ENTERTAINMENTS

Dominion, Volume 8, Issue 2568, 16 September 1915, Page 2

ENTERTAINMENTS

THE MAORI OPERA "HLNEMOA." ; The first performance of "Hinemoa." will he given to-night in the Grand Opera House, ■under tlio patronago of Their Excellencies the Governor and Countess of Liverpool, the Right Hon. W. P. Massoy, Sir James Carroll, and Sir Joseph Ward in aid of our wounded soldiers. The play is founded on the legend of Hinemoa, who was looked upon by the early 'Mfloris of Kotoriia as the spirit of all that was good. Hinemoa's beauty rivalled the flowers of the field; it was bewitchiiig to behold and never did it enter the minds of all her people who admired her that the day would inevitably arrive when a suitor would como to claim the fair maiden's heart and hand. One day, however, Fate fashioned its allotted destiny for Hinemoa. One spring morning in a garland nook, a youth, by name Tutanekai, sat beneathi , the trees to play his flute, and hearing a song .being sung by someone who was approaching near by Tutanclcai looked up to see in what direction the stranger was coming, and through the tall reeds Hinemoa appeared. That was the first meeting of Tutanekai with the beautiful maid, and from that very moment they loved each other; but Hinemoa was of very high rank and forbidden to marry; would Tutanekai dare to claim her heart' and hand? He could only obey the dictates of his own heart; the burning passion which he swiftly inherited for Hinemoa; he loved her more than his own life; and after many barriers were broken they were united, and, like the prince in tho fairy story, they lived happy ever afterwards, To see "Hinemoa played by the Maori Opera Company, which comprises forty membors, each one a talented artist, is said to bo a revelation. The scenery is described as -natural and beautiful replicas of landscapes ivlnch adorn Hotorua. The dresses are rich and authentic. A full orchestra travels with the company under thft on ?' " le composer. Mr. Percy Flynn tho play is produced by Mr. Charles °$T r V of ? he Eo 5- al t.T Theatre, Tho Brist'd PlaU 15 MW ° pen at

HIS MAJESTY'S THEATRE Talent «uid novelty of mtire than'ordinaiy quality pervade • this, week's proghirujiic lit His Majesty's Theatre. Much ll ™, nov ris supplied- by an ertraoiuiimm luan-named , Mr, .Lutes. Mr Lutes has 110 arms', bit seems not in the least bit discouraged by that fact. Ho plays a, -trombone, . beats. drums, does u?C ?•and all maiillei- of thiiiss with his feet tllat would appear to iiiako lialking tjiute an incidental function of the lower extremities. Songs ,of the eiltchy order are very. daintily sung bv Miss \ loiet Irevenyoii, billed as an J3 U *- iisli suubrotte, while Miss Hazel Morris 6iugs songs in true American fashion. Other artists jnakiug up a line programme .are: Lew- Hoffman, eccentric tranip jugglerj the liosie Kifle Co.; Herberte, vocalist; Edwards and Partes, comedy artists; Orphea, musician; Ernest ntoiler, comedian; and the Caselli Sisters, dancers. \ THE KING'S. Itat Beach's ''Spoilers," in picture form, c ? n . ?n'. es ™ "ttract more people than even The King's can accommodate. Hundreds of disappointed patrons are turned aivay nightly. The picture is' apparently glnng to equal in New Zealand its sensational success .iii Australia, America, and, more recently, ill Auckland., Tile popular Kathlyn Williams as Cherry Uftlottei gives aii iiiipersonatidn that contributes ill-no small measure, to the sucof the play. William Farnum adds nirthei' to lhs long list of honours as a picture artist, by his portrayal of the hole of Glenistei'. The extremely bald awl n Umoi-ous-looking character, "Slap Jack," never fails to raise the laughs from the onlookers. "The Spoilers" will be screened till Saturday only. The plan is at the Bristol. The usual inatinee will take place ou Saturday, "THE MILLION DOLLAR MYSTERY." At Everybody's on Monday will commence what the American and Australian r 1 ® 85 describe 05 most interesting, well thought out, capably-handled serial picture yet produced. "The Million Dollar- Mjstery" was written by Harold. AL Grratli, the eminent American author, who thereby secured, a prize of 10,000 dollars. lij this picture the plot deals with the theft of a box of valuable .securl j't -■ - c,i vn^e( l ai t a million dollars, and the search for its recovery carries the picture through 23 episodes,, all of a most exciting nature. The film is described as one reaching the 'apex in diftmatic themes. Love, romance, and sensation figuring largely throughout every episode; Starting -.-writh the . first episode, "The Airship iii the Night,", commencing -next Monday patrons are carried forwhrd freek by'- w'feek with a' different mystery until the final scene, where everything is made clear 'and "Tile Million Dollar Mystery" is no longer a mystery to photo-play-goers. This picture had an enormous success in America and Australia, and it is anticipated from its debut here iieit Monday tintil the end of the twenty-third episode that Everybody's will achieve the fullest measure) •of success.

EVERYBODY'S THEATRE. "The Living Death" is the leading picture in the present .programme at Everybody's Theatre. The pichiro has to do frith love and its attendant tribulations ill proper dramatic fashion, .ending in triumph for true, love over selfishness and greed; The comic element is well represented, in. one of. the Keystone farces, "Guzzle Tied to Trouble," in which Syd. Chaplin .features; •' and "His Phantom Sweetheart.". "The Giuimont Graphic," "Life of a Swedish Laplander," and Others go to make up a programme of high merit. ' . THE EMPRESS. ' The new feature heading to-day's programme is a special Vitngraph' two-part drama, entitled "Out of the Past." The picture is distinguished by excellent acting, and it has a splendid real life plot. It is the story of a woman whose early environment had not been of the best, but who had managed to keep free from contamination. She marries an honourable nian, from whom she keeps all knowledge of her past history. Her father and an accomplice burgle her home. The story provides many sensational' situations, aud the drama. is brought to a satisfying and highly dramatic final, The Keystone Company are again to the fore with a captivating farce, called "Those Bitter Sweets." The "Australian Gazette" shows our Maori troops, dancing a haka prior to leaving for the front. Some excellent topical cartoons 'are included in the ftllli, Another special subject.is tho recent great catastrophe at Chicago when, a river excursion steamer over-turned and drowned over a thousand holiday-makers. The arrival of our wounded soldiers from the front is depicted in "Back from Gallipoli," a film taken at very close quarters, and so showing intimate views of the crowd and the men.

THE BRITANNIA THEATRE. That stirring and powerful drama, adapted from John Oxenham's well-known novel still holds sway at the Britannia Theatre this week. The picture has seemingly been produced regardless of expense, embracing as it does such gorgeous scenery and effects, of which the snow scenes are perhaps of ruling interest. The acting is a decided feature of tho production, which should not be missed. The last three days of this special picture are announced.