ENTERTAINMENTS

Dominion, Volume 8, Issue 2392, 23 February 1915, Page 3

ENTERTAINMENTS

LAST NIGHT OF "THE GLAD EYE." Only two more chances are 'left in which to see "The Glad Eye" at the Grand Opera House—to-night and tomorrow at the matinee. All tlioso who behovo that laughing makes them healthier and happier should not miss the opportunity ottering.

"THE CHAPERON." At the Grand Opera House to-mor. row; (Wednesday) evening Beaumont onutli s "Glad Ji.yo" Company will enter upon tho last three nights of its prosent laughing season, when "The Oliapcroiio" will [j 0 produced for the urst timo. This is said, to bo even funnier than "Tho Glad Eye," and it certainly will give Miss Ethel Dano greater scope for her very manifest talents. Messrs. Tom Shelford and Frank Bradley will plav Hilary Chester, "the knut,' and Christopner Pottinger, M.P., respectively. Christopher gets into frightful difficulties through accepting Hilary as his chaperon at a little dinner he is giving Rosamond, an actress. Hilary is introduced as Wlingtou Jones, and tho fun grows fast and furious when poor Christopher l'ottinger is forced to invite "Mr. aiid Mrs. Wellington Jones" to his home in the country. A violent thunderstorm, a eramapliouo, a motor-car that breakn down, all contribute to the general fun. which is fast and furious right up to the final curtain. Indeed, it is noc nil three minutes before the play enus that the audience guesses ho\v things are to bo straightened out. The box plan ia at the Bristol.

"SEVEN LITTLE AUSTRALIANS."

To-day there will arrive by the Moeraki the "Seven Little Australians" who for eight weks filled the Palace Theatre, Sydney, -in one of the most original play olFerings ever placed before the public. Etnel Turner's "Seven Little Australians" is a simple, wholesome story of an old doctor and his motherless charges, Pip, ' Suds, Dumps,-Bunty, Nell, Baby, and redheaded little Miss Bobbie,. ai,d the play, written by Beaumont Smith,, compels admiration bccause it makes such a general appeal to-young and, old, and is enjoyed equally by folk of. all ages. Those arriving to-day are Cecil Haines, Jack Radford, Olga Agnew, Fred Carlton. Esma Cannon, Veta Cannon, and Vera Spaull. The adult characters in the company include. Harrington Reynolds. tlic American actor, who made such a fine Father Kelly in "The Rosary," and Miss Sinna St. Clair, who will be Bertha, the housekeeper (a figure well-known -to all who have read '/tliel Turner's stories). There are six adult characters, and the children's parts are all good. The reappearance of Cecil Haines is certain to be a great drawing-card iu Wellington, where; as Suds, the irrepressible, she is sure to duplicate the success she, scored in Sydney. The season of six days and nights opens at the matinee on Saturday next, and the plan has already been well marked at the Bristol.

THE KING'S THEATRE. The King's Theatre was packed last night, when a programme of exceptional merit was presented. The star film was a screoning of Charles . Cliaplin'a comedy, entitled "His Musical Career." In this the Keystone comedy man has ample 6cope to give full play to his entirely; original'method of humour, and he kept last night's audience in a continual roar of laughter at his absurd antics. The plot for] the comedy is simple. Charles Chaplin seeks and obtains work as a piano-shifter, and has as a working mate a man of tremendous size ana physique, in- marked contrast to Chaplin's diminutive appearance. ' Two pianos have to be sliifted —one to a "Mr. Rich" and the other from a "Mr. Poor," and Chaplin and his partner, aided by' a small and patient donkey, set out on the job. Needless to say they get the retails of their contract hopelessly mixed,, but this allows Chaplin to get in . some of tlloso effects which have made him famous as a picture comedian. The humour is irresistible, and scene after _ scene is full ol the cleancat fun, which make these films so enjoyable. "His Musical Career" will rank as one of the best comedies yet turned out by the Keystone Company. In addition to_ this attraction the programme, contains a strong dramatic subject by the Famous Players Co., entitled "The Redemption of David Corson." David Corson is a Quaker, and a very upright young man, but lie comes under the 6pell of a beautiful gipsy girl, the wife of a travelling quack doctor._ Corson leaves his limre to travel with the doctor, and succeeds in tricking the girl into a bogus marriage with him, on the grounds that she has been deceived by the doctor. In a fight with the latter Corson blinds him, and then escapes. He 6inks to the. lowest state, but eventually is redeemed by a former convert of his own, meets the .blind doctor''before the latter dies, nnd is eventually enabled to again reach a respectable status in life, and- to marry the s -girl, who lias remaine'd faithful to him. It is a story of, strong human appeal, and is played with the distinction of tne Famous Players films. Other good items in the programme are: "Officer Kate" (comedy), "Summer in the North" (scenic), and Patho's War Gazette. Tho programme will be repeated this evenmg. ...

. HIS MAJESTY'S THEATRE. An excellent programme contributed by by a number of new artists, as well as by those who have already ingratiated themselves with Wellington audiences, was presented at His; Majesty's Theatre last evening; and large audiences are deserved for the rest of the week. Among the bill-fresheners appears Woy Toy Sun, a Chinese magician, who within a gorgeous setting that smacks of the exotic East, performs a number of mystifying feats ill a clean, deft manner, without the aid of a single word of patter. 1 Merely with the aid of a wand and illuminative gestures, he conveys his intention quite lucidly, and completes each trick without the slightest change of expression. With hospitality thoroughly Chinese, he produces wine form a magic caraffe, and serves it out to the audience to prove that it "needs no bush." ' A bit of coloured silk is wafted invisibly through space from one receptable to another, and the ancient and honourable handkerchief trick, in which a third handkerchief is "passed" between two others that have been shown knotted together a moment or two' before, aroused tho usual curiosity as to how it is done, Another old familiar is the cabinet trick, in which Woy is assisted by a Chinese girl, illustrated how simple a matter it is to deceive the eye._ Max Martin, a ludicrous fellcw with an elastic face and a distinct gift for broad, comedy, made an instantaneous success as a laughter raiser, and burnt in-the good impression by. exhibiting unusual ability as a sand-jig specialist. His imitation of a railway journey from Auckland to Wellington was a pedal sketch of merit. The Dental Riskits continue their breath-catching aerial act. Last evening they introduced 4' ropeclimbing competition, luring members of the audience on to the stage to try their skill with prizos of £1 and 10s. Three young men essayed the difficult feat, one being particularly good. The competition will be continued throughout the week, and the final will bo decided on Friday ovening. .Williams and Warner, the comical French musicians with English names, returned with their trumpets, saxophones, and weird "slapoplione," and wound up a lively, act with a blasting performance of "Tho Marseillaise." , Mr. Eddy Martyn, tho clever eccentric dancer, reappeared, and the Three Starrs sang an I danced. Tho iirtii turn wuß - oupplifd by the' pies,"- ,wlw jjwvicw a bright musical.

hour. Of these people, Miss Pearl Livingstone is very easily the bright particular star. Sho exhibited a touch of real burlesque ill her Cockney song, "When I'm in the llome," and was botli clever and magnetic in "My Brother Sylvestj" and that catchy lilt, "Get Out- and Get Undor." Mr. Lou Vcraou was good ill "The Hypnotising Man," and tlio monologue, "The Italian and the Rose," and Mr. Clifford O'Keefe scored in the old Dibdin ballad, "Hearts of Oak." A dainty little lady is Miss Iris Edgar. The Lyrical Four lacks vocal balance and tono, and Miss O'Keefe sing's unevenly and not always in tune. Mr. Kennedy Black is serviceable at the piano and organ.

EVERYBODY'S PICTURES. < Yesterday's attendances-at the various sessions at Everybody's Pictures were quite up to the recent standard for Mondays. The seating, accommodation was fully occupied during , the afternoon, while in the evening it proved quite inadequate for the business offering. The new series of films includes a remarkably, fine edition of the Gaumont Graphic, which this week has many interesting views of the Belgian army right in the' firing line. . Tho y gallant soldiers are shown in the trenches actually engaging the enemy in the desperate struggle to save the last little corner of their ruined country. Many other war scenes 'arcs also on view in the Graphic, as well as English events of topical interest. The leading film is, however, a social drama, 4000 ft. in length, entitled "Through the Vallev of Shadows." ' It was written, produced, and the principal part of Alioe Cross, the neglected- wife, acted by Miss Florence Turner, the kmema emotional actress, while there, is a strong supporting cast. The tense situations which develop during the action of the play create an atmosphere which rivets the close attention of the house. The . production .is magnificently handled, and the costumes worn are fie latest creation of-Messieurs Worth, of Paris and London. .Some excellent exclusive pictures support the star item, among < which may be mentioned: "Scenes in Broken Hill," when two aliens held up a picnic train and some of the passengers were killed; "Zip the Dodger," a Keystone comedy, with .Rescoe Arbuckle in the cast js a great laugh-producer, and the Keystone, fat comedian has seldom been seen in better form. Generally, this week's programme is'one of the best screened by the management since the old Opera House was opened to pictures. An orchestra is in attendance to supply appropriate music at -both afternoon and evening sessions.

THE EMPRESS THEATRE. _ The chief attraction of the change of programme introduced' at the 4 Empress Theatre yesterday is "The Tell-tale Photograph," by the Gaumout Company. Count Hiram unfairly accuses his gamekeeper of theft, and the latter is dismissed. Later on, the Count quarrel ensues which ends in the guest and while on a 'hunting expedition a quarrel ensues which ends.i nthe guest shooting the Count; An aviator, Paul Bennet, takes a photograph while flying in his aeroplane, and discovers that he has "snapped" a scene depicting the guest- shooting the Count._ In the meanwhile the'-gamekeeper is arrested and found' guilty of having killed his. late master. He is ;to be executed on the following morning, when the aviator reads of the-case; in the papers. He is too late to communicate that night'.by telegraph, so he mounts his monoplane ond flies to the scene of the execution and arrives in time to prove the condemned man's innocence. A cleverly conceived drama of the slums, "The Conqueror," is an interesting portrayal. Topical news of happenings in various parts of the Dominion are reproduced in "The Universal "Weekly." A highly intelligent ape. figures in a vaudeville act in "Joseph, the Ape.". There . are also, comic, and scenic studies.

PEOPLE'S PICTURE PALACE. Two fine feature dramas headed the new programme shown at the People's Pictur.e Palace yesterday. The lenethiei one was/entitled "The Forsaken," and is by the Hep worth;. Company. "The Forsaken" is the little unfortunate child of a.gambler and a drunkard, and it is round his eventful path through life that the. story is woven. The father, By .his two ; great vices, virtually murders his 'wife-and then takes his little son and leaves him at the door of a business man. The little fellow is adopted and while'he is receiving every care and attention from his foster parents, his father pursues his' path '.of crime. ' In later life, father .and son meet one eventful evening, arid the exciting incidents that follow, are all powerfully depicted. The other picture is different altogether in plot. It is entitled "The Loyalty of Jumbo." Jumbo is a huge lovable elephant, the pet' of a family of three, who live in .the wilds of Africa. There is a Kaffir, uprising and perils crowd thick upon the famijy. It is Jumbo, however, •_ and a faithful dog, who eventually pilot the family safely through the danger. The • picture, is most exciting, while the casting of the scene in such picturesque and wild surroundings gives an additional interest to the film. The supporting subjects include the latest chronicle of war news, "A Constable's Nightmare" (a most amusing "trick" film), and other pictures, dramatio,. scenic, and comic. The People's Orchestra is alone /well worth going to hear.