ENTERTAINMENTS

Dominion, Volume 9, Issue 2795, 13 June 1916, Page 3

ENTERTAINMENTS

HIS MAJESTY'S THEATRE. "The Midnight Club" in sonio of its tragedy anil an of its comciiy was laid bare at His Majesty's Then..." last evening by Victor i'rinco's M.'. . Comedy Company. Lake ottier m... . tho piece ia devoid of plot, but-out oi uiu void the company knocks an immense amount ol' fun. 'iho doings of the class of cnib in question are capitally burlesqued, good jokes are rattled oil' from start to limsh, and topical ditties aro introduced at intervals. This particular midnight club is a breezy institution in which all sorts of gaiety and revelry take place. But no revellers ever revelled so Humorously, so grotesquely. Charles Zoli and Victor Prince bear the brunt of the work, and imiko most of the fun. Mr. iioli established himself'early in tho revue by his clever impersonation of. the Italian restauranter, and particularly by his singing of "Steak .a d'Oyst." Victor Prince is a rollicking-; fellow of many parts, and lie keeps the revue bubbling with merriment. Among the'ablest of "the able assistants of these two chief revellers is Lilian Coleinso, who fills the roll of the cracked society girl- perfectly. Apart from the revue,, there is a nice variety ol entertaining .numbers. Doraudo, who appeared last, week, is highly entertaining in his' Chinose musical turn; Nan Taylor sings Scotch.songs, very pleasingly; the Australian M'Leans do the . danse des Apaches; Grace -CJuine introduces new 6ongs; and Shipp and Gaft'uey, comedians ana dancers, are also on the bill. .'•THE KING'S. The fact^that Miss Mary Pickford was appearing in a feature film at the King's Theatre last" evening, was quite sufficient excuse for' the crowd that was present. "The Dawn of: a To-morrow," produced by tile Famous' Players Company, is a picture that delves deep into human nature, reveals with an exactitude of detail tile good and bad of 'mankind, and as such ■is deeply. interesting. Miss I'ickford as "Glad," a waif of the Loiiidon Streets, ragged and poor, but withal happy, wise and'good, has a part peculiarly suited to her. Her acting throughout is splendid. The sweet-natured Glum-born girl that is ever influencing those about her for good is portrayed Miss Pickford as only that wonder of the picture world could portray her. Ihe story tells of a rich but most unhappy magnate who is declared by the most eminent doctors of the land to be. on the verge of a complete inental breakdown. In his anguish he determines to steal forth into the night and forever end his unhappy existence. He lias tor an heir a'uepbew— a dashing flash, worthless being, who, on hearing the doctor s verdict is more pleased than sorrowful, for he foresees the "comin* wealth. In his ■ preamblings lie has, w hue in a slum area, met a young wastrel of a girl, the beauty of whom ha is much attracted by. He visits the girl in her village haunts and unsuccessfully seeks, by the promise of fine olothes anrtriches, to beguile her.from her fold. But «rn I.! ,°' y lO street, aotly named Glad, has already chosen, and he of , ,is t a dashing young crook, named Dandy," cunning, but still maniy. -Br her goodness she steadily inllu. euces him •to lead a straight life. He accoidiugly forsakes Jiis fellow-crooks, who thereby swear vengeance-upon him. .During a burglary, "Dandy's" erstwhile confreres are uisturbed by the rich occupant ol the libuse, who for his pains is shot dead by the interlopers. The crooka are caught i>y tho police, but swear that tho crime was committed by "Dandy." ;Meanwhile, -'-'Dandy" in. his wandennga thai, night, meets the expectant heir and inquires from him tno time. Next morning Glad is early awake and into the street. J/liere sue meets tho unhappy oJd.. geiitlemau, and *is in tinio to pre. vent ms committing suicide. There is but ono person that, can save "Dandy" from the clutches of the law,' and that is the old man s nephew, but he; in his hatred ior the lover of Glad will not admit that he met him at tho time of the crime and so prove an alibi. Glad invokes tho aid of the old man whom she saved frojh .a .wretched death, and who, in a dra-. matic scene, unexpectedly faces his worthless nephew and forces from him the words that restore "Dandy"' to his loved one. The Pathe Gazette and a comic, "The Conquest of Constantia," aro good supporting pictures. EVERYBODY'S THEATRE. One of the most varied and interesting programmes which have been produced at ■hyerybody's Theatre is. being screened this week. Comedy is the predominating feature, the principal picture byug by the Triangle-~-j£eystone Company, It presents a wonderfully amusing, and at the same time sensational, film. The popular comedian, Chester. Conklin, 'takes the leading part in "Diuzy Heights and Daring Hearts." He figures in a series of wild adventures which would be hairlaisiiig if they were not so mirthful. Aeroplanes and dynamite play an important -part in the production, and the scene where Walrus blows up with dynamite the huge chimney on top of whioh his rival in love has climbed, causes a thrill. A greater one follows, however, when the girl swoops down -in an aeroplane and picks up her lover just as the huge stack falls. Maurice Costollo, that everpopular picture artist, is seen to advantage in a powerful dramatic story, "Tho Gods Redeem." He is well supported l>y a capable company. Bright comedy is presented by Sir. and Mrs. Sidney Drew in, "For the Love of a Girl." Up-to-date scenes are.depicted in this week's Gaumont Graphic, "and official war pictuna, showing the shell-shattered city of Ypres, complete the programme, which will be shown at all sessions daily throughout the week. EMPRESS THEATRE. "Monsieur Le Coq," at the Empress Theatre, is probably tho best human interest detective story that has been screened in Wellington. From the pep of tho celebrated novelist, Emile Gabbriau, it is provided with unlimited thrills, and there is excitement in profusion. There is no; time lost in the opening, tho story starts at once. Le Con is attraoted to an inn by gunshots. Rushing • with a gendarme to the spot 'two dead bodies are discovered, and a lady is seen escaping. That she is an aristocrat can be seen by-her clothes. Le Coq arrests the keeper of the inn, also a man whom tho innkeeper says is an, honest workman.' , Nothing can" be discovered as to the man's identity. No ono recognises him. He is allowed to escape, and Le Coq follows him to the home of one of the .most aristocratic persons in Paris. But on searching the place there is not a sign of tho man. Le Coq is apparently defeated. But he disguises himself and again visits the house; this time ho arrests tho Duke do Costimiou. Tho Duke confesses that ho is the man who fired the shots, and tells the facts which led up to the killing. It is a lieart-rendfag story, where the honour of his- wife is concerned. His wife comes in as the story is being -told. Le Coq immediately sees that the Duke was justified, and destroys the evidence of the Duke's complicity in the matter, and the play ends happily. In addition to tho star subject, there is a Charles Chaplin comedy, in which the famous comedian is seen in a number of laughable situations. The Topical Budget, and a "Cub" comedy, featuring tho brilliant American comedian George Ovey, who proves himself to be a clever knockabout comedian. Tho whole programme is bright and entertaining to a degree. "THE DANDIES." The current programme which "The Dandies" are presenting every evening at tho Municipal Concert Chamber is bright and entertaining. Mr. Joseph Brennan is a host in himself. His comedy is of the most welcomo kind, and his latest items are amongst his best. Mr. Marshall Lawrence sings a selection of fine baritone items; Mr. Ford Waltham is on the bill; and the supporting artists are all very capable performers.