ENTERTAINMENTS

Dominion, Volume 10, Issue 2964, 30 December 1916, Page 2

ENTERTAINMENTS

*'TO-NIGH'rS THE NIGHT." ' "To-night's the Night," which is to be presented by J. C. Williamson's Musical Comedy Company at the Uraud Opera House this evening, enjoyed the same length of runs in Sydney and Melbourne, and vied with "So Long, Letty," as the most popular musical play staged in Australia during recent years. The atmosphere of "To-night's the Night" is said to bo light and fantastic, .and there is a plentitudc of catchy songs, clover dancing, ainu«iug situations, and artistic groupings. The comedians of the company have, it is said, greater scopo for ?un-inaking in "To-night's the Night" than they had in the opening piece. .Miss Dorothy Brunton has achieved' her greatoat triumph in the part of June, to which is attached some of the biggest song successes in the piece'. Miss Maud Fane, who last visited here with the "Mother Goose" Company, will no doubt receive a. hearty reception when she makes her appearance this evening as Beatrice Can-away. Mr. Alfred Frith, who gave a taste of his abilities in "So Long, Letty," has a much larger and more important character to enact in "To-night's the Night," and it is said he has the audience in roars of laughter the whole time he is on the stage. Mr. Fred. Maguire, as Henry, and Mr. Ciaude Bantock, as Alfonse, ami Mr. Edgar AVarwick, as Lord Ridgmount, are all making their first appearance, during the present season, this evening. Mr. Fieid Fisher is one of the very best light comedians, and to-night as Robin Carraway he is, it is said, seen at his very best. Mr. Field Fisher is said to'be highly amusing as Montagu Jjovitt, and Mr. William Greene will take the important part of Pedru. Miss Connie Bdiss will appear as Victoria, and Miss' Marie Eaton has a couple of good numbers |o sing during the evening in the rolo of Daisy de Menthe. A feature of tbe production is the dancing of Mr. Jack Hooker. The dresses are, it is said, magnificent, and the scenery picturesque. -There will be a special holiday matinee of "To-night's tbe Night" ou Monday afternoon, and (his niece will bo staged up to and including Wednesday night.

SELINSKY-AMADIO CONCERTS. The programme for the first of the season of the Sclinsky-Amadio concerts' to be given in the Town Hall on Monday next, has been arranged.so as to include inauy of the artiste's most popular numbers; M. Selinsky was announced to play.the Mendelssohn Violin. Coucerto, but owing to several requests being made he has decided to play the Lalo Symphonic Espagnole, with which he created such, a sensation in Sydney. Mr. Amadio will include in his prosrumme li Sfc&ci'd fantasie, which concludes with a briijiant setting of the French National Anthem. Miss Elsy Trcweek will sing Bishop's "Lo! Hear the Gentle Lark," with flute obbligato, and Miss Jessie Masson, who is considered ah able exponent of Chopin; will contribute as'one of her. numbers this> composer's Waltz in A 'flat. The box plan is at' the Bristol.

. HIS MAJESTY'S THEATRE. Two entertainments will be provided at His. Majesty's Theatre to-day-one. at 2.30' p.m., at matinee prices, and the other at 8 p.m., at ordinary evening prices. The programme throughout' the week has proved" a popular one. and largo audiences have been attending. A welcome reappearance is made, by Mr. Lonard Nelson, who amuses with ii large stock of entertaining songs. Comedians, acrobats, jugglers, singers, musicians, and other amusing items help to fill up a bright bill.

QUEEN'S THEATRE! To-day will sec the first production at the Queen's .Tiieatre of auotuer big Paramount picture, which has been specially kept lor the Now Year season. This is tnu hvo-reel drama "The Dupe," a story which is said to be superior even to that immense attraction, "The Cheat." "The Dupe" is a purely modern story, and deals with.a pnase of life that is familiar to every budy—"the-' plucking of a pigeon," as it is known in the crisp vernacular of fraud. It is said to be a wellbalanced play, full 61' incident and sensational situations, yot never developing into melodrama. The heroine (Blanche Sweet) and her lover aro the prey of an unscrupulous adventurer and adventuress, and it is in the development of this theme that the story How virtue triumphs over vice after many exciting interludes and thrilling episodes, and the young couple win to happiness, the picturo must show for itself. A new programme of musical selections will be played by Signor Truda's orchestra, and with a strong supporting programme the whole entertainment is expected to prove a capital holiday fare. Seats may be reserved at the Iheatro' or by telephone. Ihe entertainment is continuous from 11 a.m. . ■

"HER GOLDEN CHANCE" AT 'IT" KING'S THEATRE. ' Back and forth (lie/ story goes, will joy, wealth, and happiness, to poverty, poignant grief and utter wretchedness, ending with a golden sunset. Such orally, 13 "The Golden Chance," commencnig at 2.30 .to-day at the Kiur'' Theatre, fctitiaiiiK Cleo Ridgclcy, the actress • who' suddenly sprang to fame through her great personality, beauty and wonderful acting. If paintings in a Rembrandt gallery or a set of Titans and lmtorettos wero locome to life smlnV and were transferred tot the screen the oiled could not, it is claimed, be greater than is gained by the beautiful pia.. graph? of this picture plav. Jfauv .woman-, seeing Cleo Rdigcley's depiction ol the well-bred young girl married to a scoundrel, has, it is reported, paid lier the tribute of a tear. This picture broke all records in the new Strand Theatre in A uckland, when 10,405 people witnessed the screenings. Already the box plan is rapidly filling at the Bristol, so its fame is travelling fast. - BESSIE BAKRISCALE AT EVERYBODY'S. The new programme to be screened at Everybody's to-day is headed by a Triangle feature film, entitled ' '"Home "■ Three popular artists will bo featured in tins production, in Bessie . Barriscale. Louise Glaum, and Charles Ray. Bessie Burriscalo plays the part of a dear-eyed Eirl; who determines to save her family from the perils of too much money. The story deals with'the affairs'of a'family that had suddenly grown rich, which results in the usual lliing-it becomes unduly extravagant and makes a, vulgar display of its wealth. It takes their young daughter to bring them al] to their senses and make their home really a homo and not a slopping place. The story is cleverly worked out to a happy conclusion, with a special moral for all so-called "social climbers." A .breezy comedy by the Vitagraph Compa'nv, ' "The Man from Egypt." and various other items support tho star. . i

EMPBJESS THEATKE. Played out in the frozen wilds of the Alaskan goldfields, t'ho World I'ilm CorBS r,ltj . 011 , * ■ latest dl 'anialie success, tangled lates, to be shown at the Empress Thoatro to-day,, is described as 11 thrilling story of self-sacrifice and sensationa tragedy. Tho worthless no-ac-count husband of n girl who has been banished from her home in shielding her younger sister from scandal goes to Alaska and becomes a. profligate waster. In a tiimiT.el he shoots another man, and is lynched by tho miners. "While tho lynching is in progress, the wife arrives on the scene, and has a sensational encounter with the woman who has been living with her husband. She escapes, and finds that she is a widow. A happy denouement is provided in the arrival of the-rann who has always loved her. The supporting items n-fe, a varied and interesting selection, unci include the "Topical Gazette" and a powerful lamrhtcr-loaded comedy, "Jerrv's Masked Ball."

"THE SENTIMENTAL BLOKE." It is doubtful if any ljook published in Australasia within recent years has been more widely read than C. J. Dennis's delightful idyll. "The Sentimental Bioko" is not only verso that is amusing, but poetry that goes to the heart of things, tender in sentiment, a fine miality of humour with line touches of pathos, arid its philosophy commands attention. Tor an elocutionist there is un-

bounded scope, and Mr. Lawrence Campbell,'the popular elocutionist and entertainer, who visited New Zealand some years ago,.obtained from his friend, C. J. Dennis,, the sole, performing rights of this, work, -and under, the direction of Messrs. J. and N. Tail aperies of recitals was given in the principal cities of Australia, and the success achieved has resulted ill the tour being extended to the Dominion, and a series of recitals will be given in the cities and large towns of New Zealand. A very brief season will commence at l.ho Town Hall (Concert Chamber) on Tuesday, January 9, when Mr. Caimibell will present "The' Sentimental Bloke" in its entirety. The box plan for the season opens at the Bristul on. Thursday next. '.'"..'