ENTERTAINMENTS

Dominion, Volume 9, Issue 2801, 20 June 1916, Page 3

ENTERTAINMENTS

"AIOTHER GOOSE" PANTOMIME. . The announcement of the coming of a J. C. Williamson attraction, is always of interest, but the advent of the big annual pantomime, presonM by the firm, is of paramount importance from a theatrical point. The steady manner in which the box plans for tho season are lilting at the Bristol is proof positive of the popularity of their much anticipated entertainment, which will see its premier at the Grand Opera House tomorrow evening at a quarter to 8. J. C. Williamson, as a caterer for the music-loving public, has long enjoyed a pre-euiinenco in Australia. Of late years tho .firm has been compelled to take on the very difficult task of beating its own record in tho production of pantomime. Each year it is forced to go one better than the year before and in respect to the "Mother Goose" Pantomime it is claimed that it has painted the lily. It is not tho same version of "Mother Goose" which was played here a few years back, but it is said to be brighter and livelier' and likely to have a longer and more successful run. As for the | story it has the great attraction of more closely following the fairy legend than is usually the case in pantomime. The various songs, dances,> wittioisms, and specialty acts, would fill a couple of volumes in merely cataloguing them. "Mother Goose," 'it is stated, is likely to prove a thing of beaiity and a joy to both young and old patrons. The season is for nine nights, with a matinee on Saturday next, and a final afternoon performance on Wednesday week. Tlie company arrive from Sydney to : night. . HIS MAJESTY'S THEATRE. >A .very large audience enjoyed tho fun und frivolity at' His Majesty's Theatre last evening. The first part of the programme lyas provided by tho Victor Prince Bovue Company in a laughably nonsensical revue entitled "Full Steam Ahead," in which a lot of jolly sailor boys got mixed up with the clientele of a seaside beauty parlour, where laughter and love-making shake hands with one another to the tinkle of. <j>mo catchy music. The life and soul of the revue is, of course, Mr. Victor Prince, a jolly, robust comedian, who appears as TTmmie Pannikin, A.8., and causes uproarious laughter, by assuming the functions of a beauty doctor, in order to spy upon the doings of his officers' inamorata. He gets the maximum amount of broad" comedy ; out of the part, and in his song, "Tho Villain Still Pursued Her," makes a laughing hit. Miss Kuby Esdaile, as Cora Cannon, the high priestess of artificial , beauty,, was pleasing in 1 everything she had to do, and Miss Lillian Colensw,. as "Emigrant Emma," as eccentric slavey,, whose language "is frequent and free," found favour with the audience, and was distinctly amusing,' where she is interviewed by a society reporter.'. Mr. Charles Zoli, as Guisepp'e Prospecto, a company promoter, was not so well placed as in last week's ,bill, but his "dago" patter was quito amusing. Mr. Leslie Carey and a quartet supplied the vocal element, and an abbreviated ballet and plump ladies was a distinct feature of the. revue. The amazing France Bios., head balancers, reappeared after an absence of 6omeJ months. The spectacle of a man standing on his head on top of.- an' e.ight-foot stand, eating (and drinking) his supper, reading a paper, and smoking a cigarette is, to say the least,, an extraordinary one. Both of the clever performers'appear to be equally at home .on their heads as on their feet. Atliol Tier, an cccentric comedian and tangle dancer, appeared in combination' with- Miss. Peggy Boss, anil the pair were clever and vital in "The Ragtime' Goblin Man;" Miss Eosina Pallnerstoh, a pleasing balladist at the piano, trilled; "Sympathy" sweetly, and, accompanying herself on the mandolin,, seran-aded-the audience in cachuca time. - "The Merriuns," presented by Miss Dorothy G'ard'ner, hardly succeeded in interesting th.e audience. The. opening chorus found the trio at odds with the orchestra as to tempo, and', the -Bat Duet between Miss Gard'ner-.wid Mr. - Cuthbert- Hose ■ .was too long and--'unvaried to oatch the.humour, of the audience. Miss Kate Checkett saug a couple of ballads, llr. Rasa recited the lachrymose "Old Joey "tho Clown,"' and Miss Gard'ner appeared as a wayward cliit of tender years, and again in a very, talkative burlesque on a suffragette. Bert's trained dogs gave interesting evidence of the intelligence of his motley collection of-the canine species. Among the audience were the Tahitian troops,'who are going forward to Noumea, via Sydney, on Thursday, who thoroughly enjoyed the -entertainment from. ! beginning to end. ■KING'S THEATRE. '\ ! ■ "The Edge of the Abyss," a feature ! 6tory full of romance by the Kay-Bee Company, was presented at tlie King's Theatre .for, tlie first time .last evening. It is a powerful society play, in which a burglar points the road of virtue and happ'iness'to a lawyer's vnfe. - Miss Mary Bolanel and Messrs. Willard Mack and , Frank..Mills .take. .the. leading parts, and tho production is managed by-Mr. Ince. Brlellj','-the' story. ;is', that -Alma-.Clayton, a butterlly type of girl, is engaged to a gilded youth,- /Neil' Webster.: Alma -goes, with Neil to a banquet, where she liNU'a a distinguished criminal '.lawyer make an eloquent speech. She is very enthusiastic J over him; and after a short acquaintance marries him. :. The rejected suitor,. Neil, meets Alma after her marriage, and tells her that he is. ctired. of his infatuation, but that he is; ready to respond to any call for help. 'Meantime, the girl quar- I .rels with her husband, and he leaves her his mansion to live in while lie goes to his club.. Alma sends for Neil, .and the latter tries to induce her to elope. A burglar breaks into lier house and commeivies to loot,the place. He sees.a picture of the lawyer, and recognises it as that of man who; had once befriended liim. The burglar replaces the stolen articles,.'and, ''hearing voices, lie steals downstairs, where he finds Neil urging Alma to elope. Filled with remorse lie makes the woman tie the man securely in a chair. Then he marches her upstairs and shows her her husband's 'photograph. Telling her of his,own story and what the lawyer did for him, he persuades 'the woman to forget Neil. The. supporting pictures include the latest Patho Gazette, a comical cartoon entitled "Mutt and Jeff," and a Vita, comedy, 'Too Clever by Half," and a beautiful scenic entitled "Barables Bound Surrey." EVERYBODY'S THEATRE. A remarkable photoplay of the Ralph Connor type is the star attraction in the new programme, which was produced • at Everybody's Theatre yesterday. It isentitled "The Fighting Parson," or "The Disciple," and it is produced by the Triangle Company in their best style. Tho story is one of an enthusiastic missionary who gives up life in a big city ar.d takes up the great work of cleaning up the morals of a rough mining camp out .West. He adopts novel methods of teaching and succeeds admirably. It is a hard struggle and just as the missionary is about to win out, his wife falls him and clears out with the biggest "crook" in the town. The parson's heart is embittered. His preaching-turns to cursing, and finally he live.s, with his little girl, the life.of a hermit. It is a picture of absorbing interest, and has an unexpected ending. William B. Hart takes tne part of the fighting parson, and ho is ably supported by the best artists in the company. Tn addition to tho abovo attraction, patrons should not fail to seo «, clever comedy entitled "Levy's Seven Daughters." This week's Gaumont Graphic is full of the latest happenings. Tho programmo will be presented at all sessions daily throughout tho week. EMPRESS THEATRE. "The Devil's Toy" was produced at the Empress Theatre yesterday. It is fillod with winning elements, and is carefully constructed. - Tho plot turns on the exporionccs of an artist who is ready to sell his soul for fame, wealth and love.Tho picture shows how he gains wealth and losos it, how a transitory fame leaves him 1 in ignominious contempt, and how .the love he thinks he has grasped proves but a mockery. Behind the embellishments of the story is the story of a man, steadily and faithfully developed. Tho love story that is woven into the play is tenderly handled. Helen DanIvers and Paul la France are deeply in love with eaoh other. Helen takes an engagement .in an opera company, and rises to fame. Illness overtakes Paul, and 11 his paintings are stolen by his friend

who exhibits them as his own. Helon is heartbrokenat not being able to locate Paul, and she stumbles on to the exhibition of pictures given by his friend, whom she had never met. Helen at once recognises the works as Paul's. In order to solve the mystery she pretends to lovo : the thief, and by this means discovers the whereabouts of Paul. The end shows Helon and Paul facing a bright and happy future. The mounting of the play, and the gowns worn by several of the characters, aro gorgeous and distinctive. , The supporting programme includes a Yitagrnph comedy, ''Ghosts and Flypaper," a pretty scenic, "In the Italian Tyrol," and the Topical Ga7,ette. ' . THE PINK DANDIES. Judging by the number of people who endeavour to gain admission to the Con-- I oert Chamber of the Town Hall, and who are disappointed nightly. Mr. Bransoombe's "Pink Dandies" Company haa become just as popular as his' other companies, which have visited Wellington. The second production of the new programme was very well Teceived last evening and all the artists had .to. respond to well-merited encores. Mr. Ford Waltham, the popular basso, has made a welcome reappearance after being indisposed for a few nights. Mr. Joseph Brennanacomedian of great versatility, Misses Lily and Rita' Fitzgerald, and Miss Ida Newton also entertain charmingly.