ENTERTAINMENTS

Dominion, Volume 11, Issue 78, 26 December 1917, Page 3

ENTERTAINMENTS

HIS MAJESTTS TDEATEE. Judging by the manner in which Monday's audienoe received the new bill at llis Majesty's Theatre one may predict with some, confidence that the vaudeville business will be "looking up" during Iho woes. The programme ie distinguished by ita variety and l,y its Inclusion of more than one item possessing a high,, degree of novelty—that quality eo dear to patrons of vaudeville everywhere. As cecentrio performers, Thurbor and Thurber (two Continental artiuts) make a decided hit. Their turn Jβ not a big one, but it IB sufficiently quaint. The two at first come on almost in triplicate—an expression which a glance at the six heads and eight lege of the worthy pair will easily elucidate. A weird lookinf dance eervea to give the house a fail opportunity of studying an altogether uew departure in the ovolution of the genus horn*. Later, the Thurber couple are athletes and gymnasts, and flue it is to see the smaller performer handle hie bulky partner-with the not too obvious aid of an ancient device. A remarkable turn Iβ that given by the Hamptons, of whom al»o there are two. One of tho pair "clowns" while the other executes upnn a pedalled wheel feate that *eom uoLhinc short of marvelloue. The most difficult a«t, is probably the jump from the pedals over a board on to the pedals once more, \ Tha big thrill Is provided by a swift career eov.-n a chute—on a single wheel, with. (In the spectators' viow) its one desperately inadequate means of control The Mu6lcal Bentleye have the largest xylophone ever brought to New Zealand, and they play it well. The rloh, mollow tones that tlie instrument Sβ oapable of giving out ire very pleasant Indeed to heiu. Jouos and B&lnos, who have one or two bright little eklts-Jcnea is very successful -with the "topical tonoh," ■ and he plays the piano excellently, into the\ bargain. The Ooleman Sletere, Blake and Granby (who play "The Late Lamented"), and Harrli and Gold (who offer American Top-time) flgui-e In the programme, while that funny mnn, Ernest Pitcher, is'etill with us. On Hon. day evening he gave a fair eample of his prowess by keeping the audience brimful of merriment for aulte a little time. Marie Buoher has not yet left. To-night there will be- an additional turn •in the programme—Dozer and Donra, members of the famous Hanchurian acrobatic combination. ■

KING'S THEATBE, The big holiday attraction at the King's Thrntrciß a World super-feature drarnrt, "Basputln, the Blaot Monk," {Iβ most extraordinary story in the history of the world. By betraying a band of revolutionists headed by Bodln, Basputln Is given a position of political prominence, and soon after sains entrance into t)ie. Tsar'e household by curing the infant Tsarevitoh. He ie largely responsible, for many of the autocratic owierj of the Tsar. . Bodin's wife ari3 daughter aro members of a band of revolutionists, wlio meet in Patrograd. The daughter malces' an attempt on the life <f Baeputin, but Iβ captured. Prince Felix, whose wife hae been insulted by Eaeputln, lurea the monk to h(s home by a trick, and forces him to releaie hie daughter. He Iβ about to let Basputin depart, when Eodin escapes- from prison breaks into the room, and shoots' Oβ betrayer. With his death tho Tsar lobbb all confidence, and shortly afterwards eigns the abdication. June Elvidge,' Arthur Aahly, and Montague Love , are featnred in tie leading roles

EVERYBODY'S THEATBE. A fierce, desperate and right to a flnißh fight between American priVateergmen and aa English garrison is shown in "Borrowed Plumage, the special holiday attraction at Everybody's, and it concludes with the hurling of the defeated party down , from a huge tower. Beseio Barriaoalo is seen at.her. very best in this play. She is seen as a kitchen wenoh in a oastle on the eeacoast of Holland. She has always longed to investigate the apartments of tfie lords and ladles upstairs, and one day her opportunity arrives when Paul Jones, the noted sea rover and pr'vateer, who harried the coasts of the Britleh ' Isles during the American War of Independence, arrives with a pirate band, and everyone but Nance fliea the castle. The play is admirably itaged and mounted, and tho rapid unfolding of the plot holds tho interest from start,to finish. The eighth chapter of "The Secret Kingdom," "Rum Cay," Is also on this programme.

' . EMPRESS TBEATEE.. "The Man Who Forgot," an. exceptionally good World Film production, featuring Bobert Warwick, continues to draw big attendances at the Empress. The story centres around tho lecent big Prohibition movement in the United States, and many of the scenes reproduced are those that actually occurred while it was being fought. Apart from ite politics tho film is endowed with a very human love story, in which Dorie Kcnyon is & most adorable heroine There i's'aleo a. number of excellent snpports, including the latest "Patlio tozetto. , '

"THE BAEEIEE." The fame of Eox Beach as a writer of Amorlcan stories is world-wide: His most vigorous, awlft-movlng, and widely-popu-lar work is unquestionably "The Barrier," with it 3 convincing realism, vivid dramatic qualities, and its entrancing romance. The popularity of "Tho Barrier" Iβ due to the fact that it is a faithful record of the things Epi Beach ssw ana took part in when-the lure of gold and the thirst for .adventnre drew him to the Klondyke. Acceding to innumerable requests, Eex Beach agreed to prepare "Tho Barrier" for soreen purposes, ond in association with. Edgar Lewis, one of America's foremost .producers, the film was completed. E. J. Oarroll who holds the Australasian rights, has arranged for its presentation at the King's Theatre, commencing at 2 o'clock on Saturday next, and rnnninn continiionely through till tho following Friday from U a.m. till 10 p.m., and it will aleo bo shown concurrently from Saturday to Wednesday at tho Crown Theatre. Special music, has fyeen written by Fred 0. Hanks and Sol Levy, inoluding the barcarolle, "Song of the North," and this will be interpreted by chosen Instrumentalists.

"EOBINSON OBTJSOE." - Those who are seeking entertainment that will lift them out of tho humdrum of daily life and keep them charmed for two hours should not misß seeing the delightful picture, "Kobinson Crusoe," now showing at the Queen's Th&atre, Ouba Street Youth, romance, and adventure are the keynotes of the story, but the producer has embellished the picture with such an array of sensational incidents, such as shipwrecks, storms at sea, pirate encounters, slave market incidents cannlbal feasU, ship sputihios, wild animal hunts, and numerous scenes of tropical island beautiee, that the story is now a pageant of thrilling epipodes and enchanting sights. The supporting programme radiates holiday enjoyment.

SONG EEOITAL. A fairly large audience gathered in the Town Hall last nigiit to enjoy LUb second song recital given by Madame. illsio Daviee (of Melbourne), Miss lllua Caldow, and Mr. Ernest Drake, tbreo ol the uolo. ieta in the recent perfoi-mance of '"She Messiah." The programme was a very attractive one, and the audience was well rewarded for its attendance. Madame flavieu again showed herself to be a dramatic Boprano of uncommon ability, with a voice of rare charm and a splendid gift of expression. She opened vitli "fiolveig'a Song" (Greig»which was followed by "1 Hear You Calling Mβ" (Marshall) ana "Ave Maria" (Gounod). AU were delightful numbers, and were received with welldoserved applause. Later in the programme Bhe sang "Verdi's Prayer" (from "La Tosca") and the aria "Di Trovatore," and also two lighter numbere, "Picrret" and "Madame Butterfly." With Mr. Ernest Drake she repeated the duet 'Miserere" (Verdi), which had proved bo very popular at the first recital. Miea Caldow Bang "Softly Awake 3 My Heart," from "Samson and Delilah" (Saint Snens), 'Abide With Me" (Liddle), "0, Thank Me, Not"( (Mailineon), and "Inter Nob" (MaePaden) With Mr. Drake she gave the diet, "Where My Caravan Has Bested" (Hermann Lohr). Miss Caldow was consistently pleasing TTT her numbers. Mr. Ernest Drake sang "Sound an Alarm" iHandel), "If You Would Love Me" (M'Dermid), and Mas.' cagni'e "Siciliana," from "Oavalleria Eubticana." Mrs. Androy Johnston was the accompanist, and Mr. H. Temple White provided gome organ accompaniments.