ENTERTAINMENTS

Dominion, Volume 11, Issue 277, 12 August 1918, Page 3

ENTERTAINMENTS

SCARLET TROUBADOURS. The third performance of tho present : season of Mr. Edward Bransconibe's "Scar- < lot Troubadours" was given in the Concort • Ohamber of the Town Hall on Saturday night before a most enthusiastic audience. , The company are already drawing largo attendances, and they form one of the most engaging costume-comedy and musical companies that has been seen here. I The comedy bide of the entertainment is very strong, and those of tho artists who arc musicians do excellent work. Hiss Madeline Knight is a fine mezzo-soprano, and Miss Lalla Ward, with 'a pure soprano, aings some tuneful soncs. Other of the vocalists arc Mr. Renn Miller, a bass, and Mr. Andrew Pace, tenor. Miss Ivy Davis, supported by a male auartet, won favour for her rendering of "Back *lo Virginia." The comedians are Messrs. A. Pace, 0. Livingstone, Goitrtenay Ford, and Reginald Hawthorne. Besides beiDir a smart dancer. Miss Hilda M'Murray is a clever comedienne. THE KINO'S THEATRE. No surer indication of the rucrit3 of the arastry of Clara Kimball Voting, is to be l'ouml than in the fact that in her professional capacity she "wears well." There are obvious reasons for this, not the least prominent being less dependence on emotion of the "intense" variety, which is so persistently sought after by many American Him artists, and a greater reliance on dignity, grace, and rosiraint, which makes a surer appeal to those who appreciate and demand a presentation of real people. The screening of 'Shirley Kayo," the first production by Miss Voung's own company to be shown here, at the King's Thoatre on Saturday, was therefore interesting. The Btory itself presents nothing that is particularly new or particularly interesting, being a typically Amorican one which concerns a fight botween two combinations of capital for control of a railroad. In order to save her wealthy but less strenuous father, who 'has lost his taste for "big business" and instead is more concerned with tho playing of golf, Shirley plungeß into the intricacies of railroad finance, but ends up by using weapons that essentially belong to woman. In the employment of these weapons Shirley displays some skill, and in her "conversion" of a confirmed woman-hater, which gives her the victory, Miss Young is at her bc6t. Despite obvious weaknesses of thf- story, however, the remarkable beauty of the settings, the wonderful drestes worn bv the various characters, and the allround excellence of Miss Young's company of players go to make a most acceptable picture, and one that is sure to delight the feminine heart in particular. Several minor films and an excellent musical orogramme add to the excellence of the entertainment. J EVERYBODY'S THEATRE. Tho chief attraction at Everybody's Theatre is a Pathe tive-part drama, entitled "Kick In,", a story crowded with oiciting episodes and many sensations. "Chick" Hewcs (William Oourtcney), a street urchin of the Ea6t Side, and his pal Benny, following their early education, become crook gangsters. They commit a big robbery, and Benny .is apprehended bv the police, but Ohick takes refuge in Molly Carey's (Mollio Kine) nar above the crooks' quarters. (Chick is finally caught and is sent to prison, and Molly's promise to wait for him is tho one ray of sunshine in his gloomy existence When he secures his liberty, Ohick marries Molly and settles down to lead a respectable life. Benny, howevnr. continues in the crooks' business, and being wounded while engaged in a necklace robbery eludes the police and goes to Ohick s flat with his loot. Although realising tto danger, Cbirtt conceals Benny for the sake of their boyhood friendship, and ob no doctor has attended to Benny hiß wound proves fatal With the help of his oM pals, tho body ia disposed of, but the police suspect and watch Chick's flat constantly. Later Cluck discovers that Molly's brother, a drug victim, had unobserved taken the stolen neeklaco from Bonny. They decide to tell the authorities but before they can do so the brother is arrested. Trying to square th'ngs Chick is doublcd-crossed by a detective, who tries to arrest- him for the robbery. The attempt, however, is foiled by Molly. How Ohick and Molly are taken to Police Hindquarters, and the nanny endirn? of affairs, are also portrayed. Every incident is finely pictured, and it may be classed as a (treat film, depictm? the stre" and cxcitcm"nt that make un a crooks' life. The eleventh episode of 'The Ti~„|.i n Cross" is entitled "Loves Sacrifice," and continues the mystery with many thrills and sensations. Tho "Pnthe r,nzMic." d.inicting recent enoclimaking incidents, completes a very attractive programme.

EMPRESS THEATRE. Seldom is there screened a picture with such a wonderful wealth of high scenic effects as w found in "The Strong .Way, a five-reel World drama now screening at the Empress Theatre. The story develops round the marriage of a beautiful young eirl to an elderly man of weaUh-a, marriage which is destined to be unhappy. T''c settings of the picture arc unusually fine, especially the in.rden scenes. Being admirably projected, the splendid photocranhv is seen to Ihe very best, advantage, and the colour tints are really exquisite. A fine old country mansion is chosen as tife scat of the drama, and apart from the theme of the picture, the spectator gets an idea of what wealth can do in some places in the acquisition of palatial residences, beautiful and gardens, and lawns, fiucli magnificent homes are not seen in this Dominion. Miss June Elvidge. as Eunice Torrence, makes a lovelv heroine, and her acting is very powerful indeed. The. remainder of the cii«t are strong in their respective characters, presenting a film which possesses a live Interest from beginning to end. Accompanied as it is bv suitable orchestral ra\i=ic "The Strons Way" cannot fail to make'a strong anpnal to the imagination. The remainder of /lie programme is com-nrls-d of a selection of excellent"Pictures, of which the "Topical Budget." America and Switzerland, besides films "f on educational character, are distinctly worth sceinir. The programme will be repeated to-day.

"THE ENEMY WITHIN." The name of Beg. ■('■Snowy") Baker is known ail over Australasia in tho world of sport, particularly tne sport of bosmg, for ic. was Mr. Baker who took over tub byduey Stadium from Mr. Hugh 1). M'lnlosh, and ran it successfully up to tho time it was given over to more ÜBetul purposes omy a few inonthß ago. it was, -therefore, a good idea to make this figure in the world of athletics a contral character in a film play. The idea, pursued mid promulgated by Mr. Roland fciaveley, takes the form of 'The Enemy Within, which was screened at the People s Picture Palace on Saturday afternoon for iho first time, and will run there throughout the week. In this play Mr. Baker becomes Jack Airlie, who has reon brought back from the fighting front to hunt down a gang of men who arc working against the tjtato for German gold. Airlie takes to the work like ii spaniel to the water, and is soon up'to his neck in difficulties. His own charwoman finds out from his cor : respondencc that he has been deputod to clean out the gang, and gives him away to Eraser an agent of the enemy with unlimited money, who stands behind the intrigue and is urgine h'.s tools to bomb, miiio, and destroy in Sydney and off the coast of Australia. .lack happens to fall in with the woman Brasel is living with, and by her is entrapped in the gang s ■den. but taking one of the mon by the neck he hurls him over his shoulder at the lamp, and escapes in the dark. Warns is the head of Erasers villains, and It is him -Tar'; is afier. , The new hoadauarters of the gang is locked by an aboriginal who is in the police pay, and one of the features of the picture is the round-up ' of the gang and the chase that ensues. ! Over fences and roofs, through paddocks, acro«s rivers, on horseback, in motor-cars I and on foot, the chate is continued until Jack meets the whole of the gang singlehanded, and fights them all to a standstill Warnc gets away, however, but Jack tracks him down with the assistance of tho black tracker, and finally locates him and' some of his confederates in .. punt in «. quiet part of the harbour. Ther* is a fusillade of shots,, and as the result the punt, which is full of explosives, blows up. Still Warne escapOß with Airlie after him. He mattes for Brasel s Boaside place, and the latter is found on the beach, about to put off to a raider Willi the girl of Jack's heart. Brasel, I however, is evidently freakish, for on W'irnc's advice he tics the girl to a rock to be drowned-instead; Jack sees her from the cliffs above, and as the 6ccrct tunnel bv which the beach can be reached is blown up lie has to descend by means of a rope. As he climbs down, tho rope is shot away by Brasel front a launch, but I Jack, uninjured, dives the rest of the distance to the Bca and rescues ho. girl. It Bceran rewritable that alter all his trouble it if' not Airlie who caches Brasel and Wirnc but a patrol boat lhat .Hint Impihi is to-be n round and hears the. shoofc. inr Mr. Baker, though not ideal as a n'cture hero, is bright and breezy, nnd Ins athletic sifts nra well displayed, lhe photography is fair, and there is plenty if action after the first ten minutes.

CONCERT AT KTLBIKNIE. A concert in aid of the Camp Entertainment Fund waß held in the Kilbirnie Hall on -Saturday evening. There was a rood alt-ndancc. and the excellent profrrammo 'which wnß provided wan thoroughly enioved The prottrnmme. which wa» onenMl with an overture by Bock's orchestra. ,„, m ,ite properly billed as ■■ miscellaneous." There were danrinc. Bmsins. reritintr, comedy work, and orchestral music. Mlsb Iris Ingleßby did the "butterflv" dance very nicely, and the dance "madcap" wan done by Mms Tra Wolfgang. lUbs Muriel Mountier performed tho rose

dance," and Mies Kawona Wortloy danced an Irish jig. The vocal items ivero rendered by Mrs. W. B. Willis, Mr. Liddlc Miss Marion Newman. Miss Violet Mueller, Miss N. Castle, Master Tom George, and Mr. J. Bryant. Becitals were given by Mr. V. E. Oswin. Mr. Culford Bell s "Thespians" staged the comedietta, Miss Patty." In which the following took partiHiss h. Nicholas (Patty), Miss Mabel Lawton (her mother), and Mr. Lionel Inch (the Captain). There, was also a dramatic sketch, entitled "The Uulikely Pupil, in i which Misß B. K. Aitcheson appeared as the teacher of elocution, and Miss Nora I,ea as Iho pupil. The accompanists were Misses Myra Gawler and G. Jiellworthy. KATHLENE MACDONFJiL IN "BOMANOE" | Judging by the nature of the advance j booking the success of the kuthleno Mac; : Donell season seems assured, "lloinance, i the famous play by llichard Sheldon, will , be the opening piece with Miss lvatttleiie MacUoucll as Margherita Cava-llim and Mr Charles Waldrou aB Thomas Armstrong. "Itoinancc" comes with the reputation of beins one of the moßt bucccssiul plays.lor I many years. As the da-zzllnir prima donna, "La Cavallini," Miss MacDonell is said 10 have achieved a triumph, iho chnractor i 3 said to be the linest delineation of all in her extensive repertoire. Mr. Charles Waldron, too. is said to be splendidly suited as Iho romantic rector ol Saint Giles. A prima donna is seen .on the stage. Her airs and graces, whims and caprices are romantic. Iter dressing stylo (the action of the play takes place in the late 'sixties) ib romantic. Her audiences romantically yoke themselves to Her carriage after her performance at ttio Opera House. Her atmosphere a-nd entire mode of life are romantic, and her romance is catching. She actually makes a New York banker romantic. Ho had once been her protector, but gives her up, partly because he is in the fifties and getting tired, and partly that she may have the chance of virtuously marrying tne clergyman. The dream of that virtuous marriage is her own private romance. But it Is not to bs-Komo and Pariß and the Continent are calling for her. And so she has to relinquish her private romance, and the clergyman has to rolinouish nis. Of Misß MacDoncll, as La Cavallini. a critic, writes: "Miss MacD.onell makes a great bucccss of it all: enchantment, tantrnms. lingua toscana, and the rcßt of it. She has a rich temperament, a leal personality, and an irresistible charm, blio has her great moments, not the least of which is the telling of the tale of her sordid first love." "Romance - will he followed in rapid succession by lie BHnhow" "Thp Cinderella- Man. and "Daddy .Long Legs." The box the season are now open at, the Bristol. "THE ETNG BOYS." "The Bins Boys Are Here" concluded a successful season at the Grand Opera House on Saturday evening. Dunnsthe interval an appeal was made by the com- ■ mercial travellers, essisted by members of the company, for funds for the copper trail. As a result of the appeal thejund will benefit to the extent of over £SU. The company will go south to-day.