ENTERTAINMENTS

Dominion, Volume 8, Issue 2470, 25 May 1915, Page 3

ENTERTAINMENTS

« HIS MAJESTY'S THEATRE. Another musical farco, or revue, entitled "Hullo! Lyall Bay I" was presented by Mr. Paul Stanhope's little company at His Majesty's Theatre laßt night. Lyall Bay does not matter for the purposes of the comedv, except that the scone must ho laid at some placo where there are seaside and summer hoarders. As one of the jokes goes "some are boarders but somo arc not." The boarders lighten things generally with songs, dances, and other gambols in tho most ornamental of seaside costumes, the while Mr. Stanhope and some others contrive to get their affairs tangled up. First there comes into the story a certain lady of the Four Hundred—for the sketch was mado in America—and this lady had come because she had heard of an eccentric scion of the British aristocracy who was liable to coino there incognito. Wherefore when an Irishman from tho Klondike, with a. fortune coming to him, who seemed to fill the bill for eccentricity began to pervade tho resort, she began to jump to conclusions. This Irishman wanted st wile to make that fortune of his a certainty, because the will prescribed that he should be married, and he was in the biggest hurry to get that wife. He, too, jumped to conclusions. In fact, ho jumped to nearly everything, jumped to music some of the time, and kept everybody else more or less on tho jump all the time. The story ends —sometime after ten o'clock. It is a merry inconsequent sort of frolic, and it is none the loss so because Mr. Stanhope makes most of the fun in the character of the egregious Irishman in search of health and a wife. One other performer who gives a very clever characterisation is Mr. Frank Norton, supposed to be a weakminded rustic with St. Vitus' Dance and a. bad car. Miss Ruby Kennedy behaves exactly as a lady of tho Four Hundred would be sure to behave at Lvall Bay, and Miss Fritzee do Guy, as an actress, makes her share of sport with everything but the waves. A new artist appearing in a "single" turn is Miss E/Ee Fellmves, a boy impersonator. Her act has a most ambitious introduction, a kinematograph film taken 011 the day of the recent big Belgian collection in Sydney in which she meets many other well-known stage celebrities. She makes up in the pictures as 011 the stage, as an admirable boy, and ill this character she sings first a funny song, and then a plaintive one—a newsboy's lament for his hard lot in life. Frank, Lank, and Alice, comedy jugglers have come back with their neat and effectivo juggling act. Artists reappearing are Ida Jarvis, Vaude and Verne, and Dormer and Lloyd. "THE VIOLETS." For two and a half hours of real enjoyment of music and mirth one cannot do better than to pay a visit to the Concert Chamber of the Town Hall, where Mr. Edward Branscombe's clever costunio comedy company, "The Violets," is appearing. The humour of the company's chief comedian, Mr. Cuthhert Rose, is irresistible, while his efforts are ably seconded by 3 Mr. Arthur Riscoe. Tho charming comedienne. Miss Doroothy Gard'ner, as well as tho other members of the company, are all well worth hearing. KING'S THEATRE. A gripping Majestic drama, entitled "The Sisters," was presented in tho change of programme at the King's Theatre last niglif Tho story featured the pretty Gish Sisters, and the remarkable resemblance of one to the other came as a surprise to picturelovers. "The Sisters" is a domestic drama, tolling how two young girls in a country town fall in love with the one man, a city lawyer. Ho marries tho younger, and the other returns to hor country lover, and njarries him. In tho course of time the life of tho sister who has married the lawyer is in danger through the loss of her baby, and the other sister, who at one time was deeply jealous of the younger, gives up her baby and saves her sister's life. Eventually restoration is made, and a happier ending Tesults. The story has gripping force, which the splendid acting tends to increase. A Vitagraph idyli, "Midst Woodland Shadows," is another fine picture in the programme, and the beautiful woodland scenery makes it especially interesting. A young country girl is surmised in this by two campers, and falls 111 love with one. with the result that there is a happy wedding in strange surroundings. "The Banker's Double" is a clever melodrama showing how a gang of robbers are trapped by a daring detectivo, and excellent comedy is supplied by "Ham and the Jitney Bus." _ of Natal" is a fine scenic, and the usual war toniciils are given in Pathe's Gazette. The programme will be repeated this even-

EVERYBODY'S PICTURES. U36, the German submarine, -which gamed a good deal of newspaper attention at different stages of the war, did not escape the eve of the management of Everybody's Pictures. Tho submarine itself could not very well travel to these parts for inspection, but it was caught by a kinematograph operator, and during the present week <it may be viewed on the screen at the Old Opera House in Manners Street. It appears in a picture of unusual topical interest —the of the steamer Batavier Y by a German submarine. The authenticity of the film is vouched for. By a remarkable stroke of fortune, an American press and kinematograph photographer was aboard the vessel, and he secured some magnificent views of the capture. The German craft is first seen steaming towards the Batavier at a speed of 20 knots an hour, and afterwards the captive is towed to Zeebrugge, a pilot boat directing it through the minefield. The capture of the Dutch steamer Zaanstrooni is also illustrated. Among the supporting items is a Majestic comedy of considerable merit, entitled "The Lost Lord Lovell." The Vitagraph Company is represented by a sensational drama "A Clo'se Call," with Miss Lilian Walker in the lead. Other films are: "The Passev-By" (dramatic romance), "St'.iddv's War Cartoons," ".Tosie's Legacy." and the Gaumont Graphic. Musical items are supplied by an efficient orchestra. THE EMPRESS THEATRE. The Keystone Company's latest comedy success, "Getting Acquainted," is the main attraction of the new programme submitted at the Empress Theatre continuous pictures yesterday. Charles Chaplin figures in the leading role,, and his eccentricities are provocative of uproarious laughter. The episodes occur in a public park. Chaplin becomes bored by his aggressive "better half," and seeks diversion in another direction. Ambrose leaves his charming little wife (Mabel Normand) in ord«T to render assistance to a motorist who cannot restart his car. Chaplin forces his attentions noon Mrs. Ambrose, who indignantly" repulses him. Ambrose returns momentarily to his wife, and introducing Chaplin to her, hurriedly returns to the motor-car, in which he goes for a run. Mabel calls for help, and a desperate-looking policeman chases Chaplin. In the meanwhile Ambrose returns in the car and endeavours to strike up an acquaintance with "Mrs. Chaplin." She violently assaults liiin, and when Ambrose flees the policeman pursues him. Much laughter is paused through tho efforts of the "co|>" to catch tho two husbands as thc.v dodge around the shrubs. Mrs. Ambrose and Mrs. Chanlin meet and exchange experiences. Eventually Chaplin regains the side of his wife, and she introduces liini io Mrs. Ambrose with ombarrassi&g xosultjs for him^

Later oil Mrs. Ambrose introduces her husband to Mrs. Chaplin, and another "scene" occurs. The policeman hoves in sight, and arrests the two husbands. Mutual apologies and explanations ensue, and tho policcman realises that ho lias no "case" against the husbands. Smarting; _ under disappointment, tho "cop" viciously clubs a harmless lover who gots away as fast as he can. The play is quite farcical, hut none the less skilful in plot, and cleverly acted. Among the other films are: "When Honour Awakes" (Lubiu "feature" drama), "Topical Budget," "The Little Engineer" (Ivaleni drama), ' and "A Devil of a, Honeymoon" (trick comedy). "THE SIGN OF THE CROSS." Record business was transacted at tho People's Picture Palace throughout yesterday afternoon and evening when "The Sign of tho Cross" was screened. The great drama occupies an hour of every session at this popular theatre, and it can truly be said to be an hour profitably spent by tho numerous patrons. " Those who have seen Wilson Barrett's play in Wellington before have certainly not seen it staged on such a. scale of magnificence as in t'ho picture production by tho famous Players Co. of America. The scenery is splendid from the jieginning, and one experiences something of a thrill when tho lions are turned loose upon the Christians in tho great arena scene at the close. Not less excellent is tho .acting by a cast of America's leading players. Marcus Supcrbus is played by Mr. William Farnum, Mercia by Miss Rosina Henloy, and Tigellinus by Mr. 6. Majcroni, who was formerly well-known in these parts. _ During the day sessions, the picture is screened to appropriate music on tho piano and organ, while in the evening there are selections by a full orchestra. Supporting items are of a pleasing character, dramatic, comic and topical. Tho war news includes numerous views of Kitchener's new army, and one or two interesting phases of the war oil the Continent. Altogether the current programme is calculated to attract the crowds to the People's Picture Palace, and reckird attendances 6hould be the result right through tho week. The management are making special arrangements to cope with the big attendances.