ENTERTAINMENTS

Dominion, Volume 11, Issue 59, 3 December 1917, Page 8

ENTERTAINMENTS

GYIUL MAUDE SIiASON. Mr. Cyril Maude presented "Grumpy" for tho last time at tho (irand Opera flouso on Saturday evening before another enthusiastic audience.

This evening and to-morrow evening Mr. Cyril Maude will present- George A. Birmingham's delightful comei'y, "General John l!ogan." Mr. Maude ivill appear as Cf. Lucius O'Grady. The comedy will he preceded by tho screen soenc from "The School lor Scandal," with Mr. Maude os Sir Peter Teazle. "General John Regan" is described as a sk'eteh of Irish village life undef conditions thai mako entirely for laughter.

NEW BILL AT HIS MAJESTY'S. Many revue companies have been seen in Wellington under the Fuller auspices but few that have obtained tho successes and popularity of 'tho Walter Johnson combination, at present in season at Ills Majesty's Theatre. The chorus is well selected, and their attractive costumes aro picturesque and novel. To-night Mr. Johnson will produco an entirely new roviie, which has never hitherto been seen here, and said to be one of his largest, most expensive, and most ambitious revue enterprises. The production is said to bo set in scenes that are not only beautiful—an attribute of nil Johnson shows—but uniijue in char, actcr. The flnalc of tho Jlrst act iB said to be a particularly brilliant piece of stagecraft, running somewhat upon the lines of that well-known and popular musical comedy, "Rose of the Eiviera," and tho dialogue is said to be clover and Bcream. ingly funny. Messrs. Burgess. Franks, and Walter Johnson will, of course, sustain the principal comedy roles, and tho remainder axe cast in parts givipg plenty of scopo for their talents. Walter C. M'Kay, a Tcccnt importation from America, will specialise in broad comedy, some effective topical parodies, and diverting but aulto charming in-'rnmental selec. tions. Harris and Gold, possessors of good Australian and American reputations, aro billed for "two boys and one piano." Tho Alerts, with their sensational bayonet ajid battle-axe juggling, will complete what should be a capital evening's amusement. The same programme will be presented nightly for one week, -with the usual matinee on Saturday afternoon.

THE KING'S THEATKE. The large number of patrons who visited the King's Theatre at the various sessions on Saturday were rewarded by witnessing fin interesting series of pictures. Tho main film i 6 a Triangle drama, "An Even Break." The opening scenes depict two cuto little girls and an equally interesting boy. all aged somewhere about four, and children of neighbours in an American rural township. These children while at play map out their "grown-up" careers, and it is the working out of the (afterlives of the three that forms the story proper. The boy becomes a somewhat famous inventor, one cf the girls beoomes a star dansouso, while the other girl remains and grows -,p in her native village. The young man invents a contrivanes which eliminates about fifty per cent, of the human labour hitherto necessary in a certain industry. A scheming and unscrupulous financial concern plans to Tiiin the firm handling the .patent, and to secure control of the appliance in their own interests. Curing the process of defeating the designs of the schemers both girls are brought into the story in an unexpected way, and the pint develops swiftly and dramatically. Ultimately tho inventor succeeds in moro than holding his own in the realmi of business, and he is al6o successful in winning a. charming bride. Some incidental cabaret scenes are of more than average merit, and many bea.utiful effects aro obtained. The latest Gaiette'.va Triangle (omedy, a, Patho scenic film, ami some irteresting scenes depicting "Our Day" in Auckland aro also on the bill, which will be screened: continuously throughout the week.

EVERYBODY'S THEATRE. ' After a successful -week at the King's Theatre, "A Mormon Maid" has been transferred to Everybody's Theatre, where it will be screened daily until .Saturday next. Tile drama has proved ono of the greatest U the attractions that have recently been offered to Wellington picture patrons, and, estimated upon its claim to be an exposure of certain vicious aspects of the Mormon creed, it may possibly be considered a picturo of some moral value. .It is a huge production, the result of lavish expenditure of money. Some of the greatest screen artists have by their talent contributed )o its success, so that it is in several ways a picture of outstanding merit..- The Mormon marriages are interestingly portrayed. Twice the ceremony of "celestial marriage" is shown: once when the unfortunato father is forced, under pain of his daughter's doom, to take another bride, in conformity with Mormon custom; and next, when, by foul means, the girl is made to wed it Mormon elder. The rites arc mysterious and impressive, and tho producer of the drama has made capital out of this fact. In addition to "A Mormon Maid" the management presents ' Carriage Call No. 101," which is the fifth instalment of "The Secret Kingdom." In this Philip has a narrow cscape from death at the hands of Madame Savatz and Count Ramon, the old King's wily counsellor; and Julia is lured, by means of a forged note,- into an asylum for the insane.

i EMPRESS THEATRE. Dramas that bear the mark of the World Film Corporation have come to bo recog-' nised by picturegoers as productions of distinctive qualtity. Judged upon the Bcrioß of them shown at the Empress within the past fow months, they are well conceived, and well mounted. 'Souls Adrift," in which the leading artist Is Ethel Clayton, is quite up to, if not even beyond, the standard fet by the World films of the past. It is a "desert island" story, and the producer has contrived to import all the fascination to be derived from the subject. In the bargain, there is in "Souls Adrift" a. certain freshness and/ originality, and the plot is hardly to be classed qs hackneyed or as obvious, however familiar the theme The first scenes tire set in a luxurious pleasure yacht, where, escaping from a hilarious group of 'intoxicated diners, a lady goes to the deck, •to meat the man she once has loved. A terrific explosion wrecks the yacht, and, after a narrow cscape from death, the man and the woman aVe cast by the careless hand of Destiny upon a tiny island in the Pacific The island is not without its charms of scenery and climate, but the situation is, for the wrecked couple, a very difficult one. For tlie unfolding of the subsequent events— that Is best seen in the picture itself. The costumo worn by Ethel Clayton' during her stay upon the island affords opportunity lor the display of Ver charms. The part of the hero, a practical, efficient engineer, is excellently played by Milton LilU.

"THE NEW HENRIETTA." Messrs. «T. and N. Tuit's New Comcdy Company, on Saturday evening next, will, at the Grand Opera House, present the sue-, ccssful comedy-drama, "Tite New Henrietta." The story of ""The New Henrietta," centre.; round a wealthy mineowner, Nioholas Van Ali-tync, who comes under the influence of a wealthy and attractive widow, Mrs. Cornelia Opdyke (played by Miss Gertrude aurcmcrs, a notable American artist), who manages to transform the old man's life, manners, and mode of dressing. Leaving on a yachting cruise, Van Alstyne hands over tho controlling interests of the mine to his son-in-law, fen unscrupulous scoundrel, who manages to create a slump in the shares and endeavours to ruin his father-in-low and enrich himself. The Stock Exchange is thrown into a panic by tho unloading of these shares. Val Alst-yne is acquainted of the position by wireless, and his handling of the situation provides powerful drama and comedy. The sea-son is limited to five nights. The box plans will be opened at the Bristol on Wednesday morning.

ORGAN RECITAL. . The city organ recital by Mr. Bernard Page in the Town Hall will be held on Tuesday evenings in future, beginning tomorrow evening. This change has been brought about by the fact that tho hall is being used every Saturday evening for entertainments for soldiers. The programme will appear in full in to-morrow's issue.

"Oil. SUSANNAH!" A three-act farcical comedy, entitled "Oh. Susannah I" will be played in tho Conccrt Chamber of the Town Hall next Wednesday and Thursday, December 5 and 6, by Mr. Gulford Bell's dramatic company, "The Thespians," in aid of the Clara Rogers Comforts' Fund. This comedy is admittedly one of the funniest ever writ ten, and a merry evening i" promised to those who go to see it. Seats may be booked at the Bristol Piano Company. "A DAUGHTER. OF THE GODS." William Fox's picture. A Daughter of tho Gods," featuring Annette Kellermann, will be shown at the Grand Opera House on Saturday, December 15. Eastern critics "nave styled it as "a moving gallery of triunin'.; n't- art." It )b a fairy love story, unfolded with exquisite art. Love is the theme of tho story of a "A Daughter of the Gods." Annette' Kellermann. known actually as "Annette, the Adorable," is. says her admirers, a. creature of tho stuff of which dreams are mado, a fit exponent of tho motif of the picture. She proves love for love's own sake to be abundantly worth while, even though life end in disaster.