ENTERTAINMENTS

Dominion, Volume 9, Issue 2869, 6 September 1916, Page 3

ENTERTAINMENTS

"THE BIRTH OF A NATION." That great picture, "Tho Birth of a Nation," which (.synchronises in a very wonderful manner the travail of America—and in /particular the Southern States—during tho Civil War, and after, is one that should not bo missed by anyone. The lover of the strongly dramatic pictures gets -a. full quiver of thrills; admirers of econery arc adequately catere<l for; devotees of history SO- a livid page torn from tho tombs in the vaults of the capitol in Washington; and, as all tho world loves a {over, no one can fail to be interested in tho romance between the daughter o! the stubborn old northern Senator, and the handsome son of a- South Carolina planter. "The Birtli of a Nation" is onlj; to be shown twice more, the season closing to-morrow night. There elioiild be full houses on both occasions. The management have, through ilis Worship the Mayor, extended a special invitation to wounded soldiers to attend the porfomumce to-night. HORACE GOLDIN. Tho crowds which llock to the Opora House nightly are still being mystified hopelessly the great illusionist. Horace Cioldin, This conjurer does all manner of tricks with all manner of things. Ho performs supposedly simple -sleight-of-hand tricks in full and near view of a watching committoe, and not a man of them ever sees how tho miracles are worked. ,His bigger illusions, though scarcely more mysterious, are greater as spectacles. His biggest act is "The Tiger God," in.which lie causes a live tiger and a girl to disappear in a way that is almost uincauny. He has a host of other tricks with handkerchiefs, rabbits, ducks, and such smaller things, living and inanimate, as are tho stock-in-trade of most conjurors. The difference is that Goldin does everything, with bewildering irapidity.j There is preparation always, of course, but. the preparation is always speedy, and there are no, delays. The other items of en-I tertainment offered by other members of the company arc all of high quality.

HIS MAJESTY'S. Chief on tho programme at His Majesty's Theatre this week is the winsome Madge Maitland. This talented girl with her powerful contralto voice, and the vein of -comedy, drops into favour immediately. She gives a iiumbei of different it6ms, among them being a Yiddish song, and weird Irish croons and lilts. Harry Howe and Co. produce a novel act, and the Howe finishes' off a sori&s of rapid paintings in colour while the lady who represents the "Co." sings appropriately. The clever littlo girls, "Tho Pour Kings," again found favour with their singing and acrobatic actions. Mr. C. May appeared in a number of impersonations of—Dickens' characters. Other items were:—Jliss ■ Pearl Ladd and Mr. V.!■ Arnold, wlio sang well, and received a good hear-, jnit; Mr. B. Coleman-gave a variety of imitations in whistling; the Two Johnsons danced and' saz>g'; while Sliipp and Gaffney pattered on familiar lines. Lea' Warton and Laveenaud Cross aro also on the programme. THE KING'S THEATRE. "Seven Sisters," the bright comedydrama by the Famous Players' Co., lias proved an attractive and popular picture, another large audience being present at the King's Theatre, last night. ■ The bright particular Btar. of tho production is Miss Marguerite Clark, and she succeeds in holding the interest and arousing the amusement of the audience by her mischief and audacity, as well as by her charming personality. .She is.seconded by a most capable company. Of interest, too, is the official war film, "With the R.A;M.C., Oaring for the Wounded at the Front," and the other pictures shown are also excellent. There will bo a matinee this afternoon. "THE NE'ER DO WELL." "The Ne'er Do Well" is a remarkable adaptation of Ilex Beach's robust, inspiring, and thrilling talc, set for the most part in Panama, at the time of the building of the big Canal. In this worlc the Selig Company have created their greatest picture, both in point of length and strength, sparing 110 expense to attain a picture tluit made Beach's story live. Rex Beach himself supervised much of the film, and selected tho localities, while Kathlyn Williams. Wheeler Oakman, Frank Clarke, and the other aitists have done their greatest work for the screen. The picture will be screened for one week at the King's Theatre, commencing on, Saturday. It is .announced that there will be no advance in prices. EVERYBODY'S THEATRE. "The Waif," an Aurora five-reel drama, is the principal item in the .'programme now being shown at Everybody's Theatre. The story deals mainly with tho fortuno of a New York street urchin'. Matty Roubert, the wonderful boy actor, is starred in this big production. An old actor takes a waif of the street into his poor and fcodless lodging. One night the boy finds his old actor friend at death's door, succumbing to the diro effects of slow starvation. Then it is tho waif hustles. The actor has taught the boy' the rudiments of his art, and in their hour of great need the actor's lessons stolid them in good stead. There are some very pathetic scenes, but tho picture has a happy ending. There are other excellent items on the programme. EMPRESS THEATRE. "The Fighting Chance," from the bookby Robert W. Chambers, continues to draw large audiences at the Empress

Theatre. 'L'he acting is excellent, whilst tho splendid photography, and tho simple, strong, cohorent story stamp tho picture as ono of tho most interesting of the present-day productions. Tho Vitngraph comedy, "Jack-Hush Magnate," is screamingly funny, and keeps the audience merry throughout. Tho French official war films, the Pnthe Gazette, and the "Topical Gazette" are very instructive aiul entertaining. Tlie programme will l>e changed on Saturday.

A SEASON OF SHAKESPEARE. Next Saturday night, a talented Shakespearean company, headed by Mr. Allan Wilkie and M.iss Frediswyde HunterWatts, will commence a season of seventeen nights at the Grand Opera House. The acting of tho two principals evoked enthusiastic appreciation from the Auckland Press and public. Tlie opening play of the season will ho "Hamlet," id which Sir. Wilkie wlil take the name part, and Miss Hunter-Watts' will appear as Ophelia. Mr. Wilkio's portrayal of the 'unhappy ."Princo of Denmark is said to provide an intellectual feast of the highest class. As Ophelia. Miss Hun-ter-Watts's work in tho mad scene is said to make a deep impression on tho audience. The second production of the season will be "The Merchant of Venice." Tlie Adelaide ".Register," criticising this performance in that city, said: "One of the finest productions of 'The Merchant of Venice,' in which was one of the most notable Shylocks, was that presented at the Theatre Royal by the Allan Wilkie Company. There was a house worthv of the occasion, and. Mr. AVilkio and "tho other artists must have felt rewarded by the* repeated demonstrations of enthusiasm. At the final curtain the leading players wcro called again and again to take tho applause at tho footlights." Other productions to be presented during the season will be "Twelfth Night," "Romeo and Juliet," "As You Like It," and "Othello." The box plans for the three performances ot "Hamlet" and "Tho Merchant of Venice will open at the Bristol to-morrow morning at 9 o'clock.