ENTERTAINMENTS

Dominion, Volume 9, Issue 2874, 12 September 1916, Page 9

ENTERTAINMENTS

ALLAN WILKIE SHAKESPEARE SEASON.

Tho company which Mr. Allan Wilkie brings with him to tour New Zealand with a repertoire of plays by tho greatest of all oards and pinywrighfe, appeared again in "Hamlet" last night. This tour tho people aro asked to treat as in some measure a tribute to the momory and the genius of the great Englishman who died 300 years ago, unknown and unsung by his contemporaries. As eucli tho -venture should deserve recognition. Mr. Allan Wilkio does not try to discover any new solutions of the enigma of tho character of Hamlet, but gives a traditional characterisation, which ie highly creditable, however. Tho other players are in places more daring,' but. Miss Hunter-Watts gives a faithful portrayal of Ophelia, as playgoers know tho unhappy woman. Tho. production as a whole is quite a satisfying ono, and last night it was approved -with some enthusiasm by the audience. "Hamlot" will be produced again tonight and "The Merchant of Venice" will bold sway on Wednesday and_ Thursday and Eridny. and at a matinee on Saturday. On Saturday evening, Monday and Tuesday next "Twelfth Night" will bo produced, and will be followed by "Romeo and Juliet," "As You Like It," and "Othello." The box plans open at the Bristol six days prior to each performance. .

HIS MAJESTY'S THEATRE. Among tho new turns submitted at His Majesty's Theatre last evening special thought was apparent in the sartorial novelty submitted by Miss Lailie Brooke, who appeared iu a sketch, entitled "li'emiuine Jj'aUa and Eancics," in which sho rang the changes in dress—several of them very beautiful confections—from the "Dolly Varden" costume of the early 'eighties down through the quaint crinoline and bustle periods to the pert "flapper" and under-dressed tango dancer of modern times. Not only does Miss Brooke wear each and all of these costumes with, an ease and grace that was pleasing to sec, but sho accompanied eaoii change with a verse of tho song, "An Old-I'ashioned Girl/' sung with a humour in admirable keeping with the spirit of the act. A newcomer, fresh trom America, who quickly gained the aIU-c----tions of the audience, was Miss Jeanette Spcllman, a serio, with plenty of Yankee "go" and- an array of giduy costumes ov original . design. Sho sang of the "Quaker Girl" who was as deep as still waters, but made her deepest impression in chortling of the girl who pleads to her laggard lover that she is getting older every day, and grieves over the fact. Sully and Fenner, daringly clever acrobats, gave a fine exhibition of ground tumbling. One'of the pair does, (standing 6omersaults off. one foot, is expert at side somersaults, and does a double turn in mid-air, aided by a jerk administered by his partner, jumping from a height on to the opposito end oi the seesaw board on which the agile performer stands. The partner ■is redheaded, and naturally provides the humour' of the act. The Four Kings are exceptionally' clever .little gijls, who sin", dance, and tumble with equal facility. Last evening two of-the four.did an "Apache" danco on Continental lines, and a rather pretty eccentrio ballroom dance, and together they revived the oldtimo statue poses, with the sturdiest ol tlm quartet bearing tho weight of In* other three. Mr. Clement May, the impersonator of Dickens's characters, gav» a convincing portrait of • Uriah Hccp,. from "David CopperCeld," and gave impressions of Sydney Carton (' I ale of two Cities"), and Scrooge ("A Christmas 'Carol"), in which tho reciter took some liberties with tho text if not with tho spirit of that best of Christinas stories. Contributions were also inado by Yal and Lottie Newman, Shipp and Gallney. Miss Grace Conipton, Les Warton, and Harry Howe and Co. • • ■

THE KING'S THEATRE.

Another large audionco' was present a) the King's Theatre last night to witness tho Selig Company's splendid adaptation of Rex Beach's famous story, %he Ne'er-Do-Well," and the great picture, although longer than usual, held everyone to tho last second... Tho story is full of interest, the adventures of Kirk Anthony, tho ne'er-do-well, being of a yaried and pioturesque nature, from the time he participated in a brawl in a New York Cafe, and was shipped, drugged, penniless, and under a false name to Panama, until he was rescued in the nick of time from a charge of murder, and was reinstated in his father's affections, as well as finding happiness with his Spanish wife. The scenes around the Pnnama Canal are most interesting as showing the beginnings of that great waterway. The acting of Kathlyn Williams, Wheeler Oakman, and a strong'company leaves nothing to be desired, and the production is on a lavish scale of completeness. Patrons are reminded that the overture commences at 7.55, and the "Ne'er-do-AVell" is on the screen at eight o'clock sharp.

EVERYBODY'S THEATRE. "The Good Bad Man" is the title of the star item now being shown at Everybody's. Douglas Fairbanks, the thousand pounds a week comedian, and Bessie Love are both features in this sensational production. The plot is laid in 'the Wild West of xVmerica, where lawabiding is not a predominating virtue of the townsmen, and where the six-shooter has not yet been discarded. Tho story deals with the outlaw Passin Through, who indulges in some fanciful offences against law and order. He robs society to give to society's outcasts. A. sheriff who has been sent- to the town to investigate certain mail robberies, arrests Passin Through. The outlaw learns from the sheriff a truth as to his parents, and also tho man who murdered his father. His search for tho murderers of his father, and tho manner in which he avenges tho wronjj done him, are admirably portrayod m tinfinal scenes. The "Gaumont Graphic," "Women Munition Workers," and others support this star item. EMPRESS THEATRE. ' With such a variety of subjects at the Empress Theatre, it is not surprising that the house is filled at every session. Tho star feature is a TriangleKeystone success, "The Lion and the Girl," that mingles laughter with thrills in quick succession. "Life's Yesterdays" carries a moral, lesson on the evils of taking drugs, and has a galvanic climax. "The Artist's Wife" is an intense lovo story, with an ending of unusual charm. The other attractions are well' chosen, chief amongst them beiuj "Alaskan Dogs at War," "Industries of Borneo," showing the life of the natives, and "Trebizond," a travel scenic. The "Topical Budget" is also shown. "THE MIRACLE OF LIFE." "A li-csh. sweet new blossom of humanity, fresh fallen from God' 6 own homo to flower on earth." This is the text around which is built the sermon of "The Miracle of Life," or "The Divinity of Motherhood," a notable picture which is promised for production at tho Britannia Theatre next weok, opening on Monday for a six days' season. .It is a strong sex etory, but it is said that there is nothing in it that is liablo to offend the most hypercritical of picture censors. 'Tho picture is stated to carry ft lesson that should appeal to everyone It is claimed that it gets right down to realities, but handles them with such a grace and such a charm that even, the most sensitive can only appreciate and approve. Everybody knows the old story of the unwelcome child that was "misunderstood." '['his is the story in different form, and it is embellished with beautiful effects until it becomes literally b. picture classic. With Margucrita Fischer as the unhappy woman who shirked the responsibilities of motherhood for the pleasures of socioty, tho play is in strong hands, and the story of "Liltlc-Might-Have-Bcen," who should have been Little-Should-Be'," becomes invested with double interest.