ENTERTAINMENTS

Dominion, Volume 11, Issue 35, 5 November 1917, Page 7

ENTERTAINMENTS

LOOK WHO'S HERE." ■ To-night will witness 'the first pi-esenta- . tiou at the Grand Opera House ol' Jaok Waller's celebrated production "Look Who's Here." desoribed at various times as being a revue, a musical extravaganza, a musical comedy, and by tho theatrical critic of the Sydney "ltel'eree" as a hashmagandy and whigmalerrce of all descriptions of stw?e entertainment. You have burlesque, music, comedy, vaudeville, revue; eoiulo opera, and a' conscrvatoriunt concert all blended into one delightful and harmonious whole, and it is impossible to detect any joins of seams. There are twenty-five performers in the cast, inolud.ing Jack.Waller, Wylie tson, Gregory lvanoH,.Cecilia Gold, Ad;, .lart, and Dorothy Leslie, and Dick in addition to the supporting company and the Purple Band who made themselves popular in Sydney: One of the principal numbers to be introduced tills eveula/y is tho wonderful "1812" Overture, in which five pianos are used in.- conjuuotio'u with tho ether .numerous musical instruments. Another novelty will bo the "One Minute Plays au'd Dramas," five'of tlieao being presented in tho short space of iour minutes The staging and Bcenery of Look Wnos Here" are 011 a novel black and wlifte colour scheme/ the principal scene peing a fantastical futurist. courtyard in Pierrot Land," with quaint arches ol black and white, relieved here and thcic by huge pom-poms.

1118 MAJESTY'S THEATRE. The second week of Mr. Les Bates's exceedingly popular revue combination, "The I Follies of Pleasure," will commence ut His •Majesty's Theatre this evening. "In Mexico" this week's new production,. is' said to bo considerably funnier and faster than the preceding vehicle of fun. It !s stated to be a rollicking romp, with 110 particular plot, but with 11 charming setting, and providing any amount of scope for tho versatile talents of tho comedians. The principal comedy will bo sustained by Les Bates, Con Morenl, Les Warton, and-Ar-. .tliur Elliott, ably assisted by Mißses Madge Moore and Lnllo Brooke. Some names entirely new to Wellington appear in the vaudeville half of the programme. Miss Irene Pearse, a little Scotch comedienne, who made her Australasian debut on Saturday last, is Messrs. Pullers' lateßt importation from England. Harold Lockwood, a particularly talented whip and ropo manipulator, will expduud many of the skilful tricks peculiar to the "wild and woolly AVest." Percy M'Kay, the popular basspj. and liis tuneful partner, Miss Graham, will make a wclcomo reappearance. A coloured comedian by the name of. "Jolly John Larkln" will appear for the first, time,-and the variety half will be completed by Tom Recs, n. whimsical Irish instrumentalist-, and the lyrlo tenor, "Warren Hastings. Considerable Interest should be aroused by tho manager-j ial announcement that-Miss Ruth Budd, tho International singing aerialist, lias at last, .consented to play a Bhort New Zealand season, commencing in Wellington on Monday evening next.

THE KING'S THEATRE. The new programme at the King's Theatre is heiided by "The Web ol Desire," a- World film drama, with Ethel Olay.ton ;in the lead. The picture, which is splendidly. produced, unfolds a highly interesting story. Tho opening stages depict a home in one of the Western States, in which Jivo happily a-young engineer, his ■ wife, and their baby daughter. The engineer owns certain, water rights; the ownership, however, is disputed by a wealthy Eastern corporation. There is a big lawsuit,-tho outcome of 'Which is the complete'defeat of the corporation. The engineer, his rights soundly established, nest moves to New York, promotes a syndicate for tho exploitation, of • his property, is successful, and rapidly amasses 1 wealth. He becomes so immersed in business that his wife feels neglected, and (as sho puts it), being/in need of some distraction, frequents tho haunts of an ultrasmart set. This causes much domestic unpleasantness, and the wife's resentment against her husband is kept alive, and increased, by a member of the rival concern who has in view the double object -of winnipg the wife's love and financially ruining ner husband. It is tho defeat of tho aims of the schemer, brought about mainly through the infiitenco of the little, 'daughter,'that, forms the most interesting part of the story,, and whioh leads up to a denouement that has the ■ precious virtue of originality. Supporting films comprise the latest Gazette, a Triangle comedy aud an interesting scenic subject.

EMPRESS THEATRE. "Plain Jano," an agreeable comedy featuring Bessie Barriscale, was the headImcr of the new bill presented . at . the . tampross Theatre on Saturday. It is tho story of a light that was hidden under a bushel—of a beauty Ion? undijrcorcml, bat finally made ovident. The heroine is a servant in. a. small country town, which possesses a college. Sho is Plain Jane, looks.,(in the openinir scenes and for many a, sceno after) harmonise tery nicely with that appellation. Jane is an affectionate little soul, and does not scorn to cast surreptitious fflances of approval upon Charles Ray, who appears in the character of a dignified and puritanical college student. The professor's daughter 6taros off well in the race for Charles, but Jano is somet-hinir of a- "dark hofsc." Her, beauty, most effectively hid- ; den under the traditional "slavey" cuise, is suddenly found out throush a photoSi'aph. Then tho damage is done. Ray loses his heart to the wiclder of the mop , and the broom, and' the professor's daugh- : ter is left lamenting. "The Vanishing ; Faker" (17th chapter of "Tho Iron Claw") : was also screened. On this occasion some ! excitement is provided by a. sniping duel | between Margery and the Mask and : JiOgar and his men. The interest of tho ! story has been brought to a very high i pitch, and followers of it will no dcubt I look forward to the, next instalment, I which is duo on Saturday next. J EVERYBODY'S THEATRE. ' Regular picture-goers appear to be tan- . ing a, keen interest in the "Seven Deadly ,Sins" series .of pictures, which is being , presented at Everybody's Theatr.o in seven . powerful studies. Tho second drama. "Plide," was screened for the first tiiho on Saturday, and very good attendances wore attracted. The , moral that the picture purports to point is thus stated: "Pride will have, a fall, for pride goeth before, and Shame cometh after." The

opening scenes • find Evo Leslio (Shirley Mason) 111 possession ofia fortune, which has been settled upon her by the actrcss, Dotty Howard, whom tho little heroine hud once so envied. Evo promptly becomes over-confident In her'power to derive'enjoyment from life, and she begins to weary of her lover Adam, who until now has been tho chief, contributor to her happiness. She is sought, by tho bogus count and by a rich banker, who is one of Pride's easiest victims. The banker is not, however, limited in his vices to inero pride. He lias also a pencliant for the 'due of drugs, and this side of his character is interestingly portrayed. His prido is the first >to bo overthrown, hut tho fall of Eve comes not lons after with the discovery that the count's blood is scarcely of the bhie, she has hoped for. There was alio shown the, first Instalment of a big sorial, which bidß fair to be very popnar, "The Land of .Intrigue," affording the first glimpse of "The Secret Kingdom." The story openß eicitiugly.

•"TORN TO THE RIGHT." On Monday next, November 12, ifessi'B. .1. and -N. Tait will present, at the Grand Opera House the successful comedy "Turn to-tho flight," which will be the initial production by (lie firm's new Comedy Company. The play, as its title implies, shows the power of good over evil, and the reformation of three wayward young men brought about through the iufiuonco of a sweet' old lady who, in her simplicity, sees Or thinks 110 evil of any living soul. It is said that the play iB brimful of clean, wholesome humour, with touches of true pathos so cleverly interwoven in the dialogue that from the rise to fall of tho curtain laughter predominates. It is claimed for "Turn to the Eight" that it makes an equal appeal to all classes ol' the community, and its success in America and Australia is due to tho fact that it reflects human nature. The characters are true to life and the players live the parts th«y play. Several notable English and American artists will make first, appearances in Wellington, specially sclented by the authors of the play. These include Messrs. Walter P. Richardson, John Junior, Stapleton Kent, Vincent Dennis, and Miss Margaret Calvert. The Wellington season is limited to six nights, aud the box clan for the Bcason opens at tho Bristol on Thursday morning.

GYMNASTIC CARNIVAL. There was a good attendance a( tho Y.M.C.A. gymnastic carnival, which was held in the Grand Opera House on Saturtday evening. Tho performance was most entertaining, and the work of tlio performers was excellent, and a great credit to the.tutor. The proceedings were opened with a' grand march, which was vfcry effectively done. Other items on the programme were:—Running and freo movements, men; ' marching and free Movements, ladies; dumbcll drill, boys; classical poses. M. Tracey and F. W. Hawclub swinging, ladies; character songs &nd duets. Miss Qiieenie M'lnerey and Mr. George Peek; horizontal bar, men; fencing, ladies and men; hall swinging, girls; ju-jitßU, Messrs. P. W. Rawilnson, J. Whittaker, S. Waters, and MiBS D. Harrison; electric clubs, ladies,- skipping, girls; brass rod exerois's, ladies; wands fl.nd freo movements, girls and boys; hand balancing, men; barbell and dumbell drill, ladies and men; lantern march, ladies; parallel hars, men; dumbell drill, ladies; grand finale.- The proceeds' are to bo devoted to the fund for the renovation of the phyjical department, of the Y.M.C.A.