ENTERTAINMENTS

Dominion, Volume 10, Issue 2955, 19 December 1916, Page 3

ENTERTAINMENTS

HIS MAJESTY'S THEATRE. A varied and biißht programme was submitted in the- chango at His Majesty's Theatre last evening. Half of the progranfme was occupied by the Bert La Blano's Musical Travesty Stars, a brightly dressed and tuneful band, who sang a number of attractive Bongs. Bort La Blano and his colleague, Jako Mack, woro especially comical in a largo amount of amusing dialogue. • The song, "Lonesome Baby," sung by Maud Miles, which was followed by a chorus "in which tho male members joined each other walking round with a baby in arms, was a specially funny item. In tho first half of tho programme somo good artists entertained. Harry Littlo, the over-popular baritone, with his strong and pleasing voice, made a welcome reappearance, and was ropeatedly recalled. 'i'ne Alerts were again on the programme, and their smart juggling and balancing, with its element of danger, was an item well favoured. Tho Ficmmings, two young men. of very powerful build, also made a reappearance. Their itom is unique, and for those interested their muscle developments and strong appearanco aro woll worth seeing. The Three Huddles, two young girls and a boy who is stated to bo five years old, put on a 6inart dancing, singing, .and acrobatical act. The boy, dresed so as to appear more like a girl, sang a song by himself, and finished up by. running down among tho audience ruffling hair in all directions, and finishing up with a resouding kiss fc each case. Tho first appearanco of the Two Devons, singers and dancers, was the first item on the bill. Some very smart foot work was given by the duo. The programme continues throughout the week. THE KING AT THE KINGS. One only needs to see His Majesty as ho is on the screen at tho King's on the very battlefields, taking a keen, interest in everything, chatting to his soldiers, playing with a regimental puppy, and risking his life between our guns and tho enemy, to know why every man is proud to bo a soldier. Hi* greets our own boys, the Now Zealaudcrs, in the firing line, and when they cheer one almost hears their husky voices. This wonderful set of battlefield pictures bring homo clearly what is actually taking pla£i .andjrhat the terrible devastations aro tlia't were effected by that mighty advance, the "great push." The yitagraph-Bluo Ribbon feature; Joan," with Edna' May playing the leading role, is a picture that easily makes this a . great two-feature programme that is drawing exceptionally good houses. "THE CAPTIVE GOD" AT EVERYBODY'S. The high reputation gained by Everybody's Theatre was clearly shown on Saturday by the number of patrons who were unable to gain admission. The star feature of the programme is a five-reel Triangle drama entitled "The Captive God," a picture remarkable in more ways than one. W. S. Hart, the hero of "The Fighting' Parson," is .seen to great advantage in the production. The story has reference to a little Spanish boy who is rescued from the sea by members of a tribe called the Tehuans, who subsequently bring him up as a god. When he reaches manhood he is given supreme authority over the tribe. Then the Aztecs hear that, under the' white god the Tehuans are very prosperous and start forth to conquer them. ' Tho Tehuans are defeated and their captivo god is to be offered up as a sacrifice. On the eve of the sacrifice Princess Lolomi, who is in lovo with "the captive god," opens' up the way for the Tehuans, and in a victorious battle. ,their , god is recovered. The accompanying subjects are specially chosen. "WICKED NEW; YORK" AT EMPRESS ■ "Wicked New York," the sensational five-act drama which heads the programme at the Empress Theatre, is a study of the under-world of life in that amazing city of pace, greed, and splendour. Here, Florence Reed, tho emotional actress whose magnificent art is stamped on many recent dramatic! successes, has splendid scope for the dis- . play of her remarkable talent in social drama, and with a strong supporting caste tho production gives an .impressive picture of the human side of "Little Old New York." The supporting items are a good selection, and comprise "Pearl of Ussola Valley," scenic; "Revenge is Sweet (Mutt and Jeff cartoons), and a good number of the Topical Gazette. QUEEN'S THEATRE. ' Mary Pickford speaks for herself, and the mere announcement of her appearance- in the field of pictury is always sufficient to draw her huge army of admirers to the front of the screen. This was emphatically ■ demonstrated at tho Queen's Theatre on Saturday, and again last night, when "standing l room only" was the order of the day. In "Poor Little Peppina," - the popular actress has struck her best,, and- this may be due to the fact that the play was specially written -with the cunningly devised object of exploiting her particularly versatile talents, but it is certain that she has never been 6een to better advantage than'in this latest.essay in the realms of pathetic drama. The story is brilliantly constructed, quick in its action, full of incident, and typically an ideal picture play with the ideal picture actress in the lead. Special music has'been provided for this star attraction. .The prices have not been Taised for this production. Other superior attractions are promised at an early date. MUSICAL COMEDY SEASON. The latest musical production of the J. C. Williamson management, "So Long, Letty,"' which is to be presented at the'. Grand Opera House on Boxing Night, is said to be a bright, colourful, and animated show, with a good farce plot, and an abundance of songs, jests, displays, and spectacle. A feature of this production will be the first appearance in New Zealand of Connie Ediss, whose name has been associated with London Gaiety,productions. Dorothy Brunton will appear in the title role, and she is certain to receive a very warm welcome. Mr. C. H. Workman has a part that might have been written for this brilliant comedian, and Mr. Field Fisher and Mr. Alfred Frith, have achieved some of their best in this musical play. Another artist to make his first appearanco here will be Mr. William Greene, who comes with the vory highest credentials from London. Miss Marie Eaton and Miss Cecil Bradley are both congenially cast, and also Miss Ethel Morrison, who will be remembered by her excellent impersonations in the Gilbert and Sullivan operas. A featuro of tho second act Trill be the magnificent "Ladder of Roses," a novelty in which twenty girls ascend eight parallel ladders- in-.which -flowers are represented by 5000 electric bulbs. Only fivo performances can bo given of "So Long, Letty," for on January 1, "To-night's the Night" will bo staged. The box plans for the five productions of "So Long, Letty" will open at the Bristol next Thursday morning at 9 o'clock.

M. OSSIPOFFS RECITALS. After on absence of five years spent louring Australia, India, Japan, China, the Straits Settlements, the Philippines, and .Tavn, Jt. Eugene Ossipoff, the celebrated Russian baritone, from the Imperial Opera House, Moscow, hns returned to the Dominion for a second toiir. M. Ossipoff is tho possessor of a very fine, flexible baritone voico that has been trained to grand opera, and his rendering of selections from the operas of the old masters is said to be quito a revelation. Ho also makes a feature of introducing into each of his programmes a Dumber of Russian folk songs and tho latest English ballads. He will J>e supported by threo clever Australian artists, in Miss Bessie Rogers, elocutionist; Miss Ethneo Clegg, mezzo-soprano; and Miss Sylvia Roberts, pianiste., Tho box plans for tho season are now open at tho BriS' tol.