ENTERTAINMENTS

Dominion, Volume 10, Issue 2971, 8 January 1917, Page 5

ENTERTAINMENTS

"THE SENTIMENTAL BLOKE." To-inorro\y. night at the Concert Chamber, Messrs. J. and N. Tait will presenl ae the first of their 1917 attractions ALr. Lawrence Campbell, the popular elocutionist and entertainer, in C. ■ J. Dennis's delightful character study, "Tim Sentimental Bloke," well known m iS'ew j Zealand. Tho recital of "Tho Sonti- | mental Bloke" occupies tho whole .evening, and the work is done in its entirety' from "A Spring Song" to "The Mooch o' Life," iiud as each individual lias his or her favourite song all tastes will be satisfied. Of the first recital given by Mr. Campbell in Melbourne, the "Ago" says: "The author (Air. C. J. Dennis) could scarcely have had a better interpreter of his uniquo love story—ho might have been thought to be 'the bloke' himself." There are no doubt many who will remember Mr. Campbell's fine character sketches- which he gave us a few years-ago. The box plan of reserved seats is on view at the Bristol Piano Company, and it is announced that the season.-is limited to five nights. HIS MAJESTY'S THEATRE.' Brull and Helmsley, "the merry aud bright duo from, the London Pavilion," will head this week's bill at H£s Majesty's. The couple will present their orignml absurdity, entitled "The Knut, the Girl, and tho Egg," which burlesque lias aiready, it is stated, created a furore in tho Pullers' Australian lumses. Mr. Helmsley's eccentric dancing in" tho sketch is said to be exceptionally grotesque and clever. The Calcys, for whom Harry Lander prophesied a great future, and hailed as the "finest Highland twa irae the Heather Hills," will make their first appearance, as also will the National Duo of dance experts, who will introduce the latest norelties from the world of tcrpsichore. . Early and Mann, sketch artista; Cestria, the comic waiter; Dora Obannan, the Westralian cantatriee; Duie and Judge, comedy acrobats; Harry Little, baritone; Leeds mid Lβ Mar, musical comedy duo; and Mr. Leonard "Nelson, "just a plain comedian, , " will complete the programme. Tho last named, by the way, will present, at the instigation of general desire, the evergreen cause of his Australasian fume, "Mr. Boose." The usual niatinoe will bo given on Wednesday afternoon. . -KINO'S'THEATEE. Tho marvels of tho groat American capital, with its stupendous architecture audit 3 teeming masses of humanity, are epitomised iu "Greater Now >lork," 'wlticli wii'a screoned at tho King's Theatre lor tho first time on Saturday. The attendance was so large that there was hardly an unoccupied, scat in tho building, and outbursts of applause from time to time afforded somo idea of the impression the big film created. The producers wero evidently determined to avoid any suspicion of dullness, such as might be caused by an endless procession of mere pictorial studies across tho scene, and havo introduced a considerable amount of incident, which serves to leaven the whole. All tho most famous buildings, thoroughfares, and public rosorta appear, and Now York life is portrayed with a thoroughness that is nothing short of remarkable. In one brief evening, tho spectator can seo Chinatown, Coney Island and Luna Park, Fifth Avenue, the Bowery, to select only a few. of tho localities eo well know.n by name, but so unfamiliar to tho eyo. Some of the other items pictured are: Dancing at the Hotel M'Alpino, which lias 150(1 rooms; New York's largest fireboat in action; the death, of Carl Lemberg, while leading a, motor race at 106 miles an hour; "a "Preparedness' parade, in. which 11,000 persons took part; and the departure of tho Lusitania for the voyage,on which she met her fate. Not the least interesting of the porsonages shown is Mr. John P. Mitchell, who at the age of 30 years is Mayor of tho huge metropolis. Of the supporting films on the bill, which will run for tho rest of the week, the best is a Keystone farce, "Maid Mad." EVERYBODY'S THEATRE. Largo ' audiences wero attracted throughout tho day on Saturday, by the new programme at Everybody's Theatre. The principal attraction on tho bill is a Triangle film, "Tho Jungle Child," featuring Dorothy Dalton and Howard Ilickman, two artists who carry out their parts remarkably well. Tho photography is excellent, and the fine scenery enhances the production. The opening scones aro laid in tho forest wilds of South America, where a. young and attractive girl, who, when an infant, was adopted by an Indian tribe, and brought up in their ways, is tho centro of the story. An American explorer, broken down, finds the camp, and tho girl nurses him back to health. Finding that she is an heiress this _ man, an unscrupulous scoundrel, sets himself out to ■ gain hor affection, and later persuades her to come to Now York with him. Here the scene changes, and tho only part which resembles her old home is a room which her husband hasallowed her to have done up liko her old but in the forest. Hβ' then finds means of getting hold of her fortune, and then discarding pretence, shows himself in his true colours. A terrible scene culminates in a death dance, and the killing of the man. The supporting programme includes a comedy, entitled A La Cabaret," and a vary interesting budget from the Gaumont Graphic. Tho programme will be repeated until Friday next. EMPRESS THEATRE. A picture of unusual dramatic power headed the new programme which .was presented' at the Empress Theatre on Saturday. Tho film 'is an. adaptation of the novel by Arthur Stringer, and was produced by the World-Paragon Company. Tho leading man is House Peters, a popular film favourite. The plot centres on tho capture of"a band of counterfeiters by a clever secret service man named Kestner. During bis investigations he discovers that a young woman, who has beeu educated in crimo by her father, is a member of the gang. r She longs for a m'ore wholesome life, and aids Kestner to capturo the gang. Several novelties are introduced, and oue of the most thrilling, besides aiding the audicncij to grasp tho situation quicker, is a scene showing simultaneous action in eight rooms of au apartment houso, the front wall of which is removed. There is also a big hand-to-hand fight,.in which the opponents, Kestner and tho master criminal, nearly exhaust their strength before the former overpowers his man. The story has a happy ending, but not until many trails have been covered by Kestner and the girl he loves (a girl who has been led astray by the gang). On the- same programme is the "Topical Budget," with the latest war news in pictures, and the comedy element is supplied by the animated cartoons of Mutt and Jeff. QUEEN'S THEATRE. It is not surprising that the Queen's Thoatro did excellent business on Saturday, when a new Paramount feature, entitled "Destiny's Toy," made its initial appearance on the Wellington screen. "Destiny's Toy" is a drama with clever-ly-devised and thrilling, if somewhat, unconvincing, plot. It is admirably mounted, and the work of a. strong cast, headed by that swoet little actress, Miss Louise Huff, serves to keep the spectators' sympathies alivo throughout. As the story goes, Nan, a littlo girl, loses her mother in the foundering of a vessel, and is saved by simple fisher folk, with whom 6he spends her earliest youth. When eho 310 longer has her benefactors to depend upon, she makes for tEe city, where sho falls in with a gang of roughs. Tho latter mako a tool of her, and shQ is implicated in a burglary. After the trial, she 'is placed in the custody 'of a young minister, who falls in love with her, and asks her to marry him. Sho readily consents, but a person of influence, actuated by a mistaken sense of propriety, intervenes to prevent tho match. Nan meets this person. Ho attempts to bribe her, but she scorns his offer, and lenvcs Ins house. Just as sho is descending the steps, a shot, fired by one of tho old Rang, wounds her in the arm. Tho denouement is rathev ntnrtline;. Tho man irho has tried to dissuade her from wedding her lover discovers, when her arm is bared, that sho has upon it a mark identifying hor as his own daughter, whom he has believed dead. ... A good supporting bill was sho\rn in conjunction with tbo star film.