ENTERTAINMENTS

Dominion, Volume 8, Issue 2488, 15 June 1915, Page 3

ENTERTAINMENTS

0 THE PANTOMIME. Many pantomimes have boon presented to A\ cllingUin audiences during tho past lew years, hut none liavo equalled j the gorgeous show "Cinderella" iu _ winch >1. C. Williamson's Pantomimo n Company is at present staging at tho - Grand Opera llouso. The beauty of tho many glittering .scenes, the charming 1 costumes, the tuneful, catchy music, c and Llio bubbling merriment that runs ■ through it all, makes tho tlirec and a 0 quarter hours' duration of the panto- ~ 11111110 pass only too quickly. The prin- ' wpak in tlie cast include such popular 3 "'lists as Mr. Harry Lupino, Miss Dolly Castles, Miss .Minnie Love, Mr. Jack . M'Ardlc, nnd others. This afternoon ,i ;l special patriotic matinee is to bo held. A pantomime matinee will be given to- . morrow afternoon, while on Wednesday a evening the only too sho'rt season will 3 be brought to a conclusion. j HIS MAJESTY'S THEATRE. # The best part of the new programme ■ at His Majesty's Theatre this week is a provided by Dan Thomas, a. comedian of many and varied talents. First he gam--1 bols as a pantomime dame, telling i stories not quite unknown. His next 1 item is a sketchy song and story, the reminiscences of a broken-down, aged, theatrical star, and last of all he has a male character song and dance. In his second part, that of a grey, bent old woman, his make-up is exceptionally good. The Three Ruddles, or rather one of tlie three, makes plenty of fun for j. the audience. The "three" are a biggish girl, a littlo girl f and a tiny niannikin. D It is tho niannikin who is funny, for he is a perfect model in miniature of the lamous kinema comedian, Charles Chap- - lm, whose gestures he mimics to the life. , His antics kept the audience in roars of 0 laughter last night. The serious part of the act is acrobatic, and all three do ' good work as tumblers, contortionists, y and equilibrists. George Edwards tells stories to Miss Rosie Parkes, his part- _ ner, and to fhe audience—stories about s a " sorts of things, some of them funny - stories, but not all of them new stories, a Hozeal and Ross have an original , coniedy juggling sketch, "Fun in the 8 Kitchen," one of the best and most 6 novel ideas for a sketch that could be s conveniently adapted to vaudeville requirements. Val Newman is a thin, lank comedian of doleful visage and eccentric method, but ho has also a good voice, 3 sing a good song well, and lie can rc--3 cite tolerably well. Other artists ap--1 pearing arc Miss Eileen Fleury, Lumley and Rhodes, and Tom Dawson. KING'S THEATRE. A change programme of general excellence at the King's Theatre last night was headed by an American Civil War drama, entitled "A Question of Courage." Briefly, the story was of an old Northern home, from which three sons had left for the war. Two were killed, and the broken-hearted mother drugged the third while he was visiting his home, to prevent him going into battle, which was raging a short distanco away. The boy was arrested as a deserter, but the commander on hearing the story, exonerated him. Many thrilling scenes of historical combats were given, and throughout the film was highly interesting. The supporting films were exceptionally good. "The Needs of Commerce" gave one an insight into the method of printing the American note issue, and the industrial picture was of great educative value. "The Human Investment" was an unconventional romance, showing how a poor gtrl, with visions of wealth before her. left to invest her parents' savings iu herself in the city, with the idea of oapturing a wealthy husband. After many trials and temptations she married a wealthy man —her old lover, grown suddenly rich. "The Better Wav" showed how a child's love led her father from paths of sin to respectability. The latest "Pathe's Gazette" contained some topical views of more than ordinary interest. One showed the Italian army, neutral at the time tlie picture was taken, on parade before the King of Italy, and the picture proved that our latest Ally was well prepared. Other topical war pictures were shown, as well as the wonderfully clever anit mated caricatures of the war by Dudley Buxton. A laughable Keystone comedy, "Fatty, Mabel, and the Law," I told of a oampaign against spooning, . in which the great Keystone comedy - Pair, were very amusing. The _prot gramme will bo repeated this evening. f EVERYBODY'S PICTURES. 3 At the head of a capital programme i at Everybody's Pictures this week is a '. sensational military drama entitled "War is Hell!" The story is founded 3 upon an incident, which occurred in s the early stages of the present EuroI pean struggle, and illustrates, the awful - sufferings of the Belgian civilian popu--9 lation wlion the Huns violated the neuf trality of the peaceful State in order ) to gain the easiest road to Pario and r Calais. The scene is laid on the out- = skirt® of a villagu near Alost, and the S time corresponds with the German entry there. In consequence of the ins vaders' failure to obtain information - regarding British troops, the Belgians II at a farm are treated with unexampled " oruelfcy. A British patrol reaches the 3 place at a critical stage, and the German advance party are driven from the '• place after a stirring fight at an old chateau. The drama —a British produc- > tion—attracted crowded sessions, yesterday, and is sure to result in big business at this popular theatre during the ? remainder of the week. A Keystone j comedy of exceptional- merit as a laughter provoker finds a place on the bill. ? It is called "Hogan's Alussy Job," and features the clever comedian Charles Murray, who is excellent in the rola ? uf plasterer. His methods are quite original, and never fail to amuse. The 5 Gaumont Graphic brings the latest news ' from the war theatres, and there are views of all the candidates for the Queen Carnival competition. Besides all these, there is a Vitagraph comedy, "The Evolution of Percival," and a Kalem drama "The Death Train," both ' good items. Music is supplied by an efficient orchestra at both afternoon and P evening sessions. B " THE EMPRESS THEATRE. , "One Flight ITp," a sensational . "feature" drama by tho Reliance Com--1 pany, is the chief attraction of the , change of programme presented at the s Empress Theatre continuous pictures , yesterday. The heroine is Helen,_ a 3 newspaper reporter. The managing - editor promises the staff a substantial " bonus for fhe best "story" during the [ month. Helen injures one of her fingers 3 and goes to tho rooms of Dr. Trine for medical attendance. She is an unseen witness of the doctor being compelled at the point of a revolver to accompany a well-dressed "crook" to a motorcar. Helen hires a taxi and follows the other car to an apartment house, where the "crook" and tho doctor alight. Helen shadows tho two, but is entrapped by a gang of 'crooks." Then silo discovers that one of the men has been seriously wounded ill an encounter with the polioo After tbti doctor has attended to the injured man ho writes a prescription which is to be taken to tlie chemist,. Helen secretly scribbles a hasty memo on the proscription soliciting help. The chemist notices the secret message, and hurries flic police to the liouso, where the gang is arrested. Helen secures tho bonus for tho "scoop" which she lias so plitckily pursued. Tho rest of the series comprises: "The Topical Budget." "Trapped by Heliograph" (Flying A drama), "Rural Demons" (Universal coniedy), and "Coloured Villainy" (Keystone coon comedy).