ENTERTAINMENTS

Dominion, Volume 12, Issue 104, 27 January 1919, Page 3

ENTERTAINMENTS

THE KING'S THEATRE. "I have sought truth strenuously; I have met her boldly. I hnve never turned away from her even when she wore an unexpected look." These words, coming from Anatole France himself, should be borne in mind b.v ail those who wish to form a just appreciation of the works of the great French master. It. is to be. remembered, too, that,-as one critic puts it, Anatole France's writings ai-o not for babes—but for men and the mothers of men. Of all his works of fiction—ond the list is a long one—none is, in the opinion of many, greater than "Thais." This story was long since adapted to the stage, and has achieved noteworthy success on the Continent, in Britain, and in America. As was inevitable, "Thais" has now been done into a screen p'.ay (by the Goidivyn people), and wns exhibited at (ho King's Theatre on Saturday to excellent attendances. The story of "Thais" is simplicity itself. Some seventeen centuries ago, in the golden city of Alexandria, lived Thais, gloriously beautiful—a Leda who knew no other god than Eros, and w'ho was "the joy even of those who never possessed her." Thais is a courtesan and a dancer; the rivals for her favours nre the men of a whole city. But there is one of her acquaintances who desires her not for himself but for God; this man is a- monk, Paphmitius. Eventually the monk succeeds in converting the girl to Christianity, and Thnis renounces the old .life, and becomes an inmate of a nunnery along the banks of the Nile. Pnphnutius returns to his fellow-monks, and hears himself proclaimed a saint,,for has he not won for God the beautiful worshipper of demons? But his s.otil now knows no peace; gradually yet surely the monk realises he loves Thais tho woman. He suffers the torments of the damned, until at. last the flesh proves stronger than the spirit. It would perhaps spoil the picture for many to detail the closing scenes of the story, but the Gbldwyri Company has on the whole handled a difficult theme with skill. The pictures of Alexandria in its "golden" days are convincing, but it has to be confessed that as Thais Mary Garden is not the ideal type. Prior to the screening of the picture Miss Edna Bell, quite a youthful miss performed a "Danse Egyptienne." The diversion was highly successful, and was greatly appreciated, and, judging by the prolonged applause, those present would have welcomed more of it. It is impossible to overlook the claims of the King's Orchestra to favourable notice. This week the combination has been increased to ten performers, and on Saturday their efforts were highly successful. "Thais" and supporting pictures will be screened every night during the week and on Wednesday afternoon. "GOING UP." The Williamson Musical Comedy Co. on Saturday ev'eniug gave the second Wellington representation of the farce, I "Going Up." The house was full, and j its attitude throughout was more than j complimentary to the performers. I "Going Up" is something better than the j kind of fare that the public is used to j in the way of musical farces, its princi- j pal point of superiority being,: perhaps, I that it possesses quitu an interesting, if sketchy, plot.. The play does not come ! to its end about eleven o'clock merely because at that hour, good citizens should go' home,-but. because it has, by. eleven resolved itself in quite.a satisfactory denouement. Of the-performers, Mr. Alfred Frith and Miss Gracie Lavers are the most popular. Mr. Frith and his exquisite comicalities are probably so well known as not to require any mention, i though they deserve much. Miss Lavers, ' on the other hand, is not a familiar | figure, but acquaintance with her quickly arouses a conviction that she is endowed with a personality' which is a greater asset to her than evenivido experience ! would be. -Miss', Cecil. Bradley ami Messrs. Cyril Richards, Field Fisher j and William Greene are. other prominent members of the cast .who must be credited with first-class- work. -The.musical score of "Going Up" -is already finding its echo in the streets/ and citizens by no means noted for frivolity will probably be ■ detected during the next week or two, in, the abstracted rendering of catehy,,.items: Jrom. .it. :.. The .-mounting and' dressing' of 'the farce are: excellent; and the "aeroplane in the clouds" scene is commended to the curious as a fine achievement in the art of illusion. EVERYBODY'S THEATRE. . "Every-Woman's Husband" is the title of the principal picture of the neiy programme presented at Theatre on Saturday, it is a very emotional photoplay, full of exciting complications, and splendidly acted, featuring the picture Btar ,Gloria Swanson. Mrs. Rhodes rules her home and her husband in a manner which forces her husband to take up his abodo elsewhere. The daughter, Edith (Gloria. SwanauuJ • marries Frank Emerson (Joe lung), and her mother persuades her to rule her household and husband with the same severity. Thiß leads to another'-separation. A partner of Emerson's, iJunstan (Jack Kingston) investigates the case, and realising that Edith and Mrs lthodea are responsible for the trouble, schemes to reestablish the'broken households. Edith finally rebels from the manner-in which her mother , dominates her home, and in practising her own methods of house hold management meets with every sue-' cess. With suspicions against her husband Edith follows her own theories, and wins out, end she and her husband are once more united. The acting is particularly clever, and the setting all that one could desire. "The Winning Loser," a Triangle comedy number, is a capital mirth provoker, whilst the Gnu-, mont coloured scenic picture, "Washington," enables one to appreciate the beauty and size of the United States capital. Tho latest I'athe Gazette, an item of nover-Jniling interest, contains /several interesting scenes dealing with military and political events just prior to the signing of the armistice The new. programme, which is certainly well worth seeing, will be screened' again to-dny. ' EMPRESS THEATRE. There are several thrilling: fights and 6ome wonderful scenic eiloois in lab World drama, "A Woman of Redemption," at present being shown at the Empress Theatre. The main theme of the picture is the effect of a good woman on a man w'ho has heen a waster. It is an exciting etory of. the American backwoods, with tne popular June JStviuge us the "star," and John Bowers as the handsome young hero. Picture lovers are acoustomed to see June Elvidge costumed Lα the most exquisite and charming apparel, but in "A Woman of Redemption" she appears- garbed in backwoods dress. Nevertheless, she looks as pleasing as ever, and her acting is all that could bo desired. The story unfolded in the drama is a gripping one, and the scenery is magnificent. Miss Elvidge takes the part of Gene Romainu, a girl of the southern mountains,, who lives with her father. The hitter's "boss" desires to marry her, and for her • father's sake sho agrees, but wlien the day of union draws near she feels that the match would be disastrous, so she ■ runs r.way. In the woods she meets the wastrel son of a timber owner, who has lost his way, and is also- injured. Together they return to the mountain cabin, -where the girl finds that her father has been killed by his "boss" in a fit of rnge. Subsequently the "boss" is dispatched by a squaw, who feels aggrieved because her love is unrequited,,and the timber own- ! er's son is accused of the murder. In the meantime, he falls in love with the maid of tho mountains, and as he has once again become rehabilitated in tho ' eyes' of the world, and is found to bo innocent of the accusation made against him, he marries Gene, and the pair livehappily ever after. The chmnx-.to story is a ■ fine one. Altogether "A Woman of Redemption" forms an excellent screen-dramn, and i? one of stho best that hns been shown at the Empress for some time. The photography is excellent, and the acting of the performers is clean and convincing. The' supporting items of the programme are of an attractive character, the'latest Gazette showing scenes at the front inst before the armistice was signed There is also another film depicting the work of the forces in the African sphere of operations. The programme will be repeated to-day. The members of the "Business Before Pleasure" Comedy Company arrived in Auckland from Sydney by the Niagara on Saturday morning. The company includes the Hebrew comedians, Nick Adams and James Waters, .the originals - { Potash end Perlmutter in London.