ENTERTAINMENTS

Dominion, Volume 9, Issue 2761, 3 May 1916, Page 3

ENTERTAINMENTS

THE ROYAL STROLLERS. Another largo audience was at the Opera House- -last evening to be amused and entertained by that clever and par-ticularly-talented little, band of people billed as "The Royal Strollers." Chief Stroller James is assuredly a masier humorist. As a ventriloquist he has fenequals. Miss Gweri Lewis is rarely gifted as a singer at tho piano, and nightly she is apulaudod most persistently. Miss Madeline liossiter sings and fiances de■lightfullv, while Miss Connie Milne and Messrs'. 'G. W. Desmond and G. Graystone are gifted singers and humorists. In ensemble numbers the company is particularly strong.

HIS MAJESTY'S THEATKE. < Some exceptionally good turns, are included in this week's Drogrnmmo'at His Majestv's Theatre. Essentially a star act- is "that of Bailey's Posing Dogs. The dogis- present within an electrically-lit framo a series of sculptured groups. Such subjects as "Sorrow," "Death," and "On the Trail" are wonderfully well represented, the dogs throughout the van-, ous representations remaining perfectly' stationary. A. cvnvor turn also is that of Barnes and Barnes (a man and a woman), who do balancing feats in most finished stvle. Other good turns are supplied bv the Estelle Wordette Co. (sketch artists); "Marvellous EiU" * one-legged balancer, and Mr. Svdney Jones, comedian. Ted Sl.igncole, Carlton Max, Agnes Raises, and Sharratt and Lang also cantribute turns.

THE KING'S THEATRE. ' The fanciful ctory of the revivification of "Niobe, the Goddes-s of Tears," whom the gods in anger had turned- to stone SOOO years ago, is well and brightly told by the Famous Players Co., headed by Miss Hazel Dawn, and which is being shown all this week at the King's I heatre. The picture play is a clever elaboration of Paulton's delightful play of the same name, and the acting of Miss Dawn asNiobe and Mr. Charles Abbe as Peter Amos Dunn is truly, excellent. -Hie him is heartily appreciated by the large audiences attending nightly. The balance of the programme lends variety and interest, the-most prominent picture being, a tine Vitagraph drama, "Good in the Worst of Us." 'V "Beauty" comedy, "Deserted at the Auto," is responsible for much hearty laughter; and the "Rathe Gazette and a pretty English scenic complete the excellent aill-round programme, which will be screened'this afternoon at 2.JJ and to-night at 8, and each afternoon .and evening this week. The box plan is at the Bristol.

EVERYBODY'S THEATRE. "A Submarine Pirate" is the title of the leading film at Kvcryboily's Theatre this week. The picture is produced by the Triangle Keystone Company, and tells tho story of an ambitious waiter, who somehow gets command of iv submarine. His exploits as n submarine pirate are productive 'of considerable merriment. The film features that inimitable comedian, Svd. Chaplin. ' The mam picture is well supported by two excellent films, one an Edison drama, entitled The Butler," and the always intereteins and topical Gaumont Graphic. .

: "HELEN'S BABIES".AT THE - EMPRESS;. '"Helen's Babies," which is being presented at the Empress Theatre, is one 01 those rare comedies which compels hearty laughter (hat is wholesome and sweet. In contrast to the bubbling merriment of the star play, a powerful dramatic offering is '"Die Third Commandment," the interesting life story of a man who committed perjury in order that he might win the woman lie' loves, and after swearing his rival's libertv away, discovers tho woman loves his rival, and detests tho perjurer. "The Third Commandment" is ft quick--a/jtioncd plav, which keeps the audience in suspense from start to finish. The Pathe Gazette is abovo the average in news films, while the scones in Yunnan are beautifully reproduced. The present programme will continue till' Saturday.

JULIUS KNIGHT SEASON. Next Tuesday, evening, at tho Grand Opera House, JVC. Williamson's Julius Knight Company will present for the first time in Wellington, Koi Cooper ifegrue's thrilling war drama, "Under Fire," which has been very well spoken ot! by .Australian and New Zealand critics. The play is founded on tho present world struggle, between the Allies and Germany. The play opens in Loudon a, few days before the war commences, when a governess of the family of Sir George Wagstaff, of the British Admiralty, is intrigued into mar.viage with Henry Stveetmnn, a supposed ugont of the Krenbh Secret Service. The latter attempts to secure the movement* of the British .Fleet,.but rumours of war have brought Captain Larry Redmond,' lier lover, back to London, and lie reveals to Strectmun's- wife that her husbaud is a German spy. Then follows all the thrilling incidents that go to make the drama so powerful and'sensational. It shows how a British official joined the German army and obtained valuable information regarding the movements-of'the Germans through Belgium into France, with all the I'rightfulness, and how the officer was able to avoid danger to the First British Army. This ply contains war in. all its details, and tho audience witnesses the Germans and the appalljng methods of defiling with their innocent victims in each (own as they pass, through. . The British soldier is shown'in every phase of war, from vivid work in the trenches to a comfortable bed in a hospital. The most thrilling incident of the play is the npp?aniiice of a German aoronlsne overhead, which drops a tomb, and trench 27 is blown to atom?. Throughout "he drama there is an -essence of comedy and romalice. The. loading character of the' play is an old favourite, Julius Knight, who takrs the naft of Captain Larry Redmond, and it j'ilsnid thnt he Til-ays the part of tho Irishman wllh all his versatility. Miss Liwtto rarlces, as Ethel Willoughby, takes o prominent part in checkmating tho Gerniim spy, Henry Streetman. The supporting company comprises some of Hie very tat .artists in Australasia. The box nlaiis open at the Bristol next Friday, at 9 a.m.,

STUKESPEAREAN COSTUME TIVAL.The Shakespearean Costume Festival, which is to commence a three night's season in tiie large Town'Hall-this even, ing, should attract vct large-audiences, and the Red Cross- FiuiS should {Materially benefit. Tlit) programme is a most attractive) one, one. that is expected to appeal to all classes. After a musical prologue has t:ccn niiiyed by u string orchestra, under. Mr. Robert Parker, Sir John Findl.iy, patron ot the Wellington Shakespearean Society,- will deliver a siiort appreciation of the great poet. The Shakespearean Pageant will then open the programme, preceded by. four symbolic iigures, representing Phantasy, Comedy, Tragedy, and the Spirit of the Drama. .During the pageant, Ben Jonson's Eulogy will bs spoken by Mr. J. M. Clark. Two vocal items will also be sung by two little girls, luuneily, "Under the Greenwood Tree" (".As You'Liko It"), by' Miss Dons Ryines, and "Take, Oh Take Those Lips Away" ("Measure for Measure"), by Miss -Mavis King. The setting ior the latter song luis been specially composed by Mr. Robert Parker. The scene from "Hamlot" (Mr. J. M. Clark), Hamlet's contemplation, and his feigned scorn of Aptenia (Miss Jane i'otrio), is a very fine sr/.-ne .showing Hamlet in both, his maddest and sanest momenta. Another (ins, scene; with a very strong east, is Hie. "Merchant of Venice" trial scene. Tho faithfulness of Antonia to his friend Uas.-atiia, the beauty and goodness of Portia (Miss Ethel /Churchill), Die dainty artfulness of. Nerissa, and tho scorned .lew's implacable hatred oj ''the Christian who lends money without interest, are among the finest conceptions- of Shakespeare. Miss Pauline Brown will be heard in two scenes from "The Tempest" (a) Miranda viewing -tho wreck; (1?) A[irniida.'.s love scene, with Fcrdinan. Tho broad comedy of Shakespeare is well portrayed in the kitchen scene from "Twelfth Night." Mr. Nor. man Ailken as Sir Toby, Mr. W. IV. Crawford us Sir Andrew, and Miss Mario Fix as Maria, being allotted some lino comedy acting. Many, other items go to make up a'most, notable programme, to which additional interest is added by the fast that every item, is bein.!T performed in costumes true, to the period. Tho performances are to commenco each''evening at ".!■").. Uox plan is now. open at tho Eristol.