ENTERTAINMENTS

Dominion, Volume 9, Issue 2760, 2 May 1916, Page 8

ENTERTAINMENTS

THE EOYAL STROLLERS. A change of programme was submitted by tIiEJ Hoyid Strollers at the Opera House last evening, awl judging by tho •excellent "bouse" the public ivero well awiu'o of it.. The Strollers are each ami every 0110 of tliem talented, and they liiaicc merry and sing and Junce in a fashion reall ydelightl'ul. -ill'. Sydney James carries along a. big share of the "business."" He delighted everyone last night with some "Dialect Imitations,'" and assisted by Mr. G. AV.. Desmond, made everyone laugh with some "astonishing feats of thought-reading." lir. James, with his -ventriloquist dummy, has a bright, jie\t budget of jokes, and ho creates no end of merriment. Aliss Madeline Eossiter was recalled persistently for her graceful and lithesome dancing, and as proof of her extraordinary versatility played both - the violin and piano with undoubted skill. Miss Gwen Lewis is steadily becoming more popular, for she sings at the piano a deal* better- than most people we have heard here. Messrs. George Graystono and G. W. Desmond sing new songs and help greatly in the general fun-producing, while Miss Connio Milne also sings delightfully. -The company is strong in-'ensumble numbers and their "Kaglime Clior»ii Society," under tlio .coiuluctorsbip of Sir. James, is truly a scream.

HIS MAJESTY'S THEATEE. 'J.O all who combine a love of sculpture Willi an admiration tor canine intelligence of an uuasuml oruer is recommended tlie wonderlul act that is bemy presented at iiis Majesty s Theatre tills week, under tue name 01' "Bailey's Posing Ilogs." The unique, as it is wcil conccived. ill-. iJailey una his dogs present within un Ploctricaiy-ilt lraum a. series of sculptured groups tuat would compol Lho admiration oi any art connoisseur, so ihfctinct is overy unit in the group witli tho meaning intended to convey. "Sorrow," i>eatii,'' "On the. Trail" are some of the titles of tlio poses, and all are beautiful to look upon; apart from tlio wonder of training tno dogs to remain as stationary as cold marble itself. Another clever act new to Welington was the feats of stfengtn and balancing performed, by Xiarnes arid iJanics, a man and woman, who work in complete harmony in tho achievement of some astonishing balancing teats, particularly thbse in which the la,dy is posed at the top of a ladder perch, ed upon her partner's shoulder. The •totelie-Wordetto Co,, which consists of a I couple of comedy . sketch , artists, 'raised shrieks of laughter in a farcical com- : 7 1 !, ™ Uti " l " A Jioneymoon in tho Catskills. Alarvellous Ed. is a one-legged balancer, who, using his hands as legs, uoes some amazing, feats in a particularly .graceful manner.' One of these consists in balancing himself in mid-air, -his hands (used as feet), resting on the butt .ends of two pairs of billiard cues. As a ■oiaud. hnale he up-ends himself on a -seven-foot pedestal, from which he jumps hU 3S! V-n g ltl " g 01 ! his llilnds > wi * h !i!ir w s, 1 ' 11 ■ in the air—a difficult and dangerous feat. Air. Sydney Jones found great, favour with the audience with comic- songs at tho piano, and Ul Ins burlesque' of a local conductor, led Stagpoole, Annitage and Hine, Carlton Max, Agnes Bawes, and Sharr'att and Lang also to a merry and bnght,programme.

KING'S -.THEATER There is ail exceptionally good' programme at the King's Theatre this week, ii y * evening's initial screening the house; was well filled. The feature Will is entitled "Niobe," with that beauti- !., talented-actress, Hazel Dawn,'in the title role. It is a fascinating comedydrama,- from tho play of Harry and Edward Pamton;' and is produced by the Famous.Players' Company. The story of the Licddess of .tears" begins 3000 years I unci it is made to gikl to-day a humorous blending of the ancient and inodorii. Incidentally it might .b'o remarked that for. stage setting and general photography "Niobe" is one of the best produced plays seen at the King's Theatre toi. some considerable tiino. The scenes which depict cities of, ancient Bome ami ancient customs aro beautifully portrayed while those showing modern society are of a high standard of excellence. The iHimour of the play is derived from the l.ict that leter -Anios Dunn, president of ■in insurance company, brings to his own house, for safe Keeping, tho precious statuo of Niobe,, which his company has heavily insured. -Electricians, wiring the house at the time wrap the oleotric coils about the feet of the statue. . Dunn falls asleep and dreams that the current passes (through the wires, bringing tho statue to life. The perfectly moral president finds himself in. a-delicate ant! amusing position in trying to explain to fiis shocked wife And other members of bis household .the prtscrfce of scantity clad maul running wildly through his home. At the crucial moment of his misery he awakes, however,, and finds Mobe' in her ancient and peaceful condition. As the incarnated statue that rouses havoc with the insurance company president, Miss Dawn has numerous and unequalled opportunities for flie disnfaT of her captivating powors. There are "several other good pictures, including "Picturesque Matlock," a scenic; a Vitagraph drama, "Good in the .Worst of TJs"; the "Pathe Gazette," and "Deserted at tho Auto," a comic.

"A SUBMARINE PIRATE." Submarine pirates have become such a notorious class of criminals in recent months that it is natural enough to find that the Ke3*stone Company oi Njnoving picture fame, soiled upon. subiuar-' me piracy as a subject for one of its farce comedies. "A Submarine Pirate" produced at iii very body's Theatre yesterday, is the first of the Triangle Keystone films seen here. It represents the joint efforts of the three well-known producers—D. W .Griffith, Thomas Ince, and Mack Sennett. lho story is of an ambitious waiter, who stole some papers, which ouabled him to gam command of a submarine. He starts out on a pirate's career aiid sinks a treasure ship, but his submarine is soon after sunk by an American warship. The plot is portrayed by means of a genuine submarine, a passenger ship, and'a warship, and the submarine is the scene of some extraordinary feats by Syd Chaplin, as the ambitious waiter, who turns pir-' ate. One of his performances while connected with ,'tlie. submarine is "to skim through the water in tow o£ a torpedo. Before, joining • the submarine, the versatile comedian juggles with everything that comes within reach of the, waiter, and after stealing the papers to gain command of the, submarine, he has some hair-raising cscapes from sudden death while dodging pursuit over high buildings. During this part of the play, Chaplin and four pursuing policemcn race over .an iron girder connecting two • skyscrapers. The picture was screened yesterday to record crowds, . numerous patrons being shut out at almost every-ses-sion. The supporting subjects, including an Edison drama, "The Butler," and the Gaumont Graphic, are in keeping with the feature film as regards quality, and | the orchestral music is well selected and 'admirably- rendered.

THE EMPRESS THEATRE. "Holeu's Babies" was screened at the | Empress Theatre yesterday. It will probably prove ■ the biggest success of an/ comedy entertainment shown at this favourite theatre. The book is so well known that the barest outlino of the plot will recall the story to the reader's mind. Harry Burton was Helen's only brother. He was a steady-going young business man, and as l'ond of children as an uncle could possibly be.- Still lie was not anxious to have the exclusive control of two children for two weeks, while thqjr parents wero enjoying n holiday; but as the young lady that Harry loved was staying at an hotel in the vicinity of Helen's house, Harry decided he would take on the responsibility of the children for a couple of weeks. His first greeting of welcome by the youngsters was such a demonstrative one that it frightened his hired •■horse. The next tiling he had to suffer itas the exposing of his watch to n (just storm, because one of the tormentors wanted "to see the wheels go awound." As Alice Mayton was very close to his si<lo- at the time, the watch was ruined. After that the escapades of Helen's babieo nearly drove the suffering uncle distracted, but when they were the means of bringing about the marriage of tho two lovers, their past'misdeeds were forgiven. The picture version of I lie story has all the charm of "Peter Pan," combined with q- rollicking humour that sent the audience into screams of joy. Not for an instant did it losa ifitmst, fivem tlw.ugfc tbe Audlaace

at times rolling in their seats. "Helen's Babies" ia one of tbo most wholesome and laughable farces that lias ever been shown at the Empress Theatre, and is likely to create n6w records for attendances and receipts. A powerful programme supports the star feature, "The Third Commandment" being a particularly virile' and striking drama, aikl succeeds in driving home the message it conveys in a forcible but artistic manner. The 'Pathe Gazette and a travel scenic, of Yulian, China, deserve special mention. . THE GREAT WAR PLAY, "UNDER FIRE." J. C. Williamson, Ltd., announce their intention of presenting Air. Julius Knight, supported by Miss Lizotte l'arTcos, and u carefully-selected company of artists, in the realistic war play, "Under Eire," at the Grand Opera House, ' next Tuesdayevening. This .drama, in three acts, is said to give a. faithful reproduction of deeds and events that- have occurred in our own times, and within our knowledge. Throughout the three acts the audience is kept in the throes of expectation as to what will happen next, and altogether the production- is described as one that holds the interest froui beginning to end. The management state that not sinco "Tho Whip" , amazed New Zealand playgoers nave the J. C. Williamson Co. handled a arauia of tho spectacular signiiicanco and elaborateness ot "Tinder Fire," which 'is tho present sensation of the New York stage. It is a war play, yet not a war play to harrow the feelings. It is without noise, without horror, but with thrills, with comedy, with romance. - The attention given to detail in tile mounting and the realistic reproduction of the battle sounds is said to contribute largely to tlio success of tho production. This waKdrama has met with unqualified succcss wherever it' has been presented. The box plans will open at the Bnstoi on Friday morning, at 9 o'clock.