ENTERTAINMENTS

Dominion, Volume 8, Issue 2443, 23 April 1915, Page 7

ENTERTAINMENTS

GRAND OPERA HOUSE. "The Babes in the Wood" are still being lost nightly at the Grand Opera House, and hundreds are flocking to the theatre to see tho pantomime provided by the Willoughby Pantomime Company. Tho cast includes all tho pantomime favourites, with crowds of pretty girls, tho funny Dame and the rest, so endeared to the minds of lovers of this class of entertainment. "Babes in the Wood" this time is particularly notable for the number of vaudeville turns which are given. These include Daisy Jerome in a leading character, and with songs new to Wellington; Mr. Bert le Blanc/ in his Yiddish songs; the New York Comedy Four; and Josephine Gassman and her piccaninnics. "Tho Babes in the Wood" will be presented again this evening. HIS MAJESTY'S THEATRE. The last two nights are announced for Mandeno's dogs now appearing at His Majesty's Theatre. These clever animals are well worth seeing. They perform all kinds of feats, and are said to be the best-trained animals of their kind in the world. Kelly and Pollock, the popular comedians, are making a welcome reappearance, and their original sketch, "Ginger' Snaps," has "caught on" with vaudeville patrons. Vaude and Verne, two lively patter comedians, still keep the fun going, and other artists who appear are Stirling and Love, Phil Percival, Flo Esdaile, Carlton Max, George Hall, and Saltley the Dude. A matinee will be held to-morrow. ■ "WHO'S THE LADY?" Flirting taught in six lessons or in one, according to taste, might be the motto of the "Glad Eye" Company's return season to Wellington, for Gobette, the French actress portrayed by Miss Ethel Dane in "Who's the Lady?" is held to be quite irresistible. No one reallv has the heart to blame Tricointe, president of the court, for introducing Gobette to the Minister of Justice as his wife: he positively couldn't help himself, and then Madame Tricointe being absent in Paris, what harm could come of such a passing episode? Nor had Gobette been Jess charming, more would certainly not have been heard of it, Hut when the Minister himself falls in love with the soi-disante Mdme. Tricointe, and in order to see more of her promotes Tricointe to a post nearer Paris; well, then, complications were bound to occur and involve a number of people, includ- . ing the real Mdme. Tricointe, in a hugely entertaining series of farcical situations, Plans for the season, which commences at the Grand Opera House on Wednesday next, open on Monday at the Bristol Piano Company.

KING'S THEATRE. • John Reed Scott's charming story of romance and intrigue at the Balkan Court of Valaria, entitled "The Colonel of the Red .Hussars," is having, a great run at the King's Theatre this week. It has been adapted to the screen in three pleasing acts by Edison's best producers and artists Chief among the many pictures screened in the supporting programme is a Canadian romance, "The Love of Pierre Larosse." An awe-inspiring spectacle of destruction—a picture or the recent earthquake at Avezzano—should not be missed. The management announce that a matinee will be held to-morrow afternoon. 1

EVERYBODY'S THEATRE. Those people who are in a position to judge declare that Syd. Chaplin, the now famoun Keystone comedian, is even .better than his brothor Charles. This is l a'very high compliment to the artist at present appearing at Everybody's Continuous Picture 'theatre in Manners Street. The title, of the new piece is "Hushing the Scandal," and like its predecessors by the same company' is full of fun from beginning to end. In addition to the star attraction there are several other good ; films, included in .which are "Baby's Ride," "Gaumont Graphic," and "Fine Feathers." PEOPLE'S PICTURE PALACE. "Martin Chuzzlewit," adapted from ttie novel by Charles Dickens, is the chief attraction in the change of programme presented at the People's Picture Palace yesterday. Disinherited by his grandfather for engaging himself to Mary Graham without his consent, Martin Chuzzlewit is spurned by his uncle, Anthony Chuzzlewit, his cousin, Jonas, and the rest of lis avaricious relatives. Mark Tapley, sweetheart of Widow Lupin, who keeps the " Blue Dragon Inn, induces young Martin to go with him to America, where they will make their fortunes. Seth Pecksniff curries favour with old Martin, and Jonas Chuzzlewit, believing that Pecksniff will inherit the estate, strikes a bargain to marry Setli's daughter Mercy. Anthony Chuzzleivit's healthsis bad', but lie docs not die soon enough, to suit Jonas, so the latter poisons him. How the crime was fastened upon Jonas, and how young Martin came back from America to win his grand-, father's favour and the hand of Mary Graham are the closing scenes of this absorbing drama, magnificently presented by the Biograph The other pictures are many and varied, and include some fine scenic and dramatio studies.

THE EMPRESS THEATRE. Charles Chaplin, principal comedian of the Keystone Company, figures in a .most ludicrous role in the two-reel comedy, "His Prehistoric Past," which appeared with the new programme at 'the Empress Theatre yesterday. Chapliu takes the part of a tramp who falls uslesp on a bench in the park. The subsequent happenings are the tramp's dream; in which he sees himself in the stone age. He sees the king's favourite maid going to fetch water. The girl and ChapEn are mutually attracted, and when the king's jester intexferes he receives a knock-out- blow. The king admires Chaplin's valour, and invites him to his cave-dwelling, where they partake of the flowing bowl.' While indulging in a 'flirtation Chaplin and the maid are caught by an ocean-breaker, and are half-drowned. A stone age "masher" next dims Chaplin's 'lustre with the ladies of the court, but only temporarily, for he gets a tap on the ukull from Chaplin's club. Eventually during an altercation Chaplin pushes the kinn over a cliff, and then proclaims himself monarch. While he is pouring out words of love to the maid the deposed ruler reappears and drops a large-sized stone on his head. This causes the inevitable awakening, for then the tramp jumps up from tue park bench under tho rousing stimulus of a policeman's baton. The acting of Chaplin is irresistibly laughable. Tho fifth series of "The Adventures of Kathlyn," "The Australian Gazette," and "The Daddy of Them all" (Lubin comedy) comprise the remaining itoms.