ENTERTAINMENTS

Dominion, Volume 8, Issue 2361, 18 January 1915, Page 7

ENTERTAINMENTS

"THE EVER OPEN DOOR."-

The first production of the "Ever Open Door" will tako place to-night at the Grand Opera House, and will, it is started, be presented on a scale of magnificence by George Willoughby's Dramatic Company, which is neaded by Mr. George Cross and Miss Vera Remee. This drama, by George R. Sims, played for over 380 nights at the Aldwych Theatre, London, and it was on account of its wonderful success that the firm of George Willoughby, Ltd., purchased, it. On its production at the Adelphi, Sydney, hundreds, it is stated, were unable to gain admission nightly, and the-same may be said on its presentation in Melbourne. The author, knowing the popular taste of dramatic patrons, has woven together a story that embraces almost every type of character, and its atmosphere goes from that of the nobility of Park Lane to the dweller in the most squalid of Westminster slums. The London PreßS, reviewing the production, says;—" The piece. Is :a revelation of thought and circumstances, showing the countless types of character in the World's metropolis. A play with a purpose, with an uncommon story, and one that all ehould see" —and this is the attraction that amusement*lovers will have presented to' them for throe nights starting to-night. On Thursday next art entirely new adaptation of.. ".OuidaV. famous novel, "Under Two Flags," will be presented for. three nights, and on the last two nights of .the Season "Camille" will be the attraction. The box plans are at the Bristol Piano Depot, where ■'. seats may be booked without any extra oharge. Reserved seats, three shillings; day sale tickets (early doors) obtained at ■ ChristeSon's and MisS LennOx'B, Grand Opera House.

HIS MAJESTY'S THEATRE. > A splendidly diversified programme is provided by the Fuller-Brennan management at His Majesty's Theatre tonight by a company of Vaudeville artists., a large number of whom are entirely new to Wellington. ■ The principal attraction will bb that provided by Mdnie. Schell and her performing lions,.who, it is claimed, go throughone of the most thrilling animal performances ever seen in New; Zealand. Mdme. Schell, who is billed as the smallest lady lion-tamer in the world, is said to show great daring in the way she_ puts the savage beasts throughtheir performance, especially at the conclusion, When she literally puts her head in the lion's mouth. vV,. Ghelam and Preston will appear for the first time in an original comedy sketch. Both these artists are well known in New Zealand, having been with the Williamson Co. and the Hugh J. Ward Comedy .Co., and their act Bhould be welcomed by vaudeville audiences. Another pair of new-comers are M'Kenzie and Guest, who are said to provide a refined and highly pleasing act, consisting of high-class banjo and xylophone playing and songs .and stories at the piano. A number of last Week's favourites have been retained, including Mr-. Geo. Whitehead, baritone; Davenports, models; and Keen and Waller. The Corrick Family, who' are How in their last week, will- present an entirely new programme. The programme will run for six nights,jind a matihefj will be held' oh Satarday.

THE KING'S THEATRE. ' A change programme will be screened atvthe King's Theatre this evening.The chief picture in the chosen bill is entitled' "The. Battle of the Sexes." Frank • Andrews; a successful business .rnanj who has always;found■ pride-and' joy in tkei and-. : daughter, suddenly finds hilnsolf enthralled by the advances of a gay young woman, who lives in the same apartment house, r- So'marked' an'influence does she hove on him that ho at last forgets his-home tids. ■ The Story is advanced through many sceneß enacted with the accompanying notes of New York's nightlife, and the denouement comes when the faithful Wife discovers' the truth. At this time her mind nearly loses balance, while Jane, : . the daughter,, crafced by the. grief of her mother, determines to take part m the tragedy. With revolver in hand, she goes te the apartment of the woman; but her mission -fails. The '. father, coming in, finds his daughter being made'ldve to by the Sweetheart of the woman, and realises his sins. When he .confronts Mb daughter and says: "You, my daughter, what ure you doing here?'' the daughter answers: "My father, what are you doing hereP" The realisation is brought home to the father's mind that the law of moral ethics that governs a woman's life necessarily governs that of a man as well. He reforms and together with hie daughter goes back to his home. The. bill will include, also, "An Absentminded Cupid 1 ' (cdmedy), "From Christiana to Bergen" (Norwegian scenic); "Taken by Storm" (Vitagraph comedy), and a war gazette, ; "THE ROUNDERS." "The Rounders" is the name of the latest Keystone comedy, .the star feature on the new bill to be screened at Everybody's to-day at noon. "The Rounders" means having a good time doing the rounds of the cafes, musichalls, and generally having a night out. ' In this instance Charles Chaplain, the great "drunk" comedian, and Roscde. Arbuckle, the fat man, set out together "to painfcthe town red." Arriving home their wives express their opinions in lio Unmeasured terms, and the argument ends in the two departing for "fresh fields and pastures new, 1 ' pursued by their irate Wives. The fun and humour.generated in this Keystone joke is indescribable, and wherever shown has convulsed audiences with laughter. "The Rounders," it is stated, comes more thaii favourably as a fun-producer with the same company's "The Property Man," "Caught in a Cabaret," etc. Other pictures include a dramatic gem, featuring Alice Joyce, entitled "Fate's Midnight Hour," "The Last Shot," a fine Western story, "Bulldog Puppies at War,"The Gaumont War Graphic," and "Funeral of Lord Roberts/' are the special war topicals to be screened, while "Sonny Jim at the North Pole" is a charming child study.' PEOPLE'S PICTURE PALACE. * An attractive new programme will bd presented at the People's Picture Palace to-day. It will be headed by an absorbing detective story, aptly named "Thumb Prints." It is described as a great mystery drama, and is an education in the subject of the application of modern science to the apprehension of criminals. There are other good pictures to be screened, including "Borrowed Book" (dramatic), "News Item" (comic), "Stars in My Crown" (dramatic), "Billpostmg (comic), and "The Warwick' Chronicle" (topical). The programme as a whole is expected to draw big htiuses to the cosy little theatre. THE EMPRESS THEATRE. "The King Repents," a drama "feature" by the Film d'Art Company, will bo the attraction' of the change to-day at the Empress Theatre continuous pictures. The film occupies nearly an hour in the unwinding. Tho plot embodies a charming romance of an imaginary European buffer State, involving Buperb scenes of court life. The principal character is King Hector, a young monarch, who is tired of tho formalities of court routine, and his nnhappincss is added to by the fact that he is not enamoured with his fiancee, the Grand Duchess Helena, his cousin, whom he is to wed for State reasons. Another woman enters his life, but she is so situated that it is impossible for her to bo more than a guest of the King. By an artful scheme this woman, brings jthe King and Helena oloser together,

and adds to her own happiness. The supporting subjects will include: "The Topical Budget 1 ' (war news), "A Bathing Beauty" (Keystone comedy), "Life on the New Zealand Troopships" (our force en route to Egypt), and "That's Torn It" (comic).

MAOMAHON'S THEATRE. The fact that it is a "Long. Long Way toTipporary" bids fair to become vividly impressed upon the public mind, if only on account of the tacit election of the tuneful ballad of that name to a place in the annals of the nation. It has not taken long to embody tlio story of the march-poem in picture form, and ."Tipperary" will bo shown to-day at MacMahon's_ Theatre in three" comprehensive acts, with accompanying vocal and instrumental music. So far this latest importation from tie Old World has only been shown in Auckland, where the picture achieved a phenomenal success, filling two theatres simultaneously, and being visited during the week at the varying sessions by upwards of 40,000 people. Outside its spirited martial atmosphere the story is a singularly effective one. It is supported by a programme of general subjects, chief among which are the pathetic drama, "A Bit of Human Driftwood," and two specially merry comedies. '.'Tipperary" will hold the boards for a full freek, in absolute addition to the regular programme, which will see the customary complete change to-morrow.