ENTERTAINMENTS

Dominion, Volume 11, Issue 295, 2 September 1918, Page 3

ENTERTAINMENTS

GRAND OPERA HOUSE. Tho conjuring and hypnotic performance, which has been attracting audiences during the past week to the Grand Opera House, was repeated on Saturday evening. During the evenine Professor DAlmainc, tho hypnotist, put a subject into an hypnotic trance and sleep, and then had him conveyed to the vestibule of .tlio theatre, where he was on view ail night nnd throughout yesterday. He will bo awakened at this evening's performance, when Professor D'Almaino will givo further demonstrations of his powers as a hypnotist. KING'S THEATRE. A comedy-drama possessing unusually; entertaining qualities, and, in addition, splendidly produced, is "Heiress for a Day," which is now bciug screened at tlio King's Theatre. There is nothing intricate in tho plot of the picture, which concerns a ipretty manicurist, Helen Hodges (Olivo Thomas), who is employed prolc:sionally at a large New York hotel. It naturally follows, of course, that nearly every patron is more or less an admirer, but Helen has eyen for only ono of InecCyoung Strendridge, a millionairc-and he ia apparently far beyond her reach. Strandridge, however, is more interested in Helen than she is aware of. One day tlio manicurist receives word of her grandfather's death, and is further assured she is heiress to millions. On the strength of this Helen indulges in a- ' grand splash," but she soon comes down to earth on tearing that her . inheritance amounts to a tliiusand. do'latE only. How all this affects Strandridee provides a surprise, the key to which is the fact ttat he wants a wife who is different from tho "smart" people among whom he lives, l.n ending is a happy and a perfectly logical one. An oustandiug feature of tlio picture is the work of Olive Thomas; she fills a role that suits her .perfectly, and she rashes the most of it. Inolutlcd in tho programme are a striking seriCß of views of the ruins of old a.hboys ot Lnsland. the latest Graphic and a Tnangte comedy.

EVERYBODY'S THEATRE. The Russian revolution with its quick changes and many dramatic _ incidents naturally lends itself to exploitation by the film producers, and in the I'atno feature drama now showing at, Everybody:; Theatre, entitled "Under False Colours, we have a tine picturisation ot many ot tho leading events that led to the collapse of the Tsar's autocracy. It bristles with excitement, and the last scene is lntensely dranip.tic, and provides a big surprise, .feaune Eagles and Frederick 'Warde have the leading parts. The former, in tho character of a Russian, Countess Oma, escapes from the troubled country througn the ■assistance of Jack Colton, who is in Russia ondeavouriug to negotiate a loan. On the way to America the ship is torpedoed, and a cabin companion dies. uiga is persuaded to impersonate this girl, anil in this capacity she finds hersclt in die house of the Coltons, who become very fond of her. She is set a very d Ihcult task- by a secret society to which she belongs, and a struggle ensues, between her duty to the Russian revolution and to the ncopli- who have befriended ber. Ino play"is intensely exciting throughout, and the photography is of a very high order. The fourteenth episode of "The Mystery ot the Double Cross," Ihe last but one of the scries, entitled "The Hidden Hand, is .iust as mystifying as the others, ami the interest in the story is well sustained. The Pathc fijissttc deals with current events and incidents, and is always a pleasing, addition to the programme. EMPRESS THEATRE. "The Purple Lily," which is the newestmedium for displaying the beauty and talent of Miss Kitty Uoidon, Muriel Ostriche, and other .r/jjecn favourites, was displayed at the Empress Theatre before crowded audiences on Saturday afternoon and evening. In this vivid little drama, Kitty Gordon is Marie Burquet, a backwoods woman, wife of one Farnsworth. She is a woman who does and dares. When young Caldwell is sent to the north to make-plans of a new railway lino for a traction company, Bradley (the head of a rival company) induces Marie to follow the party, and, by hook or by crook, steal Caldwell's plans. This she is successful in doing. She hands tho plans over to Farnsworth, who receives a substantial cheque from Bradley. Greedy and unscrupulous, Farnsworth refines Mario a share of tho spoil, • and she, meeting Caldwell again (who through the loss of plans representing months of aruuous toil has taken to drink), in a cheap saloon, a fight ensues between him and Farnsworth. In the middle of tho brawl, the president of Caldwell's company (searching for the engineer who has "quitted. the. rails") enters, to annou'neo that Bradley has been arrested, and tho survey plans hayo been recovered intact. The acting is uniformly good, and, tho scenario is one that gives the camera man the opportunity of securing mngnificcnt views characteristic of Canada's northern hinterland. The programme also includes a Topical Budget (which includes a view of the Zeebruggo breakwater), a Keystono comedy entitled "Thirst," and a Patho film picturing tho rarer species of tho monkey tribe.

ALLEN DOONE. SEASON. Tho box plana for tlio first six nights of the Allen Doone season* will bo opened at tho Bristol at 9 o'clock this morning The drama to bo presented is "Lucky O'Shca" (by Theo. Burt Layrc), eaid to bo Mr. Doonc's greatest suecoss. Mr. .Boone plays tho characters! Larry O'Shea; a rollicking, reckleES Irishman, a. lieutenant in Napoleon's army, who visits the enemy in tho garb of a gipsy, and marries an Irish girl, who chooseß him as an alternative to ■ a German roue. Mr. Doone i 3' supported by a clever combination of dramatic artists, including the charming actress, Edna Kceley, who plays tho part of Rose M'Michael. The scenery, costuming, and mechanical effects are said to bo Bpocial features. Mr. Frank Cullinane :s stage manager. Mr. Percy Kehoo is again with Mr. Doone as conductor o? the orcU.«st\a. Mr. Frank Kenny ii tho business manager.

ANNUAL DRAMATIC RECITAL. Mr. and Mrs. Culford Bell's annual pupils' reeitai is to be held in the Concert Chamber, Town Hall, on Wednesday and Thursday next in aid of the funds of the Navy League. Their Excellencies the Gov-ernor-General and Countess of Liverpool liavo extended their patronage. The programme is a very ambitions one, containing seven children's plays of a differing character. ' A savage play, "The Pudding Made of Plum," in which Eongs and dances are Introduced, will be sure to please the audience. "Courage" is a Dutch play of a very pretty sentimental nature. "The Ladies' Academy" will be found to be of a highly diverting character, and the other plays are equally interesting. Various strong items are to be presented in character, and the whole programme is of a very clever nature. Entirely different items are to be given on the second uisht. Seats may bo booked at the Bristol.

PROFESSIONAL ORCHESTRA. • The Wellington Professional Orchestra gave a, very fine concert in His Majesty's Theatre last evening under the conduclorshi'ip of Mr. H. Moschini. The programme submitted was a' classical selection from tho works of six famous composers, Beethoven, Matt, Dvorak, Ponchielli, Grieg, and Tchai,kmvaki, end every item proved highly popular to tho large audience present. The first number was the overture, "King Stephen" (Beethoven), the musical effects of which were singularly pleasing and harmonious. Fonchielli's favourite fantasia, "La Gioconda," was tastefully interpreted, the finale. "Lance of the flours," especially' evoking liberal applause. The chief selection of the evening was Grieg's suite, ''Peer Gynt," the orchestration of which was excellent. There was oven tone and blend, and the climax was particularly impressive. Other items of the programme which were 'warmly applauded were an idyll, "Dawn," by Matt, Dvorak's "Humorcsnue," and tho "Marche 81av" by Tchaikowski.