ENTERTAINMENTS

Dominion, Volume 9, Issue 2856, 22 August 1916, Page 3

ENTERTAINMENTS

HIS MAJESTY'S THEATRE. Frivolous fun, punctuated with somo clover specialty turns and catchy music, held a fairly largo audionco interested at His Majesty's Theatro Inst evening. Bort La Blanc's Travesty Stars struck .a new vein, which has served them well ill tho past in tho extravaganza, _ "In Watts," meaning in tho town of Watte. In this amusing interlude old Watts, who founded tlio town, lias disappeared twenty years before the curtain rises, and tho cast is peopled with a lot of hard-up folk, who, being wi6o to tho situation, aro doiug their beat t.o convineo the sheriff that they aro the heirs of the defunct Watts. Three of theso aro tho funny shooney Ike and Morris (Bert La Blanc and Jako Mack), and the well-con-ditioncd third is Pete (Carlton Chase). Thoir efforts Is establish their claim to tho defunct NNalts's wealth aro farcical in tho extreme, but tho laughter they lviised was never so hearty since theso folk canio to town. Miss Maud Miles figures as a bold. adventuress posing as Watts' widow, and Miss Fallon as Hazy Fogg trips tho light fantastic with airy grace, and finally is discovered to be NVatts's heiress. Such lilts as "Excuse Me, Mister Moon," "Dixie Moon," "You Can't Got Away From It," give a showily dressed ballet play, and a male quartet bursts into harmony at unexp.ected momonts, one of their efforts being the "Soldier's Chorus," from "Faust,' for which thev aro 'graciously forgiven. In tho first part the Bunty Comedy Company gave extreme satisfaction in a Scotch comedietta entitled "M'Pherson's Wuoing," in which Jock MTherson (Sir. David Urquhart) woos and wins Madge M'lntosh (Jean Clyde) in the teeth of tho ridicule of the hitter's brother, Jimmio (Abe Baxker). These gifted: Scotch players, with their commendable gift for, naturalism on the stage, aro always interesting, so much so indeed that one might be pardoned for a desire to see them in comedy scones a little higher removed from the accepted farce of vaudeville. The La Tours devote their attention to simple juggling feats with a comedy trimming. The la<ly toys attractively with soap bubbles, that would have been even more effective were the background moro suitable. Campbell and Walker are a couple of extremely clever jugglers with tennis racquets and balls, and .Connor and Witt warbled sweetly of the charms of tue ■Emerald Isle.. THE KING'S THEATRE. "The Rosary," the 7000 ft. star film, produced by tho Selig-Red Seal Co., attracted another largo audience to tne King's Theatye last night. The beauty of the . 6tory and the excellence of tue production and acting : wore again much adm bed. Seldom lifts & character won presented with greater fidelity to nature or with more feeling and judgment than that ■ of FMhev Kelly, by Mr. Charles Clary. The actor is never at fault. , Miss Kathlyn Williajns, too, gives a clever performance, and is ably supported by a most consistent and capable cast. Although the picture occupies practically the whole of the programme, the interest does not gag for a moment. Tho Patlie Gazette of war views and news is the only other picture shown. Tho programme will bo continued nightly until Friday njglit, and there will he a special matinee tO' morrow at 2.30. EVERYBODY'S' THEATRE. "Iris" is the latest big attraction which the mauageent of Everybody's Theatre has to offer the public this week. It is a film version of Sir Arthur Pinero's famous drama, produced by ths All-Britisli Co. Besides losing nothing in the process of "picturisation," thf storv gains in several respects through the "agency of modern photography. Iris's husband dies, leaving her tho whole of his wealth on condition that she will not remarry." In ■ the course of time she meets a man (Laurence Traiwith), whom she deeply loves, but rather than loso her fortune she refuses to marry him. Instead, she accepts the hand of a millionaire, who in the end is the ' cause of:her downfall. It-'is a, very sad story, and points a 'moral against clinging to wealth. There are other good supporting items on the programme. EMPRESS THEATRE. "Five Nights," the dramatisation of the- book b.v Victoria Cross, continues to dlaw big "business at the Empress Theatre. It .is a fascinating photo-play in five big acts, and is gorgeously produced. Miss Eve Balfour, as Viola, wins the sympathy of the audience by sheer artistry. Mr. T. H. M'DonaUl, as Trevor, the artist, gives a fine performance of a part that migljt «asily have been overdrawn. Mr. MYlonald is ■ truly convincing all the while. The supporting programme is an excellent one. Friday night will be the final screening of the present attraction. SUBMARINE PICTURES. The remarkable submarine pictures, whicli have been shown nightly. at tho Concert Chamber at the Town Hall, have. attracted, large numbers of the public, and those who' have not seem this wonderful series are reminded that to-night will be their last opportunity of doing so. Views of the world beneath the ocean ■ are shown in every detail. AH its beauties, weirdnoss,. and dangerous inhabitants can be seen. Even a fight between a shark and a man is depicted. Great numbers of. fishes can be seen . swimming about tho corals, sponges, and seaweed. Exciting incidents in the life of the Island divers on the sea-floor add to • the interest of the pictures. The box plan for the last production this evening can "be seen at the Bristol to-day; THE .FRENCH FIGHTING FRONT. A treat is promised to lovers of mnviug pictures. At the Town Hall on Friday next there will be shown the French, official war iilms. When theso official war films were presented before General .Toffre, ho is said to have expressed the wish that nil the Allies, and he specially included Australia and Is'ew Zealand, should see how war is made by tho "poilus." These cinematography pictures have opened a new horizon to war illustration, as distance bccomes practically annihilated. In exceptional cases, by the employment of very powerful -telescope lenses, successful views have been ' taken. At a distance of nearly six miles everything dopands upon atmospheric conditions and the lio of the country. In these official war films the work of tho air'scouts is said to be' vividly, shown, and wonderfully displayed. The box plan is at the Bristol. • HORACE GOLDIN. Horace Goldin, the royal Russian illusionist, who claims to have started where other transl'ormists have left off, will appear under, the engagement of Mr. Hugh D. M'lntosh, at the Grand Opera House, on August 30, for eight nights. Mr. Goldin is claimed by his managers to be tho highest-salaried act* ever brought to Australia. Supported by Jliss Barbara Babingt.on, and with 35 uuxiliaries, tho illusionist presents a ■ programme of magic described as both niystifying and sensational, culminat.iug in a weird performance with a thrilling climax, when in his . Moorish mystery, "The Tiger God,", he jugglos with a live Bengal t.iijer. He has many other illusions, which iucludo a review of conjuring from tfyj,lsth to tho 20th century, iu 'which a sorics of lightning changes is accomplished with infinite ease. Also the plate-glass mystery of passing a liwly through a "late-glass window will bo executed in front, of a committee selocted from the audience. Mr. M'lntosh will presont n number of star vaudeville acts in support. The box plan is to open at the Bristol on Monday.