ENTERTAINMENTS

Dominion, Volume 9, Issue 2637, 7 December 1915, Page 3

ENTERTAINMENTS

HIS MAJESTY'S'THEATRE. i Last evening saw the appearance of some new artists at His Majesty's Theatre, but the quality of their'performances, did not dim the light of the "stars," who appeared last week and-still-''remain in tiie bill. Henri French, the "comedian on wheels," is a remarkably clever and versatile artist, and his turn in the new programme is a complete variation of thai of last week. On a miniature unicycle (without handles or support of any kind), ho manoeuvred with amazing deftness and composure, and with a. coupie of sizeable wheels adjusted'as skates'executed some exceedingly graceful movements, which would have been equally effective without the vocal accompaniment. ' George Dixon, with his ooucertmaa and other eccentri'c instruments, was delightfully entertaining, and the talented i'hil .l'erciva! was Very amusing in his sketch, ",£IOOO Heward and No One Alivo to Tell the Tale.' Nelson and Nelson, the acrobatic comedians on-stilts," are"'as"clever'as they are funny, and their act is' alive with fun and frolic of h unique character. A new performer was Ted Kussell, noted in tlio programme as the first vaudeville artist to return from the war. His specialty is that phase of vocalism known as jodeiling,. and he jo dels very well. As a comedian he falls short of the standard, and the yarns he spun had a chestnutty flavour. Joe, Charles, and Diana are mildly humorous jokists and singers of a - conventional order. Vernon and Sinclair appeared in a sketch in which a practical joker scares his wife out of her wits by masquerading as a burglar,. In the course of the sketch Mr. Vernon, in dolorous pitch and at a tempo, reoited the monologue, "Jly Old Chum."- This performer, who is distinctly talented, requires to "speed up" a littlo and get away from the monotone in which be speaks. Shea^and. Carter, -"the harpistand the artist,"' provide a musical and vocal act that will improve with experience on the vaudeville stage. Mr. Shea has a pretty' sympathetic tenor voice, which he. exercises in Irish' song. His liest efforts last- evening were "The Last Rose of Summer" and a charming little gong of Puccinian' flavour,' entitled "Life is a Happy Song." Miss Carter is a fairly accomplished harpist with a distinctly attractive appearance. This turn could be improved by creating, a little sketch, which would give some point to the presence of the harpist in the artist's studio end servo as an introdaction to the songs.

KING'S ■ ..THEATRE.

A' very ambitious photo,-drama,'- entitled "No Greater Love," was the star: attraction at the King's Theatre last nigh, and this and !the other films in the'new programme were ■ greatly appreciated by the largo number present. No Greater Love" is the story of a iv-oman'a heart, written by Wm. Le Queux, and the chief character; "Sadimah,' the Dancer," ' was impersonated by Mdlle., Eegina Badet, a great French' tragedienne. "Sadimah," a woman of Remarkable beauty and ■ talent, was absorbed in love f6r her • daughter, an innocent girl not blighted by the world asher mother was. It wsa the ambition of the dancer to keep her daughter away from , the lure of the stage, and settle her as the respectable wife of some, honourable man, who v;as* not to know that the girl was the daughter of a music-hall; artist. To forward her plan;. Siidanab marries a rich, financier, and almost sees her • cherished plans completed when the girl becomes engaeed-to the son of an English peer. At this critical stage her husband, who lhas gone wrong in one of his financial deeds,, is threatened with exposure; as a thief. To save this Sadimah induces Him. to murder his rich old uncle, and put the blame on a servant. In a dramatic scene the crime is carried ■ out', but sooii after the murderer dies suddenly. His secretary finds out the facts about the-uncle's death, and threatens'to expose the whole thing , unless Sadimah consents to • his marriage 'with her daughter. The woman, rather than see this come to gass, clever-' ly; plans, and carries out, an accident whereby she and the secretary are killed.' Thus she saves her daughter at the loss of her.'ofrn life.iv,l'he;*acting'is-pov.i erful throughout, , and the'.stage settings' beautiful. A good supporting film-com-edy is "The Sort of Girl That Came From Heaven," with Anita Stewart as a designing maiden, .and'Earle Williams an man.. - The 'Patlie'. Gazette, containing me latest topical news,' was also shown. The programme will, bo repeated this evening. .

EVERYBODY'S THEATRE. / "The Elusive - Treasure Box," tie twelfth episode of the "Million Dollar Mystery," is the headliner at -EveryTheatre this week. Each succeeding episode increases the mystery of the serial, and No. 12, although perhaps not 60 thrillingly sensational as some of the earlier instalments, is a vastly interesting and well-acted production. The muchhunted treasure is accidentally raised from its concealment on the bottom of the sea by. a ship's anchor, and . is clandestinely secured by' l a sailor who on smuggling it ashore runs into-a quarrel with-another seaman, and the chest is lost to the deep again. l By a lucky chance the Black Hundred schemers learn of its whereabouts, and one of their number is deputed to get it. ' A- mysterious caller to Florence's house is a-man wlo, although his identity is not known to her, is . her father. A scout'-'of. the Black Hundred espies him in the garden talking to the faithful butler Jones. and is 1 about' to shoot him when Florence from a window of the house gets in the first shot, and he rushes off wounded in the arm. The treasure box . is duly brought to the mystic den of the schemers. -The butler and- Norton (Florence's lover) cleverly gain admittance to the

moating place of the ruffians, and just when the chest is about to be opened the light is extinguished and the treasure disappears, leaving the Black Hundred once more foiled. "A Eliscal's Wolfish Way," a fine comedy by the Keystone Company, also takes a considerable part" of the programme, and is oortainly a laughable film. The Gaumont Graphic is especially interesting this week, while there is also an exceptionally fine scenic study.

EMPRESS THEATRE. ■' "God's Witness," a film.by the famous Taahouser Company, and a picture of great beauty, was shown for the first time at the Empress Theatre yesterday, and drew crowds, especially at the evening sessions. In' this picture Florence La Badie, the clever actress, is featured, and she plays her part with great skill., "God's Witness" is an adaptation of Augusta Evans Wilson's famous novel "At the Mercy of Tiberius." It is the story of a woman's sacrifice, 'and told in a way to grip and appeal to all. Tlio plot is excellently worked out, and the interest is maintained to-the end. Tlie scenic ef- ■ fects are splendid, and characteristic of the. Tonliouser Film Company's productions. The beautiful homes in the Southern . States of Amorica are to be seen, also quaint scenes depicting negro lifo as it is -in the States. Florence La Badie has a part that suits her admirably, anil she is particularly good in tile great murder trial. "God's Witness" wil pleaeo all vrho see it. Some remarkable photographic feats are associated with the film. The lightning phenomenon which photographed a 6cene on t'ae window glass, and so made the indisputable evidenco that saved an accused girl's life, is well brought out. It is from thi? incident that the film gets its title of "God's Witness." There is also an exeelleut supporting programme, which includes a rollicking comic, entitled "Only a Messenger Boy," in which Ford' Stirling is the laughter-maker. • ' <

"MESSIAH" TO-NIGHT. . The _ Wellington Musical Union will, bring its 1915, season to a close this evening, when Handel's great oratorio "Messiah" will be rendered in the Town Hall. The conductor for this concert will be Mr. Robert Parker, who was invited by the Musical Union to direct on this occasion. Mr. Parker's long and eminent connection with musical matters in New Zealand (extending over a period of Mi years) and his very successful leadership of the Wellington Musical Union during the. first' ten years of its existence will doubtless. cause his reappearance at the conductor's desk to be much looked forward to. The Musical. Union has made special efforts to ensurS a very notable performance. In order that the massive Handelian-choruses may be given with proper weight and vigour, the assistance of a large number of extra singers, has been seoured, and with the support of a numerous string orchestra and the grand organ a very, sound and adequate performance is anticipated. Included in tlio chorus work ■ will be the great. "Amen" Chorus, which is frequently omitted on account of its exacting nature. Another item seldom heard here will be the fine baritone - solo, "Tire Trumpet) Shall Sound." Mr. Chas. Clarkson will declaim the air and by special arrangement with Mr. W. Bowman be will play the stirring instrumental obligate on a trumpet. The other soloists are: Soprano, Mrs. W. Fogarty; contralto, Miss Janie Knight; and tenor, Mr. S. Laslett Extou, while the Union's conductor. Mr. H. S. Claughton will preside at the grand organ. Among those'who hope to be present are Her Excellency the Countess of Liverpool, the Eight Hon.'the; . Premier, and Sir Joseph Ward. The seat plan is stated to be rapidly filling, and intending patrons are advised to book promptly. For the convenience of suburban residents, arrangements have been made to delay the Hutt- and Johnsonville trains : till after the concert. '