ENTERTAINMENTS

Dominion, Volume 9, Issue 2749, 18 April 1916, Page 3

ENTERTAINMENTS

H-IS MAJESTY'S THEATRE. \ Puller's Vaudeville Circuit is now such ail extensive theatrical business that tho management; may easily find satisfactory engagements for. tlje world's best variety turns. Consequently it is becoming the rule rather than the exception to look for high-grade programmes! along tho whole line of houses bearing the Fuller uanie. Patrons of His Majesty's Theatre in Wellington are being treated to a highclass show again this week, every item on (lie bill being practically a star performance. Mable and Malie, who appeared again after some weeks' absence, added strength to the bill, and quickly reached their former position in popular esteem. Dainty dancing by. the lady artist and acrobatic absurdities by her partner serve to amuse the audience immensely. Sbarratt and Lang, comedians and dancers, also reappeared ,and with a winning number. Miss Agnes Rawes, a tuneful soprano, made her first bow to a local audience, and gained" generous applause for several songs rendered in delightful voice. The Harrison-Stuart Duo, whose season is nearing the end, pleased with a sketch named "Ebony Servants." Those three wonderful acrobats, The Paiiilastos, won fresh laurels a 6 the Three Live Waiters, while O'Connell and Austin astounded the audience again with their work on wheels. Previous comedy trick cyclists, who have been seen here, have all had to give place to these latest exponents of the'art. Mr. Sydney Jones, at the piano, gave a welcome interlude, blending humour and music in his own inimitable style. The two Glockers, as -water jugglers, and Eddie Burns, comedian and shoe dancer, commenced what promised to be a last successful week. Milner and Story, London comedy entertainers, .'provided what ivas probably the most popular tnrn of the evening, the house being convulsed -with laughter.at different stages of their stay on the stage. "BRITAIN PREPARED." "Britain Prepared" is the title under which u mos' extraordinary series of moving -pictures ;was introduced at the King's Theatre last evening. With thu approval ol the naval military authorities, . views of Britain's new Army autl her up-to-date Navy were quite recently photographed by half-a-dozen oi I-the leaning picture, companies, in cooperation, a selection of these photographs have'been-worked into an evening's entertainment ''for New Zealand citizens. Their Excellencies the Governor and the Countess ol Liverpool weru present at last night's screening, as was the Minister uf Defence (the Hon. J as. 'Allen). The first half of the programmo was devoted to the,training of the Army and. the manufacture of munitions. Oi particular note under this latter heading were the views of' the women workers in munition factories and. of somu twenty thousand employees leaving the establishment of Messrs. Vickers, at tho end uf the day's toil. Soldiers wero shown at squad drill, physical dril.l musketry; trench work, field training with lriachlne-guns,. provisioning, etc., and finaly some 40,000 rifles with fixed bayonets were seen parading past 1-f.is Majesty King George on the . way to the firing line .to reinforce some of the units at ready there. The ltoyal Flying Corps performed useful aud clever work before the camera, which took one marvellous photograph from a pursuing aeroplane at a height of over SOMi't. The second portion of the programme illustrated ; tho iron shield with which Britain meets tho thrusts of herrenemies. The Commander-in-Chief, Admiral 'Sir John Jellicoe, was introduced, with his bulldog, -oil the quarterdeck of his flagship, the siiper-Dread-nought Iron Duke, anil numerous views of the famous Queen Elizabeth (Captaiii Hope), were given,' including some said 'to be actual battle scenes. An idea of the long watch kept in the North Sea by our fleet can well be gained from tho. glimpses of the mine-sweepers at work and the 'destroyers screening the battleships from lurking dangers. The sub, marine arm of the service is illustrated by 85, which performs upon the surface ;.before, and after submerging. The pictures will be shown twice a day during the week, at 2.30 in the afternoon- and at 8 o'clock in the evening. • The Hon. James Allen briefly addressed the house at the' 'interval last evening. He did so, lie said, with very great pleasure, bccanse the pictures were ex- - cellent and gave a.very, vivid description of what was going on in the Motherland at the present time.- They brought us more or less in closer touch with the people at Home, and were an object, lesson representing the real life of the Motherland, which was the real life ot the Empire .'to-day.' The Army pictures showed forms of training which could not be undertaken here, and were interesting in every way. Those which appealed most strongly to us, however,'were tho munition factories, wherein. tho women of the Motherland had taken up work. to release men for the front. (Applause.) It was to be hoped they would receivc tho reward they were - worldlier for. "Wo honoured them for the sacrifices they were making, and believed they. would ono day reap the reward t.liev deserved After further referring to tho'closer con. nection between the Motherland and cliu. Dominions brought about by the war, 3rr. Allen concluded by recommending the pictures to all the people of New Zealand. He hoped they would heln to achieve the object we all had in viewthe finding of our' full quota/of men to go and help the Motherland. (Anplausej

EVERYBODY'S THEATRE. ' "John Glaydc's Honour," a Frohman masterpiece, is the leading film on the new programme introduced at Everybody's Theatre yesterday. It is a splendid type of drama, which easily holds the attention ot the onlookers from beginning to end. trlajde is a popular busiress man whose nil 15 i )0I H a , "'jyiose ■ esteem is sought and cherished. His wifb receives and accepts an invitation to visit a prince and prjncess in Paris with, whom she is intimately acquainted. She immediately plunges into the gaieties provided by her hosts, and meet samongst other fashionable people an artist. Subsequent events necessitate JoTin Glayde leaving his business and going to Paris. He later fights a sensational <luel with the artist, but is finally pacified by his wife. The Xy fa crowded with thrilling situations; and ■ both the. acting- and the scenery are well up to standard. Another picture of special interest is included in the bill—a scenic entitled "Ancient Monuments of British. Glory. fhis comprises a beautiful series of -historic pictures of the famous strongholds of kings and of feudal barons, who played such a prominent part in the government of England down to the Wars of tlie Roses. The Gauniont Graphic provides the usual illuminating views of the European war, together with other items of topical interest. The musical accompaniments add pleasure to the entertainment.

MARGUERITE CLARK'S SUCCESS. The Empress Theatre attracted laree crowds yesterday to see Miss Marguerite Clark m "The Goose Girl," Miss Clark achieves a brilliant success in this charming play, investing the rolo of "The Goose Girl" with all the fascination of her own personality. The story is a very pretty one, and it is exceedingly well told, riveting the attention of tie spectators upon the screen all the time Ike story concerns the abduction of aii infant princess and the substitution of the daughter of the Chancellor • of the Grand Duke of Makvia, some fifteen yeais later. Meanwhile the real princess has become a goose girl. About this time'the young King of Carnelia, who is being urged for diplomatic and State reasons to many tho daughter of the Grand Duke, refuses, and takes to the highway for a means of living. He disguises himself as a vintner, and naturally travels in the direction.. of the goose girl, with whom lio falls in love. The false princess has fallen in love with the young American Consul at Malavia. Eventually the real p'rincess is discovered, and after a general' clearing up the young lovers are made happy with their respective sweethearts. - It is a simple story, the telling of it is the success, and there is not a dull moment throughout the whole five reels. Apart from the star attraction, there are several really good subjects on the programme, notably the London Film Company's .production, "You," a patriotic play, which roused the audience to enthusiasm, Edna T?lugrath and Gerald Ames being excellent in their respective parts. A very' funn.v farce-comedy, "Back.to the Primitive," gives l Mr. and Mrs. Sydney Drew an opportunity to show some clever acting 1 and to ('rente linicli hearty laughter, The "Patlio Gazette"- is also deserving of mention.

"OUR • BRITISH NAVY." "The first line of defence" lias always been the Empire's standby, and nover has it been more forcibly shoivn than in the silent policing of the seas that tho British Navy has undertaken since tho start of the present grave international complication. "The .fleet in being" is nil interesting subject, nnd it is to be shown in its most intimate detail at tho Town. Hall, in a season commencing on Snturday next, under the direction of Sir. Charles MacMahon, when "Our -British Navy". will he produced in its entirety. ' The picture shows every feature ill the life nnd action of the Navy, its gonosis, its evolution, and its grand ultimate actuality, from the superb Dreadnought to the fussing submarine. This star feature will be supported by a programmo of spociallyselected dramatic comedies nnd scenic pictures, full particulars of which will be announced later. A special feature of the production is that tho whole of the big liall will 1 be thrown open unreservedly at one shilling a seat to all parts of the house. THE ROYAL STROLLERS. The Royal Strollers, ivho commence a brief season at tho Grand Opera House on Saturday evening next, under the direction 'of Messrs. ;J. and N. Tait, have won the'reputation of being one of the best companies of, its kind to visit Australia. The Melbourne "Argus" says: — "There is a dasli and sparkle about their programme that lifts it. far above anything of its kind seen here till now. Their burlesque work is particularly clever, nnd a screamingly funny-ekit'on 'a choral society performing an oratorio was probably the best item of their programme." . Mr. Sydney James, who is "Chief Stroller," is claimed to be one of the most versatile artists to visit Aus-tralia—-in mimicry, whistling, impersonations, and ventriloquism, alike, bo is equally at home. Referring to Mr. James s ventriloqual work, the "Bulletin" says:—"Sydney' James is the besf; voiltriloquist Melbourne has seen. His dummy .figure 1 talks better- stuff in a more convincing way than many dummies of the past, the manipulation of it is oddly ingenious, and the company asists to mnkc it realistic." It is claimed for the Royal Strollers that their style of entertainment is quite original and distinct from the usual costume comedy company, nierrot, or concert party. The box plan -is now open at the Bristol for the first six nights, and seats may-also be reserved for the special matinee on Easter Monday. PROFESSIONAL ORCHESTRA. - It has been decided by the Wellington Professional Orchestra to givo a grand' classical and sacred' concert at His Majesty's Theatre on Good Friday evening. Mr. John. Prousei the well-known baritone, will appear in two numbers, with orchestral accompaniment, the "Pro f-ec- ' catis," - from Rossini's "Stabat Mater," and Tschaikowsky's "Pilgrim's Song." The orchestra's items will inclnde Friedemann's "Slavonic lUiapsodie" and the noble "Enrynntlie" overture of Weber, and an arrangement of (Handel's "Largo" for violin and orchestra, in which' the solo part will be played by Mr. Haydn Beck.. Mr. Herbert Bloy will conduct. The box plan opens at the Bri'stoT today.