ENTERTAINMENTS

Dominion, Volume 10, Issue 2966, 2 January 1917, Page 9

ENTERTAINMENTS

"TO-NIGHT'S THE NIGHT." A full hoiiee last evening witnessed tho second performance of "To-night's tho Night" at tho Grand Opera House. The plot is ingeniously contrived, and the situations aj'o exquisitely amusing. Aβ at the first performance, there was no room for doubt lie b> whether the audience wae enjoying itself, hearty laughter and unstinted applause boins the ordor of tho evening. Mr. Alfred li'rith. who las been on the sick list, appeared in the part of tho Hon. Dudley Mitten, his performance adding greatly to tho enjoyment of the piece. Tho fun is a little mild at first, but quickly becomes faet and furious, and does not slacken Tight to the finale. Snappy dialogue, tricky music, and effective ballots all combine to render the production what it is—a great success of its kind. It is scarcely to be doubted that tho remainder of its season will eervo to afford further proof of the extreme popularity that musical comedy eDJoys at the present time. . On Thursday and Friday next, The Girl in the Train," which enjoyed a successful tour through tho Dominion about four ydars ago, will be repeated. The music in this opera is much above that in the usual musical comedy. The merriment, and there itf a great deal of it, is brought about by a divoreo action, tho wife going for hubby, who is accidentally locked in a train, with a dashing actress. "Tho Girl in the Train" is of tie supremely light and airy olass of entertainment, so delighted in by playgoers of the present clay. It has an almost unlimited stream of humour, is bright, in every direction, and is, of necessity, beautifully costumed. Miss Dorothy Brunton was in tho original production of "The Girl in the Train," but on the present occasion she will portray the part originally taken by Miss Florence Young. On Saturday and Monday the season will close with two revivals of tho musical comedy success, "High Jinks.-" The plans will be on view to-day at tho Grand Opera House. HIS MAJESTY'S THEATKE. A holiday audience filled every seat in His Majesty's Theatre last evening when a new programme, which is to run tho week was presented. The bill is well varied, and the result is an evening's excellent entertainment. Among the artists quite new to Wellington Iβ Cestria, | an Italian comedy juggler. Cestria does very little juggline, but is a good comedian, and a wonderful acrobat. His tumbling and somersaulting are remarably neat and clever, and, with his excellent idea of comedy, Cestrai makes his work both laughable and remarkable. Some of his cleverest somersaults were done while he was hampered .by a pair of "wooden loss." Leeds and Lemar also aro new here. They sing brightly, have a lot of clever gags, and wind up with a boxing bout, in which the woman gives the man a tremendous thrashing. A boxing affray is a difficult thing to burlesque well, but Leeds and Lemar make quite a success of tho turn. Dora Oberman, tho West Australian soprano, continued her success, and sang a composition of Dr. Kangihiroa (now at the front), entitled "Kamate." In this i&e was not so successful as in her other eongs. The bill also includes the Three Ruddles (juvenile acrobats, singers, and dancers); Harry Little (bnrilone). Dura and Judd (comedians), Leonnrd Nelson (comedian), Barren ana Posetti (Belgian musicians), Scott Gibsoii (Scotch comedian), and the De Bakers.

"HER GOLDEN CHANCE" AT THE

Will you put a quarter of a million into tho Baldwin contract?" was the question tint brought about a long series of events whioh dragged Cleo. Ridgeley, as the vrofe of a drunken criminal, into n. complication -which gave h« her golden chance and lifted her back into her own circle- again. Acted by artists assisting her, this is certainly apictmre play that is beyond criticism. The crowded audiences and the rush for -reserve seats is sufficient proof that everyone who has eeen "Tho Golden Chance" is praising it as such a magnificently acted and stirring drama should be praised. In fact, the whole programme at the King's Theatre is of exceptionally high standard, including a beautifully set Vim comedy, "Hubby's Relatives."

BESSIE BAREISCALE AT "HOME' AT EVERYBODY'S.

Record business was recorded at Everybody's Theatre throughout yesterday, when the programme presonted was one of the very beet. Tlio attraction secured by the management for holiday patrons is a Triangle drama entitled "Home," featuring: Beseio Barriscale and Louise Glaum. Bessie Barriscale plays the part of a girl who is determined to savo her family from the perils of too much money. The theme strikes with ruthless force at one of the foibles of the great middle-class society. It tears away the cloak of ostentation and ludicrous pretensions of the newly rich, and shows how they expose themselves to exploitation by those who prey on "would-be" social climbere. The etory is constructed with tho idea of demonstrating tho . consequences of fast living. It is cleverly worked out to a happy conclusion. A Vitagraph comedy, "The Man Erom Egypt" Topical Budget, and various other items support this feature. EMPRESS THEATRE.. A thrilling etory is told in the sensational drama "Tangled Fatca," now showing at tho Empress Theafae. Opening in the puritanical life of a email country town, the etory develops with dramatic action. The eldest daughter of the chairman of the committee of public morals shields her sister from the consequences of a harmless escapade, is banished, and in a great city marries a noaccoimfc. Ho leaves her and goes to Alnska, where the climax of tho story is played out to happy ending. Seeking her husband, tho girl follows him to tho frozen goldfields, whero she arrives in time to hear that he is to be lynched for shooting another man , . Tho woman with whom he has been living attacks her, but after a soiisational struggle she escapes, only to find that her husband has paid'tho last price. {>he is happily rescue dby a former admirer, and so the story onds. An interesting Topical Budget and tho comedy "Jerry's Masked Ball" are capital supports. QUEEN'S THEATRE. The unceasing popularity of the Queen's Theatre, in Cuba Street, was amply demonstrated yesterday, .when well satisfied holiday houses wero the order of the day at overy session. The headlinor of the programme is a virile Paramount drama, entitled "The Dupe," a companion play to "Tho Cheat," but of even greater fovcefulncss and interest. It is a modern society story, intensely real in its construction .ind convincingly true to i>. phasa of lifo in a degenerate walk of lifo whero men and- women seek to prey upon each with never-ending tinscrupulousness and lack of conscience. Lust of gold and jealousy are its keynotes, and round theso kindred vices a story of thrilling interest has been built. Every character is well sustained, though tho principal honours naturally fall to Blanche Sweet, in a pretty part of unstudied sentimentality aud charm. An exceptionally good holiday programme is associated with this special picture, and the music at the Queen's continues to bo an attraction that is beyond reproach. To make sure of comfortable accommodation, seats should bs reserved cither at tho theatre or by telephone. The entertainment is continuous 1 from 11 a.m. to 10 p.m. "TIIE SENTIMENTAL BLOKE." The recitals of C. J. Dennis's character study, "The Sentimental Bloke," by Mr. Lawrence Campbell, the well-known elocutionist and cntcrt'niiier, will bo inaugurated under the direction of J. mid N. Tail; al the Concert Chamber,, Town Hall, on Tuesday oveniug next. Tho genuine merit and natural whoicsoino humour, with its touches of real pathos, and sound philosophy, cannot tail to make an impression on all who hear and read "Tho Srntimontnl Bloke," and in its reviow of the book the "Church Ifccord," Sydney, says: "Wholesome, hen!thy, humorous, pathetic, and full of real humanity, wo are grateful to the author for having written those uonRS. They hiivo done (is good." Mr. Campbell has always made a feature of character

sketches, and many in the Dominion will remember during Ms visit a few years ago" lus delightful ekctch of. "Jim 80-wkcr," and according lo C. J. J>nnis Mr. Campbell is his ideal interpreter i\£ "tho Woke." From the opening number "A Spring Sons" right through the series of sketches, to '"The Mooch of Life," Mr. Campbell never refers 'to book or note, and it is said that there is never a dull moment in the whole erening's entertainment. The box plan of reserved ecaf« opens at the Bristol on Thursday morning.