ENTERTAINMENTS

Dominion, Volume 10, Issue 3114, 19 June 1917, Page 3

ENTERTAINMENTS

"THE nOUSE THAT JACK BUILT. ,, The big J. C. Williamson pantomime will commence to-night, and will continue for seven nights and two matinees :it the Grand Opera J[ousc. Following upon its successes in Australia it is anticipated that the theatre will lie taxed to its capacity during the run. A Bydney contemporary, describing this production, says: "Eighteen scenes of beauty and artistic brilliancy arc embodied in (his year's pantomime from the scenic standpoint, aud added to this are innumerable other charms. 'The House That Jack Built' is as full of good things as a typical Oiiristnins pudding, therefore the crowds are Eoiupr to the theatre even on the hot nights. The pautoniimc is evidently proof against the amusement tax, too. which is a guarantee of its excellence. It is a lovely production, and as clean and breezy as it is beautiful. The slaging is exquisite, the dressing absolutely fascinating, and the performance most finished and Satisfying. The dancing is one of tlio most, important, features this year, and it certainly ranks as something exceptional. Several of the dance scenas are as complete and poetic ballet-dramas as those given by any famous Kussian ballets in London. Miss Hilda Guiver. is the boati ideal of a principal boy, and has a very close socond principal boy in Miss Constance Oayley. Both arc good to look upon, and both can sing. Alias Grctchen Yates as the principal girl is another sparkling gem in the mosaic work, whilst Miss Amy Murphy and Miss Dorothy Firmin add to thn general brightness by the music of thoir voices, as also does Miss Maggie Diekenson with her delightful dances. The comedians are particularly good whether working individually or collectively, including among their number Air. Harry Roxbury, the eminent English comedian, Mr. |Arthur Stigaut. the old-es-tablished favourite dame, and Aleeers. Liingford, Fulbrook,'and Hearne, prominent English character comedians; and tlio specialties introduced by them arc humorous entertainments in themselves The building of a, chicken house is one of the most mirth-provoking turns ever put upon a stage. It is certain that playgoers will not find 'The House That Jack Builf tire at repetition, for it is so full of bright and good things that it will bear seeing over and over aga'in." Thcro will be a matineo performance to-morrow and Saturday. Box plans are at the Bristol, aud day sales at. ChristCEon's.

HIS MAJESTY'S THEATRE. Another enjoyable farce, entitled the t lfailway Tangle," nn.d 'featuring the 'haiwa.rra express," is 010 chief attraction on tho bill at His Majesty's Theatre thia week. The Johnson Ttcviic Company are, a really clover band at their owu particular class of entertainment. Comcdy, snug, and chorus run quickly, and a pleasant impression is left. Besides tho company Micro are a number of vaudeville Atoms, including thoso of Violet Trevcnyon, w Tio is f. general favo-irlte; Sterling and Love, in a military sketch; and Chas. Edenhury, in an acrobatic item. THE ENGHSH PIEKKOTS. Pclightod audiences assemble nightly in the Concert Chamber to spend a happy evening with this clever band of entertainers. The present bill is particularly strong. Another complete change will be made on Thursday, so that only two more opportunities remain to unjoy the clever burlesque pantomime, "Dick Wliittiugton," which evokes roars of laughter. On Wednesday, June 27, tho Pierrots' season positively closes, and the box plan is now open for tho farewell performance. THE KING'S THEATEE. Tho big (picture in tho programme at tho King's Theatre for tho week is a problem drama by the Viiagraph Company, featuring E. H. Sotheru, the'great American actor, and tho beautiful and talented. Miss Peggy Hylaml. The name of tho picture is "The Chattel," and the problem is, as per tho bill, "Should a wife be merely her husband's plaything?" This, by the way, is but a crudo statement of the theme of the drama, which is an exceedingly goad and well-acted' play. Mr. Solhern is a, finished actor, who has never previously appeared beforo tho kincma. He plays the part of ono of the two central figures in the play, a master financier, a man with an oxaet code of honour, a, man of marble, a man without mercy. Ho ha* tho most l.cautiful mansion that money can provide, and. ho surrounds himself with priceless art treasures, careless of - their cost. Amongst liis moel precious purvSascs wo.s a, picture named "The Chattel," a paints ing of a beautiful girl being sold into slavery. By anil by ho comes to tho conclusion that his house lacks ono more ornament—a wife—and he waits to liud tho woman. He finds her, makes love in a sedate sort of way, and wins the heart of a charming girl. On the eve of tho marriage the father of tho bride has to confess to him that ho has been caught in a stock deal, in which ho wae playing with tho firm's money, and the financier pays the prico, £50,000, to. v clear the. hononr of the girl he is to marry. Afterwards he gives his wife gowns, jewels, servants, money—everything but love—and' in return he demands .with harshness thai, is well refined, jf it is tolerably well under control, implicit obedience and graceful attentions. At length the wife Tebels, and the husband tells her that she is his chattel, bought with the prico of £50,000, just as the other "Chattel' , had been. Then and there 'the wife declares that sho will buy her freedom, mucn to the financier's dismay, but he is not tho sort of man to contemplate defeat, and ho does nbt take his wife seriously. At this time 10 Jβ engaged iu a very big deal in stocks, fend the wife, pledging hez jewels "to get the funds, goes into the market' against him. It "was s.ueii a fight as th£ great man had never fought before, and the strain nearly broke him physically. Just as he was beginning to be pleased about his win his beautiful Leila came to pay the prico of her freedom— £50,0 M, with intarest-and that shock definitely 'broke him. Leila fled to the mountains and lived in a cottage. Tho great man suffered a painful and slow recovery, but lie discovered, as ho had indeed discovered.when the crash came, that he loved his wife, and needed her. Of uourso he found her retreat in the mountains, and after a strange, uneventful courtship, an accident gave him tho opportunity to woo and win her back again ,H is not really a very elaborate story,but it is admirably told, and the jilayers are among the best that the pictures have ever shown us. EVERYBODY'S THEATEE. "The Grab." a fascinating American play, is tho principal, attraction on this week's bill at Everybody's Theatre. Frank Keeuan takes tho.. principal, role, that of "The Crab," a rich and influential personage in a, small community.. The ouly thing that represents anything to him is his invalid wife, and when she is taken from him, out of sheer desperation he adopts an ownerless baby, whom ho neglects. The child grows to love the severe old man, however, and is the means of. saving him humiliation when he appears at & police court on n charge of cruelty. This wins her the old man's love and makes a happy ending to a good picture. There is another chapter of "Gloria's Homauce" on the bill. EJIPKESB THEATEE. A picture of the Bohemian life class entitled "A Square Deal" is tho head liner ou the bill at the Empress Theatre this week. The plot is, a more intricate one than the usual run, and this adds to the attractions of the production. A struggling artist and a coming author, who live together opposite a girl who is their loyal friend, are the principals. The author turns out a successful novel, and later becomes a desirable match, and marries a girl who has set out to "catoh" him. The artist, a reported inheritor of thousands, appears and courts his friend's wife. This causes a divorce, which in a final scene is shown to suit all parties, and , all apparent misconduct ia explained. There ie a, good supporting bill.