ENTERTAINMENTS

Dominion, Volume 8, Issue 2358, 14 January 1915, Page 3

ENTERTAINMENTS

"MONSIEUR BEAUCAIRE." It was evidently a wise choice of tho J. C. Williamson management in selecting "Monsieur Beaucaire" for the final production of the season. _ Always a suprome favourite this brilliant play drew another house that filled tho Grand Opera House-to its capacity last evening. . Much has been written of tho beauty and elegance of the performance oy Mr. Julius Knight of Monsieur Beaucaire. In it Mr.-Knight ,lives and moves convincingly within the period and truly to tho manner born. Moreover, the play is throughout really well acted. Booth Tarkington's plav is splendidly mounted, and is produced generally in the best Williamson style. To-night, the last night of the season, "Monsieur Beaucaire" will be repeated. GEORGE WILLOUGHBY'S DRAMATIC COMPANY. In presenting George R. Sims's beautiful play of human interest, "The Ever-open Door," Mr. George Willoughby feels confident that the public taste will be hit. The author of "The Everopen Door," it is stated, had his finger on the public pulse when ho wrote this play. It is described, as free from all unpleasantness, its dialogue fresh and jts oomedy bright and healthy, that both child and adult can understand and appreciate; its plot is coherent and easily followed, and there is just that touch of nature that makes the whole world kin. On Monday evening at the Grand Opera House., a specially selected company, headed by Mr. George Cross and Miss Vera Remee will present this fine play with all its wealth of scenic effects and appointments. In "The Ever-open Door" there are four aots, and no fewer than twelve' scenes. One can imagine the great cost to mount this attraction, but despite this fact management have decided to adopt their 'Australian policy of charging popular prices, viz., 35., 25., and Is. with .no extra charge for booking. The Wellington season is advertised for eight nights. On Thursday . evening next "The Ever-open Door will be ■withdrawn in favour of "Under Two Flags," and the last two nights of the season "Camille"' will be presented, with Miss Remee in the title role. The box plans for the season are now open at the Bristol Piano Depot, where seats may be reserved for 3s. Early-door, day sale tickets to back stalls and pit are obtainable at Christeson's. HIS MAJESTY'S THEATRE. • The programme of vaudeville at present showing-at His Majesty's' Theatre, Courtenay Place, includes several very interesting and enjoyable turns. The Corrick Family occupy the stage for a fair portion of the programme and their musical selections are well receivel by the audience. Madamoiselle Davenport and her models give representations of classic statuary, Keen and Waller are purveyors of real comedy, while 1 Mr. George Whitehead's vocal numbers are much appreciated.' lie supporting items are all equally good. THE KING'S THEATRE. ,An exclusive Vitagraph drama. entitled "A Million Bid" is 'attracting much attention at the King's Theatre this week. The plot' of tho photo-play 13 engrossing, while the .acting and staging leave nothing to be desired. The following well-known Vitagraph players take part in the drama: Misses Anita Stewart and Julia Swayne, and Messrs. Chas. Kent, Harry Morley.'and E. K. Lincoln. "The Battle for Calais" is .a most interesting war subject showing the British in action, a French observation balloon giving the range to the gunners, and big guns dropping shells on the enemy. The other pictures are all excellent. THE EMPRESS THEATRE. "Liberty Belles," described as a feature' comedy, will be shown for the first time in New Zealand to-day and to-night with the new programme at the Empress Theatre continuous pictures. The principal characters. are impersonated by' Miss Mabel Normand and Miss Dorothy Gish. The screening of the subject occupies nearly an hour, and, according'to' report, is most laughable throughout. Margery and Dorothy, college chums, are in love with Jack and Phil, respectively. Much of the fun is centred on the ladies' boarding school, to which the girls are sent. When the girls arrange a secret feast in the dormitory the boys seek to gain admission by. pretending ,to be burglars. As a result they are arrested; but by their artfulness the girls manage to obtain their freedom. Merriment is al6o occasioned by the experiences of the girls' fathers, who fall in love with Mrs. Sprouts, mistress of the girls' boarding school. The supplementary films .include "The Defence of Alost and Siege of Antwerp," "The Topical Budget," and "Scenes near Cairo." PEOPLE'S PICTURE PALACE. "War-News"- will.be the outstanding picture at the People's Picture Palace change of programme to-day. The series have been taken in and around Dixmude, Nieuport, and the now famous Yser Canil. The management state that this picture is the first to be produced here,_ which has been taken at the firing lino. It is described as one of the most thrilling pictures. Two powerful dramas will also be a feature in to-day's change.: They, are "The Sheep Herder" and "Whoso Diggeththe Pit." The former is a tale of Western Tanch life and: concerns the marriage of a city girl to a cattleman; Years pass, and the loneliness of the vast plains palled upon the woman, and she goes back to the city, taking her little son with her. Later son and father meet unknown to each other, and many interesting situations' . crop up. Several comic pictures will be included in the new bill, and there' will also be a good supply of scenics, etc.. EVERYBODY'S PICTURES. The proprietary of Everybody's Theatre, Manners Street, fully deserve the liberal patronage they are receiving, as all their picture programmes have reached- a very high standard. The feature picture of the present programme is an excellent Vitagraph production, "The Acid. Test," which has a fascinating plot. Miss Mary Pickford is seen in another delightful picture entitled "Lena and the Geese." Among the other pictures is an interesting war gazette and a ludicrous Keystone farce entitled "Their Ups and Downs."