ENTERTAINMENTS

Dominion, Volume 8, Issue 2297, 3 November 1914, Page 3

ENTERTAINMENTS

I ' HIS MAJESTY'S THEATRE. I Two new turns, figured on the programme of the Brennari-Fuller entertainment at His Majesty's Theatre last evening. The first of these was provided by Matilda and Elvira, two fair Benoritas from Sunny Spain, who embody in their dancing all the sinuous grace and fiery abandon associated .with a people to whom the merry tinkle of a mandolin and the gyrations of the gay cachuca are component parts of life as they see it. The Spanish dancer depends to a.major extent on subtle body movements in harmony with deftly manipulated bands and arms, which make them admirable pantomimists. This was forcibly illustrated in the for-.tune-teller's 1 dance, where one of the visitorse,- in shimmering gold, green, and red, goes through the pantomime of telling a fortune by the cards, before she breaks into the dance, which is bizarre to a degree. The most graceful dance was one in which the whirling of a felt hat and its, coquettish adjustment to the head played an important part. Finally, together Matilde and Elvira executed an exhilarating .oachuca to the rhythmical clatter of the castanets. The' visitors,. who are attractively characteristic -in>appearance,' also trilled a lay in, Spanish, ■ and either Elvira or Matilde broke from the bondage of things Spanish to shirp in a petite soprano a ragtime ditty about her baby boy in broken English. The turn was heartily applauded. The other newcomers were the Bradnas, comedians, hat-spinners, and acrobats. The man corkscrews laughter out of the audience with his grotesque "rube" make-up and quaint contortionists posej he makes. His very trousers exude laughter, but have sufficient strength of character to suspend their wearer' from a tree in which he is discovered munching an apple. The lady affects; white, baby dress, with ping legs to match, and spins a variety of straw hats in' boomerang fashion with the same deftness' as her quaint partner. White and Grey returned with their neat act and "namesake". scenery, and Neil Cant gave us diluted Lauder. The first part was provided by Leslie Holmes's rierettes and Courtiers, led by that merry fun-maker Mr. Holmes, whose : aeroplane .finale caused a deal of genuine amusement.

\ KING'S. THEATRE. / "Sixty Years a Queen," , a' film of g'rea't historical interest, was'presented at the King's Theatre last evening. Success in compiling this picture entailed work which made the task a gigantic one... As a note in the programme 6ays: 1 'The/ whole of England was, so to speak, laid under contribution for authentic records of the great doings of the illustrious lady's reign, and every possible assistance was given by the various State authorities, in order: that nothing, should be omitted which would render the work not only absolutely reliable.in every detail, but also intensely interesting. We see in the picture practically the, whole story, of England during that imagnifioont Victorian era." The picture'is of necessity gorgeously mounted, and many of the scenes are set in the. most famous places in Great Britain. The opening scenes touch on the doings of the early morning of June 20, 1837, when Victoria was awakened and informed that she was the Queen. She is shown at ;her. first review, and,'her coronation is pictured in all the- magnificence .of that" ceremony. The story of tho reign from then on becomes: almost .the 6tory of the .Empire.-: In' 1841 tho first telegraph station was established, and .tho first, message wa;s. sent on' the Wheatstone instrument. The first international exhibition ;.;was opened ; in :1861. The' Crimean ''War" broke out "in 1853, and while the Indian Jlutinv was raging in 1857 the heroic incident of the blowing up of the Cashmere gate occurred. : In. 1865 "Livingstone >left for his exploration of Africa. Ocean call-, ling, originated in 1866. and in 1875 Disraeli secured to- England control of. the Suez Canal. Between 1899 and ' 1902 the South African .War was fought 'and won. 'All these events and others are portrayed; and many, homely references are niade to the happy family life of the Queen' and the Prince Consort, and their children.

• MACMAHON'S NEW THEATRE. Last niglit there' was , screened at ilacMahon's' New Theatre, Manners Street, a remarkable war picture, entitled "France." The film shows in realistic fashion the army manoeuvres, etc., of 'Britain's steadfast ally— France, 'l'ho French Army in all its grandeur is depicted; at a review at Vincennes, • while there is also shown President' Poincaro and the officers of the French Army, soldiers at . mess, -'and cavalry at rest, in the trenches, skirmishing' and line advance, motorhauled ; siege -guns, in operation.' and the operating of field guns, l'ne picture is a very fine one indeed. This feature film is to be supported By an excellent selection of pictures, which will'be sKown for the first time to-day. These include "Discord and Harmony" (star draina, by the ' Great Seal Co.), "Hearts and Flowers" ; (Vitagraph drama), "Cure for Laziness" (Selig), "Tango Flats" (A.B. comedy), "Danciiig Horses" (scenic), "Cartoons,. Mr. riffle" (comic), and "France War Series.",

EVERYBODY'S PICTURES. AVar news at Everybody's Pictures at the old Opera House last night included some. highly-interesting .views of Lord Kite}:filler's army of 600,000, and also some of .the latest recruits for the Navy. ■ Other items in the '.'Path© Gazette" were British wounded home' from the front, German, prisoners at Frimley, K ; ng Edward's Horse; Crystal Palace as a drilling ground, etc. The star drama, on the programme is the Majestic Company's "Angel of Contention.'' It deals with love and life in an American mining'camp in the days of '49, when the search for gold brought men of all nations and temperaments together; A bigger attraction still is the film entitled "Laughing Gas," which is undoubtedly one of the most , remarkable Keystone comedies yet produced. The story is told principally ■in a dentist's rooms, and the company's well: known comedian Chaplin, has ample scope to create laughter by bis antics > as the dentist's assistant.' At every session 'yesterday the crowds thoroughly enjoyed the fun. The bill is completed by "Ruins of Ancient Rome" (scenic), "Colonel Hccza Liar's Adventures in Africa" t(rick comedy),: and "How Fruit is Crystallised" (an interesting industrial). : A better all-round programme has not often been seen at a picture theatre/ .

. THE EMPRESS THEATRE. The new programme at the Emprees Theatro continuous pictures yesterday brought forward a sensational detective drama, "The Great Python Robbery." Two diamond thieves, Brown and Judels, who have a huge python to,assist them, plan to steal the jewels of Madame Pillard, , an opcratic prima donna, and take rooms above her suite in the hotel. By. tho aid of a handnr.irror tlioy are able to watch her movements, antl When she has removed lier jowcllery tho thieves lower the 6orpent through her window. Tho singer and her maid faint, and the robbers enter the room-arid decamp with the jewels. Detective Finn traces the thieves to a houso in London, but the rogues see through his disguise, and overpower him. Finn is firmly bound, and while Brown watches over the detective Judels hurries away in a motor-car to catch the boat to France. A newsboy who saw his friend tho detective enter tho house becomes anxious at his detention. 1 The lad climbs , through tho window, and while Brown is asleep slips a' rope noose over him. Hie laa

then releases the dflteotive, who, after handing Brown over to the police, goes in pursuit of Judels. Finn uses a fast airship, and drops from it on to an express train. Judels is arrested, and the jewels are recovered. The pick of the remaining items are: "Llaxigostern" (cork industry), "Babv at the Zoo" (animal study), and "worms and Leeches" (scientific).

I' LEROY, TALMA, AND BOSCO. Apart from the vast aggregations of illusion's and other magical appurten-ances-with which Leroy, Talma, and Bosco open a short season' of six nights commencing on Thursday at the Grand Opera House, a strong supporting programme of vaudeville artists, embracing ]Ugglers, dancers, and musical specialists, assist. Loroy is a magician with a world-wide reputation._ He has not only gained the plaudits of the great general public, but it is claimed that uis fellow magicians and even his rivals acknowledge his great talent as a won-der-worker. Mdlfe. Talma dexterously handles coins in the most astonishing manner. She is described as the greatest and most artistic coin manipulator in the world to-day. Her art is so well executed that even under the very noses of the most observant of persons, Mdlle. produces' money. A bright contrast to the serious side of Leroy and Talma' 6 art is the delightful foolmg of Bosco, a droll comedy conjurer, who extracts a fowl, a turkey, or a rabbit from one's pocket as easily as a citizen pays a tram fare.' The company will arrive from Dunedin on Thursday, and the full strength of the 26 members will be busily engaged until curtain-rise preparing for .their great magical and vaudeville festival of the evening. :■ A pair of fine lions are U6cd in the great spectacular and historical illusion entitled "Thrown to' the Lions." This is the identical sensation that Mr. Leroy presented privately before the King of BeJgium. at Brussels. The box plan is now open at the Dresden, where seats may be reserved.