ENTERTAINMENTS

Dominion, Volume 11, Issue 30, 30 October 1917, Page 3

ENTERTAINMENTS

THE CINEMA STAR. To-niglit and to-morrow night. J. 0. Williamson's .Royal Coiiiio Ouera Company will present for tho first time in New Zealand "Tho Cinema Star." which held the boards in London lor over two consecutive years, and enjoyed the longest run 'of any piece staged in Australia during recent yoars. Tho story of "Tlio Cinema Star hinges round the fact that a wealthy Englishman,, aud his wife start a crusade against kinematograpb entertainments, and the former is eventually won over by the showmen to tho extent of putting his money into one of their enterprises, and actually; makes his appearance ou tho "soreen" much to thei disgust of his wife. The theme lends itself to much humour, aud playgoers can imagine the fun which is extracted from it by Leslie Holland, Phil Smith, Villiers Arnold, and Addie Lenna-rd, Minnie Love, and Alf. Andrews. "The Cinema Star" lends itself to gorgeous settings and to elaborate mounting, and from this point of view it is t §aid it resembles a huge pantomime extravaganza. Miss Florence Youug and Miss Minnie Love have some star musical numbers allotted their parts,' and Mr. Clyde Cook and Miss Mnie Baird are said to excel in their dancing features. Amongst the most nosular of the musical. numbers are "The Constant Lover" (Reg. "Roberts). "The Itolling Stone" (Clyde Cook, Jessie Caltyn, and Jack Ealston), "Love's Bream" (Gladys Monoricfi and Reginald Roberts), "The Picture Palace Queen" (Florence Young), "The Kolling Stone," an eccentric danca (Clyde Oook), "My liadium Girl" (Minnio Love and chorus). "On the Beach at Waikiki" (Gladys Moncrieff, "Reginald Roberts, and chorus), "Rome Little Bug" (Phil Smith), "0, Louisa" (Florence Young and Phil Smith), third eccentric dance, "Boiling Stone" (Clyde Cook), "Spring's Awakening" (Gladys Moncriefl), "The Broken Doll" (Minnie Love), "Ragtime Dream" (Phil Smith and chorus). "In the Night" (Leßlie Holland and chorus), and the wonderful' police dnnce by Leslie Holland and Maie Baird. On Thursday "The Merry Widow" will he revived. The season will close on Friday, when a special representation of "The Pink Lady" will be staged The plans are now on view at the Bristol.

HIS MAJESTY'S THEATRE. A large audience enjoyeu me mirth, music, o.n<l magic pruviueii by ino clover peupie WJIO appeareu ai liis majesty s meant) last eveniug. Tile lmrui was provided uj those e\u'omeiy ague itnocK•l.UOUI, comedians, me neliuays, who appeared unce more in their riotous saetcii.

"iiio i,auy OI mo rails." Tne lady a performance is on<r of those. rare eliortn in wniou a gut xor pure larce is ulliea lo a laieni vnnout which tne artist concerned would oe a breamess urmae Koia years end to year 3 ena. ■ iiow sue whirls, n.uKs, St/aiiiiOie», and nuixlles uyer mat oiaok train oi hers only years ol giuay slieculauuii cuulu accomplish. Tue mam ueiiday -is an adept noop-spinner, and piayß welt up to ills frantically active. partner. v The iiuuty liomeay Uwupauy appear in one >jl tneir l ' old ooine<Liettas, wiucn is becoming ratner. familiar, with, use. Mr. Warren Hastings a light, BweetLoned tenor, pleased tne- audience in "Where tne liiver bnannon Plows," "Turn Baci the Universe," and "Two Eyes of Gray." . liauraut mystified with tricks, ancient and modern, and OJiyelh and his dog Sport reappeared. A music and story turn wmch lountt lnstanuuiooiis favour was that of ill'. Tom fleece, formerly known in tjyoney as a llub trombonist, and a. distinctly il' proppsßessing entertainer. Apart" from his capacity as an exponent of tne coach-horn, cornet, and slide trombone (an instrument he plays with- rare individuality Mr. Keeoo has developed into a raconteur with a fine breezy style. His yarnß are new and well' told. Xylophonists are two-a-penny nowadays on the vaudeville stage, but there are few who can rattle off selections without once glancing at the "sleepers." Mr. Reece'B facial olay is in happy harmony with his hilarious hammers. »: The second part was provided by les Bates's Follies <Jf Pleasure, who elected to make their' first bow in "The Matinee Girl," which is really a string of songs, danoes, ajid funny . stunts apropos, of nothing- in particular. Miss Madge Moore 'Is an attractive Matinee Girl, who can sing a good song and who has the trick of alH'aye looking well (a sense which, cannot bo cultivated).. She acts well enough for the part, and o&n trip a gay measure v®lth the best of them. Mr. Les Wharton appears as the clodhopping flerywhiskered Irishman, Sweeney, a character that would be the real backbone of the reyuo 'if it were not Invertebrate, and Mr. Oon Moreni was distinctly clever and finished aB the debonnair Clarence the Sport, whose "Reindeer and Midnight Baby 1 ' songs were a feature of the show. Arthur Elliott figured; comically as Carrots, the hare-lipped butler of the Bweeneys, and Miss Lalie Brooke made. a comfortable well-fed Mrs. Sweeney; Mr. Les Bates, as tho deaf-man Pest,, caupcd screams of laughter, but his Old Home Town" song was unintelligibly sung to those in the dross cirolo. His trick or singing' down into the orohestral well served no purpose but to .ohsouro the intent of tho song. A nimble ballet of spry dancers in abbreviated costumes supplied a, filigree trimming of an animated oharaotei to most of the songß.

KINO'S THEATRE. ' "Tom Brown's School Days" is the star feature now screening at' the King s Theatre. The story shows the gradual unfolding of a young man's character, ano the queer faot that a great public school is simsly a little world of ita_ own. A •youngster is put 111 Tom b . chfiige school 'by the. "head,", and proves to be a little hero. Later oil. at, the school breaking-Hp, Tom finds that the little iei* low is actually the son pf his erring sister, 110 pluoks lip courage, ami takes Arthur and his sister down to their home, and finally father . and daughter arc reconciled. A special matinee for school-chil-dren-will be given on Wednesday-at 3.15.

EVERYBODY'S THEATRE. The "Pyjama Parades" are a feature of "Madcap Madge." the *tar picture now screening at Everybody's Theatro. Pretty Olivo Thomas, tlio New Ydrk Follies star, .plays the load in this production. Tlia most experienced picture-goers in tlio Dominion will bo at fault in guessing the end of the story, and for onpo a film disguise is absolutely effectual in concealing the identity of a character. There is a pretty double love story, and a moro than usually strong cast of supporting players. One of the most laughable Keystone comedies seen-for some time is "Oactua Nell, which is also shown.

'EMPRESS THEATRE.' A pretty girl in oilskins who contriv.es to look adorable" for five reels iB seen in "Periwinkle," tho star feature now screening at the Empress Theatre, where Mary Miles Mintor as a waif of the «ea has tho central role. She changes her clothes sometimes, of courso, and manages to look all tho prettier when she does.' George Fisher as the hero gives a manly and elective rendering of a difiioult role, and the supporting cast is particularly strong. Special mention should be made also ot the amazing sea-surf and coastal scenes, which are tributes to wonderful photography. Chapter 16 of "The Iron Olaw,'' entitled "The Unmasking of Davy," is also shown.

"LOOK -WHO'S HERE." Mr. Jack company of English artists will -,appear at tlia Grand Opera House, commenoing next Monday, in the new musical extravaganza, "Look Who's Here." Mr. Sims Waller. L.R.A.M.. who is tho conductor-leader of the Purple Band, is a. violinist who has appeared at Buckingham Palace on several occasions. In Mr. Fred Dennett tho company has a brilliant solo pianist. Mr. Wylie Watson is said to combine unique versatility as a comedian, with exceptional gifts as a 'cellist, whilo Mr. Gregory Ivanoff, SI.A., Fellow of the Conservatoire of Petrograd, is said to be a master- of the violin, whose work was much appreciated in social and musical circles in Sydnev and Melbourne. The efforts of tlieso artists in Mr. Jack Wallet's riotously funny burlesque ot' a Hungarian band is one of the features of the entertainment. The setting, mounting, and dressing will, it is promised, be 011 tho most lavish scale, and entirely novel in conception. It will embraoo the first appearance here of the Purplo Band, described as a remarkably talented combination of instrumentalists. The box plan opens this morning at the Bristol.