ENTERTAINMENTS

Dominion, Volume 8, Issue 2467, 21 May 1915, Page 7

ENTERTAINMENTS

THE COURT CARDS. That very good handful of conictlinns uul singers called "The Court Cards" nmiso their crowds nightly at the Dpera House. There is a witchery iljont the inirtli and melody of the wonen performers, alid a robust heartiicss about the son>j; and story of the null in the party \vlii;:h oaptnates tho Hidieuees always. Tile Court Cards vill show to-night, and 10-iuorrow night :he.v will finish their Wollington season. HIS MAJESTY'S THEATRE. The chief mirth producer on the bill Majesty's Theatre is the revue, 'Fun 011 a Farm," by .Mr. Paul Stau>?i;o's clever company. Every minute >f it is a laughing one. The rest of the Ji'ogrammo is made up of good performinces by good performers. Perhaps tho icst specialty act is that of Mandeno's trained dogs. Other performers are Dormer and Lloyd, Merlyn and Archibald, tho Dentines, and Vaudo and erne. The programme will be repeated this evoning as usual. "THE VIOLETS." "The Violets" are as fragrant and is fresh as ever ill their new show at the Concert Chamber. They have had i new programme since Wednesday night, and every item on it is a joyful :ne, joyful either in tuneful melody, or rich humour. The concertod numoers by tho whole company aro marvels of sunning whimsicality, and the several artists after their own method are all very good. Tho programme will bo repeated until furtiior notice. THE KING'S THEATRE. The big drama with the enigmatical title of "413" iB the feature on the King's bill this week. It tells a thrilling talo of that most romantic and fascinating of all enterprises in wrongdoing—diamond smuggling. Of local interest is the film snowing pictures of Duke Kalianamoku swimming in Wellington at a swimming carnival. The other films treat of a variety of subjects, all of which are entertaining. EVERYBODY'S THEATRE. An alleged example of "The Simple Life" as conceived by Miss Normand and Mr.. Arbuckie is the laughtermaker at Everybody's Theatre this week. It is as good a comedy as most of tho many productions bearing the "Keystone" mark. The best of the other story films tells the tale of a pressman's big scoop —the discovery of a bia crime- The Press are still ahead of the police—in America. The rest of the programme is entertaining. MACMAHON'S THEATRE. "Vendetta" continues to be the reigning attraction at MacMahon's cosy winter theatre, and Mario Corelli's emotional drama has taken the public by storm. The story is one essentiallj suited to picture production) and nothing has been spared in the staging, mounting, and dressing on the most lavish scale of a quite exceptional picture. The change of tho supporting programme yesterday included a diverting new comedy, in which "Andy" plays the hero, and the latest bi-weekly Gaumont Graphic of topical happenings. Ararngements have now been made tor the exclusive production at MacMahon's Theatre and Shortt's Theatre of the new series of Charlie Chaplin comcdies, produced by the Essanay Company. In future these popular comedies will be shown only at tho theatres mentioned, and the first of them "Cbarlio'f New Job," will be shown on Monday in company with a now Keystone anc strong supporting programme. Tomorrow afternoon tliore will be tin usual extended Saturday programmes and the children will bo each presentee with a tri-colour flag of the British Russian, and French colours. PEOPLE'S PICTURE PALACE. The now pictures shown at the People's Picture Palace yesterday wer< of all-round good quality. Tho feature drama was entitled "A War-time Mother's Sacrifice." The war about whict the story is told happens to be the American Civil War, a war which disrupted more families and called foi greater sacrifices from mothers anc fathers and sons than most othei minor wars in history. This 'picture tale has to do with a boy of good character, but uncertain habits, who sit: down to a doubtful card game, and after the manner of his kind, loses his money. There was a thief on the othei side of the table, and he said so, anc words led to drawn guns, and the othei man fell. As it turned out, tho whole affair was a plant, even the cheating, and the boy had fired only blank cartridge. Tho card players were spies ; and they hoped to loosen the tongue of the gilded youth not with more golc but with threats of a charge of murder Tho boy did not speak. Hereafter the plot thickens and spreads a little. The boy'B father is assured that his son if a spy, and the son is not there to saj he is not. Out of the hands of the spies, ho makes his way home to hit mother, and the mother, believing, o> unable to provo her disbelief, that the boy is guilty, hides him in an attic There the lad commits suicide. To make the blow lighter for the parent the corpse is carried to a battlefield, anc the grief-stricken father is allowed te suppose that his son fell fighting. It it an unusually absorbing picture story. The attraction for next week is a pictirial dramatisation of "The Sign ol , the Cross."

THE EMPRESS THEATRE. The Selig Company's lengthy serial drama, "Tne Adventures of Kathlyn," was advanced another stage in the new programme at the Empress Theatre continuous pictures yesterday. Kathlyn's sister, Winnie, is forcibly crowned Queen of Allaha to serve the sinister purpose of the scheming - Umballah. Kathlyn gains admission to Winnie's room under the guise of a woman physician. While she is planning with Winnie, Umballah surprises Kathlyn and has her arrested. Kathlyn is tied securely on the ground, and the great juggernaut car is released, so that it runs down a hill towards Kathlyn. Her father and his friends rescue the heroine in the nick of time. Determined to release Winnie, Kathlyn and her friends, disguised as animal trainers, give a remarkable performance in an amphitheatre, the principal figures among the spectators being umballah and Winnie. Eventually Kathlyn throws off her disguise and announces that she will go into the den of lions unarmed if her sister, the Queen, will accompany her. The spectators encourage the Queen, who descends into the arena, and when the lions are set free they take no notice of tho two brave girls who face them. Suddenly Kathlvn and Winnie slip through a trap-floor in the centre of the arena, and escape by means of a subterranean passage. The pick of the supporting films arc "The South African Rebellion," "The Australian Gazette," "Mabel and Fatty's Wash Day" (Keystone comedy), and "Tho Mill of Life" (Vita, drama). MADAM LINA XYRtTIC. The oporatic arias to be sunn b.v Madam una N.vberg at the Grand Opera House next Monday and Tuesday evenings are all of a high standard. Mimi's song from "La Boheme" and the favourite "La. Tosca" number are items which will be included. Thesis two selections from Puccini's works are said to he admirably adapted to the elear voice of Madam Nyhnrg. In wliat may be termed the popular vein is "Cars Nome," from "RigoUl'o." and the "Jewel Song" from " The Bebinii sinew line <in exW.ijMve rslißF.toire, and altJiauslx ouaratic amuDßts

ivill be very prominent in the pro grammes, jet tlieie will be varied b; the addition of several choice songs bj Massenet and other well-known compos ers. The box plan is now open at tb Bristol.