ENTERTAINMENTS

Dominion, Volume 10, Issue 3007, 19 February 1917, Page 3

ENTERTAINMENTS

PANTOMIME AT HIS MAJESTY'S. ■An unprecedented novelty in the shapo of a serial pantomime (just now the rage in America) will be presented for the first time at His Majesty's Theatro to-night. The first act is to be given this week, and tho concluding half next week. Few and far between are comedians to eyual in whimsicality and versatility tho erstwhile pillar of J. C. Williamson comedy operas, Mr. Victor Prince, who was some time back seen here with his revue company. Mr. Bon. Fuller, recognising the-capabilities of Mr. Prince, recently decidod to transport a full specialty company from Sydney to support that popular comedian in a full-sized panto, extravaganza. With tho combined efforts of the firm'sscenio artists, wardrobe mistresses, and Printers producing abilities, "Eobinson Crusoe, with all its. pantomimic essentials, principal boy, "dame," shngely darnels, tableaux, spectacular ballets, and marches, etc., has resulted. The bulk of the company are new to Wellington, and an innovation in the shape of a. female dame will be introduced by Miss Lillian Colenso (who was seen hero in tho revue compan}-). Mr. Prince will bo the hardy adventurer, Crusoe, and Miss Dorothy Hastings • (who was last seen here with tho "Glad Eye" Company) will be the principal boy. Costuming, scenery, ■ and resultant tableaux, it is stated, will be of the most extravagant order. A number.of first-class vaudeville turns will be introduced this evening) and will includo that fine comedian, Phil Percival, who wil appear in his original role, "Tho Drunk at the Piano." Blake and Granby, English sketch artists, Merlyn (and "Arch ), Winifred and Lumley will conclude this special bill. Everything is big and new except the prices which will remain the same. The same programme will be the nightly fare for one week.

"SHE." It is thirty years since Sir' Rider Haggard wrote his great imaginative romance, "She" and the fact that it is still a good seller denotes the quality of the work. 'Going out to South Africa on the staff of Sir Theophilus Shepstone to the Transvaal in 1877, tho amazing mystery and immense age of Africa evidently sunk deep into his comprehension, and tho discovery of age old relics here and there gave spur' to the deep sense' of romance that was in the. man, and so the world was given a series ot fine literary thrills in "King Solomon's Mines," "She," and "Allan Quartermain," novels that are still'being read with avidity throughout the Englishspeaking world. On Saturday, at the King's Theatre, was presented before a crowded audience a pictorial representation of the story. The story, although losing its writer's wonderfully imaginative -style, is very faithfully followed, land is Wcry well acted by Miss Alice Delysia (as "She"), and those supporting hei\ Leo is found opening the old chest bequeathed him by his uncle, and with /Holly they ; peruse the writing on the old piece of vase, the sacreff scarab, and read the letter that requests that Leo shall, in order to trace his. descent, seek out tho white Queen of Central Africa, according to So Leo and Holly determine to pursue the adventure, and in due courso of time arrive in\the white queen's dominions, whero they witness many marvels. Their black servant is "hot-potted," and in the fight to save him Leo is seriously wounded. Holly's interview with "She" is verywell done. He fails to understand her, when she asks for her Kallikrates, but, fearing Leo will die, ho seeks her aid, and at once she fancies she recognises Kallikrates, whom she slew in a fit of jealousy 2000 years before, which is mighty interesting to Leo. "She":tells him of her long, lone vigil, her gift of eternal life, and how it is sustained by bathing in i the sacred ilames that leap from the very bo>vels of the earth. When he is sufficiently recovered, "She".takes Leo and Holly to tho weird, spot, and there bathes again in. the life-giving fire, but, on this ocoasion, tho flames strip her of her beauty, and shrivel her up into a squirming, dying mummy before' the horrified gaze of the adventurers. Other pictures sho\vn included a familiar marine scape, depicting a voyage from Norway to New York, calculated to make tho susceptible a little squeamish by suggestion, and a mock "crook" comedy that font with a shriek.

EVERYBODY'S THEATRE. ' A picture story which typifies certain phases of Irish life is told by the film which is featured at Everybody's Theatre this week. "The Marriage c-f Molly-O," a film by the Triangle Fine' Arts combination, tells the love story of simple Molly Malarkey, the pretty daughter of a very poor old Irish widow. Molly is the prettiest girl in ijhe neighbourhood, and she is unfortunate enough to attract the notice of one Danny Maguire, the. son of the agent of the absentee landlord of the district. Maguire makes good his footing by giving the Malarkeys a little money at a time when they need it badly, but very soon widow and daughter find themselves in very 6ora straits—no money, no food, and rent day at hand. Now it hap'pens that Molly has fallen in love with a handsome youth called Larry O'Dea, but as Larry seems as poor as all the other people round about, Molly will not agree> to marry him. The family for-' tunes are in such, state that Molly feels that she mufet dp something to mend them. She shows her pig at the fair, but the pig doesn't win the prize. Things are at this pass when the widow decides to go to the gombeen man in the nearest town for a Joan, leaving Molly at home. Maguire find 9 her there, and tolling her a. lie about a fortune left to him in Dublin, persuades the girl to elope with him. -Molly is rescued by Larry O'Dea 'before the pair hare passed the first stage of the journey, and Larry in the process gives Maguire a most artistic thrashing. Of course there was nothing for Molly to do then but to marry Larry, and give up all idftis about fortunes and silk frocks. She is very much in love with Larry anyhow, and when the thing is put the rigbt way to mother slie ap- | proves also. There . the affair stands when a visit by. Maguire, senior—a visit intended to be unfriendly, particularly to tire' youth who had disfigured bis handsome son—reveals the true identity of Molly's betrothed. He was Larry O'Dea all right—Sir Lawrence O'Dea, owner of the countryside. Young Maguire got out of the parish himself, instead of chasing his. rival- out. Molly was married'to her handsome Larry, and she and her mother wore the silk dresses, the pig had a now ribbon, and the cow a new bell; and so Molly's dreams were all fulfilled. The local colour in the drama is reproduced with perfect faithfulness, and the characterisations are all excellent. During ,tho production' of the film Mt. C. Melvin, late of Fnllers' Vaudeville, sang "Mother Macree" and "Little Irish Girl."'

EMPRESS THEATRE. A striking World film entitled "Human Driftwood" headed the new bill at the Empress Theatre on Saturday. The picture features Robert Warwick and Frances Nelson in a powerful tale of tho .city a.nd tho wilds. Both players aro (liven cxccllent.,opportunities for impressive characterisation, and have made a. great success of their roles. The plot is thrilling, and the interest well sustained. Warwick appeal's as the gay city man who falls into the clutches of h vampire. The latter enthrals him for a time hy the spell of her beauty, but he discovers her treachery and caste her from him. Slip goes to the snowy wastesof Alaska, there to pursue hcv evil existence. Tier erstwhile victim, known se Hardwick, reforms, and in his endeavours to secure the betterment of social conditions makes a visit to the Alaskan village. There he is drawn into a terrible conflict upon which the happiness of a young and innocent girl deuemls, and h'e has' for his bitterest antagonist the woman to whose fasciration be has formerly yielded. TTnw he finally achieves the victory is excellently told in the concluding scones, which lire rendered intensely impressive by their setting of jMaskan ice and snow. Good supporting films go to make up a. programme bolji pleasing and attractive.

SETJNSKY-.WAMO CONCERTS. . When the Selinsky-Amadio Company ol' musical artists recently appeared liefore Wellington audiences, the consensus of opinion was that they constituted one of the most brilliant combinations which had been heard for many years. Since appearing herc,_they have visited

each of the principal cities of tho Dominion, and the verdict of tho critics is unanimous that the visiting artists aro amongst tho most talented yet heard in this country. A southern journal referred to them as "a remarkable musical combine, the standard of merit being so even and yet so high." This talented party, which comprises Sclinsky, a noted Russian violinist, John Amadio, a truly remarkable flautist, Miss Elsy Treweek, a delightful 6oprano, and Hiss Jessie Masson, a brilliant and cultured pianist, aro announced to give a return scries of concerts in the Town Hall Concert Chamber, the first concert being set down for next- Saturday evening. Tho box plan for the scasun opens at the Bristol next Wednesday morning.

ORGAN EECITAL. Mr. Bernard F. Page, City Organist, gave another acceptable organ recital at the Town Hall on Saturday evening. Tho programme was one calculated to please any organist, only two put of tho seven numbers heing orchestral music in the pure. Those were tho first movement from that mighty piece of emotional composition, the Symphonic Pathetique of Tschaikowsky, and the third movement from Coleridge Taylor's exceedingly beautiful suite for orchestra, the very gifted composer of "Tho Song of Hiawatha," who died too young. Mr. Page's gifts as a transcriber of orchestral music for the organ are 1 too well known to enlarge upon. His versatile registrations are invariably closely akin to the orchestral intention, and are ever invested with tho grace of an artistic intelligence and complete understanding. The programme also, included a Saint-Saens' "E-hap6odie," tho clamant and forceful Toccata and Fugue in D Minor of Bach; a Prelude by Blumenfeld; an "Elegie" by Clausmann; and Karg-Elert's "Air and Variations" on a theme,.by Handel.