ENTERTAINMENTS

Dominion, Volume 10, Issue 2951, 11 December 1916, Page 3

ENTERTAINMENTS

HIS MAJESTY'S THEATRE. That unique and popular form of frivolity embodying musical comedy, farce, and pantomime, arid known as a "revue/' will again reign for a short season a't His Majesty's Theatre. This evening's performance will be the commencement of a welcome return season of La Blanc's Travesty Stars. Mr. Bert La Blanc and Mr. Jake Mack will, of course, bear the bulk of the comedy upon their able shoulders, and as two stranded Yiddish sailors who subsequently don. tho regal robes of the King of Bong and his private secretary respectively, they are said to excel any previous laugh-provoking roles -they have essayed. The well-known names of Maudie Miles, Carlton Chase, Nellie Fallon, and the New York Comedy Four ■ are announced as included in the cast, and, of course, there will be the inevitable girl in all her entrancing shapes and guises. The spectacular, lighting, and scenic effects will be on the same lavish scale that characterised this company's first appearance here. The vaudeville portion of the programme will include tho Alerts, jugglers of bayonets, battle-axes, etc.; B. Cornwallis, "filmaloguist"; Edith Cowley, contralto; Dubois, the slick little French Canadian; and the Fredo Boys, acrobatic violinists. A matinee is to he given on Wednesday afternoon. KING'S THEATER Tho heroine of D. W. Griffiths's spectacular masterpiece in historical romance, the "Birth of a Nation," Lilian Gish, made a welcome reappearance at the King's Theatre on Saturday, m a charming old-world' production by the Triangle Fine Arts Company, under the direction of D. W. Griffith, entitled - T>aphne and the' Pirate." This is a story of the days when Louisiana was a ( French colony, and bride _ships_ sailed from France across the pirate-infested seas with girls destined to bo auctioned as wives for the French settlers. The

story opens in old France, where Philip du Mernay, son of a noble house, appears at the zenith of his career as a handsome, debonair profligate, to whom all pleasures come easily at his call. He meets Daphne, the daughter of one of the gamekeepers,-and piqued by her cool independence and maidenly rebuffs, arranges for her abduction. Duels and complications follow, and a -dramatic train of events places Daphne in a bride ship bound for tar Louisiana, and Philip in tho midst of a pirate crew. The bride ship and the pirate ship meet on the high seas. There is a sensational denouement to the fight that follows, and in Hie end Daphne, rescued by a ship of tho French Navy, reaches Louisiana with her companions of. the bride ship, and is next seen on'tho auction block, under the hammer. Here the spirit of roinaucß appears. who yeallv loves Philip, schemes in the way women know best how to do, and every thing ends happily. In the title role Lilian. Gish has a great opportunity, and displays her captivating graces to tho best advantage. A strong cast, which includes. Elliot Dexter, the hero, and other well-known members of the Trjanglo Company, lends perfection to the production; Altogether tho programme is an excellent one.

EVERTBODI7S THEATRE. A new programme was ' screened at Everybody's Theatre on Saturday. The picture starred by the management was entitled "The Perils of Divorce," Tho story is that of ono John Graham and his-wil'e, Constance. The pair flavo been married some time when Alice Lorraine engineers meetings between Constance and a former lover. Tho meetings are accidental on tho part of Constance, but circumstances are such that they arouse the anger of Graham, and he obtains a divorce. Lorraine then niameg Uraliatu for his money. Graham becomes very unhappy, and in years to coma is convinced of 'his first wife'a innoeenco and does his best to make amends. "Tho Gaumont Graphic" is a collection of highly topical pictures, and "l'owls and Game Birds" is an interesting study. In a jungle-comedy. "Napoleon/' a famous monkey, is shown performing for the kinema. It is a wonderful performance. Tho programme, will bo repeated'throughout tho week. ■ THE EMPRESS THEATRE. Tho feature of tho Empress Theatre this week is a picture entitled "Hypocrites," and the bills give it an alternative title,. "The Naked Truth/ and"go on to describe it further as "tho most beautiful and daring picture ever made." The picture, as screened, whatever it may have been as made, scarcely deserves any of these sensational or alarming descriptions. It is true that in certain scenes a nude female figure does appear on the screen, but in these passages the figure, though clearly limned enough, is shadowy and elusive, and this for the sako of the art of the picture, rather than the morals of those viewing it.- But there is never at.any time tho slightest suspicion of lewdness. Those who go to see something "risky" will bo disappointed. The picture is in effect an attempt at, allegory by the kinema. Tho central theme of it is that Truth is eternally simple and pure, like unto a naked virgin, and that-the disfiguring raiment of convention, religion, politics, business, ; and other appurtenances of cvilisation can never bo a proper garb for Truth. This idea is embodied in a very ambitious allegory, but, just as the picture admits that Truth, is elusive, so also the lesson iselusive. The theme is artistically conceived and developed, but, after all, the capacity of the kmema has limits even for the" best producers and the best players. Another item on the programme is called "The Winning Punch," a comedy by the Triangle-Keystone combination. It is a story about the adventures of a most preposterous local champion, a light-weight about six feet high, and of how it happened that he lost nanio and fame at one fell swoop in one of the most, fearsome fights ever recorded by the kinema. The affair ends up, after the knock-out of the slim champion, with a police raid, and thcro was a good haul of prisoners. QUEEN'S THEATRE. - Tho Queen's Theatre was packed to the doors on Saturday night, when the latest Paramount feature, "Tho Thousand Dollar Husband" was shown for the first time. This picture replaced the promised film of "The Woman," had had to bo unavoidably delayed, but which, having now finally passed tho censor, will .he shown at an early date. This particular husband is not dear at the price, for ho is a charming personality in a charming story. It is an episode in the old-time fabric of fortune-telling, and cmbodies a capital lovo story with heaps of sensation and plenty of rapid incident. At the head of the cast is that inimitable little actress Blanche Sweet, the joygirl of a- hundred popular picturo plays. In her latest effort she is seen to exceptional advantage as the adventuress, and with- a strong supporting cast the picture play is one to be remembered. The associated programme is rich in comedy aud other diversified picture features.

CONCERT AT HATAITAI. Wellington's eastern suburbs are just now busily preparing for'their two days' Belgian Fair. Before inviting the public of AVellington to come over tho hills next Friday and Saturday, the local residents are bestirring themselves in various ways to awaken interest and to augment the funds. To this end a capital entertainment was given at the Hataitai State Schoolroom on Saturday to a wellfilled 'house. The newly-formed male choir made its debut, and opened with a folk song, and the well-known glee, "Lovely Night." Though not at its best in the latter item, the choir sang later, in fine harmony, "The Soldier's Farewell." The choir is under the conductorship of Mr. Wm. Fielding, and he has good material with which to do much acceptable work in tho future. Corporal Harry Shakes recited, and was twice encored, a scene from the Merchant of Venice" being, perhaps, the best item. Mr. Major's conjuring was very clever. A laughable "turn" was given by Messrs. Keaney and Ellcr, and Mr. Keaney told of "Cassidy." Solos by Messrs. Rupert Meates and J. Conncll were both encored, while not the least pleasing item of a good programme wag a quartet bv Messrs. Thompson, Scammell. Connell, and Smith. Mr. H. C. W. Blick played the acwrapaniments.