ENTERTAINMENTS

Dominion, Volume 12, Issue 69, 16 December 1918, Page 3

ENTERTAINMENTS

THE KING'S THEATRE. At tho reoponing of the King's Theatre on Saturday the programmes screen-" ed was headed uy a war drama, "The Belgian." This is a Btory of Belgium and France in tho early days of the war, when both countries were affliclod to a large extent by the spy pest. Just before the war a young. Belgian, a fisher lad, who had shown much promise n/> an artist, is takon to Paris by an artist of note. So well does tho 'boy progress that in a comparatively short time he achieves some fame ns a sculptor. In Paris the young artist sees much of a wealthy and handsome countess, who in reality is a German spy, and almost entirely forgets the existence of the sweetheart of his less prosperous days, who is pining for his return to tho village of his youth. In the midst of his triumph, however, the war breaks out, and the young Belgian hurries back to his invaded country. Here he takes a tad in repelling the invader and is,badly wounded. In the meantime, in tho village where lives the sweetheart of his youth strange scenes are being enacted, during which an excellont insight is given as to tho methods employed by tllfe German spy system. The young artist, badly wounded, is, through the influence of his friends, taken back to Paris, where an effort is made to save his eyesight. This effort is successful, and shortly after his recovery he learns of the perfidy of the countess and olso learns of the fidelity and courage of his village Sweetheart. The ending is worked out amid the stress of battle, and is none the less satisfactory on that account. The picture is exciting from beginning to end, and had a most favourable reception. In addition there are on the programme anotho'r instalment of "The Fatal Ring" and the latest Gazette. The King's Orchestra renders the incidental music in a thoroughly capable manner.

EMPRESS THEATRE. 'In "Efficiency Edgar's Courtship," an Essanay comedy-drama, which was tho chief attraction at the reopening of the Empress Theatre on Saturday, picture patrons witnessed an excellent screening of a fascinating story. Taylor Holmes appears as Edgar Bumpus, who wins considerable success in business, and cannot see why he should not be equally successful in love. He is a rising young business man and applies his commercial reasoning to his courtship of Mary Pierce. He first eliminates Wimple, his closest competitor for the hand of Mary. Wimple plays the guitar, and Edgar learns to play the saxaphonc, which makes louder music, and he further cuts into Wimple's .wooing by sending Mary flowers and confectionury each time Wimple calls upon her. The plan appears to be a huge success until unfortunately a serenade on the saxaphone disturbs the slumbers of/ Mary's father. There is a clash between Edgar and Mr. Pierce, and Edgar is forbidden to visit Mary any more. The enterprising and efficient Edgar is not'to be outdone, for he employs a clipping bureau to send news items to Mr. Pierce which tells of the trouble young girls get into when their fathers refuse to let them nave beaux. This has no effect en the father except to make him hate Edgar more. The young man persists and finally wins Mary's love and then he plays his trump card. He gets Mary to sign a legal agreement to forfeit ,£2OOO if she fails to marry him. The two then confront the father, who prefer* to lose his daughter rather than lose his money, the only stipulation being that the saxaphone must be abandoned. The story is.full of laughable situations. The supporting films include the Topical Budget and an industrial picture which deals with the condensed milk industry of New Zealand. The programme will be repeated throughout the week. ,

■■ EVERYBODY'S THEATRE. | The reopening of the popular Everybody's Theatre on Saturday must have Hutu a most welcome occurrence to crowds of pieture-goers. Very satisfactory attendances woro present at each session, and tlie excellent' programme presented met with the keenest appreciation. Foremost among the attractions offered-was-a. rather daring dramatic feature, entitled "The Knife." This picture related tho adventures of a young and unsophisticated girl on her first visit to New York. The heroine, whose part was admirably' played by Alice Brady, goes up.to tho great city to visit her hanoee, a surgeon who has devoted his energies to tho solution of a problem fraught with, significance for the race. Knowing nothing of the'dangers that lie in wait for her, the unsuspecting girl is led by her curiosity into the trap of a white slave traders' gang. Tho criminals administer a powerful drug to her, and she lies helpless in their hands. Meanwhile Dr. Manning, her famous lover, has grown suspicious, and he had two others set out in .search of her. They discoverher whereabouts, and by their determined action succeed in.rescuing her and in making prisoners the two principal conspirators in the abduction. Maddened with rage at the thought of the evil that the miscreants have-wrought, Manning is at first for slaying them outright; but bettor counsels persuade him to use tho pair as subjects for surgical experimentation. Kate remembers nothing of her dreadful experience, and is sent to live quietly in her Southern home, convinced that slic has had a nervous collapse. By the time she next arrives in New York, the district attorney is inquiring into tho death under the knife of Mrs. Hill, one of the criminals upon whom Manning has operated. Kate's appearance on tho scene, and her sudden recollection of her abduction,' however, enable her to over-awe Manning's only accuser, tho woman's accomplice; while Manning's brilliant succoss-in his work for humanity serves so to influence the j,ittprney that the case is dronued. The conclusion of the story is not difficult to guess. Supnortincf items are a Patlic Gazette. "Captain Jenbs's Cure," and a war pictorial.