ENTERTAINMENTS

Dominion, Volume 11, Issue 117, 4 February 1918, Page 7

ENTERTAINMENTS

"SO LONG, LETTY." The Williamson Ooincdy Company closed a very successful scaaou with a nnai peiformanco of too popular and tuneful production, "So Long, Letty," at the Grand Opera House on riaturday. The inenibcra of the company were received most appreciatively by a largo audieuce. PICTURES AT THE GRAND OPERA HOUSE To-night Messrs. J. 0 Williamson, Ltd., will prusent for tho first time in Now /,a\land two big productions on tho one piogramme, "Tho Spy Sjetero," described as a thrilling Fox motion picture prouuouon, ie presented with the intent u> awaKen the easy-going public to tho ™ tho Gorman Berorct Service. , -J-ho ruinless persecution of thoao topies wio ie J anything como between them and tho strict fuinm.ent o£ their duty, the awful grip of the military machine which makes its.servants cither obey, or suffer ««■»'>. the ingratitude and inhuman treatment shown Umbo samo servants, all ".f. 3 ,',* pointed out sharply, showing thes frigUUuluess of tho militarism which is the people s master rather than their servant. Jjusun Farnum as Hark QuainUnce, is said to add new laurels to hie reputation. Quaintanco is an American millionaire idler, who offers his services to his country, becomes a spy in Berlin, and fmaUy rteah a book containing names of ton ™ oUß j}™ of the Kaiser's emissaries in America, ine second feature is the first of the l« "Kiddie" series, "Babes in the Wood, and features the child actors. Little Francis Carpenter and. Virginia Lee Corbin. A modern eettinir and epilogue iiirnisheßfho setting, in which this fairy jewel Bparklea. There will bo six nightly/"rformanjos and two matinees, on Wednesday and haturday. Tlio plan is now open at the Bvmoi.

NEW BILL AT HIS MAJESTY'S. Paul Stanhope and hi? company of mirth purveyors started their seoond weok a* His Majesty's Theatre on Saturday, with successful result. Stanhope a« the effervescent "Spike," who is constantly BOttinff himself into trouble, was as iimiMlns .as ever. The excellent male voices of tniß company, including amongst thorn Messrs ( Will Raynor and Val Newman, and the Grafted Quartet, contributed «*»«?*»■ tho ovening's entertainment while Miss Edna M'Call and Hiss Helen Lc Cam were seon to advantage. The "Ginger 0 rls formed the customary background of pleasing figures and taces. The new i.W»« to-night will reintroduce th« negro character comedy artist. Hγ. Les Warton KeUy, and Drake, American, patter artists ana dancers, will appear in an entirely now assortment of mirth-provoking coniedy Brown and Newman will follow- their last week's success with the act that they pieontud over tho Orphenm time raAnerfra. Walter M'Kay and his numerous musical instruments will bo seen flange or mirth and melody. "Ootzey"is the poCTliar tltlu of the comedy-playlet with winch Mr Ted Maclean and his partner, Hiss Genevievo Lee, wiU close their ■«*»»") Wellington season. The usual matinee is announced for Saturday next. KINO'S THEATRE. Picture patrone who appreciate the volatile QUalitioe of Mr. Douglas *urbanta could scarcely see their idol to better advantage than in the new pioture-play "Flirting with Fate," a delightful comeuy in which there is nothing };«'&!"> ,f 8 August, the artist at odds with fate, Mr Fairbanks gets every opportunity to dlsp?ay hie versatility. August in almost down to his last dollar, when he meets tte"ne ami only Gladys, and wJ«?n uvo ia rekindling hie lamp of hope in We, the lady, in a fit of pique, pledgee herself to another. That settles Augusts intention to quit this mortal sphere lie tries gas, but after an anxious night tads fhat the slot meter is he hires an east-sde Apache to k I Mum suddenly at some time and place un mown Hardlv has he made the dread bargain XiTho eets a le"aoy, and Gladys writes Sub it up, but it is all nullified by the horror that he night bo killed at ,any also includes a farce. "A Knecal b Woman Way," starring Sid. Chaplin, a Gaumont Graphic." and some good views nf papier at carnival time.

EVERYBODY'S THEATRE. "Dead Shot Baker," which heads the programmo at Everybody e is fat the sort of Picture ono won d expec it to bo. Ono cannot have a dead snot in a drama without having fn it also plenty of characters to be killed; and it » sma matter for wonderment that a Uign cabUalty roll is one of the principal features of "Dead Shot Baker." The cun-mane victims aTe bad men, really bad menrtho sort that deservo to bo shot on Bipht Their badness is so marked, in-fact, tliat one little.point about the plot seems to demand explanation. Baker is sherifi of Wolfvillc. Threo of tho .bad men aforesaid one day coerce Wolfville, with threats of slaughter, to do their bidding.. Baker appears and cows them with his eye; then lets them ro. Why hi- should let t eni go ie not clear; and the problem is not solved by tho fact that they proceed forthwith to rob the Btage, commit a variety of murders, and become thoroughly eligible for breaking on tl'.n wheel. Of course, Baker shoots tho trio mid nearly all their friends before the play is over, but his shooting BCems to be a'trifle tardy. The point, however, has not been insisted upon by the author of tho story. A pretty love story runs through tho piotnre. Another chapter of "Tlio Seorot Kingdom is also screened. EMPRESS THEATRE. The current programme at tho Empress Theatre is lengthy and cood. and it is popular with patrons. The World Film Corporation's "star" offering, "A wrls Folly," is especially well presented by. Robert Warwick, June Elvidge, Doris Kenyon, and a strong cast. The story has us Betting—a quaint and a pretty one—in the heart of America's moving-picture studios, and the narrative deals with the spell that movinK-pintnre life casts over youne girls who, fired with ambition to become world-famous on the film sheet, rush into dangers that more of ton 'than otherwise bring not fame but dire disaster. A funny comedy, a pretty scenic series, and a big Gazette are amongst the supports. Last but not least special mention is due to Mr. Barrio Marschel's war story, "The Kid from Timaru," which story the author tells most effectively as the film unfolds. . MAGICIAN MALINI. Malini, described as "tho Napoleon of magicians," will commence a season at the Concert Chamber of the Town Hal , en Saturday night. A Java paper writes of one of Malini's performances-.-"The great Jansen was present at the performance, and decided not to play Rfter Malini—which is certainly the greatest com; pliment,one performer can pay another. .It is stated that the one great feature of Malini's entertainment is the absence or cumbersome appliances, his sole "props being, hie wonderfully dexterous hands. As a, card manipulator he ie olaimed to be a master hand, and lie entertains his audience for two hours, using mostly only cards, ajid sustaining thi> greatest interest throughout. Hifl work io faid to be full of surprises. The Wellington Reason will be a limited one. The box plans aro now open at the Bristol.