ENTERTAINMENTS

Dominion, Volume 8, Issue 2468, 22 May 1915, Page 3

ENTERTAINMENTS

THE COURT CARDS. TKe very versatile and clever lot of people called "The Court Cards" made merry with their merry selves and their •merry audience at tlie Grand Opera House last night as usual. At this stage of their acquaintance with the people of Wellington _ they need 110 special general or individual commendation. Some of them sing, and some of them joke, and some do both,. and they all succeed in making light-hearted the folk who hoar and see them. HIS MAJESTY'S THEATRE. *'Fun on the Farm," by the Paul i Stanhope Company, has proved a dis- , tinct draw this week at His Majesty] s ! {Theatre. The Americans aire in their element in this bit of frivolity, and the person who cannot extract laughter from their gambols is surely not i normal. "Fun on the Farm" is te be played again this afternoon and evening, and on Monday evening the Stanhope Company will launch their third torpedo of laughter, which bears the title of "Hullo, Lyall Bay!" Other .vaudeville turns of merit are provided by the Dentines, Dormer and Lloyd, Merlyn, Ida Jarvis, and Mandeno'6 (dogs. "THE VIOLETS." , "The Violets" have in many quarters been voted the brightest and most versatile costume comedy company yet sent to New Zealand by Mr. Edward Branscombe. This is high praise, but the combination is deserving of it as every member is an accomplished artist , in. one particular line or another. The two comedians, Otto Collins and Oswald Browne cause no end of amusement in the current programme with their excellent items "The Turkey Gobbler's Ball" and "Under the Chestnut Trees." Other contributors to the entertainment include Miss Dorothy Gardner, Miss Shirley Cooke, Miss Kate Checkett, and Messrs. Geo. Brooke, Howard Hall, Cuthbert Rose, and Arthur Riscoe. THE KING'S THEATRE. This popular theatre will screen for the last time to-night and at the matinee to-day, Vitagraph's great diamond mystery and Tailway wreck film, "Four Thirteen," together with the pleasing supporting programme which has been accorded' such a fine reception this week. On Monday next a unique drama by the Majestic Co. is promised. This is entitled "The Sisters," and was specially written for the popular Gish Sisters, Lilian and Dorothy. Lilian Gish has for some time been appearing in K. and E. productions in the A.B. studios and special negotiations were necessary to enable her to appear with her sister in this drama, under the Majestic banner. A comparison of the styles of these two popular film artistes will be interesting. "The Sisters" is a tale of two young girls living in a small country town who both fell in love with the same man—a flirt from the city. He persuades one to run away with him. iThe other is married to a sterling man of the home town. The domestic tragedy which follows the sister who went to the city is averted by the sacrifice of the stay-at-home girl. The end of the play while carrying a heavy heart throb leaves a satisfying and pleasing impression. Some of the best of the additional programme will be: "Love and Business," an incompatible though .(in this case) humorous mixture. A fine melodrama by Edison, "The Banker's Double," "Departure of the 4th Reinforcements," t "The Waterfalls of Natal," a beautiful film study of these little-known cataracts. EVERYBODY'S THEATRE. Mabel Normand and Roscoe Arbuckle, Separately, or in collusion, are always sure laughter-getters in pictures, and their duties in "The Simple Life" at 'Everybody's Theatre is a side-splitting farce. "The Beat of the Year" is another fine picture, with a strong detective interest. On Monday will be screened an authentic picture taken by an American prisoner on the s.s. Batava, when a German submarine chased, Captured, and escorted her prize to Zeobrugge. You see tho submarine coming up at full speed ahead, overtaking the Batavia, tho prize crew coming aboard and tlio escorting submarine and prize threading their way through the minefields to Zeebrugge. Many other scries of this interesting subject are seen, and the whole series brings home very vividly the dangers that beset our mercantile marine. A delightfully funny com.edy by tho Majestio Co., "The Lost

Lord Lovell," describes in 2000 feet of film, the efforts of Molly the slavey and Betty the actress to secure a real lord for a husband. _ Molly, the slavey, by a clever ruse, wins easily. MACMAHON'S THEATRE. "Vendetta," Marie Corelli's superb play, continues to be a strong at MacMahon's Theatre, but it will finish its successful career absolutely to-night. This afternoon will see the usiial extended three-hour sessions, with special attractions for the children, and each little one paying for admission will be presented with a flag in which are entwined the British, French, and Russian national colours. On Monday the first of the new series of Charlie Chaplin comedies, "Charlie's New Job," will be presented, .supported by a capital Keystone comedy, and a long series of attractive dramatic picture features. 'The exclusive rights of the new Essanay series of Chaplin comedies have been secured for Wellington at MacMahon's and Shortt's Theatres only, where, they will' be shown simultaneously, and no other places of entertainment can produce any of the new comedies. This big star will have a strong miscellaneous support. PEOPLE'S PICTURE PALACE. The excellent programme presented at the People's Picture Palace is attracting large audiences. It includes a fine_ dramatic picture entitled "A War-time Mother's Sacrifices" a moving story of the American War of Independence. On Monday evening an extra special feature will be presented in a splendid representation by the Fa-mous Players Co., of America, of "The' Sign of tho Cross," said to be one of the best productions in picture form of standard dramas. Admirers of Wilson picturesque play, which deals so graphically with the persecutions of the Christians in the decadent days of Caesar Nero, will be pleased to renew their acquaintance with this play as acted by. America's leading players. Marcus is played by Mr. Wm. Farnini, Mercia by Miss Rosina Henley, and that malignant Roman Tigellinus by George Majeroni, who was formerly a well-known actor in these parts. The staging is really magnificent, and the acting is of the highest quality. ' THE EMPRESS THEATRE. A final opportunity will be available to-day and to-night of . witnessing the current programme of ' the Empress theatre Continuous Pictures, headed by the nmth series of Selig's sensational s v- >i drama, "The Adventures or Aathlyn The new programme on Monday will introduce the Keystone Company's latest farce-comedy success, Getting Acquainted." This is billed as an exceptionally hilarious photo-play featuring" Charles Chaplin, who 'is supported by Mabel Normand, Ambrose and others. The auxiliary films will be ''The Little Engineer" (Kalem drama), "When Honour Awakes" (Lubin drama), "The Topical Budget" (including war news), and "A Devil of a Honeymoon" (trick comedy). MADAME LINA NYBEKG. The programme for Madame Lina Nyberg's first concert, which is to be held in the Grand Opera House next Monday night, is advertised in to-day's issue. Tlio selection of items to 'bo sung by the Belgian prima donna is an excellent one, and characterised by admirable variety. The operatic numbers are Mimi's song from Puccini's La Boheme," "Caro Nome" from Verdi's "Rigoletto; and extra numbors include arias from "Faust" and Lakine," tho latter being an opera W -i! i ll Delibes. Madame Nyberg Yit i-rS "L'Ame des Oiseaux" and k Evcntail," an old French Gavotte, each of these being by the well-known noh composer Massenet. A dainty ««ceuse" by Humperdinck, and songs by Pagliafico complete the selection. Mr, t rank Charlton will sing a number i J™" 1 Meyerbeer's "Dinorah" and Wal-1 ford Davies's fine composition, "Hymn Before Action." Mr. Baxter Buckley, who will appear as solo pianist ana accompanist, will play "a prelude" by _' Rachmaninoff's "Polichinellc and Ballade in F." Tlio second concert will be held on Tuesday evening. Iho box plan is at tho Bristol. ORGAN RECITAL. At to-night's organ recital to bo given at tho Town Hall by the City Organist (Mr. Bernard F. Page), four works will be performed for the first time at tlio recitals—Sonatina, from, tho Cantata No. 106 (Bach), Meditations, Priere and Canzona from Op. 90 Guilmant; and Idyll by F.dwia Lomare. i 1 Tho other items will consist of the

rarely-performed No. 12 Concerto by Handel, Prelude and Fugue by Clazouncy, and the Second and Third Movements, and Tchaikovsky's B Minor Symphony (No. 6),