ENTERTAINMENTS

Dominion, Volume 11, Issue 77, 24 December 1917, Page 3

ENTERTAINMENTS

™E MAS IE TEMPEST SEASON. "Tho Marriage of Kiity," the brilliant tlirco-aot comedy in which Miss Mario lompoat, the famous English, comedienne \viil ( coiunien.ic her Wellington season u/i Boxing: niyht at the Grand Opera Hout-:.', under tho J. 0. Williamson managenie.it has proved a splendid siwccsb whorover it has boon presented. Tho story m brief is as follows:--Kitty Silvertou is a wily womanly piquant country girl, v/ho tun.a tho tablt 3 on La foeminuu, by falling :n love with her 2-rrant husband, and appropriating him Vor herself at tho close of variously awning and ridiculous situations. Miss Marie Tempest will be wcu as Kitty fjilverton, a character in whi'.-ii »ho has ii magnificent opportunity to nliow her versatility iu comcdy. Tho opening aoonos oaJl for broad comedy, culmfnatii at last in the highest form ol artistry. In association with Miss Tempest is t:io oelebratcd Eugliah lading man, Mr. Graham Browne, who will be seen in the oharaoter of Sir Keglnald Belize. Other members pf Iho company will include Bvdnoy Stirling, Usilo Victor, FriLiik Allanby, Qwen Burroughs, Ethel Marrieon, and Mollie Taylor. The Marriage of Kitty" will bo staged for five nightß. On New Year's Night tho taooud produotion will bo given with a splendid representation of Somor6et Maugham's splendid comedy, "Penelope." The company h;.ve already arrived in Wellington. Tho boi plans are now on view at the Bristol.

HIS MAJESTY'S THEATRE. A not unwe.nome xovorhiun to oil-vaude-ville jprogranifflus will taKo piaco at iiia Majesty's Tuaatro this evening, when Messrs. Fuller will present an entirety now to Wellington combination for the Christinas week, 'iho premier attraotion is an act reputed to be one of the uioat suooefiiful importations yet presented by. the i'uilor firni-4he Musical iicniieys. 'X'iio instrument used iu this ivot ib the largest, of its kind in the world, measuring 18 leoi 'ill length, and is called tho "mariuftiaxyiopnono," being a combination of lie two instruments, the marimba and ha xylophone. Ita lowest note is an oct -ve below pedal 'V and has a tons similar to a ohureh organ. i'i-.e Bcntleys play tli their numbers with three hammers eaoh, making six distinct notes simultaneously played. Tho effect is said t-o he very beautiful to the- ear. Jlr. Bentley, before playing tho iresent instrument, was for many years conceded by Uio vaudeville profession to bo one of tho greatest rylophonista in the world, a/id was soloist with the Dulutb Symphony Orchestra. Another fenture act m tonight's list will be a unique novelty.imported by the Pullers from the fam&nfl ilhambra, Paris. Thurber and Thnrber are two eccentric enneuittns who uro stated to possess an act full of romavkablo humorous conceptions introducing their startling novolty, "Tho Futurist Dance." Sydney Jone3 ar.d Agnes Ealnes, who are already well known ir. Wellington, have returned from South Africa, and' will bo seen in a musical comedy act) Dnny and Docra, whilom members of the famous Five Manchurians. will present ft Chinese acrobatic. otl'ering; Elie Australian Hamptons, exponent of trick cycling', the Oolemans, oomediennes; Krneit Pitcher, Harris and Gold, Blako and Granby, and Mario Buoher will complete the bill. A matinee in announced for Wednesday aJternoon (Boxing; Day). There will bo no porformanoe on Christmas night.

THE KING'S THEATRE. "Rasputin, the Black Monk," a World feature ttlrn that heads the new programme at tho King's 'fhoatre, possesses a certain amount of topical interest; indeed, it deals with current history. It il claimed bv the management that tho picture is Romowhat unique in that there are no fewer than seven leading characters, which are handled by a corresponding number of well-known film stare. "llaßputin" purports .to depict tho rise and toll of the monk ivho Is alleged to have been, in Russia, in prorevolution days, tho ' power behind tho throne—in fact, the real Tsar; and, in particular, the oontrol lie exercised ove! the i Tsarina is supposed to have been absolute. The meteoric rise of Rftgputin from a Tillage "waster", to - a favourite of crowned heads reads more liko a romance than like a page from roal lite, yet this is actually what this extraordinary man accomplished. Ilis reputed influence over thn' female sex is supposed to have been largely responsible for his attainine a position of suoh power, and this ■ influence (according to the picture) he used to the full. In all res.pocts, ami Darticnlarlv as a, man of Rod. he wan a fraud, Rasputin's fall and death, brought about mainly by the influence of Princo Yusupof, a relation of the Tsar's, rro depicted In a most vivid manner. T!ib picture' deals with many phases of tho revolution.. The story opens in 1905, and shows how the revolution of that yesr wa.s suppressed, and shows also how in that, year Tasputin first came under tho notice of those in hi<!h place?: for his soying work. There aro scenes shown of many phases of the revolution, and most of tile thief actors In ike great driver*, are brought Into a picture that is fit l ! of interest, from beginning t,o end. "Rasputin. the Black Monk." is a seven-reel picture, and in addition the latest Gazette is . also screened.

"LBS MISEKABTiFS." Victor Hugo ia possibly the greatest ol all Fronc.n novelists, and "Lcs Miserable*;" is his masterpiece. Its handling ol human lii'e proDlems ia typically I'rencli in its candour and vividness. The fliin drama of the same name is being revived lor Ohristmas Day at the King's Theatre. It is a tremendous production, the very greatest tli.il ever was achieved by the Oinps Company. The revolation sccncs In it art colossal, and tha secret elf cot pro. cesses wnich are peculiar to Oincs make the spectacular side of the great drama most impresßive.

EirPBESS THI4ATBE, "The Man Who i'arjot" is the principal film billed at the Empress this week. In it Robert Warwick gives au interesting study of a mail who, by excessive indulgence in liquor,' temporarily ioses iiij memory. The story opens in a Shanghai opium den, where men daily barter t.'ieir sanity for dreams and visions. liie aspect of the resort, as it Glands in ihc narrow strcetß, amid other quaint build- : . :s Chintai' slum. i?nde au appropropriate touch of .mystery and strangeness to a lather unusual tale. From China the sceuc is soon removed to ■ a groat American city, where the hero, wearied of debauchery, strives to start life.anew. Kis twrible experience? have inspired hi;n with a zeal for wcll-doi.ie that soon leads him to the foremost pi,- o in the American National Prohibition movement. . Once there, hj has p, hard 'battle to fight. Keen, hard-headed, unscrupulous men and huse political anil financial iiyrerests opposo htm; and not the least' of his difficulties lies in th 3 fact that, the father of the girl he loves, being on the oth'3r side, looks with marM disfavour both on his suit and on his struggle for social refurm. The henviert blow falls when ha is confronted with a woman who claims to be his mfe; for a blank in. the chain of his memory lcavs him powerless to deny the. claim. How t-lia conspiracy of his enemies finally oomcs to grief is interestingly rel.<ed in "n succeertlng scenes. Doris Kpnyon makes a delightful heroine, ond all, the other nliyrs of any Importance to the story acquit themselves well. The bi? picture is well supported. . "The Man The Forrot" has hecn approvM for e-hibiMon at lhls theatre oil nhriHtma? Do v. the opening session commencing at 2.30 p.m.

EYfiFTBODY'S THEATRE; "Borrowed Plumage" cuaMe? the .myriad admirers oi (Jessie liarriscalo 'to renew men .icuuamianoe vitu iliat detig'julal actress. On Una occasion ails id Uie central figure of a mojt uu«ommon story. In. the introductory scenes she is a, liijli* spirited kitchcn girl, who longs to play u drawing-room role-to tx;t aud speak liKo the gentry' foil;, who inhabit tljo great castle where sho is einisloved. Fate, by a strange turn of events. <rt lam gavs ner her opportunity. The terribio news comcs to hand that Paul Jone<, the American raider, is about to land in the part of the counLry where tho castle stands. The owners of the place lose no time In making their escape. Then Bessie is left alone with all the establishment at her disposal. She proceeds forthwith to array herself in a garment of "milady," but trouble quickly overtakes her. There' cornea an English troop of soldiery to rescue 1 the castle; how is slit to receive it? Sho very quickly docides upon her role. She is to be the grand lady lor once, she determines; and she certainly shows herself to bo possessed of certain capabilities that ire not to bo discovered in every kitchenmaid. Hor success leads her further into difficult ways and t-lie upshot of it all is amazing. Accompanying "Borrowed Plumes'' is the eighth chapter of "The Secret Kingdom," wherein the principal characters, both the goo<l and tho bad, go soniowhat unwillingly upon a boating excursion. They are all picked up by a passing schooner, aiwl Ramon, thinking the lime ripe for a murder, attomps to do Philip to death with a dagger. lie is unsnnoessfnl, and tho people on the schooner set him adrift onco more. He fall's in with "Rum Cay," a merciless negro pirate; and, with admirablo pertinacity, returns to the assault. He and "Rum Cay" capture the schooner; but the schooner Is Prod with dynamlt# and rum; so Philip. .Iran. And .Tnlla, in escaping from it, judiciously apply a match. Tin enduing explosion solves all the problems of OTistenrc for "Itiim Day" and his bond. T'hllin. Juap Julia, Jlnmon. anil Savafz, however, Bnrvfvo, and find themselves confronted ,by a common peril. The next chanter should throw somo mors light upon their fato. TOR CROTPr TTIRATPK. Hugo's masterpiece, "Lts Miserables," will bo Divsealed at the Crown Theatre on (JhrißtmM Lay. Undoubtedly ono of tho areatost dsplc&aag dl a caVi* in a grw

revolutionary crisis, tho picture- has been described as a worthy reflection oi tlio book. "EOBIHSON CII'.USOB" AT THE QUEEN'S. An interesting evolution of the children's picture is found in Henry Savage's production of "ltobiiißon Orneoc," which Wits shown for the iirsl time iti the Quetn'a Theatre, oh Saturday. Tile film make." a dramatic masterpiece ul wliut wn-i, until the advent of the picture producer, was ctriotly a boy's story. But now the grownup may so and be thrilled by expensive visualisations of such scenes an the light with" the pirates, the storm at sou, the vi'rei; of tiio bliip, tiio cannibals' least, a,nd the fight with the savages, iu which Crusoe rescues Fiiday. Little need be said about the story, as ail of us know it. I'lie supporting programme is well chosen, one portion of it is devoted to scenic an<i industrial pictures, which aro not only brilliantly entertaining, but aro charmifagly instructive. . Some of the* scenic views are shown in uatural colours, which add to tho charm. Two good comics and a stirring eplßode of T'b Purple Domino" complete a-vjrosramme full of variety and pieaßure. Tile eesiions on Christmas Da.y will begin at 2.30, every other day Uio programme starts At 11 a.m. "QUO VADIS?" Tho work of Henry Sienliiowicj Ls an acknowledged classic, and its picturis»'t.iuu by tne Oines Company stili stands as <an unparalleled achievement in tile realms of-the photoplay. Every incident oi the novel appears to have been followed with remarkable fidelity, and the whole production stands nut as a most faithful renresentatlon of Jlomau history round the time of the voluptuous Nero. Tho orisiniil screen production has been revised, and elaborated, and as it bus never been shown here since its record-breaking premiere t.wo years ago, at His Ha]e6ty's Tlicatre. Moretluin ordinary interest will centre round its presentation at Everybody's to-morrow on a special Christmas programme, commencing at 2.10 p.m., and screening- continuously.

"THE BABRIER " Res Boach'B virile novel, "The Barrier," udaineii us a seven-reel film under his pep oonal supervision, will be presented continuously at the King's . Theatre next Saturday, at 2 o'olock, and .will bo screened thereafter till January 4, starting each day at 11 a.m. "The Barrier" will also be shown concurrently at the Crown Theatre for four days, and at Newtown for two dayß. "The Barrier" film, which, la under the direction of E. J. Carroll, has all the gripping features of the story reproduced with faithful realism, life on the Alaskan goldHelds, where there is "ueTor a law of God or man." being vividly depicted. The book has teen so widely read that, its picturisation should be doubly onjoyablo. All tho rovrerful •rcnep aro said to be worked cut with dianiatic intensity and attention to detail. the man-to-nian combat arising from earlier phases of the story being terriblj realistic. Special music, including tho Barcarole, "Song of the North." hap been written by Fred. O. Hanks and Sol. Lov.v, and, this will bo Interpreted by an augmented orchestra. A section of the dres« nircle will be reserved for the evening session, but owing to "The Barrier" biing screened continuously, it will be impcesibl# to reserve seats at other times.

RONS BECITAIi ON OHRISOTAfi NTOHT. Owing to the splendid rccoption Madame Elsie Davleß and her party received at the Concert Chamber on Saturday night and tho great enthusiasm displayed by the audience, another opportunity is to be given the public of hearing Madame. A popular song recital will take plac? on Christmas Night at the Town Hall, when popular prices will be charged. Amongst other numbors Madame Ulsie Davios will sing Gounod's "Ave Maria" with organ aocompa'niment, "The Prayer" from "La Tosca," an aria from "It Trovatore," "X Hoar Tou Calling Mo," and, by special request, "The Miserere" duet from "II Trovatore," with Ernest Drake. Miss Jf'na Caldow's Items include "Abide With Ho v (with organ accompaniment), "Boflly Awakes My Heart" from "flamson ana Dnltlah" (by reouest). "Inter Nos," end will be associated with Ernest Drake in. (he duet, "Where My, Caravan Has Rested." Ernest Brake will sing "Sound An Alarm" from "Judas Macabaeus" (organ aocompanlmeift), "If Yon Would Lore lie," "Slciliana." from "Cavallerla Rnstlcana," and others. The doors will opon at 7 o'clock, concert' commencing at 7,45. At Mio piano Mrs. Audrey Johnson; at the organ Mr. H. Temple Whito. Patrons aro requested to book earljj, as it is anticipated that the seating accommodation will be taxed to itß otmoßt. . The full programme appears In nnother oolumn.