ENTERTAINMENTS

Dominion, Volume 10, Issue 2946, 5 December 1916, Page 3

ENTERTAINMENTS

HIS MAJESTY'S THEATRE. A good and evenly-balanced entertainineut was produced at ilis Majesty's Theatre last evening. ALv. Donald Cornwttllis drew a iiuiquo picture of life, entitled "The Veil of Kisniut." Ho showed liow fortunate it is for most of us that the- future is veiled from view. Mr. Cornlralliii is an effective elocutionist, and ho is ably assisted. Dorothy Harris, who specialises, in ragtime, reappeared, and her songs went well. Frequent reappearances wero demanded, lsuda, an equilibrist, .made his first appearance Here. Tho niinblo balancer did most of his work on a large ball. On this unsteady, baso he placed chairs, and performed'' remarkable balancing feats. Wilfred Du Bois, comedy juggler, presented a turn which would take beating for sheer cleverness and neatness. He juggled with all sorts of things, but made great capital out of a few tennis balls. Ouo of his best efforts-was placing a glass'of wiuo on ono side of a triangle, hooking tho triangle on to a billiard cue, and swingthe lot round with apparent*easo and .lack of care. The ]?reda . Boys went through an extraordinary performance of tumbling, playing violins tho while. Theirs is an exceptionally clever and attractive turn. Barocn and Rosseti, Instrumentalist and vocalist, played and sang delightfully, and received a great reception from the big audience. Tho Dick and Dorothy Trio snug and danced .merrily; the Zadellas Sisters danced and sang; and the '.'Human Frag" repeated tho capital performance which made him welcome hero previously. The bill will be presented. every evening throughout the week, and on Wednesday and Saturday thcrovwiU bo matinees. MARY PICKFOED AT THE KING'S. Mary Pick-ford is scoring, a great success at the lung s Theatre, where she is seen as "Little Pal" in the Famous Players', production. In the character of the half-breed daughter of a dissolute saloon-keeper of a mining camp in tho. mining wastes of snow-bound Alaska, she strikes a new and appealing note. She is staked and won in a game of roulette, seeks safety'in flight, and is rescued by a man whom she loves but cannot possess because he is married. Her lovo provides the culminating sacrifice of a woman, and tho story ends in a scene which few can behold without a pang of regret that things could not have-been different. The settings and photography in the picture are excellent. Other attractions are:—"Butterflies and Bees," "Kernel Knut and the 100 dollar Bill, and tho "Patho Topical Gazette." CHAPLIN AT EVERYBODY'S]. , The star item at Everybody's Theatre this week is a Chaplin effort, entitled "One A.M.," arid shows CharhV Chaplin in his original vaudeville act, which made him - world : f amous. In this screaming farce the irresistible Charlie wanders about a strange house full of stuffed -wild animals in an inebriated condition, and in the extremity of his comic terror clings convulsively, to a kniglit in full armour for protection. Wishing to retire to bed he endeavours to'mount one flight of stairs, but Tepeatedly finds himself at the foot.of the stairs. Eventually he reaches the bedroom, where he unsuccessfully tries to work a mechanical bed. In addition, to this side-splitting comedy is a powerful marine drama, "Sons of the Sea." Other items—"Gaumoht Graphic," "The Birth of a Bomb," and various ther subjects. CHARLIE CHAPLIN AT THE • '. EMPRESS. ''Ono A.M." is a solo performance by Charlie Chaplin, and was, as a fact, invented by that quaint genius as a medium for tho display of his grotesque fun-making talent. It is tho perfect picture, regarded as a Charlie Chaplin act. After a bright and merry, evening, a .careless taxi-driver drops him, by mistake, in the rooms of a wealthy clubman who,collects stuffed animals. Charlie's interviews with the'stuffed black bear, his appeal to the suit of armour for help, and his quarrel- with the obstinate stairs are all unequalled examples ]of. his funniest work. "A-Modern.'Joan of Arc" is a second feature o'£. the : Empress pro- , gramme, and is an - up-to-date romance which culminates in a naked fist fight, vigorous-enough for primeval times. •■•••'• . :"THE ; MESSIAH." _ On Thursday evening, the public is to oe given an opportunity of hearing once more Handel's Th> Messiah." .Tho Choral Union has had the -work in rehearsal for some time past, and the chorus of 250 voices is said to be singing remarkably well. The soprano work is to be taken- by Miss Winnie Waugh; who is regarded in England (according to a London paper) as the finest soprano who has appeared within recent years. The Contralto part will be 6ung by Miss Caldow. Sergeant Dennis has been retained to 6ing the tenor music, .and Mr. L'. Barnes, of Christchurch, will .take' the baritone role. ' The final re.hearsal will be held' in the Town Hall on Wednesday at 7:30, when.'only those taking part will be admitted. The box plan can be inspected at' the Bristol, ■ where- 3s; and 2s..'seats can be reserved. ; A supply-of Is/tickets iviir.be on sale at the'box office from to-morrow. Hutt and Johnsonville trains trill', he delayed till after the oratorio. ','...