ENTERTAINMENTS

Dominion, Volume 10, Issue 3198, 24 September 1917, Page 3

ENTERTAINMENTS

HIS MAJESTY'S THEATKE. A vocalist of high standing in the world of song heads the now bill to be presented at His Majesty's Theatre this evening. 111'. Malcolm M'Earcheim ranks as one of the most important of Messrs. Fullers' latterday bookings, lie is a basso proi'umlo, and it is stated that the English and American Press and musical critics have been unanimous in their approval ol' this gentleman's splendid voice. So marked was his success on the concert platform that it was hardly to he wondered at when llsdame Melba chose this talented vocalist to support her in her concert party. The ivcpular Boyle Trio of dance specialists, who won their way into popularity here some months ago, are announced for a welcome return, as also are Eose and Dell, the phenomenal singing cyclists, who have an entirely new act to oiler to local audiences. The Coleman Sisters, comediennes, M'Kay and Graham, vocalists, a,nd George D'Alma, the banjoist, will complete the first hnlf of the programme. For the second part, the Paul Stanhope combination of comedians and girls will present a new revue, entitled "Twirly-Whirly," which will a-flord the company plenty of scope, to dipplay their conoerted talents. The number, "Nursery Ithyme3 ; " by Messrs. Stanhope, Newman, and M'Oall, is said to bo particularly humbrous. The same programme will be presented- nightly for one week, with the usual Saturday matinee. THE KING'S THEATKE. It has often been a charge against the English moving picture producers that the duality of their output, when compared with that o£ American, French, and Italian studios, is crude, inartistic, and mitinly inferior. This charge has no doubt in many instances been well deserved. But it' the Loudon Film Company's picture version of Hall Caine's story "The Manxman,". now being screened twice daily at the King's Theatre, is an earnest of what is to be expected, there need be no fear for the future of the English moving pictur industry. To many picture-goers "The Manxman" will.be welcomed, finite apart from its morits or demerits, as a uositive relief after much of the American film they have been 'compelled to endure, particularly since the outbreak of war, by «hich tiie European film supply has been practically cut ofl. Sonic features of "The ilanxman" are eoual to the. undoubted excellence obtained in many American filing; on the other hand, as a whole, the picture under review is distinctly above the American average. Of course, such a story as "The Manxman" could only he successfully filmed in England b.v English players;.-and if May hero be remarked'that the whole production was set for the camera in the Isle of Man, where the si?»nc of the story is laid. "The Manxman" is one of those stories that moat people are familiar with, therefore there is ho need to .recapitulate here the varying fortunes of the Christian family— Philip,■ the "Deemster" (Jlenry Ainleyl.i ltos.-i Christian.' the wastrel, and tlic un-| fortunate illegitimate "Pete"; _ and the fatal influence exercised on their lives by Kate, the inn-keeper's daughter (Elisabeth Kisden). The work of the principals, as well as that of the minor characters, was of uniform excellence all through. A notable feature of the picture was the unusual beauty of the settings; the sea and landscapes iii-and. &rouiicl the lsLo of Man were utilised by the camera man to the full, and the result was a serieß of scenes probably uniflue in a picture of a similar nature. Many of the ancient customs which obtain on the Island -aro incidental to the story, and these were represented in ail altogether interesting manner. "Tho Manxman' should bo nessed by all picture-ffocrs; it is distinctly good, and besides, is • 08, the beaten track. The only other film 19 the latCßt Gaumont Graphic.

EVERYBODY'S THEATRE, A striking story of tho present \\rfr is unfolded, in "The I'awß .of the Bear, which is the leading number.of tic pro T gramme at. Everybody's Theatre this week: The picture does not contain the gloomy arid terrible trench .fighting scenes, but, tells in stirring fashion of plot and couu-ter-»lot in the struggle between the secret services of Austria and iheplot iB well constructed, and the interest never flags. Clara Williamß appears iu tho role of a Bussian beauty, empioyiiil as, iv spy, and William Desmond In that of a young American who finds himself facins; a firing party as the result of his too rash friendliness with the girl. One tenso moj ll ™'; (of many) is that in which an aviator destroy'B the would-be executioners _by ail accurately-aimed bomb.-and so swiftly of tho awful ueril of two whose death was close. Much of the 'Replace in a great trails-Atlantic stcamci. Interwoven with a series of thrilling adventures is a pretty romance which comes to a highly satisfactory conclusion. Love, ii feet, solves the final compkeation o the tale, for the beautiful in a way defeated by her opponents.]is content to retire from the conflict and devoto her life to keeping th °. ho P d6 °™? American happy. The big film « mp ported by an unusually good programme. THE EMPEESS THEATBE. The chief picture at the Empress. Theatre this week is an exciting drama entitled "The Maelstrom." The story runs in an unusual vein, but conforms to conveution by finishing "all well." A millionaire clubman. Jimmie Hallett, while walking along a dark street one evening, has a package thrust into his hands by a strange Kill, of whom he catches but a mere glimpse. He reads the address on the parcel and proceeds to deliver it. He entors a large room, and is felled from behind, and foi some time lies unconscious on the floor. When ho recovers conacioußnesß he that ah old man who has is lying dead in the same room. Tho nolice investigate, the matter, and next day bring the girl to Hallet to bo identified. Hallet refuses to identify her. and strange adventures follow. Hallett and the girl are shadowed from place to nlace and The excitement is intense. In vesPonßO to a note from the girl, Hallet soes. to a certain house, but is dropped two stones through a, trap-door. Again the doteotives rescue him.- The girl has all the time been acting with a view to shielding heL brother, whom she thought was concerned in the murder, >but it discovered t:hat he is innocent and that two raembci s of a gang of crooks were the real criminals. Thus did the wheel of circumstance brine about' the union of Hallet and the girl.

TEE ADA REEVE SEASON. The majority o£ playsoers in Wellington are conversant with the name of the great English comedienne Miss Ada Reeve; and the announcement made 1 , by the Hugh l>. H'lntosh 'management that this tamous artist is to play a six nights season, beginning at the Opera House on Monday night next, will be hailed with pleasure both by those who have not yet been privileged to enjoy her remarkable gemus and by those who have seen her m other parts of the world, i Miss Ada Ik-eye is an artist whose name is a household word throughout the length and breadth o£ tne British Empire, and ranks with the very best artists the stace has yet produced. "Were a plebiscite taken, said a London critic recently, "to decide who is London a most popular vaudeville actress; the chances are that Ada Reeve would head the list by a larce majority. It is said that Miss Reeve's versatility is wonderful One moment she ripples with lausiiter. the next she touches a pathetic chord, and the, next nriuute she is sketching broad* comedy* and later she is orooning over a cradle, or complaining in melody to a picture how great ie her loneliness. .Supporting Miss Reeve are Louis Nikola, with portraits of men of the moment and other creations— King George, Admirals Jcllicoe and Beatty. Sir Douglas Haig, the. Kaiser and the Crown Prince; Mr. Harry Jacobs', the singing conductor; Miss Lucie Linda, juvenile-danseuse; Alvin and Williams ("Bits from Soiisland ); Mr. Kennedy Allan, burlesque comedian; and Mr. Frank Markley, ban.io artist. Miss Ada i Beeve has also brought with her a spei cial and complete London comedy comI pany, the" members of which include Messrs. Arthur Jenner and Astor Jarry. and the Misses Georgie De Lama and Zoe Angus. The box plans , will be opgied at the Bristol on Thursday morning next at 9 o'clock. A aueue will be formed from 8 a.m.

"NEW ZEALANDEfIS AT WAK." To-morrow night, under Vice-Regal patronage, Mr. Gerald Anderson will give Jus lecture oil "New Zealanders at War on Seven Fronts." at the Town ,Hall Concert Chamber. Mr. Anderson began his tour in Otago, and there is a consensus of opinion as to the genuine Interest and high educational v:£ue i>f his addresses and pictures. Headmasters of schools, parents, and the Press have all united in this testimony, Those who are debarred from seeing or participating in the actual experiences of a battlefield can in some decree do this through the aid of Mr. Anderson's pictures and his fluent and lucid address. Ho lias, himself been in active service as a soldier and as a war correspondent, and many of his pictures arc unique and copyriKht. These latter will be -seen "to-morrow mght for the first time' with tlie assistance of Mr. Whitelaw EverythinK possible lias been, done to make Mr. Anderson's lecture worthy in some degree of the gallant men who are ?isking privations and deaths for us on the fai°nunir battle-lines of the world.