ENTERTAINMENTS

Dominion, Volume 9, Issue 2814, 4 July 1916, Page 3

ENTERTAINMENTS

HIS MAJESTY'S THEATRE. Unique, graceful, and daring, tho Fivo Manohurians scored a brilliant success at His Majesty's Theatre last evening, when a very largo audience accorded them one of ,tho biggest ovations yet heard in the theatre. These five Chinese from tho north. are ground and lofty tumblers, contortionists, and balancers par excellence. Small in stature, hands and feet, they aro perfectly proportioned, and tlioy work quickly and surely without a hold-up from beginning to end. They do the most extraordinary things, and make no fuss about it. They bounded into favour Inst evening with ihe neatest of standing somersaults, ending in "the splits." This was followed by flip-flaps and somersaults, done with lightning speed across the stage. One of the performers hand-walked across the stage, with his legs doing the goosestep in the air. Balancing the body on ono arm is usually presented as . a strenuous act, but one of the Manchus contributes a contortionists perform l ance while so supported. Their group work, with one man on a pedestal, supporting all the others in all sorts of quaint attitudes, was wonderfully. effective, and tho amazing attitude they assumed while each and: every one was spinning a small plate on the end of a long stick was wonder-raising. .This surprising. act culminated when two of the troup hitched their pigtails to hooks, and floated about in mid-air, holding chairs with their legs and a table between their knees. Then, when the furniture was removed, : the two. men, still suspended by their hair, swung from side to side with their legs bestriding the empty air., A whirlwind tumbling act concluded a performance which stands out as: one of tho most finished and most entertaining of its class ever seen in Wellington. Mr. Dan Thomas, the well-known pantomimo dame, donned the motljy of his line, and "gagged" amusingly about tho census. It was, however, in a burlesque of "Finiculi, Finicula," in wMch the Italian recruit from the oyster 6aloon is wildly travestied, and an accompanying bit of doggr'el, that Mr. Thomas made an liprparious sucoess. Alsace and Lorraine returned with their .violin, ,'cello, liarmoniunij saxophone, and pipes, and Alsace (or Lorraine) played very alluringly on the sweet-toned Alsacephone. The Lampins, clever Italian comedy illusionists, provided a most amusing turn, in which the secrets of some wellworn old tricks were laugliingly exposed. One of the two is ; a very expert cardEalmist, and his dummy partner, besides eing very ..amusing, turned out to be a remarkably clever acrobat and contortionist. The first. part of .the programme was produced ■by tho Victor Prince Revuo Company...in: a revue, entitled "Oh, -AVliat Fun." The fun would have fen. funnior had the revue been half, its present length and a little finer in texture.

THE KING'S THEATRE. There was a big house at the King's Theatre, last evening to'fitness the first screening'. ' of "David Harum." As a novel, "i)?iyid Harum" had a tremendous run, but oSe might/doubt if the story would lend itself to arrangement for the screen. However, there need be 110 doubt on that score. The story as told by the film is an excellent tale, arid Mr. William H. Crane tills the leading' role with extraordinary success. ' Rarely has such6uporb and.sympathetic acting been done in the cinema business. David Harum, as Mr. Crane portrays him (aud as the author intended him to be) is the shrewdest and most' lovable old man imaginable. He is a distinctive character from the time be runs away from -home with only a dime in his pocket, to the days of his middle age, when, he is sketched in the story. Among 1 the supporting films on the bill is "The Ptfthe Gazette," an interesting collection of topical events, most of which bear on the war. •Another picture gives a'general view nf the historic field of Xeuve Chappelle. "Cartoons in a Sanatorium" arid "River Life Near Paris" also are shown. Altogether the programme is full of interesting matter. EVERYBODY'S. "The AVarning," the star picture at Everybody's during this week -is one of the finest! picture-plays which has ever been., seen < for some time. The leading part (Robert Denman). is played ■ by Henry ' Ifolker, and the other principal parts are his wife, sister, and little son. Deninan ' is the superintendent of the Hughes Construction Company; but. unfortunately has fallen into tho drink habit. He conies in one day in a more or less intoxicated condition, and is- advised by his wife and sister and also n friend, who is present, to "have nothing more to do with it. He takes no notice of them, however, and goes off down to the works again; Here he meets the president of the company, who gives him to understand that ho cannot leave his contracts to a man who has not a clear head to carry them out. but still.heroes on being a "good fellow." Arriving home oil Christmas Eve he-is . in .a drunken condition, and is repulsed by his wife. AA'hile he is struggling with her a friend enters, and ho withdraws to his small soil's room. His son, while sitting on .his knee: manages to secure a flask from his pocket, and, on smelling it, remarks "That's. awful strong medicine, Dad: don't take "an oveidose." The father falls asleep, and he dreams about how he still keeps on drinking, and finally one day. when his son comes after him, he knocks him down, and a motorcar runs over him,' ultimately causing death. By the time he dies the wife ■has divorced her'husband,.and in a Tear marries again. - In-the meantime, Deninan' has gono from bad, to worse, and after defrauding his company and being dismissed, . he: ultimately ends un by being thrown out of a hotel, and is lying in the gutter, where his sister predicted lie Wou}d end .if he . went, on..'" The following'scenes, .where lie sees Visions of his past, happy , life, and also of his dead son, are wonderful, to say the least of them; Finishing up his dream, he is seen being gradnally pulled down by tho "devil," which name has been substituted for: "spirits" and. finally, after various attempts to get back from the downward, track, ho is cist'by.'devils into a fiery pit.' Ho wakes up in a "cold sweat," anjil how lie condemns the drink lmbit, through the effect of his dream, and goes on in happiness is a unioue ending to a fine picture. Other pictures are: "Tho. Gaumont Graphic," showing many scenes from the front, n:nd a comic entitled "The New Janitor." EMPRESS THEATRE. V "Alsace," a stirring, patriotic drama, was produced at the Empress Theatre yesterday, and crcated an excellent impression. It deals with tho conditions which existed when Germany annexed tho French provinces. Monsieur Orbey, a merchant, was banished the country for singing tho prohibited . soiij*, "La Marseillaise." - His son was brought from eollegc to take charge of the works, aided by his uncle, a veteran of 1871. The boy falls in love with a girl of German descent. His mother obtains permission io visit Alsace, and pleads with her son to forego the marriage. The boy, however, marries, and the union turns out an. unhappy one. The son is forced to' servo his period of conscription in the German Army. His father dies, and shortly afterwards war is declared. I-lis mother pleads that her eon shall fight for I'Yance, bu,t the wife forestalls her, nnd tho son promises his wife he will meet her in a nearby German town. Oil his way he meets a 1110b of Germans, who are rioting and shouting "Death to tho h'rencli." lie is carried away by love of country, and defiantly shouts "Viva La France." In tho melee that follows he is mortally wounded, and eventually dies in his mother's arms. Tho dramatic conflict of tho love or. tne mother for her son, the love of the wife for her husband, and tho love of each person for their country forms a series of thrilling scenes. Madame Rejane is grandly magnificent in every scene. The supporting programme embraces a comedy drama, "The. Sealskin Coat," the Topical Gazette, and a clever series of cartoons, "Charlie, tho Chef." CATHOLIC CONCERT. Tho concert organised by the Wellington Catholic Club in the Town Hall for Wednesday, ■ July 12, promises to bo a great sucooss. His Excellency the Governor and the Countess of Liverpool have signified their intention of being present, The programme, which is of a

most attractive n alure, and includes many notable artists, will be duly,advertised in this paper. ALLEN 1)0OKB COMPANY. Tho theatrical public will bo interested to hear that tho clover Irish comedian, Mr. Allen Doone, will shortly make his reappearance in this City. The run of success ho made will be remembered by many, who admired tho stylo of play he produced,.and his countrymen have every justification in making him popular, for ho is staging tho .Irish character in its true manner, elevated, generous, nnd clean. Mr. Doolie conies with now plays and several new songs, and the mounting will, as before, ho of an elaborate and luxurious character. Tho opening play, "O'Leary, V.C.." is described as a gem of.lrish life and literature. Its progress through America, it is stated, was a triumph, and judging hy tho Australian record of its success, it should prove a magnet here. Mr. Doono has the same clever company, aiid he is still supported by that captivating actress, Miss Edna Keely. The plan will be on view at tho Bristol to-morrow morning at 0. ,

"FAUST." booking for Gounod's opera, "Faust/' . which is to be performed at the Town Hall to-night, is very heavy. The opera is to be put on by the Wellington' Choral Union with a chorus and orchestra, of 320 performers, under the baton of Mr. Robert Parker. A hue rendering of tho many beautiful; solos and concortcd numbers with which tins wt.rk (ilounds should be assured by Iho engagement of such artist; as Miss Elsy ■J'rcweek, of Melbourne; Mr. Frank Graham (late principal tenor o£ tl.o Carl Rosa Opera Company), Mr. Hamilton Hodges, and Mr. Frank Charlton. The box plan can be inspected :,t the lljistol, where 3s.\ and 2s. seats can bo resnved without extra charge, A ■united supply of Is. tickets aro on sale tho box office. Tho doors will open at 7.1 a •~i-a.'<sht, and the opera conclude about 10.15. Hutfc and JoTinsonville fciius will bo, delayed till 10.45 p.m. '