ENTERTAINMENTS

Dominion, Volume 9, Issue 2707, 29 February 1916, Page 3

ENTERTAINMENTS

"OLD MOTHER HUBBARD." "Old Mother Hubbard" and her . 6ad dog Ponto ara still to bo seen in a. lively setting at the Grand Opera House, where tho Stanley M'Kay Company continues to make things merry in a, pantomimic way. llr. James • Gerald'makes a very lively Mother Hubbard of an acrobatic turn, and ilr. "Will Rayner as her bibulous husuauu contributes to the comedy with tho aid of a .scarlet nose and a telling .tenor voice. Miss Essie Jennings is a sprightly and shapely ' Eobin, . and Miss Coleman appears as Bluebell. The Fredos and Will Speedy contribute specialty turns that combine humour with deftness. A number of seats, free on application, will be reserved to-night for returned sol-, diera. NEW ARTISTS AT HIS MAJESTY'S. With a few exceptions the artists who appeared at His Majesty's Theatre last evening were new to Wellington, and in- | eluded some particularly bright talent, wihcU found the big audience very appreciative. Twinkling in xho forefront of the new Fuller battalion are two exceptionally gifted vocal mimics in Miss Lydia. Carne and Miss Alice 'Pierce. Tho lormer, in whom grace is seated, gave clever imitations of Josephine Gassman and her eccentric piccaninny Bill Bailey, and the volatile Daisy Jerome, the latter being a very faithful impression of tho Titian-haired coinedionno in her maddest moments. Miss Pierce sings as well as the 'acts. She impersonated Hiss Erin Green, Sir Herbert Tree (in a glimpse of that noted English actor as Caliban, in "Tempest"), and Miss Ethel Levy. She achieved her greatest success, however, in a little tense dramatic sketch representing an Italian woman justifying herself for the murder of an adventuress who had hired her husband away • and was seeking to destroy her-son. It was a felling bit of virile, .magnetic acting, with a thrilling finale which completely appealed to the sympathetic understanding of the audience. Another newcomer was Fred. Maguii'o, a dapper youug man with good style and a somewhat than, uncertain baritone voice. He sang the jolly "Sergeant of the Line" lilt, "Follow Mo Home," and "Eileen Alannah." Les Legartes repeated their clean, and clevor hand-balancing, and strong jaw .act. Brown and Sorlio, two coloured performers, well known on the circuit, returned with new songs and jokes, and received a warm welcome. In the .second half Miss Hilda Felstad, a talented young lady of great versatility, found immediate and deserved favour. Miss , Felstad has a charming contralto voice, plays the piano with easy facility, and has a happy manner of telling humorous stories. Her variations of "Sing a Song of Sixponce" exposed a nioe gift for. comedy character. Another excellc-nt turn was provided by Bello and Betty, two clever dancers, who in tracing their travels round the world, give examples of the dance; they witnessed in the various countries; which was given smart sartorial embel lishment by the pretty costumes \wrn The quick manner in which they "raiif the changes", interested the female ete meut in the audience. A new vocal in terlude was supplied by the Neapolitans; a hefty baritone and a pretty mezzo soprano, who barcarolled themselves" int< favour, alternating with solo and duet The youn;j lady is a (Particularly sweei singer, and her unpretentious 'manner an< trim appearance added considerably to tin attractiveness ol the turn. Paris Green with his smart patter, and humorous dit ties,'continues to raise laughs from tin quick-eared. Mr. Frank Crowther am his capable orchestra are always full o value to the show..

. THE KING'S. A dramatic picture play by David Belasco is the big item on the programme being shown , at the King's. It is called "The Kose of the Runcho," and it features America's premiere comedienne, Miss Bessie Barriscale. The story is 'of happenings in the year of ISSO, when the Uovernment at Washington decreed that all ranch owners must register thoir properties, the Spanish raucheros of Caliloruia refused to comply, and a system of claim-jumping or seizures ; developed. Great bands of land-jumpers roamed about, and chief among these was one Kincaid of Nebraska. . Kearney, a secret agen.t,' is sent to : .California j to inquireinto the "land-jumping. His arrival -at a certain ranch, when a' party of landjumpers have -killed ihe ranchero, and his eldest daughter, and are mowing dico for the possession of the other two girls, is timely. Later, he meets Juanita, the Kose of .the Castro Ranch, and tries to waim her mother that her ranch is in danger of being seized by the ranch-junip-ers. But the mother orders him from the place'. Then the love interest becomes stronger until Kearney wins Juanita's' love and the hatred of Don Luis, to whomshe is engaged. In a later scene Kearney arrives at the Castro ranch just fn time to meet Kincaid, who is about to raid it. The amazing dash and vividness of the thing is one of the picture's, strong features, and the acting and photography are excellent. During the.supp are excellent. Among the supporting: pictures "Cutey's Godmother" is an amusing modern parody of "Cinderella." A Pathe Gazette of unusual interest is also being filmed at the King's, together with other good things. EVERYBODY'S. There are two star pictures in the new proigiamme shown . at Everybody's Theatre yesterday as well as a strong array of supporting pictures. A Famous IMayers' drama, entitled ''The Only Son," is a clearly pictured series of strong scenes, while the acting' is. right up to tho Famous Players' standard. Thomas W. Ross is featured in tho picture, his

characterisation being clever and convinc. ing. It is the story of a ne'er-do-weU, who makes a big fight for his mother's cake. An inventor with a patent creosoting process and a. millionaire are concerned in tho development of the story. It is in tlie depictiug of somo of the scenes as well as in their lighting awl the quiet .strength of gesture and expression that the only sou rises to the heights of inspiration. The Charlie Chaplin mastorpieco is equally entrancing. The popular Charlie is the new janitor, and it is in his killingly funny carrying out of his new duties that this comedian makes the house roar with laughter. When he walks, when he stops, when lie dees nothing at all, ho makes mib people laugh, as ho always does. But m this comedy he has new gestures, new eccentricities of attitude and foolishness, and at, times it seems as though lie would split himself _or be hurled by his enemies into Buoh ungathorable fragments that lie will disappear for ever. But he ahvaya Teappears with a smile and a walkmg-cane, the same as ever. The "Gaumont Graphic" is a good topical featuro of tho programme, the current events ot no world being shown. "GRETNA GREEN." ■Miss Marguerite Clark, a picture actjess who bids fair to rival the famous Mary Piekford. is the star in "Gretna Green, a live-reel comedy, which foims the big attraction in the now programme wlncli was shown at. the Empress theatre yesterday. It is a charming represeiitotion of tho early Victorian era, and the faithfulness to detail and general artistio effect of the many scenes is remarkable. The picturesque, which is always a strong note in the stories of that period is sufficiently in evidence, without in any way overshadowing tho human interest. As' a result the appeal is complete ami ii resistible. Marguerite Clark, as the impulsive coquettish, high-spirited wife of the Earl of Bassett, does full justico to the part. At tho time of her marriage she was unaware oi the high degree of her husband, and on discovering that :by marrying a commoner she will forfeit the fortune left hor by her father, sho. decides unon a divorce, though she loves her husband. Through an intricate series of scenes 6he and her husband I™ 3ll ®' and despond or love and laugh all the time, the divorce papers are prepared. When called on to sign them, the wilful lady first breaks 1111 the pens, then she tears the deeds in: two. Her patient husband placcs them in position again and «"ns his name. . Incensed at his willingness to he rid of 'her, she sits- down to sign, and then, for the first time sees the name of her husband shown as the Ewl of Bassett. Sh o throws the pen awav,- and shows unrestrainedly her love to him, and delight that, afta all, her fortune will be liis. Gretna Green is one of the most delightfid fi m ™ m f^ le ® that has been shown in Weiling'toiitoa long time. It is supported bj a 6tron 0 programme" of attractive pictures.

"THE MABTYBPOM OF NTJESE ' CAVBLL."

Produced with careful attention to deand handled, with extreme delicacy and 1 deop sympathy, the motion pwture embodying the ".Alart.yrt.om of Cavell," to be. shown at the lun„.o Theatre ne.it week; is one calculated to make a deep impression. When shojvn In Australia recently it was greeted w ltn. unstinted praise, and was endorsed by an classes of the community, from the Prime Ministoi- of: the Commonwealth downwards. It was felt" by some before seeing tbe picture , that the subject was 'hardly a Suitable one, tut this feeling was dissipated after seeing the film. - here will be a private view ot the picture this afternoon at the King's Theatre, to whicn. ■the management invite all ministers of religion, members of Parliament, Press, nurses, schoolmasters, and leaders of iatriotic and Red' Cross Societies.

' THE JOHN SON-WILL ARD FIGHT.The box plan for the Johnson-Willard fight film in the Town Hall next Saturday opens to-morrow morning at the Bristol. Men like Johnson , and Willnrd are net born every generation, and it is considered that years will pass before another champion can,:be,unearthed, .that the honour of defeating' a man of Johnson's calibre is great in the fighting •world, goes-without saying, but it was not without 0110 of the hardest lights on record, Jack Johinson is recognised as being ,ohe of the. world's most scientific boxers, and it speaks volumes for M illard s powers that he won the victory. J.he picture will be shown at the Town Hall next Saturday, under the patronage ot the Boxing . Association, for one night only. The full 2G rounds will be screened. Signor A. Truda's Orchestra will supply incidental music during the evening. .. _____

An enjoyable social evening, organised by llcsdamcs H. Walden and E. G. Beard, was Riven for the soldiers in the Social Hall in Greytown. Herb. Price would like the ladies t& cotno and view ins charming display of new silk scarves. Nothing to equal them in the city. The colourings are superb.— .Advt. : Messrs. Abraham and Williams, Ltd., will hold.clearing sale 3 of dairy'stock at Jolmsonville and Levin on Thursday and Friday nest respectively. Messrs. Dalgety and Co., Ltd., will a clearing sale of stock at their Levin yards on Wednesday. Visitors to Rotorua w;hc desire to procure The Dominion may do so, or may arrange for delivery, on application to the sole agent, Mr. W. E. Bennett, a wellknown stationer, whose place of business is within a few yards of the Eotorua Station.