ENTERTAINMENTS

Dominion, Volume 8, Issue 2273, 6 October 1914, Page 8

ENTERTAINMENTS

HIS MAJESTY'S THEATRE. .' A brisk, lively bill well repaid a visit to His Majesty's Theatre last evening, Among the now turns presented was the Great. Westin, who brings back memories of old-tihio vaudeville' shows in a protein performance,, making 'up with ndolity as Kitchener, Genoral French, JMward VII, Washington, M. Poincare, Roosevelt, "Buffalo Bill," and; concluding .with, a very perfect representation of her late Majesty Queen Victoria, which induced very hearty applause. White and Grey are a duo of clever musical, comedy artists, who adapt the colours, embodied in their names to their; attire.' The lady '■ sings .smart' songs,, and her male partner is quite at home.on the piano and violin. . Tho craze for,rag-time was adequately supplied by the Two Storeys,' who are distinctly up to date in their songs and style. Miss Maud Failing, that vigorbus coon impersonator, and her two daughters shook'life and laughter into the performance ..with their catchy songs and brisk 'dancing, and Arthur Elliott raised- a smile with his vocal absurdities. The star turn on tho bill is that provided by, the Lessos, who include a- very'talented juggler and balancer, a young lady who is quick on the triggerof a saloon Winchester, and a comical little chap who is much older than, his height: Their, work is clean aiid.clever, throughout". Another now turn is tliat"provided , by the skating experts, the Miltons, who are uncannily at home on the rollers. The comio iuterludo with which, the' act terminates was much to ilie taste of the audience. Drysdale and Fay are, a mildly amusing patter duo. Mann and Franks, travesty modern melodrama, recite, sing, and fool with a sincerity and vigour which made their act one of tiie most appreciated on the programme. . -THE KING'S THEATRE. Included in the new programme of pictures at-the King's Theatre last night was an excellent comedy, featuring -the CaJifornian Grand Prix road races'at Santa Monica. The title was "Mabel at-the-Wheel," and from start to -finish Mabel went through a whirlwind of events, which were screamingly funny. Mabel is courted by two' lovers, both in their way motor-maniacs, while Mabel herself is an ardent automobilist. After a series of startling events, Mabel favours one of her -lovers. The discarded one attempts by every means to oust his rival, and succeeds in locking him up before the start for the big motor race. Mabel takes his place at the wheel,, and an exciting'race is con:tested, while the comic villain and his two. assistants throw' bombs at the racing cars. It is altogether ridiculous but highly laughable, and made a great impression. Some further scenes in London prior to the war are contained in the '.'Gauinont Graphic." Soldiers in London are seen ',marching to their stations, while some of the captured German liners are shown in English ports. A Pathe colour film shows the. breeding of French Percherons (heavy draught horses). This was a picture of more than ordinary merit. An.excellent comedy was shown in "Bunny's Scheme," in ; which, . tho v well-known comedian, John Bunny, delighted the ■audience. .A strong drama, "The Burden," is a : story of a man wrongly convicted for murder, who escapes to new scenes, only to be -betrayed by the real murderer,' his brother-in-law, who is ultimately brought to book. "A Story of the Willow . Pattern",' is -a. pretty drama, 'with a Chinese setting, which ivas much appreciated. Other films are "Tho'Free Lands of Harney" (industrial) anid "Re-laying a-, Rail-, ivay." The programme will be repeated , this evening. ' . '', J '.~?"3!s£. 'rosary." : i ;>■ A To-morrow, Wednesday, in reply to many requests tho management of Mae--.Mahon's New Theatre has agreed to re-. I'ive for a .short season the, beautiful, picture presentation of Florence Barclay's charming song' "The Rosary." Reduced to the form of a photo-story it loses none of its impressiveness and none'of its touching delicacy and its quiet charm. At a recent- revival in Auckland, at the Princess Theatre,, the picture, had a-■ successful run. It will , io supported at the New Theatre by a fine programme, in addition to a .powerful.drama entitled "In the Clutch of: the Ku-KluxTKlaii," a strange and mysterious play dealing with tho deeds of a secret society. .' '/EVERYBODY'S PICTURES." . A very entertaining new programme was , presented at. ."Everybody's Theatre" yesterday. The,feature of tho new bill is a Danish-Dutch naval,drama,' "Orders Under Seal.". The play of which the picture is a reproduction ■deals yith a fascinating subject of international intrigue, and tho making of history by devious ways. Interest never flags during the whole film, and tho production, photographic and other-, wise, is excellent. Tho story concerns (mostly an Admiral of tho Dutch Navy, certain sealed orders delivered to him on the: eve of sailing, and a spy who breaks the seal: The spy having made liimself friendly ;in the house of his nation's enemy, abused confidences and ■ broke the seal on the wallet. He dispatched the information gathered ..in this disreputable way by carrier pigeon, but his designs were frustrated ly the shooting of the p'igeo'j and tho subsequent revelation* of his -perfidy. This did not happen, however, without many complications, ' and although several people were in imminent danger of niOL'ting thfiir death for the crime of the spy, ■ cverything.-iri the end was satisfactorily '.'explained. The "Gaumont Special War'.Graphic'.' for the week could'scarcely'fail to ho interesting at tho moment."The picture describes in the best manner possible the war preparations in England before tho mail left,'and the excitement' of the civil population—a most interesting topical subject. ■'._> Other sectiond of tho "Graphic" depict- some of tho moveof our New Zealand Expeditionary Force. The programme is one of the most interesting yet produced 'in this most popular picture theatre.