ENTERTAINMENTS

Dominion, Volume 11, Issue 60, 4 December 1917, Page 3

ENTERTAINMENTS

HIS " MAJESTY'S THEATRE. The Walter Johnson Itevuo Company provided tho greater pari of the new programme presented at His Jlajesty s Theatre last evening. Their latest revue, "The Monte Carlo Girl," proved an brilliant ;i nuecesß aB its predecessors, -t dealt pifliiuntly with the troubles that besot a - respectable and irascible retired naval officer, when one of liiß indiscretions, in the form of a dashing lady from the variety stage, presented herself inopportunely at his country resilience. Captain Bunting had flirted with the "Monte Carlo Girl" in town, but he had not expected to discover her in liis own home just when his guests, including his titled sister, were arriving for a garden party.. Tile plot has other phases, including tho inevitable love interest, and its develops amusingly. Mr. Walter Johnson, as Sir Benjamin Mapleton, a voluble, irresistible and successful manufacturer and purveyor of pills, again provoa himself to bo a comedian of real ability. His work last night was very funny indeed. Effective comedy work waß done also cy Mr. Gns Franks, as Captain Buntings servant, and Mr. Ernest Lashbroo lie, ar a dandified young lord. - Miss Lola Hunt had the name-part, and sho looked charming onough to account for all the captain's, difficulties. Sho sang pleasantly, and was supported ably by the pre'.ty choruS, which again had the advantage ot bright and original dressing. MißsXiyoia Carne, Mias Home Horan, Miss Belle Millette, Miss Bita Starr, Mr. Gcorgo Taylor, and others hid smaller parts which they filled efficiently. The musical numbers with which the plot was threaded wcro- many and good, and they a'fflstcd to provide tho opportunity for some very effective stagecraft. The phoius was consistently attractive, and had its part in the big and spectacular fnale. In tho first part of the programme Harris ana Gold, "the two boys with one Wfluo. made their first appearance in New Zealand. The provided several comic songß of something more than tho #verago merit, und extracted their own music from tho piano successfully. The Alerts presented their daring and occasionally startling display of bayonot and battleaxe juggling. The apparent risks if this act provide extra thrills for tho audience. Walter M'Kay, an American performer described as "tho merry musical knut, was to havo raado his first appearascc last, night, but the late arrival of a steamer made it necessary for tho manaitomentto postpone his debut until to-night. iho programme will be repeated during the week.

EVERYBODY'S THEATRE. "A Mormon Llaid," featuring Mas Hurray, now screening at Everybody's Theatre; has been transferred from tho Kind's alter a record week. Tho play abounds in dramatic situations, from tho rescue of the heroine and her parents by the Mormons from a murderous' band ol Kodskins to the treaoherons attempt to force.the girl to marry an already much-married Mormon older. In the final scene the unscrupulous elder is outwitted and brought low. In addition to the feature is Chapter o of "Tho Secret Kingdom," "Carriage OaM No. 101." This episode is backed with tho spirit of adventuro, and set m an atmosphere of refinement and romance! An unusually interesting series of topical films add to the interest in the bill.

KING'S THEATRE. The jiriucipal attraction at the King's Theatre this week is a Triangle feature, "An Even Break," in which Olivo Thomas appears as the centre of a bovy of beautiful girls. The production sets a pretty fast pace as a portrayal of high life, and the very fino mountings of many principal scenes hold the interest in a remarkable way. Everything in the cabaret scenes is right up to the standard. It would seem that these groat informal dining palaces, with their glittering wave and multicoloured lights, the stages whero lovely girls whirl through splendid dances, were taken from real life, and the whole Js a specWclo that stands alone.

EMPRESS THEATRE, The "World feature film, "Souls Adrift," takes first place in the current programme at the Empress Theatre. Ethel Clayton lias the main role, together with Milton Lills, the hero, who, during the courso of the plot, becomes liej lover. The story is remarkable in so much as it indulges in.tho theories held by some creeds man is born and reborn, in each existence making towards something bettor. The hero iB a fine type of man, and in tho early sconcß ho is the engineer on a luxurious yacht. The girl is the ownor't daughter, and she leaves tile gay pleasuros of tho saloon for the deck. There she mcetß tho man, now so far beneath her in tho sooial scale, but who. according Vo tho story, was once her mate in some previous existence. Tho boat is wrecked, and the Wo are thrown upon a wild land. The remainder of tho ttiri'ling tale tells how the two got along together. It 1b a study that enn scarcely fail to interest patrons.

"THE NEW HENRIETTA." On Saturday evening next at the Giand Opera House Messrs. J. and N. Tait's New Comedy Company will pay a return visit and present "The New Henrietta," which is by the same author as "Turn to the Bight." The new play is written round the machinations of Mark Turner, against his father-in-law, Nicholas Van AMyne, on the Stock Exchange. Van A rayn b is a self-mnde man, who comoß under the. influence of a fashionable widow who tries to educate him up to the otsition he Iwb acquired in society, and in the process of changing from a man cf primitive habits to a polished member of the aristocracy, many amusing situations arise. "The Now Henrietta" is the ni'mc of a copper mine, owned by Yaij Alstyne, and Mark Turner unloads a vast lumber of Honrictta Bhares on the market during the absence of his father-in-law from Now York. In conscquence a panic aiiscs on tho Stock Exchange, and the price of shares drop to an absurd figure, Ifeanwhilo Van Alstyne, getting the news by wiroloss, returns to New York and attempts to stop the panic, but none of tho brokers will buy shares for him without security. Turner liaß stolen all his securities, and ho is helpless, but his son Bertie comes to. tho rescuo by plaelng a million dollars to his father's ciedit, which allows him to buy in shares and stop the panic. The piece is said to bo one of the most exciting plays of recent years. The box plans for tho season of five nights opens at the Bristol to-morrow morning.

"A DAUGHTER OP THE GODS." After William Fox had scoured the United States for a j)laoe suitable and large enough lor the proper production of "A Daughter of the Gods," the 1,000,000 dollar picture, featuring Annette Kellerinann, and announced as tlio attraction at the Grand Opera House for Saturday, December 15. ho decided that it would bo necessary to search elsewhere for a location. Ho explored tho Caribbean and found lat Kingston, Jamaica, an island whicli lie figured would suit his purpose. Without more ado ho leased tho entire island from the British Government. Here, in the face of pestilence-breeding swamps, lie installed a sanitary syßtem of sewerage and erected a city of steel aud concreto that might Miave stood for generations had he not found it necessary to destroy it in a day, after it had served its usefulness.

"OH, \ SUSANNAH!' 1 To-morrow and Thursday nights a new farcical comedy, "Oh, Susannah!" will be presented at the Concert Chamber by Mr. Oulford Bell and his comedy company, "The Thespians." The story is a very amusing, one, and as played by this company is expected to get many laughs. Tickets are reported to bo selling very speedily, and two full houses are anticipated. Seats may be booked at the Bristol. The proceeds are for the Clara Rogers Comforts Fund, Y.M.C.A. Hut, \\ altou-on-Thames.