ENTERTAINMENTS

Dominion, Volume 9, Issue 2591, 13 October 1915, Page 9

ENTERTAINMENTS

"THE GIRL IN THE TAXI." The Grand Opera House will be reopened next Saturday night, when the J. C. Williamson new English Musical Comedy Company mil present the successful musical comedy, "The Girl in the Taxi," which treats almost exclusively tho happenings at a famous French restaurant, where much genuine fun is infused into the doings and sayings of its habitues and employees. There are rich and gay costumes and handsome scenery, nil employed to embellish a striking picture of social happenings at supper time, whero not 0110 wife alono, but several wives, are concerned in the embroglio of the play. "High Jinks," the second production, is an . hilarjous nightmare, and it furnishes scenes of much musical frivolity and light-hearted good humour, with many mirthful situations. The name of "High Jinks" serves the double purpose of describing tho action of everybody concerned, while under tho-influence of the perfume "High Jinks." This magical scent has . the effect of making any person who sniffs it amorously happy and doliriously demonstrative. The final production, which will be staged on October 27 and 28, will be the latest London success, "The Girl on tho Film." This musical comcdy is from the home of burlesque, the London Gaiety, and is full of bright numbers, amnsing scenes, and lively dances. The company, which has been specially selected, contains, with one or two exceptions, artists whom "Wellington audiences have not previously seen. Tho box plans for the season of eleven nights will open at the Bristol to-morrow morning at 9 o'clock. FEATURE FILM AT THE KING'S. 'Another large attendance was present at the King's Theatre last night, and received with the heartiest appreciation the Majtetic feature film, "Her Shattered Idol." The idealisation of tho brawny blacksmith .by the romantic girl as tho cave-man of her dreams, who fought for her and carried her off to his cave, is a: clever satire on hero-worship. How she is won from lier foolish love and wooed back to her true lover makes one of the most laughable comedies that has ever been screened in Wellington.,- The Selig Company's offering, "His Jungle Sweetheart," 'is a fine animal drama, with a distinct thrill in it- and Baoel Barre's cartoon work in the TJdison picture. "Cartoons in a Laundry," are wonderfully cloTer and amusmsr. A particularly interesting "Gazette" and some beautiful scenic studies complete a. programme that has seldom been passed.' Patrons are romindeii that seats may be reserved at the, Bristol Piano Depot. The prespnt programme will l>e shown throughout the w™k, with n inntinee on Saturday afternoon. * "NEPTUNE'S DAUGHTER," Although this remarkable photo-play i 6 now in its third week at the People's Picturo Palace, the charm and thrill of the acting, the picturesqueness of tho scenery, and the admirable quality of the photography, all combine in still drawing overflowing attendances. There are so many exquisite natural scenes to delight the "eye that it is difficult to select any for special mention.,,-Annette Kellerman figures in most of them, and in some appears as if she were part of the original, mould, contributing to a fascinating picture. Many weird effects aro produced before the onlookers, notably tho transformation by the Sea Witch of the guilty designing princess into an actopus, which disappears in the deep. The last four nights of "Neptune's Daughter" are announced. Tho box plans aTe at the Bristol.

"DAMON AND PYTHIAS." "Damon and Pythias," the great Grecian photo-play which is to follow "Neptune's Daughter" here at the People's Picture Palace, is said to bo one of the costliest productions ever made. . Many months of research were required .before actual work was begun, so accnrate lias been the director's planning to make this the most perfect realisation of Greece in her glorious days, and the' soenic framework of the greatest story of human friendship that has survived all ages. The beautiful friendship that existed between Damon and Pythias has been an unending fount of inspiration to those who have' sought for and extended, the brotherly love of man for man. It will be presented here in five parts, which are said to be full of dramatic fire, heart sentiment, and containing many glorious-ly-depicted scenes of Greece in the days of her pomp and gloTy.

. ' HIS MAJESTY'S THEATRE. Among the several star turns that have lieen seen at His Majesty's Theatre dur--ing the past couple of weelcs probably the absolute' best is that of Miss Maisie Pollard and Mr. Fred. Jackson, tho operatic duettists. The pair carried the house by storm on their first appearance on Monday, and they repeated their success with emphasis last night. Other performers who pleased tjie audience immensely' were Rowley aiiu Tointon, American dancers; M'Coirnell and Austin, trick cyclists; Lew Hoffman, the hat maniac; aud, of course, Leonard Kelson, whoso oatch.v songs were as jtopular as over last night. - THE ..EMPRESS.. "The Enemies," a particularly powerful sea story of the stirring type, described in some of Jack Loudon's books, tops the pirograinme at the Empress. The Vitagraph Company has succeedcd in obtaining the settings and_ cast necessary to make a highly realistic film, and tho picture is meeting with deserved applause from crowded houses. The wellknown Edith Storey and Harry Morey enact the leading Toles, and tho supporting cast includes Harry Northern and other favourites. No more virile, stirring dTania of its kind has ever been shown than this filmed story by Morgan Robertson. On the supporting programme is "How Mary Fixed It," a pleasing comody, in which the world' 6 favourite artist, Mary Pickford, is seen, together with Owen Moore. The departing ofsome of our Maori warriors is entitled, "Auckland's Send-off to the' Maori Reinforcements/' The Lubin Company contribute a series of very clever and humourous cartoons, called "A Barnyard Mix Up." There is a very., interesting budget of war news, which includes scones showin" the Italians celebrating victories over the Austrian?. and many interesting happenings in Engjand.

EVERYBODY'S THEATRE. Crowded ' sessions wero at Everybody's Thentro yesterday, and as tne current picture programme is an excellent one, the big business should continue at this popular house of nmusement. The star drama is entitled, "Whom the Gods Would Destroy.' It is produced by the well-known Lubm Co., Md is a thrilling play, remarkably we 1 acted. The fourth episode of The Milion Dollar Mystery" is screened, and there is also a capital Keystone comedy as well as the usual topical film. BAXTER BUCKLEY RECITAL'. ■ The "farewell" pianoforte recital to be riven on Friday next at the Concert Chamber will be the sixteenth proCTamme by this well-known pianist. March, laid, saw the of these recitals since, when over 200 piano items bv composers of all nations, have been played, including nearly 100 compositions entirely new to Wellington audiences. A. further batch will be given on Friday. Mrs.. Woodward and Mr. Frank Charlton will bo tlio vocalists. The box plan is at I the Bristol, where bookings are reported to be onconrfl'sinff.

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