ENTERTAINMENTS

Dominion, Volume 11, Issue 65, 10 December 1917, Page 7

ENTERTAINMENTS

NEW KEVUE AT HIS MAJESTY'S.

Mr. Walter Johnson lias won an immcmso popularity throughout the «leuMVc/" cr circuit for his clean, wholesome, andwit)> al extravagantly ludicrous and spwtacu lar productions. Mr.. Johnsons revues are in very close relationship tojaußlcal. comedy, and the sparkle and weed vrtucli them from similar Pioduc tions has already ««=» u r £ pedestal that towers in amusement, lowers Lour. "The Manless lele is the title of this week's burlesque, and it " "£™ to concern the many cnr»P«' that befall a, trip of caslawai» ?" *™.' attain the usual Johnson standard of ex oellence, and the numerous mlerpouwa musical numbers are of the £a™™f cenre usually associated with the taex The vaudeville half of the bill |"« co °. prise four now acts: Eco and Helmar, described as Ecniational acrobats and daring equilibrists; Erie Bnclier, ris and Gold, "two boys and a, man* and an establiehed favourite in the person or Saturday matinee will be given.

THE KING'S THIiATEE. Tho story of Larry Evans's book. "Then I'U Oomo iiack to iou," has been adapted for the screen, with Alice Brady in tie principal role, and commenced its Wellington screenings at tho Kins's Theatie on Saturday, IMie action ol the slory is laid in and around .an American lumber camp, a.nd the variety of tcciies of leal interest that an industry of this description furnishes for the enterjinsinj camera, man, is immense. The operator m to 111 m under notice has utilised many suott scenes, and the result is apart from the story itself) a. picture that po*sesses features out of the ™ &mM h,J£l .story unravels a somewhat compllcaMil aud intereatinsr love affair. The. pnnct pals are a pretty girl (Alice Brady), a youne timber magnate, and a young railway engineer. These three were, as children, playmates. But the girl,.when .grown up, beoomos engaged to tho timber man, Bhe had not mot the young engineer since they were children. When, she *»•«** him her interest in him. is reawakened. Then commences an "all-in etinggle tiotween the two men for the hand of tße girl. The wealthy timber man tries ■ every means, both fair and foul to mm ft engineer, but in the end that meet their due deserts. A that appealed to many waa a, most realistic flrtio encouDter between two of theeharacters. Tho Gazette furnishes a yory fine scene depicting tho Americans being _ farewelled at Paris when leaving for the front There is also a Triangle comedy on the programme.

EVERYBODY'S THEATRE. "Tho Moral Fabric," which is being screened at Everybody's Theatre this week, is a vory interesting Picture. The story is original, the setting delightful, and tho acting exceptionally good. IHβ moral of the play is that the marriage bond is not to be lightly regarded, and that thoeo who trifle with it are apt to be visited with heart-brcaMng punish* ment. A keen-witted business man marries a woman of great beauty, and enjoys one happy year of wedded life; out on the very anniversary, of hie marriage ho finds that his wifo has been unfaithful to him. She has given herself up to a wealthy clubman. Ho discards the woman, and, by putting tho rualter in a glare of publicity, the clubman is compelled to marry her. Then conies hie opportunity for revenge. Tho ill-matched pair go off to Monte Carlo, and? the former hußband chances on them there. Ihey havo persuaded themselves all along that they are justified in what Ihey have dono. The obligations of marriage, they consldor. should melt and vanish before tho glory of some new love on the horizon; bnt tho clubman has forgotten that ho is not exempt from such a contingency as brought disaster upon tho former husband. Aβ Pate will have it, indeed, the former husband eaeily gets an opportunity of insinuating himself once more into tho woman'R life. She loves him again. He goes to the clubman and demands her. The clubman is furious, enraged. But the climax is not yet. Tho wronged husband has no use for a love that veers and changes with every littlo passing gust of passion; and bo with bitter scorn and contempt he spurns the woman, and throws the unhappy, loveless jt.t at, each other's heads. Then he leave? them forever to pontlor in timo to coin , . , upon the merits o'f "free love" as an avenue to happiness. Many of the settings iu tho nicturo arc exceedingly attractive. They *nc.)udo the Casino Gardens at Monte Carlo, tho Grand Canal at Venice, and the Palisndes Club at the Kivu-ra. Frank Mills, Howard Hickman, and Edith Keeves are tho principal players. The programme inclndes another instalment of Tho Secret Kingdom."

EMPRESS THEATKE. Tuo story of an unfortunate marriage Is unfolded in "Whose Wife?" an elaborate Mutual production, enowing at the Empross Theatre this week. Mary Melyille (the picture relates) marries a wealthy roue named Claude Varden. Tho match is made at the instance of Marys invalid mother, who. just when the couple &re about to leave for the south, takes ill. Mary decides to remain with her, and Vardcn goes south alone, Even at this early stage, the scoundrel has wearied of what he calls his lateßt bargain, and, to break the monotony of the voyage, successfully makes advances to a SpanishAmerican heiress who is roturnine;, with her brother Eamon, to vast estates in South America. In the meantimo Marys mother dies, and Mary, hearing nothing of Vardcn, secures a position in a lawyer's office. Some little time after, the newspapers announce a shipwreck, and Varden's name is in the list of tho missing. Mary's employer falls in lovo with her, and is about to marry hpr, when Varden reappears and claims her. Sho faints at the meeting, and Varden has her taken to his apartments. Learning the truth of the matter, the southern liciress takeß Ipoison, aud her brother Eamon tracks Varden down. In the ensuing fight,. Varden kills Ramon, and is apprehended on a chargo of murder. At the trial, the jury is' about to return a verdict of guilty. Varden is being conducted into tlio Court to hear his doom; but suddenly a man whom he ed recognises him and stabs him . to» death. The acting throughout the pieceis excellent. Gail Kane plays the part of Mary Melville. Harry Von Meter that of Varden, and Ethel TJllmnn- that of .the heiress.

"ORPHWS" HELPING WELLINGTON'S SOLDIERS. Another strong team, the Wellington Orphans' Club, has joined the sports bodies in the campaign to provide comforts for Wellington's soldiers in the trenches. Recently dramatic and musical "Orphans" well pleaseij a large audience with an excellent performance of that bright comedy,. "Bill's Birthday." The acting, staging, and music were so good that tho club has been pressed to repeat the piece. This will bo done at the Town Hall next Wednesday In aid of the Citizens' Christmas Gift Fund. The cast will include the following :-Jlessrs. W. W. Crawford. Fraser-Tlionipson, William Goudie, Rupert Meates, J. P. Carr. Herbert F. Wood, E. A. Batt, Jim Battersby, Bert Sime, J. Oaddick, Culford Bell, Verdi M'Konzie, V. Evans, Charles Moore, and B. O'Connor, assisted by Orphans Archibald 'Hunt, Hamilton Hodges, Harold Godier, Henry Moschini, and a full orchestra. Every care in being taken to assure a flrßt-class entertainment. Tho Orphans, who have a reputation for quality," are striving for a record. Bills Birthday" is expected to add a substantial sum to the fund which is to give a birthday feeling, by gifts of much-appre-ciated comforts, to the soldiers at tho front.