ENTERTAINMENTS

Dominion, Volume 9, Issue 2666, 11 January 1916, Page 2

ENTERTAINMENTS

HIS MAJESTY'S TIIEATKE. The patrons of vaudeville wero excellently catered for/at His Majesty's Tlieati'ii la.'it evening. Tlie is moit untei'tiiining, and it is excellently varied. Among the chief of the new turns 011 the bill is a remarkable slack-wire performance by' Bollinger and Eeynolds, Their l'eats at limes are quite thrilling. Tho astonishing ccrtainty with which they do all sorts of unexpected tilings on the wire holds one in a grip that few artists can secure on spectators. Besides balancing 011 the wire, and things placod on the wire, they furn sonierstiults that aro positively hair-raising. The special reengagement of Misses Amy Jturpiiy and Nellie Blnck proved a highly popular cnuisaetion. Tlio talented musicians sang and played as dcliglvvfully as ever. They are artists from whom the audience can novor hear enough, and there is small limit to tho encores which tho house endeavours to secure. George AVheeler, tramp musician, extracts good music from n. set of carpenter's tools and a collection of bottles. His performance is a particularly clover one. Also 011 the bill are The Astellcs (athletes), AVard Lear, Miss Violet Trevenyon, Betty .Bruce, Con Moroni, and Armstrong' and llowarth. Alice Pierce did not appear last evening owing to the late arrival of the vessel she is coming-by. However, she is announced to appear to-night. '

.' TIIE KING'S THEATRE. ' Patrons 01 the King's Theatre have been so frequently treated to big features in pictures that tho management lias adopted the idea that it would be useless to screen anything other than the latest and best. That 110 doubt accounts fct the succession of star attractions iu recent weeks. 111 accordance with tkfe custom, the new programme last night was Headed'by the London wonderful production, "The Shulanute," and the theatre was again filled in every corner by another great crowd. "The Shulamite," a delightful novel by Alice and Claudo Askew, lonils itself admirably to pictorial adaptation. It has been produced with an extraordinary attention to detail, and a fidelity to the scenes so "beautifully described by tho authors. The acting is superb throughout. Included in tho cast is the popular British actor, Gerald Ames, who is supported by two new leading players, Miss Manora Tliew and Norman M'Kinnell. It is not too much to say that the picture version of the well-known work is even more satisfying (hail the novel, which makes such pleasant and entertaining reading. There is a Biblical foundation for the theme.iu the "Song of Solomon," and there are three distinct phases in the story, which, howover, principally deals with the sensational experiences of a beautiful yoimg woman, who was foolish enough to marry a husband much older than herself—a rich and exceedingly cruel Boer farmer, who semed. bent 011 making' hist own life and that of his wife as mi'jeraWe as possible. TII6 scenes aTe well harmonised, a'nd the plot is admirably worked out to a grand climax. The supporting items include a gorgeous scenic, "North AVales, the British Tyrol" (Urban); a lanshablo farce-comedy, "Help! Help!" (Than-, ousev); and an interesting edition of tho Patlio European Gazette. Delightful music is provided by tho King's Symphony Orchestra.

EVERYBODY'S THEATRE. Excellent as have been tho many programmes, shown from week to week at Everybody's Theatre since pictures were established there, it is doubtful if there has ever been <1. bettor one than that introduced yesterday.- The new films include dramatic and comic items of the host type, and also sceiiic and topical subjects of much interest. Big crowds thronged the theatre yKterday, and business is likely to continue good while the pictures are up to the present standard. "A Battle of AYits" is the titlo of tli<. latest episode of "The Million Dollar Mystery," aud in this the popular hero, Jim Norton, has some startling adventures. As usual, however, he manages to escape from tho clutches of the, Black Hand Gang. Also dramatic in character is the film entitled "Hilda of tho Slums," a Vitagraph. production. The comedies are two in number, "Jimmie on the Job" (Edison) and "Jii\ks on Jenks" (Komic. The latter has a. neat little plot, based Upon the doings of two business men, who imbibed too freely, and set out for home too late. Just now, when all eyes are turned upon the situation in the Balkans, the scenic film, "Salonika," is 6ure to prove an attraction to the .public. The views convey some idea of the valuable property entrusted to the defence of the Allies, quite apart from tho strategic position of tho Greek port. An edition of the "Gaumont Graphic" includes the funeral of the late famous actor, Mr. Lewis AYalier; Lord Kitchener inspecting the National Guard at AVcllington Barracks; French observation post in Lorraine; making barbed wire entanglements behind the French lines; the Royal Engineers at work, etc. Musical items form an important part of the, entertainment, the arrangements being in the capable hands of Mr. Herbert Bloy.

EMPKESS THEATRE. "The Strange Story of Sylvia Gray" is the chief attraction at tho • Empress Theatre this week, and it is a picture well worth seeing. In this particular film Miss Helen. Gardner portrays three different characters. Tliey are distinct in every particular, yet one is unable to know the actress in her different roles. Only an artist of exceptional ability could satisfactorily accomplish the feat, aud Miss Gnrdnor succeeds in doing this. The picture is a A'"itagraph feature, and Aliss Gardner takes the parts of Sylvia Gray (the young mother), the daughter, and tho old mother—three in one. Briefly told, the story is as follows:—Henry Gray, a playwright, is at the end of his resources when his fascinating young wifo deserts him and pursues a iil'e of gaiety with a rich young man named Lennos. The picture shows how, many years later, the daughter, now an artist's model, iri'eets her parents at a spiritualistic seance. The drama -has a "surprise finish," which has to bo seen to be appreciated. Amongst the supporting films sto some interesting subjects, which include the Topical Gazette, .containing all the latest happenings in other parts of the Empire, and pictures showing our Allies, the Frcucli, in tho firing line. A picture of particular interest just now is that of tho Maheno, New Zealand's first hospital ship, returning to these shores after an absence of several mouths. Two. comic studies aro also well worth seeing—they are entitled "A Quiet Game" and "Never Despair." Tho programme will bo repeated at all sessions throughout the week.