ENTERTAINMENTS

Dominion, Volume 9, Issue 2854, 19 August 1916, Page 3

ENTERTAINMENTS

' "SAN TOY,'" TO-NIGHT. The Wellington amateurs-are always worth seeing:, and on this occasion, aided by the strongest cast the present society has yet arranged, the performance of Sidney Jones's picturesque and tuneful musical comedy, "Sail Toy." should be welcomed by all. Though this comedy was written some sixteen years ago, its story and melodies are still fresh and sweet, and there are few works of its genro that have been revived so often and with such persistent success as "San Toy." A feature of the- pwlbrmance will'be the reappearance'in Wellington of Miss' Helen Gard'ner, the gifted Dunedin singer and actress, who gave such' a good account of herself in "The Geisha" and -"Paul .Tones" in Wellington. She will bo San Toy, of course, and will have as her supporters such capablo players ns Misses Annie Sullivan, Isabel Wilfnrd,. Marie I'ix and a cluster of other talented and extremely pretty girls. On the male side there will be llessrs: A. W. Newton, W. Crawford, Norman Aitken, Charles Moore, Herbert Wood, Zante Wood, and Alva Shaw, who are all well suited, and should make a good showing in this merry comedy. Beautiful dresses have been designed under tho direction of Mrs. Hannah. Mr. Tom Pollard is the producer, and Mr. B. Page- will control the musical side' of the performance. HIS MAJESTY'S THEATRE. The Bunty Comedy Co. is still shewing at His Majesty's. It is a little band of artists very well worth teeing. La Blanc's Travesty- Stars keep the fun bubbling merrily, and there are other very entertaining performers on the bill. These supporting artists includo Connor and Witt (comedy duo), Campbell and Walker (eccentric jugglers), Kitchic and Kliftie ("superhuman acrobats"). "THE ROSARY," "AT THE' KING'S. Edward E....Rose wrote .an, essentially human play in .-"The Rosary," and the Selig-lled-Seal Company are credited withhaving made a reinarkbly good adaptation to tho screen of tho fine dramatic story. The picture, which is 7000 ft. in length, and occupies almost the wholu programme, will bo screened at tire King's Theatre this afternoon and again this evening, and continued'throughout next week. The popular and talented actress, Miss Kathlyn Williams, is at tho head of a strong company of the players, and high praise has been' hestowed on both tho acting and production, whilst tho story is said to be fleeply engrossing and convincing. Although tho words of tho popular song, "My Rosary," supply the motif of tho film, the picture, it is said, is not allowed to become morbid, nor does it hurt tho feelings of any class. Tho management emI phasjse the fact that.the picture has noS previously been screened in Wellington. Scats may be booked for to-night at the Bristol or at the King's Theatre. EVERYBODY'S THEATEE. Commencing at noon to-day, at Everybody's, another all-stav programme will r>3 shown,- when two of the world's leading picture artists,' Henry Ainley and Alma Taylor, will be seen in a film version of Sir Arthur Pinero's famous drama, "Iris," produced by tho All-Brit-ish Co. The story deals with a young and wealthy widow, who, by the terms of her husband's will, loses tho whole of her fortune if she remarries. She loves and, is beloved by Lawrence Trenwith, but she cannot marry him. Iris is loved by all Ker friends, but the breath of scandal touches her, because of her relation with Trenwith, and so she accepts tho hand of Frederick Maldonado, a wealthy millionaire, who is the cause of her downfall. It is described as a very pathetic story. A strong bill supports the star item. EMPEESS THEATEE. A dramatisation of "Five Nights," from Hie well-known book of that name by "Victoria Cross," will be screened at tho Empress Theatre this morning, at 11 o'clock. The author personally supervised the production of tho play, which is crowded into five acts.. Miss Evo Balfour, as Viola, is said to give a remarkably impressive performance of a most difficult part. The auxiliary pictures will contain many outstanding features. SUBMAEINE PICTUEES, The things that Jules Verno wrote about from his own boundless imagination for the bewilderment and delight of the. boys and grown-ups of his time— these and other tnvngs far moro wonderful have happened, and have been seen to happen by the recording eye of the kinema. The submarine pictures r.ow showing at the Concert Chamber of tho Town Hall is the most amazing feat m picture production ever successfully carried through. The film is a marvel from many points of view. The record of the movements of tho living things of tin; deep, monsters and otherwise, in their ; own clement, and of the beauty of the other forms of weeds, corals, and so. on—is one that must havegreat educative value for people of ail ages, and there can be no doubt that it has interest for them all. There will be a matinee this afternoon, and in the evening also the pictures will be shown as usual. JIIEOVITCH-PIASTEO CONCEETS. The present is the first visit of the two famous Eussian musicians to Australasia, athough they are much travelled. Without any wide-world reputation from Europe, relying entirely upon the merits of performances in. Siberia, China, the East, and Australia, r.ews of which had readied these parts through responsible hearsay and Press notices, Alfred Mirovitch (pianist) and Michael Piastre (violinist) achieved the utmost impossible feat of attracting a great assemblage to their concert at the Town Hall. Sydney (says the "Herald") at their recent concert. Their talent, revealed through the medium of a highly accomplished art, amply justified the result. These two visitors from Russia completely won the large and enthusiastic audience. Two concerts will bo given at the Concert Chamber on Wednesday and Thursday, August U0 and 31. The box plan, at the Bristol, opens on Friday, August '-'5, at

"THE BIRTH OF A NATION." "The Birth of a Nation," tho production that scaled the reputation of D. W. Griffiths, will lie shown nt 'he Town Hall under the direction of a no lesser theatrical firm than .1. C. Williamson, Ltd. The season will commence on Tuesday, August 29. The picture is a dramatic spectacle, and, described as tho masterpiece of lilm art. Tho story runs clearly along, and it is powerfully told, and this great film is said to have occasioned more ■wonder among "movie" patrons than anything that has yet been screened. "The Birth of a Nation' 1 is a great spectacular drama, crammed with spectacles in which thousands of people figure in tho most thrilling and exciting scenes. Some of these scenes depict various notable incidents that stand out in tho national history of America, but the picture is not merely a pictorial exposition of historical facts. D. W. Griffiths, tho ■world-famous producer, took the thrilling story, "The Clansman," by Thomas Dixon, as the foundation fori) his scenario. Those who have read the book know that after the American Civil War, which made tho negro slaves free, a reign of terror 6et in when tho blacks, impressed with tho oft-preached declaration of the northern whiles that the blacks were as good as the whites, on tho same level, and worthy of the same Tights, practically ruled the south. So tragic became this phase of the aftermath of the Civil War that the whites brought into existence tho dreaded secret society known as tho "Ku Klux Klan." These night-riders seized the negro leatU ers, gave thorn a summary trial and execution, and dung their bodies hack into their houses. "The Birth of a Nation', introduces the exploits of the Ku Klux Klan, but throughout the whole drama is a fascinating love story that provides the silver lining to every cloud. Tho music of this production forms a special feature. A special grand operatic orchestra has been engaged for the entire New Zealand tour. Wherever "The Birth of a Nation" has been screened tho ingenuity of the musical score has greatly interested imieio lovers. ness is the insistent quality of the orchestration, Tho melodies have been culled from operatic composers and from folk and danco music. 'The strains of Dixie typify tho Southerners, and' the Northerners have their own war songs. It was something of an inspiration to select for the Ku Klux night-riders the inspiring "Hide of tho Valkyries." The strain of light cavalry is also woven into incidents of tho riders of the madlycareering horsemen. The hox plans for the entire season Will be opened at the Bristol on Friday next. . THE CROWN THEATRE. Those who have not vet seen the scenic film "The All Red Route" at the Crown Theatre are reminded that the final screening will t>e given at the matmeo this afternoon. "The All Red Route" is a. distinctly beautiful route of travel, and tho scenes are taken at all the most interesting places touohed. The latest Fathe Gazette contains pictures of wartime life in England and at tho front. One of the chief items is the work of the veterinary corps, which shows tho enro taken with wounded horses. , A Vitagraph comedy, with Anita Stewart and Earlo Williams in the leading roles, is well played. This evening a_chango of programme will be presented, the chief pictures being Elinor G-lyn's story "Three Weeks" and "The Coward." THE FRENCH FIGHTING FRONT, Under the above title will be shown u series of pictures illustrating the multifarious activities of a modern army in the field, th;J: army consisting of the French oattalfljns who have so 'licroSSilly resisted long sustained attacks at Verdun. These pictures will be shown at tho Town Hall neit week. People have been reading about the French Army and admiring it, and these films are reported to be authorised by the French Govern-, ment and 'by the French Cinematograph Chamber of Commerce. They tell their own story, and it is said to be a stirring one. The French fighting films will doubtless appeal to all classes of the public as educational and instructive. Strange-looking captive- balloons are shown, monsters, from the cars of observation, also box kites of immense size. Thoy fly away further than the eye can follow, so that the audience Is shown all the latest methods of French and Allied warfare. The above will ho shown nt the Tow.n Hall, main chamber, on Friday and Saturday next. The box plan will open at the Bristol on Tuesday. • HORACE GOLDIN. This modern magician will commence an eight-nights season at the Grand Opera House on Wednesday, August 30 under the direction of Mr. Hugh ]/. M'lntosh. There will bo a matuiee on the Saturday afternoon. Jlr. Goldin is billed as the Royal Itussian illusionist, having been born in Vilna. He claims to have had more command performances than any other entertainer, his gifts from Royalty being highly prized mementoes he carries round with him. This illusionist has been playing in Australia for the past ten or hvelvo weeks, and his success there has induced 01 r. JFlntosh to extend his contract so as to allow him to visit Now Zealand. It is announced that over 35 assistants are carried with Jlr. Goldin, in addition to his chief supporting artist, Hiss Barbara Babbington, while a live Bengal tiger is used with thrilling effect in a 1 Moorish romance entitled 'The Tiger God." Mr. Goldin holds the stage lor an hour and a half, with illusions new and old, the old illusions being served up in new garb, as part of a resume of magic, in which the artsit impersonates by a series of lightning changes many conjurors, from Bautier de Kolta to Houdin and Hermann. Although Mr. Goldin's show is an entertainment in itself, Mr. M'lntosh will present, in addition, a full high-class vaudeville programme, to take up the first half, until tho transformist holds the boards. The box plan is to open at the Bristol on Monduy week.