ENTERTAINMENTS

Dominion, Volume 9, Issue 2677, 25 January 1916, Page 3

ENTERTAINMENTS

"OUR MISS GIBBS." ' Gipsy Love" was played for the last time last evening before a full house, which enjoyed the play to the full. io-night the popular music comedy success. Our Miss Gibbs," one of the daintiest, prettiest, and most humorous plays staged in Australasia during recent J'"?? I '?' wl ." 1 36 staged. Suohi a production, •tilled as it is from beginning to end with lmii and frolic, and boasting a score rich 111 bright and numbers, must ever be welcome whenever it is staged. The handsome and artistic stage setting and dazzling oolour scheme, and the magnificent dresses are, it is said, quite a -feature, of the revival." Right through the three acts of "Our Miss Gibbs" the fun is fast ana furious, and both Mr. Leslie Holland , and Mr. Phil Smith arc, it is stated, seen at their very best in the roles of the Honourable Hughie Pirre- , , point and Timothy Gibbs respectively. Miss-Minnie Love's Mary Gibbs is said to be the very best this talented young actress has yet been seen in. An old favourite, Miss Maggio Moore, will make her 'reappearance in the role of the Duchess of .Minster. Miss Ethel Cadman will sing the part of Lady ; Elizabeth .Thanet, and Reginald Roberts and Derek'Hudson are both congenially oast. C. R. ■: Bantook will again appear as the Earl of St. Ives. Miss Addio linuard will appear as Madame Jeanne, and Albert and John Ralston are also in the' cast. Only representations can be staged •f 'Our Mies Gibbs,". and 011 Friday evening "Paul Jones" will be staged. On Saturday and Monday next "The Quaker Tir j w , produced, on Tuesday and nil. , ay "Ma Mia Rosette," and on .Ihursday February 3, the great London Play, "The ; Dancing Mistress," I"" b ®Presented. The plans for "Our _ Miss Gibbs" and "Paul Jones"-are now open, and for i-he remainder of the season Che plans will be opened to-morrow morning. .. HIS MAJESTY'S THEATRE. ..The programme of vaudeville at His •Majesty's Theatre strikes a strong note of originality, and, gave evident pleasure ■ I? the large audience which assembled at the opening.performance last night. ,Two .vocalists, male and female, described as Les Neapolitaiues," gave an ■ enjoyable musical medley, composed of selections from grand opera, and the latest topical successes. _ Tne lady has. a- sweet mezzosoprano, voice,. and-the male a powerful baritone. Their contribution was wifhnly applauded. Mable and. Malfe appeared m a clever exhibition of various forms of dancing, .the lady dancing •• to the clussical measure made faimiliar by Miss Maud Allan, her male companion followVJJf w 'th a highly amusing burlesque. Miss Anita Primrose gave a. series of clever- character sketches, her-*excellent v voice being heard to - advantage ', in the waltz refrain'of "Dublin Bay," while her . portrayal of an Italian woman w ; as exceedingly clever. Ford and Davis scored their chief success in a "burlesque operatic medley,'' while, the latter (Miss -Ivy Davis) showed histrionic ability in a reci"Seein' Things." Les Teodor-ft-icz, the Danish gymnasts, show rare puce, strength, and agility in a performance arranged on novel linear Air. Geor»e Eredo's'humorous sallies 'cause _ much merriment, and his playing of a number of -novel musical instruments was awarded appreciative applause. The yuealeys appear in an excellently-staged' , musical sketch, the sceno' being & departmental 6tore, and the songs set to tamiliar mnsic, being both apt and witty. Kmp and Kippy show a succession of •- . juggling acts, the eccentricities of the comedian of the party arousing much laughter., . Pollard and Jackson contributed lyrics,; humorous numbers, and duets .from grand opera, and received a flattering reception. , Leonard's performing dogs show really astonishing intelligence, and the, agility of one member of the canine party, displayed in an. acrobatic turn, was rewarded with the hearty plaudits 01 the audience". The programme ffiil run;for tile remainder of this weoj.

THE KING'S THEATHE. A picture play which is a very much elaborated account of what happened to a certain coster before ho soliloquised* a certain song immortalised by Albert Chevalier, is the feature of the King's Theatre programme for the week. . The title, "My Uld JJutch, is the same /as that of-Chev-wier s song, but.the pipture might easily luave score of other" titlies'"were' Albert Chevalier not himsiSlf in the leading part. The story is of two young costers, Joe and Sal, liow they woo.and wed and how they are joyful and sad, prosperous and poor in the forty years that thev are together. Early'in their married life'a. son is born to them, and sdon arterwards a legacy comes to Sal. The fond parents decide at once that every penny of/it must go to make the boy a gentleman. The boy grows up, .is educated, takes on the veneer of gentility, sees nothing of his father and mother, and goes the pace with other men' and women of other less worthy types. So the legacy goes the . way of many legacies, : and the .gentleman, after a talk with a stern Did coster who claims to be his father, Bets about making a man of- himself. ■> He goes abroad to seek a fortune, and the old folk remain at home to face poverty and sickness and hard luck generally. 1 The boy comes home and makes their old'age happy and comfortable, but before his return Joe and Sal .were in the .workhouse.. Not much of a story, perhaps,' but it' makes a good picture play,' chiefly because M the magnificent, acting of' Albert Chevalier and Florence Turner in the parts of Joe and Sal. Earlier in the programme is a frivolous picture which tells h'ow several absurd young and middle-aged men fell in love with and pursued a widow with

good looks and experience, and a passion for surfing and flirting. The denouement is astounding: the gilded youth who pays all the hills and yet never prospers in his suit is_ told that, the lady is his late father's widow, wherefore the youth at once feels free to make such violent love as he pleases to "Ma Ma" (American spelling). The Patho Gazette is mostly a war review. The section which pleased the crowd most was a column of marching Russians on one of their ■ quagmire roads through the snow. And they looked convincing, those marching Russians. EVERYBODY'S THEATRE. "The Million Dollar Mystery," the serial picture, which occupies the attention of a large number of patrons of Everybody's Theatre every week, provides somo most .exciting incidents m the nineteenth episode, entitled "The Underground River." The, staging of this series is wonderful in the extreme, and the plot of the great drama now appears to be unfolding itself. Certainly the; story becomes more interesting as it progresses. Another dramatic item on this week's programme is the Edison Company's production, "When Conscience Sleeps," a pathetic domestio subject, illustrating the efforts of a faithful wife to rouse her husband to a correct sense of right and wrong. Some good war scenes are screened in the latest "Gaumont Graphic," which carries on the topical side of the entertainment. It embraces recent events in the British Isles and in different corners of the Continent of Europe. Two comedies of _ a highly amusing character are also included in the bill. One of these is "Housekeeping Under Cover," in which the best comedians of the World's Film Company create a perfect maelstrom of mirtn. The other features Billy Reeves in a laughable farce, called "Think of the Money." Altogether the new pictures provide' capital entertainment, and in addition there is delightful music by the Symphony Trio, Mr. and Mrs. Hubert Bloy and Mr. F. Johnstone. The theatre was crowded at the evening sessions yesterday, and business is sure to continue good, while the films are of the present qu'altt". EMPRESS THEATRE. "The Valley pi Lost Hope," a stirring story of thrill, love, and adventure in the wild and lawless times of the early Californian mining days, is the chief attraction at the Empress Theatre this week. It might, well be said that this production .is one of the best tour-reel Lubin dramas :that'has been seen here. There is not a dull moment throughout the whole time the picture is being screened. Never before has such a,scene-been filmed as that depicting-the head-on collision between the two trains. This incident alono must have cost a. very large sum uf money to produce. The wild scenery is superb. The birth and growth of a "boom town" when gold is discovered— - the mad rush to peg out the claims —the fearsome, struggle by uncouth giants when brawn and might are the only right, are all faithfully portrayed in this marvellous picture. It also gives one an excellent idea of the great gold rushes in New Zealand and Australia about .which, some, of 'us have heard our parents relate in a thrilling tale. As a matter of fact; "The Valley of Lost Hope" is not/unlike that masterpiece, "The Spoilers," but if anything it is better. Romaine Fielding, Lubin's leading a.ctor, is to bo seen in the star role. His'acting is perfect, an<i he handles the various situations with the skill of the born actor. .A pretty, love story runs throughout the picture,, and many are t>he exciting incidents contained therein. The supporting pictures at file Empress Theatre are exceptionally good.

[ , BLETSOES' REVUE COMPANY. . ! Bletsoes will return under the Puller banner to play a season of revue at His- Majesty's Theatre, commencing on ■ Monday next. Those versatile entertainers, Albert and Maud Bletsoe, have recently returned ' from ' America, and have secured all -points for. the successful transportation of revues to colonial circuits. "In-Vacation Time" is a pro-' du?it of this tour, a souffle of all tho latest ideas, including new and catchy songs, novel scenic effects, a finelyequipped chorus and ballet, and dialogue full of' humour. Bletsoes' Revue will , constitute a good half of the vaudeville programme .next week," and the ment assures patrons that this is one of;] tlie .biggest features the firm has introduced. .