ENTERTAINMENTS

Dominion, Volume 9, Issue 2764, 6 May 1916, Page 2

ENTERTAINMENTS

■; HIS - MAJESTY'S THEATRE. . "Bailey's. .Posing Dogs," a, remarkable turn tit His-Mnjesty's Theatre, is attracting largo audienccs nightly, and this splendid exhibition of t the sagacity of animals should not bo missed. Bailey's dogs are .'wonderful in", their . posings, and are as tiear "living statues" as it is possible to be. Marvellous Ed., a one-legged man, does, some astonishing feats of.-balancing and acrobatics. Barnes and Barnes, who fco through a thrilling turn in a. .most finished style, also -perform some startling acrobatic feats, .. Annitnge and Hine, This -Estello Wordette Co., Carlton Max, Ted Stagj>oo)._ «nd„. other, good artists provido interesting " tiirns." A." matinee Will -bo held this afternoon.

THE KING'S THEATRE. "Niobe,'.' with, its charm' and bright and clever iMimour, will -be screened, at the King's Theatre this afternoon at 2.30, and for the last time to-night at eiglit o'clock. Those who have not yet seen Miss Hazel Dawn in this splendid Famous Players' Production aro well advised to talce advantage, of the remaining opportunities. Seats mar ,l)o. reserved at the Bristol till noon, 4 hen at the King's Theatre,

"Jill, THE PENMAN." Many will still remember the exploits of the notorious forger,, who was .known as "Jim, the Penman," and who baffled all efforts to capture him, and who finally, gave himself up for punishment. Sir Charles L. Young evolved a striking drama from the incidents, and gave the insido history of the forger's life and. career. This piny was one of tlio brilliant successes of the stage a few years ago. ■The 1 --Famous Players Co. have transferred the story to the screen, and have secured one of the most distinguished actors : of the American stage for the part of James Ralston,- alias "Jim, the Penman," in Mr. John Mason, whose forceful and natu. ral style is singularlyi fitted to the character. /With , strong situations and tense climaxes, "Jim, the Penman," is recognised as one of the foremost dramas of the modern stago, and the film will be shown at the King's Theatre all next week, commencing on Monday night. A fine supporting programme, which includes a capital Mr. and Mrs. Sidney Drew comedy, "Beautiful Thoughts," has been arranged. The box plan is at the Bristol,

EVERYBODY'S THEATRE. ' . "The Submarine Pirate" featuring Syd'. Chaplin, has caused a lot of fun to be ■dispensed at Everybody's Theatro during the week. There is no doubt but that (.ho popular comedian makes excellent use of. the.' opportunities afforded : him for providing fun.' As to-day is the last occasion on which the picture will be screened those people who have not seen it should, not miss the opportunity of doing so.

."THE LAMB."- .. ■ ;-It is quite, an evont..in local 'picture; circles to be! able to .announce' that:" a: 5000 ft. absorbing drama* acted and arrang, ed under G. W. Grimths's supervision, -pill''bo-'-sliown'at Everybody's" on 'Hon-' day. "The Lamb" is a Triangle-Griffiths picture, and it tells about the cowardice of a wealthy New Yorker,- who, strive as ho may, when danger is threatened betrays a weakness of character that allows the craven to appear. Proceeding to the West to live down his reputation, and while out' on the plains he and his fina-ncee are surrounded by a horde ' of 6avage' Sioux. - Gerald Harrison sticks.-it out and fights . like'a tiger until all dagger is over, and hig. sweetheart is 6aved from a fate worse thair death. "The as .portrayed by Douglas Fairbanks, is admirably handled; all the phases o£. fear and despair being graphically depicted. Miss Senna Owens, the beautiful and ' charming' actress,. admirably supports Mr. Fairbanks, and it is due'to her to say that'her artistic acting lifts tho play out of the ordinary sphere of picturedoin.: ■ ;

, EMPRESS ..THEATRE. Tonight will-see the final : performance of. the -delightful, .comedy, "Helen's Babies," at' the Empress Theatre. Every screening the audience are jcompelled to give.- way to boisterous merriment at the comic elements in the .story, and yet never lose the heart interest which: the. love scenes create. For those who like their stories told' ia'a powerful melodramatic way, "The Third' Commandment" will appeal strongly. -The'action is 'awift, the plot and counter-plots all make' for ail exciting climax. Tho -Pathe'Gazette and a ,splendid scenic subject complete a most interesting--programme; .-

."CONVICT LYNDON AT LIBERTY." The London Film Company will present, at the Empress Theatre, on Monday next, "Convict Lyndon at Liljerty." The story deals with the adventures of Neil 'Lyndon, a brilliant English chemist, who was working for the War Office upon a new high explosive. The powerful effects of .the .new. explosive became known, and the German spies "decided to! obtain the formula. Enlisting. the services of two Austrian Secret Service .men, and tho notorious ' Souia. Savaroff, the work was begun.'and every device was used by the spies, but they were baffled at every turn. Dr. Lyndon was arrested ana sent to Dartmoor for alleged murder. After two years Lyndon escaped, only to fall into-the hands of tho conspirators. His position was desperate.- They demanded his formula or threatened to hand him over to the authorities. The situations •in the-play if o. wrought up to a high pitch, and tho love interest whioh is entwined around the story is. magnificently unfolded. It is claimed for "Convict Lyndon-at Liberty" that it awakened the British publio to the apathy that was being displayed in suppressing .the German spy system, and forced the War Office to take more drastic measures in the matter of. internment.

CROWN THEATRE—THORNDON; Judging by the splendid business recorded in Wellington's new picture show in this its first week, the public would appear to have realised that "The Crown" is one oi the shows that must be. seen. To-day is change, of programme day at this house, :When..a- new programme will' bo presented for thq first time in .Wellington at the big matinee at "2.30 p.m. The main item is the big leaser Master-film "Scandal," a gripping drama with a moral. "Scandal" shows how the snowball of fiction grows, becoming mora and more foul, until it drags into the depths innocent lives and stainless reputations. There is said to be nothing morbid or distasteful about this absorbing play, but it is claimed that it makes one pause and think with regret of every word of idle gossip one has ever listened to or repeated.' The' author of this photo play conceived the idea from a newspaper editorial based on an' everyday happening, but how much more'vivid aro-the vital -pictures- than the attempts of tho pen? Besides the big feature, there are a number of supporting items, comedies, dramas, scenics, ■ etc.; not- forgetting the latest: "War Garotte" ' " f.

. • THE R01 r AL STROLLERS. This evening the Royal Strollers will inako merry at.the Grand .Opera House for the last time..-The little company has become most' popular ' among-' theatregoers. All the members of . it. have a very largo share of talent,-and, what is equally important, they, know just, how to Utilisb it. Air.' Sydney-.lames is inimitable. As a ventriloquist'ho is at liis best. Miss Chton Lowis is making many friends with her singing at tho i)iauo, aiul in the concerted niusic. Miss Madeline Rossiter, Mt. G. W. Desmond,-Miss Connie Milne, and Mr. Ci. Graystone aro all most enter-taining--people.

TO-NIGHT'S ORGAN RECITAL. . Four . new. works , are promised at tonight's organ recital to bo given at the Town Hall by Mr. Bernard IV Page (City Organist). They consist of a. Triumphal March, a recent work by Alfred Hollins, thoi famous . blind organist; the great fugue in D major by Guilmant, and two works by Debussy, "La t'illo Aux Do Lin," tulcon .from the Prelude for pianoforte, and "En Bateau," from tho suito for. strings. Two works are repeated by •request: the fust movement of Tchaikovsky's fith Symphony and a Fantasia by Silas, in which, is introduced a XVII Century March. The-programme also includes tho beautiful "Pastorale"'.by Olausmann, tho Belgian oomposer,

THE WAR PLAY, . "UNDER FIRE." The first performance in Wellington of llio sensational war.play, "Under Fire," will take place at the Grand. Opera House next Tuesday night. "Under Fire" has no fewer than torty-two speaking parts, which is stated to be a record for drama. The story centres upon the early German advance towards Paris, with its sensational. inarches, tattles, and storminga. Daring the long run of the drama in Melbourne'every performance was witnessed by hundreds of returned soldiers, many of whom,' by their technical knowledge of the. real thing, were in' a position to criticise the military element in tho war ploy. Naturally, ' the management'took the applause of iho soldiers as a- decided compliment to the production and the producer. No more vividly realistic aud exciting drama, it is claimed, has ever been produced in .Australasia. It' is tho first play .to attempt to ■ give a vivid representation of things that are taking place day by day. in the world war.. Doubtless much interest will bo centred in tho fact that; Mr. Julius Knight, who will appear as Captain Larry Redmond, will be seen in a new. departure, and thnt Miss ,Lizette Parkes,' the clever young Australian' actress, will be making her reappearance in Wellington in the part.of Ethel Willoughby. The dranja has a big cast, and it is stated that over 200 people take part in .the production. Tho*,box plans are now on jiew at the Bristol for the seven nights' season, and intending patrons are advised to hook their seats us soon as possible.

SHAKESPEAREAN FESTIVAL. For tlio third and' last performance of the Shakespearean Costume Festival, the Town Hail was again crowded last night, those present including Their Excellencies the Earl and Countess of Liverpool. Tho great pageant and tho scenes and sketches l'ronv the poet's most notable plays were repeated to tho evident delist of the audience,'* the costuming beiiig a. special feature of the entertainment. Ail excellent little orchestra provided tho nuisio necessary to complete tho success of tho festival. It is not too much to say that tho show on nil three evenings has more than fulfilled' expectations, and tho result must 1)0 very, gratifying to tho enthusiastic promoters as well as to those at the head of the Bod Cross movement, wmcn is to benefit 'by the proceeds.* The performers liavo all worked hard for tho good cause, and theirs lias boon tho public appreciation manifested by the large attendances at the 'Town Hall. Special credit is due to llrs. * Hannah and Messrs. J. 11". Clark, J. C! Hell. B. Brown, and tho general secretary (Mr. Ronald K. Lyon) for t'heir efforts in arranging tho show, which will long livo in the memory of those wiio had the pleasure of being present at any one of tho performances.