ENTERTAINMENTS

Dominion, Volume 9, Issue 2838, 1 August 1916, Page 3

ENTERTAINMENTS

HIS MAJESTY'S THEATRE. Last evening saw tno first appearance in U : ciimgion ol Lo Jji;mc's Aiuaicai Travesty btars—at least il was tno hrst ujipearauco nero iinuer thai line, as several of the principals liavo happened along before, m tno first instance- witu ''Tlio Grafters." Mr. Uert J.,0 iiiuno has succeeded in gacheriug round hiai a very brigut-and capable iot of peopie, who ior uu hour ( and a Hall causcu plenty of la.ugu.tor 'in a farcical melange entitled ".fuzzy Wtizzy," which aame throws no illuminating ray on tno causo ut'iUl the trouble. Diit tno public have ceased lo look lor ruynie or reason in sue'n entertainments, oo long ;is u goes, if goes; und it did go last evening. Tho peg to iiiuig fuo fun on consists oi tno usu of .a couple ol stony-Droke iiast-sido Jows to Lady Unttters salon at . Sdiaa Carlo, -~ where they splurge about thu premises, gargung luuiapropisms, playing poker with a pack oi aces, ami bearing enqueue a la Americaiue. Mr. ; Le Ulanc, as sturdily luiugnant as ever witu everyone, • was smueiessly iunny as the .impecunious Ike . Cohen, and Jake Mack out-travestied travesty ad the idiotic Morris Cohen. Alr v Uarlton Chase, who sings ballads passably, was General -Steole, ami Miss Jiaud lUiios was very attractivo as Lady Grafter. Her song "Lonesome Uaby," witu its real baoy embroidery, w.as the hit of the ' Miss .Nellie l>'allou inado a dainty and winsome JS'icotlna Steele, and Mr. D. Marcel figured as her lover. Their duets, "Dance the Dengozo" and Tn a Bungalow," were saved trom tiioir inherent banality by the neat-ly-executed dances that woro appended in each instance. . An attractive ballet of halt a"dozen attractive girls, and a male quartet are 'bright meteors iff attendance on the travesty stars. In the first past, Messrs. C. King and R. Drum and Miss Virginia Thornton provided a kind of "Are You a Mason" farce, entitled "Two of a Kind," tho performance exceeding the merit of the sketch, which was not nearly so" laughably convincing as its prode'eossor. Mr. Geo. Dixon, the jack-in-tlie-box maker of music, Toturned to favour, playing very sweetly on his concortinas (father and grandson), zither bells and skeletonic zylophone. Marr. and Evans are a couple of clever and original ground tho Two Kerlines are adroit in their pedal management of a rolling ball on a revolving table, and Miss Nina Alis sang a couple of soubretto songs. TIVOLI FOLLIES. The Tivoli Follies are to open here tomorrow evening at the. Grand Opera House for a ten nights' season,-with a matinee performance each Saturday afternoon. Presenting a pot pdurri of pantomime, musical comedy, and burlesque, the musical extravaganza the Follies present will be staged in Mr. M'lntos.h's well-known sumptuous way, the chorus and ballet having been specially selected in Australia. Miss Vera Pearce heads an array of talent, and it is said that her many catchy numbers are sure .to become popular. Thelma Knye, musical comedy -artist, has become very popular since her arrival- in New Zealand a couple of weeks ago. Walter Wccms is another newcomer who has gained a reputation for comedy work. Jack Cannot has under his wing two fine comed-ians-.in George.Welch and Billy ltego. Frank Greene, baritone,' will deliver Cammaert's stirring lines, "Sing,' Bel-\ gians, Sing,-' which have been set to music by Sir Edward Elgar. He'will havo the assistance of the Belgian Orchestra, a combination of musicians who, it is stated, have all done their "little bit" for their down-trodden countrv, and are now honourably discharged. Ella Caspers, contralto, will be heard in items from her repertoire. Jean Keith is a daintv. dancer, while Short and Little have'maiiy new tricks in' the acrobatic line. The box plan is now available at the Bristol. KING'S Two well-known picture favourites, William Desmond- and .Bessie Barriscale, takethe leading, parts in .a beautiful war romance entitled "Bullets and Brown Eyes," at the King's Theatre this week. It is a. story of lovo and war, and it contains some beautiful photographic views of wild and rugged scenery.. Incidentally it might be mentioned that there are some stirring battle scenes. Hussars and motor-cycle troops participate iu a running tight, and during the second part of tho film two opposing armies can be seen fighting on an open plain, the artillery being posted pu the surroundiug hills. Briefly, the 'story is as follows:—Prince. Boris (Win. . Desmond), with a party of Hussars, makes a' raid down the valley of Bothalia. Boris sees an attractive nun, and discovers that she is Countess Olga (Bessie Barriscale), whose portrait he has seen and admired. While Olga keeps Boris ensaged in conversation her toother Michael returns with troops who capture the gay and dashing Hussar. Boris, who was really in love with the woman, spurns her. when he discovers' her trickery. , Olga learns that Boris is to be shot, and she manages to throw the key .of his room to him, and while soldiers are searching the place, Olga conceals Boris. Later he is discovered by Michael iu tho act of saying good-bye to Olga. Thero is a fight with swords. Michael is vanquished by a. thrust through the shoulder and Boris escapes. After the war is over, the father and brother of Olga take her to a convent, where she is to take the veil as a punishment for aiding in the escape of Boris.' Just as she-is about to enter the convent gates, however, tho gay Hussar dashes up with his troops and carries the countess off. Later, with a royal permission ..for his marriage "to Olga, Boris overcomes the opposition of her relatives, and the ceremony takes place in the chapel where she was to bid farewell to the world. The acting throughout is of a high order and the horsemanship displayed by tho principals is .well worth seeing. This week's Pathe Gazette is full of the latest war news and war views. The first of a remarkable series, entitled "Physical education," is also produced. It "gives the everyday aotions of human beiii"s which our eyes have never seen. Other pictures are a beautiful Pathe scenic, When Flowerland Awakes in Japan" and Mutt and Jeff in a Hospital," a good, comic. EVERYB.ODY'S THEATRE. A particularly attractivo programme is being submitted-at Everybody's Theatre ■this week. J he principal picture is Charity Ann.;- Charity Aim, afterwards known as Miss Charity, and her lather, are practically beggars. Their only means of getting, a living . is by violiu playing, which the father, who is blind, does, while Ann collects thoi elusive pence. One day an artist sees Ami and her father, and lakes them home lo be models. The .->ocond time they go to his studio he makes love to Ann ana she and her father go away. When tho lather dies, Ann is taken 'in hand by a. ludy, who, after properly clothing iier, lakes her (o havo music lessons. She does very well, and . her teacher proposes to her, but sho rejects him. Some years previously Ann has met an artist, » Mr. Trevor, and he invited Ann to como lo an. "at home" and hear Miss Charity, a talented' player. Ann asked him to.see her to her lodgings, and there explains who she is and gives a life 'history of ■ herself, keeping Trevor in the room part of the time with the persuasive aid of a revolver. Finally he tries (o take the revolver from, her,' and it goes off, hitting him and making him blind. The picture has a happy,emling, however, and is supported by a very strong programme. Other pictures Include an exceptionally interesting Gaumont Graphic, -and "Submarine Warfare," dealing .with torpedoes, and the diving and rising' of submarines. The Inst item is a comic effect, entitled "Tho Janitor's Wife's Temptations," and featuring Fred Mace. Fred comes into the cafe via tho kitchen after his ruiunvay wife. Tho police are also called in, and red-hot. bullets are (lying in afl directions. Fred finishes by falling through a glass dome on the roof, and lands on a. water fountain, where he stays, being held .in mid-air by the force of the water. A couple of policemen put a board over the spout and Fred manages to get ,to the floor. Immediately up gothe policemen. The audience is kepi in a scream of laughter throughout the whole .picture. » EMPRESS THEATRE. Tho star feature at the Empress Theatre in this weck"s programme is the Vitagraph Company's 13lue Ribbon star drama "From Out of the Big Snows," * which appeals very strongly lo those who

enjoy tules of advenlCre, enduranco, and daring in the great out-of-doors. Tho love theme is well woven, advantage lacing taken of 'the primitive natures of tho trappers. who live in tho 'snow-clad forests of North-West Canada. The background of the story is set r amidst a wealth of gorgeous scenery. Another fino dramatic offering is "Tho Orgy," a tenso one aiit play. The plot revolves on tho love of a scieutist .for his ward, who, however, is enamoured of the scientist's secretary. Hypnotism is being studied by the professor, and ho plans a way to make the girl lovc.hiin, but in the end ho is pleased to unite the 'two young lovers. It is a charming play,, with plenty of gripping situations. The comedy element, a strong feature, is supplied bv the Triangle-Keystone Co. "Fatty"' Arbucklo and Eaymond Hitchcock are' the star performers, and be ; ■tween them "The Village' Scandal" keeps the aifdicnce shrieking with laughter. Tho French Official War Film shows General Mahon's defences at Salonika, a most interesting subject. The lopicnl Budget, and a pretty scenic, make up an excellent programme, Which will be screened till Saturday. _. . SHOBTT'S THEATRE. The interior of Shortt's Theatre, Willis Street, has been transformed recently, and the theatre was reopened yesterday evening iffter coming out of the carpenters' and decorators' hands, A dress circle has been added to the accommodation, and a special ventilating system installed. The star picture ot tho series with which the theatre reopened is "Tho Come-Back," •a' stirring story of the logging camps'of Northern Maine, contrasted with life in-New York society, written and directed-by Fred J. Balshofer. Harold Loclnvood and. May Allison, two new recruits to tho list of Metro stars, make their debut in this picture, and give a really finished exhibition. There is some excellent photography in this production, which the producer. obtained in the pictnresquo country around Dead Eiver, near Carabassett, Maine. Here tho players were carried into tho real setting for the story, and scores of the nativo lumberjacks and- mountaineers were used in the big scenes. Both principals in the thrilling story are provided with parts that are admirably suited to their talents, and by. the time fivo reels are run off the sympathy between the audience and the actors is very- close. The picture will bo repealed to-day and tonight. ,