ENTERTAINMENTS

Dominion, Volume 10, Issue 2933, 20 November 1916, Page 7

ENTERTAINMENTS

£ HIS MAJESTY'S THEATRE. "Melba's Own Protege," Miss Margaret ' Jewell, is announced for her return season at His Majesty's to-night, when this ' girted lyric soprano will offer the glorious waltz song from "Romca and Juliet" • (Gounod). Since lier last season hero " Miss Jowell has made successful appoar- • ances in Messrs. Fullers' other New Zea- . land houses. Starr, and Starr, the ; ''chocolato coraiques," and the Zadellas, . (lancing dno, also make a return appear--2 ance hero this evening. Colos, a banjoist with a big reputation, makes his. init- ' ial bow; Mankin, tlio weirdly fantastic j frog-man, is still on the bill, as also ' are Harry Little, the Two Johnstons, i Harry Howo and Ethel, Dorothy Harris. ; Last, but Tory far from least, Mr. Chris. ' Richard*, probably the greatest mirtli- - provoker with tho drollest eccentricities , ever seen in Australasia. Tliis is Mr. Richard's finai week. A special matineo is announced for Wednesday. ' "THE BEST' LATD SCHEMES " ' Burns's immortal phraso, the 7>ost laid schemes o' mico and men gang aft ; agley, supplies tho motif for a really • diverting comedy-drama, which had a • successful premiere at the King's Theatro on Saturday evening. It is produced by tho Faihous Company, and aptly entitled "Mice and Men.'" It tells tho story of Peggy (Marguorito Clark), a foundling who is adopted by a philosopher in the hope that sho -will ono day develop into an ideal wife for him. Mark Embury is tho namo of tho scientist and dreamer, who, after a survey of tho young girls in his town, has come (o tho mevitablo conclusion that they aro all 100 frivolous for housewifery. Ho conceives tho idea of applying to tho local Foundling Home for permission to adopt tho most promising of tho little inmates. Tho Foundling Society sends him a number of "samples," from which he chooses Pcßgy- Under his well-thought-out plan of education and culture, Peggy gradually develops into a beautiful girl, with keen intellect and a noblo heart. But tho ©min<Sit professor has forgotten to reckon with youth in laying his very unique plan. Peggy meets aud loves Captain George Lovell, tlio nophew ot tho philosopher, but'finding him in a. compromising position with' another woman, sho is broken-hearted, and conlosses to her guardian. Tho guardian is able to disprove her idea .about her lover's but is tempted to leave matters in favour of his own suit. His final decision makes an absorbing finish. Supporting the star feature were a number of very excellent studies. The. programme will bo repenteit (his evening. EMPRESS THEATRE. A picture of unusual dramatic forco, allowing plenty of scopc for good acting, was introduced to Empress Theatro patrons for tho first time on Saturday. Thero were crowded attendances at all sessions, and, judging by the merit of tho programme, this should be ,tho caso for the rest of the week. Ono big factor in its success is tho appcaranco of Frank ■ ICeenan aud Miss Louise Glaum as tho leading characters. The picture, "Honour Thy Name," is a Triangle production in iivo reels, and concerns tho doing of ono Colonel Caistleton, who, when ho was much younger, becamo enamoured of a well-known opera singer, Finding alio was false to him, ho promptly breaks his friendship with her. Years later his son falls in lovo with' a cabaret dancer. In order to show him how unworthy she is, the father makes love to her, and as sho knows that ho is rich the 6on is thrown over. Suddenly tlio girl discovers that tho father is man who "jilted" her mother, and sho' marries tlio son., Sho will not accept cash torms for a final settlement, and the old man determines on a way to bo rid .of her that is ono of the most tcrTible, and ono of the most thrilling series of scenes over shown upon a screen. Supporting "Honour Thy Name" is a topical film of present-day events in tho war zone and in England. The comedy section of tho programme is of tho usual good standard. EVERYBODY'S THEATRE. Heading the bill at Everybody's Theatre this week is tho Triangle drama, "Hell-to-pay Austin," featuring Wilfred Lucas as Luke /Austin, and winsome Bessie Love as Nettles. Austin is a mill "boss,"' but the story opens whero Luke Austin or "Hell-to,pay, J ' as he is known, throughout the production, visits a woman called Mrs. Valentino, and by a prearranged plan her husband comcs in just after him. Angry words are spoken, and tho husband draws a revolver. Before ho has time to fire,however, "Hell-to-pay" has also drawn his, and fired. The latter leaves for tho country. Unknown to liim Valentino recovers. Austin adopts the daughter of an old clergyman who dies— her name is Nettles—and the two got on very well. Nettles grows to an age where it is decided to send her to 6chool, and after a gaine of poker is played to settle which school she is to attend, Nettles is sent to tho city. She does not, however, get on .woll at tho school, as the town girls will have nothing to do with her, and she finally ' decides to visit Mrs. Valeutine, whom sho met before. Here "Hell-to-pay Austin" finds her, but risks arrest on tho old murder charge, which he still believes is pending "against him. Ho is betrayed to 'the police, and an intensely dramatic denouement .follow, in which the Valentines come under the law. The man Austin is supposed to have killed arrives on the scene, to be immediately attacked by; 'Hell-to-pay." But thfto is a happy and peaceful ending for Austin and fettles— not for the others. Throughout tho/picture some excellent scenery of the lumber country is introduced, and also one or two exciting scenes. The supporting programme is a strong ono, nnd includes "Mutt and Jeff" in a comic cartoon, the Gaumont graphic, and a war film. CROWN. THEATRE. Oscar C. Apfel, the noted director of numerous famed feature photo-dramas, is said to have achieved a triumph in his screen version' of "The Little Gypsy," scenarised by Walter Dare, for William l'ox. "The Little Gypsy" employes the services oi hundreds of people, a veritable army, in fact, and the scenic effects are said to bo wonderful in their Teahsm and beauty. Mr. Apfel believes in absolute realism upon tho screen, and consumed weeks of valuable time searching lor types that would fittingly represent his conception of the scores of minor characters that lend atmosphere and colour to the play. Dorothy Bernard, who appears in tho deeply-moving and appealing role of Lady Babbie, is the youngest and most popular emotional actress appearing before the public. She is scarcely more than nineteen years old, ycthernamo is known in many lands as a dramatic genius. "The Little Gypsy" will be shown at the Crown Theatre all this week, nnd at two snecial matinees on Wednesday and Friday afternoons. Jhe box plan is at Begg's. PROMENADE CONCEPiT. A promenade concert organised by tlio Now Zealand Natives' Association in aid ot tho Soldiers' Memorial Building Fund' was held at Oriental Bay, opposite tho Kiosk, on Saturday night. The performers paraded through the city, stopping at several points to give brief concerts and niako collections. A. Pierrot tioupo occupied one lorry, and a band of "natives" anothor. Tlio association's band also had a vehicle, and a fourth conveyance carried a number of collect(Hi> in aniuiat costumes. 'IHio pevi'oriners readied the Oriental Bay Kiosk at aight o'clock, and gavo an hour's excellent entertaiiimont thero. Tho concert attracted a largo crowd, and the collectors found plnnty of scope for Uieir ' efforts. The new Queen's Theatre, in Cuba Street, will bo officially opened on Monday evening, Decomber 4. Tho directors Ptato that they havo secured tlio best film productions obtainable. There will also a full orchestra.