ENTERTAINMENTS

Dominion, Volume 9, Issue 2643, 14 December 1915, Page 3

ENTERTAINMENTS

* HIS MAJESTY'S THEATRE.

Vaudeville has its patrons all the year round, and at the festive season of tho year there are always those who like to acquire at least a proportion of their cheer from the clever people who frequent the boards at His Majesty's Theatre. Last night's audience was a particularly largo and enthusiastic one, when favourites old and new presented a bright, snappy programme. Among the familiars to return to Wellington favour were-eccentric Tom Armstrong and Miss Mab! Howarth (his vivacious and ialented partner. Mr. Armstrong's "daffyisms," which included comical references' to Henry Ford and vivacious and talented partner). Mr. Armhis ''Old Madrid" jiarody and the catchy "Tommy" song, illustrating the roving love of a soldier, were also "hits." Sterling and Love also reflected war conditions in; their clever Retell, "Falling In and Falling Out," in which Mr. Sterling, as a bugler in khaki, makes love to Miss Love . as a -Red Cross, nurse, between what times he is not discoursing war-like music on the bugle and cornet. Phil Percival, tho amusing comedian' at the piano, was 'heard in familiar items, and Henri French ventured a complete change by presenting a number of burlesque impersonations of well-known composers from Liszt-to Sousa,. with comic diversions, and also gave a fairly faithful, if brief, imitation hi character of the late Sir Henry Irving in "Dr.. Jekyll and Mr. Hyde." Mr. French is certainly one of the most versatile artists the Fuller management has introduced. A - very agile performer new to Wellington is Decas, a Continental clown, whose amazing nonstart somersaults and head-springs created a good deal more admiration than his attempts at comedy. As laughter-makers Delavale and Gilbert (the long and the short of it) scored heavily. The lengthy person is a comedian who cannot fail to induce hearty guffaws' whenever he stalks round. Other performers who brightened thejbill were Vernon and' Sinclair, Joe Charles and Dani, and Ted Russell. , THE KING'S THEATRE. At the ling's Theatre. this week the .feature film on the new programme is a Vitagraph oornedy," entitled "C.0.D." or. "Three of, a Kind." It is framed on a bright-idea, and, with a talented cast to act the parts, the, story provokes genuine laughter. The characters include' three wealthy married men, who go for a holiday, posing;' as bachelors; their three wives, who also go tor a- holiday and pose as widows; three dudes; three daughters of a farmer; and three escaped prisoners. The "bachelors" flirt with the farmer's daughters, the dudes flirt with the "widows," and by a strange coincidence all meet at the farm. The arrival of the three ■ escaped prisoners is followed by. extraordinary complications, biit excuses are forthcoming; and the end of the comedy is satisfactory to all hut' the, escaped prisoners. A -film taken on the French front;, during the visit of King' Albert of the Belgians, showed much of the character of the soldier King, who was associated in the picture with [President Poincare and General Joffre. ■ A very funny subject,'. indeed, was - "The Rooster's Nightmare." The picture is. little more than a rapid , series of pen and ink sketches of life on a poultry-run. The "Pathe Gazette" had the usual topical pictures from Europe, a feature being the training of-the new armies of tho Allies. one'of the Pathe coloured scenics dealt -interestingly with the isles of the Znyder Zee, and at the'same time introduced - some effective colours. In the KaJem railroad drama, "A Girl's Grit," a well-known actress, Helen Holmes, earned much applause for the valuable assistance she lent the police in . the capture of a couple of daring robbers. Appropriate musical items are played by the King's Symphony Orchestra, under, the; direction of. Mr. A'. H. Jerome. EVERYBODY'S'THEATRE: , This week's programme at Everybody's , Theatre, commencing yesterday, is again headed by'a further episode—the 13th—of that interesting serial thriller, "The Million Dollar Mystery." The "attempts of the band, of unscrupulous people, known as the "Black Hundred," .to abduct the daughter of a millionaire, have all alori^:-proved futile, and . the head centre of tie:gang in Russia is hecoming exasperated. They dispatch an agent,- who by his arrogance and boastfulhess creates feelings ~of enmity and jealousy "/Among the leaders, of the unsuccessful branch. The Countess Olga and , her , associate'-Braine are properly angered. The. Russian agent goes ahead with his schemes for abducting the girl, but one of his letters happens to be found by the Countess j while visiting , Florence. Believing that his plans have been successful the agent, excitedly .informs the "Black Hundred" : that lie has captured her.' His "capture" is brought into the meeting, and lie dramatically tears the wrap:from her head, revealing to the surprised ruffians, not Florence, hut tho C-ountess. The "Black Hundred" is thus once more • completely, foiled. Another drama of considerable interest 'is "The Steeplejack's Revenge,"- which depicts in a most realistic way a struggle, between rival- lovers on a high scaffolding. It is stated as an actual fact' that this scaffolding, when the struggle was taking place for the camera, actually broke, 'and the two men had an exciting struggle for their lives.' Both were injured. Good comedy is provided by the Komic Co. in a film, "Over and Back," in which that renowned beauty. Fay Tickner, is featured. Other good films are:—The "G'aumont Graphic," containing some -particularly interesting pictures, ."Labour Day in. Wellington," "Billie Joins the Navy" /comic), and a scenic, showing l interesting views of. Scarborough (Yorkshire).

EMPRESS THEATRE. . "Tile Man in the Attic" is tile star picture at the Empress Theatre tyis week, and it' is one well worth seeing.; Briefly told, the story is as follows:—One Jacob" Clay is a miser, '-who lives in Gooeli Alley, where there also dvells a mother and her daughter."'. The miser is mysteriously murdered, and suspicion is thrown upon the mother. The film portrays many realistic incidents of shun life in Loiidoii, and some of tlio queer characters which are met there. The London Films Company have a.great reputation for the excellence of, their work in this class of subject. One of their most notable successes was "The Middleman," and "The Man in the Attic" is quite up to their usual standard. The staging is good and the acting of the principals is excellent; There is ,also a strong .supporting programme, which includes a World Film comedy entitled "Mashers and Splashers," depicting a bevy of beauties. A, specially, interesting picturo' is one showing British heroes boing presented with the Distinguished Conduct pedals at Harefield. The Topical Budget exceptionally interesting .this week, and it portrays a company of GeVinan prisoners captured at Loos. "THE; MESSIAH." Handel's oratorio, "The Messiah," is to bo given in the Town Hall to-night by the Royal Choral Society, under the direction of Mr.- Bernard Page, city organist. The', performance promises to rival some of tlis best concerts the society has given. Last evening the chorus and orchestra, numbering 250, rehearsed the work at tho Town Hall, and their regard' to the finer parts of music showed that Mr. Page's coaching had given them an artistic conception of the work." A special feature of the solo work to-night will be I the singing of Mr. Sigurd Lestrup, the Danish baritone. His singing of "WhyDo Tho Nations" and "The Trumpet Shall I' 1 Sound" ivas. yqry fine indeed at the final rehearsal." ' "Miss Rhodes, of Auckland, I is the soprano, Mrs. Rosewnrne the contralto, and. Mr. Martin Duff the tenor. The doors 1 -will open at ,7.15 and the concert conclude about 10.20. The box plan is at the, Bristol, where 3s. and 2s. seats can be reserved; Is. tickets will b,e on sale at the box office till to-night. Hutt and Johnsonville trains will ,be delayed. till 10.45 p.m. MARIST BROS.' SCHOOL CONCERT. The annual concert of the pupils of the Marist Brothers (Tasman Street) will- take place in the Concert Chamber of the Town Hall on Wednesday. The concerts given by'the Marist Bros.' boys have been very suciessful in past years,- big crowds gathering,to enconrage the pupils in their juvenile efforts before the footlights, in the arts of acting, singing, and displays of physical drill. ; This'year the boys have been \under careful preparation, and so they promise to keep up the reputation oi the school in its annual concerts.. The . proceeds are to be devoted to the " relief of the Brothers in Europe, 000 of whom are fighting: in the ■ Allies' armies. Mauy have fallen fighting at the front, but a. greater number still . have been wounded and disabled, and are . sorely needing monetary assistance,, as the Brothers have no revenue to fall tack, upon when incapacitated, for Tork. Those who'will attend may look forward to a musical treat 'whilst contributing to a very charitable object.