ENTERTAINMENTS

Dominion, Volume 9, Issue 2772, 16 May 1916, Page 3

ENTERTAINMENTS

"UNDER FIRE." That vital war drama, "Under Fire," which hiw attracted ~> lu'idi attention in Wellington, was played 'again' last evening before a large audience. There' is no questioning the gripping power of the play, nor the fidelity of the war pictures it presents. It will probably be a play for the present only—not for the lutnro— but many will remember "Under Fire" lor the closer realisation of war and its horrors it gave them than they had ever been able to grasp before. The first act is certainly the best, but that docs not mean that the brisk action of the second act (in the old Belgian inn), and the battle nocturnes of tho linal act, have not their own particular virtues. Mr. Julius Knigjit is as charming and finished as ever as Capt. Larry Redmond, and Miss Lizette Parkes as Ethel AVilloughby is particularly good in the first act. She is not nearly so effective in the second act, where an intensely dramatic atmosphere has to be sustained, and action rather than words means so much to the spirit of the scene. Jlr. Louis Kimball has many "fat" lines as the American journalist, and crackles crisply throughout. "Under Fire" will be played for the last' time in Wellington this evening. HIS MAJESTY'S- THEATRE. His Majesty's Theatre was well filled last evening when a ehango of programme introduced several new artists quite new to Wellington. Among these were a particularly clever duo of comedians, who appear under the fantastic names ot "Early and Laight" in a bright little iketch entitled "On the Water Wagon." This sketch, as its title implies, deals in a laughably eccentric manner with the drink question as it is viewed by man and wife. With an abundance of quiet, natural humour, an ease born of long experience, and America scored deeply in their accent, this clever couple entertained cleverly for twenty minutes. Why Mr. Jack Early deserted tho giddy comedv way to sing the basso sea lilt is one of those incomprehensible peculiarities that assaults the intelligence at rare .intervals in vaudeville. Perhaps the sea-song was tho result of the water wagon jaunt.. Another clever performer was George Crotty, who sings an Irish song pleasingly, and then, emerging from the vocal strife, does an amazingly clever eccentric dance of the old-time scarecrow order with modern innovations. This performer's simulation of the "smi6c" was also an amusing bit of adroit mummery. Glen Echo, an immature balladist, of uncertain tone sang a couple of songs; one of which related something of the charms of the daughter of. Mother Machree. Cook and Handman, an American singer and pianist, from the land of Notes, also made good. The singer mado his best impression in "The Girl Who Wears the Red Cross on Her Sleeve," and "The Rocky Road to Dublin," whilst his male partner rippled away in ragtime entertainingly enough. Tiny Tot and Marjorie repeated their clever acrobatic jerformiinoe, and Carlton Max, introduced his talkative assistant as a coster with many an? original wheeze. Armitage aiid Hine reappeared in their best sketch "The Soldier and the Slavey." making a big laughm: success, and Perona played"a .wide variety of music on his piano-nccordeon. ?r • / ?" lnoai re, tho gifted siffleur, and Jlyra Galo and Sadie also contributed to the gaiety of tho evening.

THE KING'S THEATIiE. mm ( ' e , ligh , t£ul com edy-drama, entitled Iho Morals of- Marcus," heads the picture bill at the King's Theatre this week. ■ ? , '-Famous Players" production, adapted from the novel and play by liam J. Locke. The heroine of the film is Carlotta, whoso father, a • missionary i"„ • ey ' falls »■ victim to brigands, l'ollowing this, the mother, to save her daughter's life, enters, the harem of a wealthy Ottoman. Carlotta is rescued from a hateful marriage by a young Englishman named Pelligrew. She goes to England, but her rescuer is subsequently arrested on a charge of embezzlement, and Carlotta finds herself destitute and homoless. She accidentally encounters and excites the interest of Sir Marcus Ordcyne, a wealthy -Englishman. Hero the comedy develops on most, interesting, lines. Sir Jlnrcus, when he succeeded to th« title, had to endure tho constant attention of his aunt, who planned a marriage'between her daughter and the baronet. Unfortunately the baronet was not by any means an easy catch, and oventually Carlotta became his wife. The situations which lead to this romantic finale, are humorous in the extreme, and Miss Marie Doro, as Carlotta, makes'the most of the part. She is ably, supported by a talented cast of "Famous Players" artists. The other items on the programme include a clever and highly-amusing cartoon comedy, "Charlie in Cuokoo Land," the cartooned Charlie Chaplin being almost as funny as tho original. There'is also a I'nthe Gazette, and another film descriptive of tl/e famous Paris Zoo. The musical selections during the evening are well chosen, and rendered in tho.usual .finished stylo by the King's Symphony Orchestra.

EVERYBODY'S THEATER A drama of absorbing interest is beta" produced at Everybody's Theatre in Manners Street i his week. It is entitled "The Golden Claw," and features Mian Bessie Barriscale, who takes the leading role, and Mr. Frank Mills. Miss Barriscale will be remembered as haying taken the part of Lovey Mary in "Mrs. Whigs of the Cabbage Patch." In "The Golden Claw" Miss Barriscale has exceptional opportunities, and she makes the most of them. Her acting is splendid, especially In the emotional scenes. ' She is ably supported by Mr. Frank Mills, who is in the piece as her husband. "The Golden Claw" is a stirring drama, picturing lifo as it is in a certain stratum of high society. It is,-a story of a man who went money mad And neglected his wife en much that she went in pursuit of phantom pleasures till she found herself on the brink of an abyss. The loss of his money proved the lodestar that brought affection and respect back again. From the outset the interest is sustained, and during the three acts the spectators are held spellbound. Miss Barriscale's dresses will be admired by all ladies. Some of her gowns are exquisite, and the' actress shows them off to perfection. Mr. Mills is a dramatic actor of no mean part, and makes full use of his opportunities. "The Caretaker's Dilemma" and the "Gaumont Graphic" aro the supporting films, and are distinctly interesting. MARY PICKFORD AT THE EMPRESS. "Rags" is the present attraction at the Empress Theatre. Mary Pickford is the star, and the houue was crowded at overy session yesterday. The play k one of the best style of heart-interest dramas. The story opens in a little village whore Alice M'Cloud is wooed by two men. She eventually chooses the wrong one, a hank cashier, who on his wedding day is found to be a thief. The scene changes to Montana. Alice M'Cloud is shown in the direst poverty, and unable to procure propor medical assistance, she dies. The' offspring of the marriage is a precocious little irresponsible deinou of mischief. She is ever readv to fight in defence of those she loves. Miss Pickford achieves a triumph in the character of Rags. Every phaso of her lifo in this dingy mining town is shown with vivid 'lefail. The scenes are numerous, many bring tears to the eyes, but there are also a number which create waves of wholesome laughter. The romance in the play io brought about by a nephew of the man who loved Alice M'Cloud, visiting tho caiiip and becoming enamoured of the little wayward elf. Later the audience i is shown Kags in Chicago, where she is transformed into a young society lady. Tho end of the play has a charm quite i itfi own.