ENTERTAINMENTS

Dominion, Volume 10, Issue 2909, 23 October 1916, Page 3

ENTERTAINMENTS

"IT PATS TO ADVERTISE," TONIGHT.

To-night at 8 o'clock at tho Grand Opera Houso Mr. Hale Hamilton, Miss Myrtle Tannehill, and J. C. Williamson's specially selected supporting company will 6tage, for tho first time in iSew Zealand, the. successful farcical comedy, "It Pays to. Advertise," which 'has in Australia eclipsed the triumphs won by ''Get-llicii-Quick-WaUingford." Tho position held by Mr. Hamilton in tho estimation of London and New York theatrical managers may be gauged by tho fact that ho was selected to create tho part of "Wallingford" when it was first staged in England and America, and he played the part continuously for over three years. Miss Myrtle Tannehill was described in Australia as a delightfully refreshing and fascinating actress. Mr. Donald Bowlesi, also comes with a London and New York reputation, and it is said, fairly shares the honours with Mr. Hamilton in the comedy scenes. Playgoers will be glad to welcome Miss Celia Ghiloni, as she is a firm favourite with theatregoers throughout the Dominion. Other principal members of the company are Messrs. Leslie Victor, Maurice Dudley, Edwin Lester, John de Lacy, Charles \V heeler and Alfred Charles; also the Misses Marion Marcus Clarke, Nancye Stewart, Mattes Brown, and Violet Wray. It Pays to Advertise" gives every member of tho organisation opportunities to distinguish themselves. Owing to tho brevity of the season only four representations can be staged of "It Pays to Advertiso," and on 1 Friday next and two following eivenings, "The Boomerang" W -«. I? P rodnc ed- Tho season will closo with three performances of the very much discussed comedy "Twin Beds:" Te-day the plans will be on view at tho Grand °P OT ».House from 9 o'clock, and davsale tickets may be purchased at the wand Opera House confectionery shop. Ihe dresses, mounting, and electrical effects are said to be a feature of the production, which is staged under the direction of Mr. Donald Bowles.

HIS MAJESTY'S THEATRE. Miss Wish Wynne, the celebrated English character actress, again heads the now bill at His Majesty's this weak, and those who-have not already seen this talented lady should not fail to avail themselves of the opportunity provided by this (her last) week in Wellington. Her repertoire will compmse an entire change from that of last week. The Robert Damont Company, which, it is assorted, rivals oven the wonders of its acrobatic feats, will make a first appearance here, and are announced as featuring "Tho Hotel Turn Over." The speed at which their most difficult feats are accomplished are said lo take tho bTeath awav. Two concertina experts, by name Chadwick and Campbell, and a musical comedy duo (Mr. Fred. Coyne and Miss Tear! Livingstone) complete the newcomers for this week's bill. The remainder of the bill will consist of Las Legerts, Kingsley and Graham, Montambo and Wells, Elsie Morns, the Farrows, and the Arteens. A holiday matinee will be given this afternoon at 2.30.

"THE BATTLE CRY' OF PEACE." "To show the folly of peace babbling whilo a powerful nation exists possessed of blood lust and a desire for world domination."—This is tho object of tho remarkable picture that was shown at the King's on Saturday evening for the ■ first . time as ■ the firft motion picture to be used for the exploitation of a national propaganda of supreme importance, . it constitutes a class by itself. The theatre was crowded, and judging from tho enthusiasm with which the film was received in. England and Australia,'and more lately in Auck-' land, it bids fair to bo the sensation of the year, just as "Quo Vadis?" "Cabiria" and "The Birth of a Nation" in turn wero sensations. But it must 6triko deeper than any one of those, because it is more significant than an artistic masterpiece, mare vital than a gigantic spectacle, more a thing of the moment tlion a skilled revival of a dead issue. "The Battle Cry of Peace" Bhows with unmistakablo olearncss just what might havo occurred hero on the outbreak of war had.it not been for .tho British Navy. Notablo among! ithoso whoso influence made this production possible aro many of tho foremost names in current American history. Mr. .Roosevelt, Hiram Maxim, tho international authority on arms and ammunition, and the author of "Defenceless America," Commodore Blaokton, of the TF.S. Navy, and others whoso names are unfamiliar here. The picture was one of tho few ever shown at White House, and President Wilson expressed himself as being greatly interested in its effect on tho Amorican people. The leading dramatic roles aro taken by Norma Talmadgo and Charles Richmaa, and portion of the Atlantic fleet as woll as 25,000 military took part in the big spectacle. EVERYBODY'S THEATRE. A drama by tho Triangle Company, called "Tho Half-Breed," is tho feature of Everybody's Theatre programme this week. Tho 6tory is : founded on ono of Bret Harte's tales. Tho central figure, the son of a Cherokee squaw and a white man, is a fascinating character, and woll portrayed by that athletic young actor, Douglas Fairbanks, and ho continues in the film to make everybody interested in the fate of Lo Dorman, for this is the name of the Half-Breed, being a corrupted spelling of tho French

L'oau Dormant, Sleeping Water. Lo has a strange career.. His mother, cast out by her own people, leaves tho iafant in the care; of her only friend, a hermit naturalist, and charges him with tho duty of bringing •up the child as a whito man. Lo is educated in somo of

tho white men's knowledge, but really he reaches man's estate a pure child.of Na-

ture. In tho fullness of time his adopted parent dies, and about the same time a party of ruthless prospectors turn him out of his home. He comes to Carquincz Woods, and there resumes his free life, his only occupations being tho study of botany and hunting. Ho ventures into a near-by settlement and there meets with tho beginnings of tho long series of adventures which are tho framework of the story. Ho falls in love with the village beauty, but thero aro other suitors in the running, and for Lo the path of truo lovo proves a very thorny one. Tho wench is a worthless coquette, and 60 it happeus'that Lo meets another woman, and that matter settles itself after somo

littlo trouble for a number of people. Lo has many enemies and no friends, but he has the: cunning of his mother's penplo in all that pertains to the chase of man or beast, and his outwitting of his_ enemies makes a very thrilling narrative. The character study is of a very uncommon type, for Lo is depicted as a young man with, all the prido and all the virtues of the two races from which ho springs, but feeling with many pangs tho shame of his own birth. As'a spectacle the film is a great achievement. The scenes are of great beauty, and the people in the mining towns are true to the type tiiat story-tellers have made for us. The final sceno showing Carquinez Woods on fire is one of remarkable grandeur. There are a few other films on the programme, most noteworthy being a news graphic with views of the Mesopotamia L.vpeditionary Force.

"NEDRA" AT THE EMPRESS THEATRE.

Hi? Empress Tli.eatre presented Georgo Ban- M'G'utcheon's delightful story, iNcdra,' to packed houses on Saturday. Ihe picture is 5000 feet Jons, and is fun of charm. Tho rapidity of action, clearcut character drawing, and tho picturesquo backgrounds, ndded to the brillianco of the story, makes tho production one that is entirely fascinating. Tho story opens in a fashionable drawing-room in J\ow York, where Grace Vernon and her fiance, bored with tho many different schomes for their entertainment, decide to elope. Early in tho morning the young couple make their escape, but they are mistaken for burglars. After an exciting time tho pair hido on a steamer, and join the passengers as brother and sister. One,of the passengers makes love to tho "sister," and complications arise. Then the ship encounters a cyclone and founders. The young lover, in fho confusion, rescues a fellow-passenger, Lady Kenny. They manage to gain an island. Tho savages on the island make them "white gods," and the chief wants them lo marry. Fortunately at this juncture a United States warship arrives, and tho i two castaways arc rescued, and returned | to civilisation. Back in New York he discovers his fiancee.."Nedra." i 3 a photoplay that should bo seen. A splendid supporting progranimo is added. '