ENTERTAINMENTS

Dominion, Volume 9, Issue 2868, 5 September 1916, Page 3

ENTERTAINMENTS

"THE BIRTH OF A NATION." This great film spectacle, which in the kinoraa world has a reputation as tho greatest success ever achieved in moving pictures, goes on attracting its orowds to the Town Hall.' Nothing finer than this picture has ever beon made, and nobody dares to suggest, even in America, the cradle of 'big film productions, that anything finer can ever he made. It is an epic in pictures, the story of the greatest trial through which., the American people passed, and tho production is on a scale worthy of tho theme. To take one instance alone. In tho battle scenes in this film the opposing armies stretch to the horizon, and the film battle as seen on the screen lacks only two of the essential facts of real war—noise and bloodshed. This great picture will bo screened for three nights longer.

HORACE GOLDIN. Horace Goldin, now deceiving large audiences nightly at the Grand Opera House, is never seen to such advantage as when working his tricks at close quarters. To t/Ibse who know a little about the business Goldin is cleverest when he appears before a "front scene," and, iii tho presence of a committee from the audience knots the corners of two handkerchiefs together threo or four times, calls comically to the "spirits" to assist him, and then lifts the handkerchiefs The egg and basket trick is also a real dizzier, so Is tho disappearing piano and pianist, and the mysterious goldfish, which are materialised out of tho air at tho end of a rod and line. "The Tiger God" is a spectacular drama, as well as a series of illusions. It commences with five minutes of rather obscure film, and then Goldin, in a disguise, enters the Sultan's court to rescue the girl, who has been part of his stock-in-trade. He shoots the guardian of the sacred tiger, seizes the girl, and places her on the throne. The Sultan and his court rush in but Goldin, with great presence of mind "vanishes the girl" and afterwards himself, and then, as a climax, rescues his faithful assistant from tho tiger god, and vanishes the striped brute himself. The supporting oompany inoludes Mennetti and Sidelli, quaint Marie King Scott, Miss Babs Babington, Bill Pruit, and Crawford and Hay. The season will come to a close on Thursday.

HIS MAJESTY'S THEATRE. New faces and some familiar ones of the recent-past wore seen in the new bill provided at His Majesty's Theatre last evening, but there were none to dim the lustre of-tho reigning star, clever "Madge Maitland. This talented girl la 3 a powerful contralto voice, strongly niasouliiio in timbre, that makes an immediate appeal, and the vein of broad though quiet comedy tliat runs through her character songs "gets the giggle" every time. She infuses a strong leaven of that comedy made so familiar to us in "Potash and Pe'rlmuttor" and tho .Yiddisher song about Rosy und the turkey trot is good entertainment. Miss Maitland is also comical in weird Irish croons and lilts, and also makes weird noises through a megaphone that are not nearly so appealing as her own sympathetic voice. Harry Howo and Co. introduce a novel act, which consists of a series of rapid paintings in colour, whilst the "Co." (a young lady)-chirrups songs appropriate- to the pictures. The Four Kings, four clover little girls, who sing, danco, and perform acrobatically, again found immediate favour with the audience. A performer,' who3o work is aoove the average in vaudeville, was Mr. Clement May, who specialises in the impersonation of Dickens' characters. Mr. May first appeared as Dickens himself— a very fine representation of familiar plates of the great novelist, and sebsequently donned the motley of Fagan, the Jew, in the prison scene in . '"Oliver Twist," Mr. M'icawoer from "David Copperfiold," and little Neil's grandfather from "The Old Curiosity Shop," the last concluding with a pretty scene of the old churchyard where tho pathotic little wanderer finds that rest which the world failed to give her. Mr. May gavo conscientious interpretations of all three characters. Another excellent singing, act was that provided by Miss Pearl Ladd and Mr. Villiors Arnold (late of Williamson's Gilbert and Sullivan Opera Co.). Mr. Arnold, a good light baritone, sang "The Sentinel of the Deep" very well, and Miss Ladd sang .Puncher's song of yesteryear, "I Was Dreaming," very sweetly. In the weirdest of costumes and "makes-up" Mr.. Arnold sang that fine old song, "The Storm Fiend," at tho end of which Miss Ladd, in, the garb of "Hoi-cia, advanced on the stage and carolled a verse of "The Rosary," which evidently tamed the fire of the restless soul that cowered at the edgo of the spot-light. There was something curiously incongruous about tho whole business, which did not improve an otherwise acceptable contribution to, the programme. Mr. Burt Coleman- whistled with the same disregard of tune that af"f ects most vaudeville whistlers,: and gave a variety of imitations that involved a fowl-yard edition of "Romeo and Juliet," The Two Johnstons danced better than they vocalised, and Shipp and Gaffncy pattered and sang ou familiar lines, Les Warton, the big-voiced singer of cheerful coon and ragtime ditties, received a hearty welcome back, and those really comical strong men, Davcen ana Cross, raised laughter uneonfiued -with their ludicrous comedy. I

EVERYBODY'S THEATRE. This week's new programme at Everybody's includes as its star item -an An•rora five-reel drama, "The Waif," featuring Matty Itoubert,\the wonderful boy actor. The story deals with the for. tunes of a New York street urchin. An actor takes a waif off the streets into "his poor and foodless lodging. With starvation staring them in the face tho 'boy goes out into the world as a little boot-black, and soon a loaf and a bottle of milk are the reward of his exertions, The aotor has taught the boy the rudiments of. nis art, and in their great hour of need, his'lessons stand them in good stead. There ' is a very strong scone revealing tho big success on his first night. It is a very pathetic picture, and one wliich must appeal to all. The official war pictures give some idea of tho terriblo fighting that is now rag-, ing. Other excellent items ' are also shown. EMPRESS THEATRE. "Tho Fighting Chance," now being screened at the Empress Theatre, is a story of unusual insight, interpreted by a brilliant cast of actors and actresses, with an intimate comprehension of tho character each ono plays. v It is one of thoso rare plays, where humour is blended with pathos, and the end creates a glow of satisfaction that tho world is a good place after all. Tho supporting programmo is varied and interesting. Tho oustanding features are a comedy from the Vitagraph studio, which keeps the audienco in a simmer of delight; a French official war film; an interesting subject, "Making Artificial Limbs;" "Tho Topical Budget," and i "Th'o Pathe Gazette." THE KING'S THEATRE." The programme at tho. King's Theatre this week is a most interesting one, tho chief item being an excellent comedydrama, "Sevon Sisters,"-produced by the Famous Players Co. This is a charming romance, rbplete with humorous situations, and just enough, drama to retain the interest. Tho picture-play enables tho clever Httlo actress, Marguerite Clark, to shine to special advantage. The story of Mici, the fourth girl in a family of seven, who wants to marry a young count whom she mot' at a ball, when tho custom of tho country says uo younger sistor can marry until all her 'older sisters have gono off, is very woll told, and the outcome is waited with interest and anmscinont. Othor .pictures includo an official war film of the Royal Army Medical Corps caring for the wounded at tho front; tho Patho Gazette; an interesting naturo study; and a beautiful scenic. There will be a matinee to-morrow afternoon. "THE NE'ER DO WELL." Like Bex Boach's other big stories, "Tho Ne'er Do Well" is an outdoor tale. Published a year or more beforo the completion of tho Panama Caual, not a little of tho success of tho novel was duo to public interest in tho canal and tho romance of its building, which Beach so cleverly wove into hia story of a headstrong youth who by contact wibli big men and deeds and a clever woman, him-

self became a man. The Solig Co. havo evolved from the novel a remarkable tworeel picture, taken on tho actual Panama and supervised personally by Rex Beach. Kathlyn Williams, Wheeler Oakman, and Frank Clark are in the principal roles. The picture will bo screened for tho first time in Wellington at the King's on Saturday next. SHAKESPEARE SEASON. On Saturday evening next, at the Grand Opera House, two talented Shakespearean artists, Mr. Allan Wilkie and Miss Fraliswyde Hunter-Watts, will make .their first, appearance in Wellington. It is not twelve months ago since .they camo to Australia, practically unknown 60 far as theatregoers were concerned, but their success has been such 'that they now rank as two of the most popular artists that have ever appeared there. Making their debut in Shakespeare's great tragi-comedy, "The Merchant of Venice," they instantly won appreciation. Mr. Wilkie and Miss Hun-ter-Watts have since appeared in other important roles, and have made most decisive successes in all, so much so that the Melbourne and Sydney. Press proclaimed them as two of tho most successful Shakespearean artists that had ever visited Australasia. The opening production will bo "Hamlet," which provides not only a great medium for histrionic display, but also almost limitless chnnce3 for the scenic artist and the stage mechanist. Following "Hamlet," "Tho Merchant of Venice" will lie presented, and then probably in tho order named will como "Twelfth Night," "Romeo and Juliet," "As Ton Like It,' and. "Othello." The box plans will bo opened at the Bristol on Thursday morning for tho three performances of "Hamlet" and "The Merchant Df Venice."