ENTERTAINMENTS

Dominion, Volume 10, Issue 3137, 16 July 1917, Page 3

ENTERTAINMENTS

"DADDY LONG LEOS." Saturday night's performance of "Daddy Lous Legs" delighted another large attendance. The plot is ol exquisite simplicity—a simplicity very much iu contrast with thai of many recent plays— but it requires very dclicnto trcutuiont. This is abundantly accorded by the talented J. 0. Williamson Co., which admirably preserves the atmosphere and spirit of the piece. .Miss Katlilcne MacDoneil, a clever Canadian actress, treats with exceptional skill and refinement the role of Judy Abbott, while Mr. Oharles ifaldron, by his remarkable .characterisation of Jcrvis Pentlleton, shares with her the honours of the production.

Tile uext attraction 01 the present season is '•Outcast. ,, Miss MaeDoneU is hailed by America to be one of the greatest dramatic artists of the day. "Daddy Long Legs" does not call upon this ortißfc to cVtend herself to any great extent in this particular work, but gives sufficient to show what may be expected from her as Miriam in "Outcast," described ns l".er personal triumph. Iu addition, Jlr. Charle3 IValdron (Daddy Long Legs) will appear in another and nn entirely different role. "Outcast" will be augmented by the iiiclusioa in the cast of Mr. Lewis Vilioußhby, who has come from Australia to play his original part. Mr. Louis Klniball. who first inndo good vith New Zealand audiences as the American journalist in "Under Fire." along wit!) J. riumpton Wilson, Beryl Bryant, Audrey Worth, all go to malic one of i lie strongest comlmiations of <irtists ever appeariiiK on the New Zealand stage at- any cne time.

■INTOLEHANCB" REVIVAL AT THE KING'S.

The spectacular feature iilm "Intolerance." which has aroused so much curiosity and controversy since it was first shown here, will be presented again for a short season at the King's Theatre, commencing next Monday evening, under the direction of J. C. Williamson. Ltd. In the southern cities especially "Intolerance" has evoked much controversy. To present the ancient and the modern on the same reel successfully is to plumb the depths of the artistic, in production. When, however, the days of the Medici, with the massacre of St. Bartholomew and all its horrors are superadded, tiie test' must b'e supreme. Little of the aititieial—the bane of films dealing with tho ancients-ob-trudes-itself. The siege of Babylon is an enthralling series of incidents, culminating in the overwhelming of the city by a iorce which probably needs at least 10.00J persons to adequately portray. The defence of the city and the repulse of the Persians are inspiring, and one gets an excellent idea of the methods used in those days to reduce a city. The two artists whose work is featured in the modern side—the scene of which is laid in New York-are Jlae Marsh and Kobert Harron. The former has probably done nothing quite so good ns her portrayal of the emotions of the young wife, whose child is taken from her by the Uplift .Society, and whose husband is wrongly condemned to the scaffold and freed on the edge of the grave. In this episode is depicted an exciting race between a train and a racing automobile. The box plan for the short, season will open at the ■Bristol on Thursday morning next.

"IZJiY IN HONOLULU." The revues that, have been staged at, Ills Majesty's Theatre ior tliu nast mouth distantly resemble in form the serial picture. The characters never or rarely diner in type. "Izzy in Jionolulu," produced on Saturday before two big audiences, is a .bright example of the serial that might be called "The Adventures of Izz.v"; indeed, it is tlie smartest, most tuneful and varied revue ot tiie series Mr. Walter Johnson has submitted. "Jezy," in this chapter, is assumed to have wealth and is ardently urn-sued by half a dozen ladies, ail bent on helping him lo spend his money, but izzy attempts lo shake them oil by pretending: that he has a sixfoot simpletun of a son—Putnam Slow. 1' Hiding that even such a disclosure does not discourage his admirers, he arranges lor Putnam to pretend sickness, and hires a traveller for ladies' corsets to pose as a doctor, and order Putnam, Izzy and Co. off to Honolulu. This gives the producer some scope for a pretty setting, and some tuneful trifles, in which the •'hula" and "ukebebe" figure. Vaudeville is certainly giving Honolulu the biggest and most at- . tractive advertisements it ever had. To the languorous precincts of Waikiki. Izzy and his charge arc pursued by the dcsigning ladies, who finally pair oil somehow or other "as the hula sways and bends. Izzy Getz is played on precisely the same lines as all the other Yiddisher parts which have been assumed by Mr. Gus Franks. Mr. Hurry Burgess, the lengthy comedian, who is always amusing in a different way, was screamingly funny as Putnam Slow, and- one of most ludicrously funny, if somewhat vulgar.'scenes, was that one in which ho is put throimh his jjaees as a short-skirted actor by Miss Lola Hunt. Mr. Jack Kenrns was a coarse corset salesman, and Mr. Ernest Lashbrook was the spry hotel clerk. With Miss Lvdia Oarne he was successful iu the sketch song "When Breams Come True," in which Miss Carne, as the dream girl, dancee allnriiicrJy on the grand piano which the dreamer plays. Miss Carne was also successful in "Somebody Knows" and "Walkiuc the Dog," but is never so interesting as when she is mimicking other performers After some of the items, the song "Mary, you're a Little Bit Old-Fashioncd," very daintily sung by Miss Vera Kearus, came like a refreshing wind of lavender from an old garden. The pretty singer wore a simple Kate Greenaway gown of muslin, and had the support of a bevy of girls similarly attired. There was no sweeter item in the revue. Another pretty item was "In Monterey," sweetly siine by Miss (Stella Starr. "Honolulu Town by the Three Starrs," and and "The Pearl of Honolulu," by Miss Lola Hunt, also smacked of the South Seas. Others who appeared to advantage were Miss Alexander, Walter Johnson, Muriel Phillips, and Elsie Morris. The chorus and ballet were as shapley as they are competent. This is the final week of the Walter Johnson Revue Company.

THE KING'S THEATRE. Alter a somewhat lengthy absence from local filmdom, Miss Mary Pickford mado her reappearance at me Kind's 'i'heatre on Saturday in a picture entitled "The Foundling." At the outset it may not be untimely to remark that in the picture under notice Miss Pickford is not just the same artist as depicted in films of other days; there is. a difference— ia fact, a.n improvement. Shortly, tuis difference lios in a welcome absenco of Miss Pkkfords tendency to overdo the comedy clement, which on occasions became somewwhat tiresome; there is fclso noticeable a less frequent relianco on ■what (lor want of a bettor term) may Do described as the "tricks" peculiar to Mary PicUford; in short, there is in "The Foundling ,, less of Itary Pickford and jiore of the artist. This beinK so, it nee.l hardly bo said that, from beE'm•ling to end "Tho Foundling" is a charming picture in every -way. The theme is a simple one, and easily followed. The wide of an artist dies lcayinsr a baby girl. The father shorn a dislike for the child, and she is adopted by a, neighbour, who. however, dies also. Tho father goes to France, and the child becomes an inmate of a home for foundlings. When she arrives at the age of about fourteen she ia again "adopted," this time to become the maid-of-all-worlt in the ltnnic ol a woman who believes in plenty of work —for other people. The years pass, and the father, overcome with remorse, returns to America to find his daughter. This is not an ea6y matter, however, but in the end, after a -well-constructed chain of happenings, the father and daughter are reunited. Th addition to the ir.am picture there are the latest Pathe Gazette and a very hinnorous comedy. EVERYBODY'S THEATRE. "The Whip," which ran with such success at the King's Theatre last week, was the leading item of the new bill at Everybody's Theatre on Saturday. The story abounds in sensational incident, and a pleasing love theme powerfully holds the sympathies of the spectator. Most of the action takes place in the open air. A fox hunt, horse shows, horso races, thoroughbreds in training, a terrific motor smash, a race between a car and an express train, and a great railway collision aro among tho incidents portrayed. Thanks to clever photography, the whole appears startlingly realistic. A scene which evokes high enthusiasm is Unit in which tho beautiful heroine, Diana Beverley. takes the place of the arrested jockey, and rides Tho Whip to a magnificent victory. June Elvidgo plays splendidly the part of an adventuress, her type of beauty being peculiarly suited to the role. THE EMPRESS THEATRE. Two extremely fine pictures were screened lit the Uujpress Theatre for the first time on Saturday. The Wqrld film-drama "The Page Mystery" is a genuine story of love and revenge, starring Carlyle Blackwell, Arthur Ashley, and June Elvidgc. According to the story, Edith (June Elvidge), to save her father from financial ruin, marries Ralph Cornwall (Arthur Ashley.), a dissolute wastrel, and leaves him shortly after the ceremony on discovering his real character. The mystery clement then develops quickly. Edith is rescued from an attempt at suicide by. Alan Winthrop (Oaiiyle Itlackwoll), tho younger, son of an English baronet, who is in America to earn a living. Alan cures a position as keeper ol' Cornwall's lodcn, and Edith accompanies him as maid. In the country Cornwall goes under the nanio of Colonel Page, and «' his lodge is mysteriously shot. Edith Is accused of the crime, but Alan shoulders the blame. The unravelling of the murder mystery is fascinatiiiß and exciting. A secret bedroom in the lodge furnishes another mystery. The scenery is very fine, the background of-the setting being the Adirondack Mountains. A fashionable sunimer camp in tho snow is one of the

wonderful scones. The first chapter of a, ..,!,', 11118 continued photo-play entitled I lie Iron Oliiw," by Pathc, is also excclent, and should induce patrons to see the subsequent chanters. A topical I'iulie liazette includes some pictures" of special interest.

ORGAN HEOITAIi. Mr. Bernard F. Page, the City Organist, |ave another enjoyable recital at the ■town Hall on Saturday evening. Tile programme included the Handel "Concerto in I™"'; ;l beautiful "Elegy" by BnirBtow. JfouikoflVs "Psychological l>oeni." and Karg-hlcrts "Ifarmonies du Soir." which has uiucli atiaosnhcrie charm. Sibelius is known slightly to concert-lovers through ;!' s . Fwlamlia" and other overtures, in y> men lie displays the strong graphic characteristics of Tschaikowsky On Saturday Mr. Pago played with rare skill ami techng the trisio elegy from his music to the tragedy of "King Christian II." music that will apnea! more to the public on deeper acquaintance. The programme also included a flue exposition of Cesar l'tancks "Finale iu B flat" (Op. 20). THE NEW DANDIES. It has been staled by men iu high authority, and members of the clergy, that amusements of a clean and healthy order ale an acceptable relaxation in these days of stress. Mr. Edward Branseombe's clever company, "Tho Dandies." will .-ppear in the Town Hall Concert Chamber next Saturiiay evening. "Tlio D.andies" reed'no introduction For six years they have been appearing in the Dominion The artists are a versatile company, with tho benefit, of several years of experience to gauge the desire of tho public, and oatisfv it accordingly. "Always merry an<l aright, they are amusement specialists. fho Dandies" of the past *ave pioved this contention, and it is claimed that the new combination will more than uphold the high reputation established bv their predecessors. The box plan opens at the Bristol on Wednesday morning. THE GLAD EYEDLEKS. On Saturday evening, the Glad Eyedlers gave another very successful performance in aid of the Trench Comforts Fund. It is probable that the company will again make its appearance before the public very shortly.