard's romance with Violet Dane, a chorus girl. Tho professor tells her thai unless she- abandons every relationship with his soil he wiTt completely disinherit him. That night a-servant overhears a heated quarrel betw-een father and son, and the next day the professor is found dead with a mystetums' Wouiul in his i side. In otdei' to olear «j» the mystery surrounding tho death of tlio. professor, Kato Kirby, tlie gM 'deteetive, is engaged. All the arts of modern criminal detection proro futile until Miss Kirby finds a Carbo.iv sheet, titer impression on which is a letter from tho professor to Voilefc, asking to call after the porforma.!ieej as he ffishos ,r t6" settle." The contents of; a lidte-tibok found in the professor's pscivet iiidieato that ho had been engaged Oii an experiment until aii hoivp'beioro'fl'aivi!, wJvicli stamps tho time ef his; death, The ssii is arrested, and tho detect-xvo .becomes'■ acquainted with Violet. Circums-taneea lead Mjss Kirby to."think ■Violet, ahsot ljitely; innoeent, but . she is mystified' when she receives advice from tlie police intimating .that Violet has coiifeseiLRichard is released; 5 ' find : the- (&$■ is taken'in- charge.- Miss Kirby reexamines tho effeotsyf tHe'deocasecl isro- \ fessor,, and 'discovers a."jioto i'rfeitiiig '■ .to the perfection of a- wteterM invcn* 'tion "An hour before Efewn." , A gtea'aof new hope enters ■ tlie mystery. She piilists the, interests of her father, and they discover that the professor: was 1 killed by a terrifie i explosive force (technically known as infra red fay). Thegirl detective at onea apprises tho pqliee,, and the deadly machine- denioDstratcs the manner of the professor's death. Tho second half of the programing includes an immensely humorous .comis: • tern by the Keystone ttampanyj. en-, titled "Zuza; the Ijjimliiiaster." It is ■ : an inimitable screaiimig skit .6% the ■world's best-known bandmasterj and'is • well worth seeing: Other pictures are: "The Gauniont Gfiiplwe" (iapical), "st, Cloud" (a charming sbftniq), and "The Little Hero" (tho chM stowaway, trirofaced death before he'd tell a, lio).. Excellent musical items are provided by a very fino orchestra.. ,

~ THE EMPRESS THE A THE. Yesterday's chaiige of programme a.f the Empress Theatre brought forwa.-: a stirring foature drama, ' "The Mai from the West." The screening occu pies over half an haltr, and: bristles witl adventure. Mr. StSwell, a wealths Boston mine-owner, and his daughtti Hose, take up residence in the West, among lawless Mexicans. Perey,. 6 foppish young Easterner)' is tlio guesf of the Stilwells. i lie is the fianeet selected by Mr. Stillnell for Rose. Slit is not in love ■ with Percy, but becomes attracted by a Westerner. A Mexican bully is abflut to sheot. 3?ere\ in a drinking saloon, but a timely siwf from the Westerner's revokei knocks the Mexican's firearm from his band, In revenge, the Mexican collects sow kindred spirits and kidnaps Rose, whom he holds for ransom. Mr, Stilwe'l is prostrate with grief when the ne-ivs is brought to hiin, and Percy appears powerless to help, but the Westerner undertakes to rescue Rose, and does so alone. Two of the Mexicans escape, but the Westerner follows thorn, And, later, recaptures the leader, wto htf marches to-gaol. Rose, in the meantime, has left with her father for their ' Ojno in Boston, and a note to the Wostenwr invites him to follow her for his sombrero, which she has taken as a keepsake. The Westerner accepts the iti- , vitation, and the denouement eonves, flic remaining items include:. "The Message .of the Palms" (Kalettt's Lenten story), "Old Maid's • Deception" (A.B. farce-comedy), "Observatory pre du Midi" • (scenic), awl "Proving e Lover" (comedy).