ENTERTAINMENTS

Dominion, Volume 8, Issue 2356, 12 January 1915, Page 3

ENTERTAINMENTS

THE OPERA HOUSE.

The Julius Knight Company presented that lino old molodiama "Tho Silver King" again at tho Grand Opera House Inst night. In all detail tho interpretation and production of this now vory well known play was highly meritorious, and tho audience approved accordingly. "MONSIEUR BEAUCAIRE." To-night at the Grand Opera House the Julius Knight Company will appear an Booth Tarkington's charming comedy drama "Monsiour Beaucairc." This is a sparkling romantic play, in which Mr. Julius Knight as Monsieur Beaucaire has always been associated in Australia and with the pleasantest of memories. In the part of the debonair Frenchman. Mr. Knight has achieved an enviablo reputation. The air of romance about tho piece is perhaps more refreshing and exciting than any play of a similar character that ; has been produced here. The atmosphoro of the play is' delightful. It possesses an Old World flavour that is convincing and altogether attractive. In the natne part Mr. Knight should be seen at his best. Monsieur Beaucaire is the stylo of character he delights in. The production of such o play should prove a fitting finale to what has so far been an unusually successful season. It is also claimed that as Lady Mary Carlyle, Miss Irene Browne'gives ua her moat winning impersonation. The lengthy cast calls for the efforts of the entire company. Prominently placed aro Messrs. Frank' Harvey (Duke of Winterset), Eardley Turner (Beau Nash), Martin Lewis (Major Molyneaux), Charles Morse (Lord Townbrake), Herbert J. Bentley '.Rakell), Leslie Victor (Marquide Mirepoix), James Hughes' (Captain Badger), Jollife (Lawrence Hardinge). Misses Lizette Parkes (Lucy Rellerton), Dorothy Cumming (Mrs. Mabsley). "Monsieur Beaucaire will be played till Thursday next, the season terminating after the performance that evening. The steamer 'to Eastbourne will be delayed till after tho performance on Wednesday next. HIS MAJESTY'S THEATRE. New turns of an attractive character freshened up the bill at His Majesty's Theatre last evening, and a largo audience gave the newcomers a genial reception. Among these were: Mdlle. Davenport's Models, three shapely young ladies boasting all the physical delicacy of sculptured marble, who appear in a series of poses, classical and legendary, and simulate, under the calcium light, groups of statuary. To vary tho order coloured'lights aro at times turned on to the group, but'the effect obtained in so doing was cheapening if pretty. In every case the use of the pure white light would have had an enhancing effect. The beßt of the poses were "Children of the Sun," "Phryne and her Counsellor," "Guardian Angels," "Britannia," and "The Awakening." In the last-named pose the three figures represented tho support of tho upper basin of a fountain, which emitted Teal water. This touch of realism made a distinct impression on the audience, and earned the Models -' hearty and Sustained applause. Fields and Coco represent high art in the difficult sphere of head balancing. . So perfect and easy are these two artists in their finished work that one is at a loss which to admire most, the strong man who carries the load, or the nonchalance of his diminutive partner,.who appears to be just as much at homo whilst poised on his head in mid-air as tho ordinary mortal is on his feet. Their marvels are infinite and need to be seen to be appreciated. Eccentric acrobatics are the forte of Keen and Waller, who ooze comedy every moment thev are on the stage, particularly the lugubrious member of the pair, who appears to be suffering from some internal malady as he indulges in idiotic by-play with his mere energetic partner, who is a deft exponent of the twist somersault from the floor. Still another artist of distinction is _ Mr. George Whitehead, a robust baritone, who exorcises brainy resource in giving dramatic expression fP J! 16 soncs he sings. These included Adieu, Marie;" an old ballad which r « Vl u*? e "' ant ' a K ra Phic rendering of ' Mandalay" (tho song written on Kipling s poem). Mr. Whitehead gets more out of "Mandalay" than any singer of the song heard in Wellington, and deserved all the applause he got. TTie Barclay Sisters sang sloppy American songs of sentiment indifferently, and 'ranged" conventionally. Mr Carlton Chase hardly hit the public fancy in his songs, whilst the Carriok Family filled in the first half with, instrumental and vooal music of a perfectly innocuous charaoter. , Schell's lions are due at His Majesty s on Monday next.

THE KING'S THEATRE. On the occasion of tho weekly change ot programme a. large crowd tilled the Kings Theatre last night, when the .. t "ff-IP" Company's great moral play, A Million Bid," was presented. The picture shows how tho vaulting ambition of a proud society woman sacrificed the happiness of both hor husband and daughter for wealtli and luxury. After her extravagant habits have brought nor husband to ruin and death, the society woman (Mrs. Balgradin) succeeds in forcing her daughter, Agnes, to consent to marry Geoffrey Marsh, a millionaire. The honeymoon is arranged as a trip on Marsh's.yacht. The boat collides with another in a fog, and is so badly damaged that she sinks in a •[?"' ?" nut6S - Mrs- Belgradin is lost with the vessel, and Marsh, who was seriously, injured in the collision, is be-' liovod to have been among the drowned. Agnes, believing herself to be a widow, subsequently marrios her former lovor, Dr. Loring Brent, who becomes prominent as a brain specialist. Some years later Dr. Brent is visited by a patient, who has no recollection of ovonts prior to the time at which he was picked up by fishermen on the coaßt of Franco. He meets Agnes without recognising hor, but Agnes sees that it is Marsh, who must havo been saved from tho wreck of tho yacht, then follows the ■ operation, and a highly dramatic scone, which ends in tho donth of tho millionaire, and tho usual happy fu.turo for Dr. Brent and ns wifo. Tho drama is mounted on a luxurious scalo, and is acted by a specially selected cast, including Miss Anita Stewart, Miss Julia Swavne, and Messrs. Oharlos Kont, Barry * Moroy, and 10. K. Lincoln. It is stated to havo run for 250 nights "on Broadway. Judginiig by tho enthusiasm with which it was received last night, it should havo a successful season in Wellington. The supporting items on tho programme aro all good quality. Among the number are "September Morn," a dashing comedy; "The Tomples of Nikko," a .Japanese scenic; and the latest Knropoan Gazette. Tho last-named film contains much interesting matter from the great tliniilros of iviir. _ As tho pictures aro screened, appropriate musical accompaniments aro played by tho King's Orchestra, under the direction of Sigaor A. P, Jnida. <■■ -■ .

THE EMPRESS THEATRE. In the now programme at the EmprcßS Thoatro yostorday is. a st ; rrmg drama "England Expecte," by the London Film Company. Tho story is connected with tho prosont national crisis. Thoro is a happy household in England in which there arb representatives of lour generations. The grcat-grand-fathor is a Crimean' votoran proudly wearing medals for valour in tho field, tho grandfather ifl a votoran of the Boor War, tho fathor is a prosperous business man with a wife and three little children, and ho has a brother, ft Territorial officor, who also resides with him. When Kitchener calls for recruits for his second great army, the' votonins deploro tho fact tliat they are now too old to servo the King, but the younger . oxprosses satisfaction in tho belief that the family will be represented in the field by his two 6ons. The Territorial officor joins his rogimeut and crosses to the Continent. The business man liositates to leave his wife and ohildron, and his wife notices his indoci6ion. His clerks all volunteer for sorvico, but iho employer decides to leave town for a few days to get away from tho oxcitoment. When ho goes to his dc6k to get money for the trip ho comes across a bundle of his wife's old love letters, tho contents of which show clearly that his duty is to respond to his country's call, which ho does. The supporting films include "The Topical Budget," which presents several vivid 6cenes at the front. "Tho Maori Regatta Carnival," in which canoe hurdle races'play an important part, a study of various specios of bears, also dramatic and comic items.-

EVERYBODY'S PICTURES. The new programme introduced at Everybody's Theatre yesterday contains three most interesting feature film 6. The big picture of the bill is an enthralling Vitagraph production, "The Acid Test." The opening of tho drama shows an apparently cold and heartless society belle treating her host of admirers with icy civility, which descend even to contempt. .Then there happens along a fascinatiug typo of gentleman— a handsome American millionaire. The cold-hearted society belle just relaxes her demeanour a trifle, but no more. This wins the heart of the millionaire. He proposes and is accepted. An observant friend warns k him that he is about to marry a "heartless" woman, but "love is blind" and the marriage eventuates. The friend's warning 6eems only too true after marriage, and a miserable life appears the only result for the millionaire. He has more than money, however, and by a subterfuge (the pretension that by an untoward misfortune he has been made penniless) he pierces his wife's outward coldness 'and finds that 6he really loves him. But this film is not the only line one on the programme; supporting it is a fascinating Mary Pickford story, entitled "Lena and the Geese." In it we see this charming and clever little picture artiste when she commenced her career with the A.B. Company. The 6tory and its pourtrayal are alike excellent. Other films on the bill include a hidicroUß Keystone comedy, "Their I)ps and Downs," in which Roscoe Arbuckle, the Keystone fat man, leads the mirth, another most laughable comic "A Million Dollar Bride," and • a most interesting war picture "The Gaumont War Graphic." Altogether the programme is well up to, even above, the high standard set by "Everybody's."

PEOPLE'S PICTURE PALACE. Despite the fact that owing to the Sydney boat arriving at Auckland too late for the mail to connect with the wrath express on Sunday evening, the management of .the People's Picture Balace in Manners Street were able to put on a complete change of programme yesterday. Another new series, direct from the makers, will be,shown to-day headed by the Essenay comedy, "Money Talks." This film is described as being one of the best of its kind yet submitted to a Wellington audience. A man gets into difficulties with his creditors, and finally a wild, ohase takes place, which ends by the principal actor jumping into a huge puddle of mud. He accidentally finds a big wallet stuffed with bills, and is able to pay his creditors, and l all ends well. Something new in comios is also announced for to-day. It is a picture entitled "His Winning Way." The management 'state that this film is "screamingly funny without being vulgar." There -will also be a large number of supporting pictures. MACMAHON'S NEW THEATRE. The chief attraction at MacMahon's New Theatre is "The Picket Guard" or "The Girl He Left Behind Him," a very pretty photo-play. , "The Shelling of Papeete," also, is on the bill, and special interest is taken in this picture. "The Warwick Chronicle" is an itneresting topical, "The Little Mail Carrier" is a-love drama, and "In Real Life" is a fine study from real life. The whole programme is most entertaining.