ENTERTAINMENTS

Dominion, Volume 10, Issue 2997, 7 February 1917, Page 3

ENTERTAINMENTS

"DAMAGED GOODS." "Damaged Goods," to be presented at tho Grand Opera. House on Monday evening next, under tho management of J. C. Williamson, Ltd., is by Eugene Brieux, who protests against thb modern tragedy of 6ilence regarding tho most deadly evils and dangers bred of sin in. our midst. Amongst many hundreds of letters on the subject, the management state that it is difficult to select quotations. Speaking of one of the first productions in. America, the Eov. V, G. B. Price, pastor of All Souls' Church, Washington, wrote:—"l now feol that the dramatic presentation of this terrific message, so much more powerful than any other kind of presentation could possibly be, will be of such inestimable value, and so great an opportunity for tho city, that it becomes a solemn duty of all citizens to attend it." Similar opinions, it is stated, havo been expressed by the leadug clergy throughout Australia. The object of the play, the ""•management state, is to pnt to silence those who through mental inertia, falso modesty, or wilful ignorance are blinded to.the urgency of tho appeal for tho teaching of fundamental truths to the younger generation,?_as the only way to put' a check upon the ever-iucreasmg demons of degeneracy and disease. Dr. Newell Dwight Hillis, a prominent Melbourne clergyman, has written tho Williamson management:—"lt is not too much to say that you have changed the thinking of the people of our country as to the social evil. If I wanted to build around an innocent boy buttresses of fire and granite against the temptations and assaults of evil, I would put him for one evening under your influence. That which the teacher, the preacher, and the parent have failed to accomplish, it has been given you to achieve. You have done a work for whioh your generation owes rou an immeasurable 'debt of gratitude." An editorial in "Hearst's Magazine" says:—"The only question is this: Is the play decent? My answer is that it is the'most decent play that has been staged for many years.' It is so decent that it is religions." Box plans are announced to be opened at the Bristol to-morrow morning. HIS MAJESTY'S THEATRE. ■His Majesty's Theatre was well filled again last evening when a. capital bill ranging from e Tand opera to the merriest of slapstick comedy was presented and ' cheerfully accepted. The only change since Monday was the reappearance of Miss Violet Treyenyon, a popular-sou-brette, who has been heard to better advantage. Perhaps it was the ocean trip from Sydney that did it, but Miss Tr'evenyon was lacking in that "zip" and verve which has hitherto charaowrtmeU her work. She 6ang "A Broken Doll," tho somewhat cerulean "When the Summer-time is Over," a recruiting song entitled ■•"You're the Man," and the. old favourite, "I'll make You Want Me." The best musical turn heard at His Majesty's for a long time is provided by Madame Alverna and M. Jean Laerte; Tsuda is a very clever hand-balancer and gymnast, and Emerson is as funny as lis is elongated.. "In Watts," by La Blanc Company," filled in the second pnrt. ; THE KING'S. Burke in the Triangle ulay, "Peggy" is drawing as strongly as ever. The splendid accompanying music supplied by the King's Orchestra gives just that Scotch atmosphere to the presentation that was lacking the first week at tho continuous screenings. Wm. H. Thompson, who was the old lighthousekeeper in "The Eye of the Night" recently screened, is.splendid as Peggy's dour old Scotch uncle, and Wm. Desmond, who was here with the J. C. Williamson Co., makes a first-class "meenister;". "Peggy" will finish on Friday evening. . , EVERYBODY'S. Norma Talmadgc, whose recent screen appearances in "The Battle Cry of Peaco" and "Goin<j Straight" made a host of new admirers for her, is seen ht Everybody's Theatre in a delightfully humorous Triangle picture, with a powerful dramatic aspect. In "The 'Social Secretary" Miss Talmadse has tho role of a typist, whose charms cause all her •employers to fall in lovo with her, with the Tesult that she 6laps their faces and looks for a new job. She is later called upon to make a grand sacrifice to save a friend's reputation, and the jjicturo are good. THE EMPRESS. Gail Kane and House Peters are the leading artists in a splendid story of American political life, called "The Velvet Paw." A scheming politician enlists the services of a beautiful young woma'ii to aid him in bringing under the whip some of the younger and more conscientious members of the House. She succeeds in ruining several promising careers before romance comes to her, and brings with it the desire to make amends. A particularly interesting glimpse of President Wilson on his way. to Congress is included in the picture, which is excellently done. - , • .