ENTERTAINMENTS

Dominion, Volume 12, Issue 110, 3 February 1919, Page 3

ENTERTAINMENTS

• THE KING'S THEATRE. . Tho change of pictures drew tho usual liberal week-ond patronage at the Kmg > Theatre on Saturday. The new programme is headed by a Goldwyii drama, "The Venus Model," in which the seemingly ovm-popular Mabel Normanu is seen' iii tile leading role. In case of misunderstanding, "Tile Vehiis Slodel, it should bo explained, lias prtrticuluf reference to u bathing costume I although it has to be confessed tliflt the earn costume gains in attractiveness ivhan donned by the shapely lady lierself-at least that appears to be tli« verdict of the throbs of onlookers who crowd around a shop window on Broadway when a demonstration us to the merits ofthis particular creation is given. .Now, the "Vemis Model" has a history, .as the story shows. In a factory turning out women's ready-made clothing Works Happy O'Brien (Mabel Notiuand). I-he business has gone downhill, however, owing to lack of ideas in the production of new creations. Happy ]m ideas; and in her spare time site designs a new bathing costume. The idea (demonstrated by Happy herself) instantly catches on, and, of course, it not only rejuvenates a decaying business, but brings wealth and a certain fame to the fortunate designer. But Happy has not yet attained the complete existence. She ie more than interested in a hitherto was trel son of the proprietor of the factoryand she also has the problem of an unscrupulous brother-in-law on her hands. Eventually, as may bo safely guessed, these clouds are all dispersed, so paving the way for the inevitable and quite natural ending. It all makes a pleasant enough story, made tho most of, as is usual, by tho Goldwyii producer. A particularly interesting 9 u » siu ; l j;p feature on the same programme is The Jinking of a Standard Ship.' This shows many wonderful details of wartime ship construction in Britain, and belongs to that class of picture subject of which we see 100 few. A lengthy Gazfttte, the fifteenth instalment of "The I'V.al King," and "The Janitor's VcnKwuice" complete an interesting and entertaining programme. At a suitable inrevAi Mr. Len! Barnes, the Wellington bariiM.;, sings "Lovely Spring" and "Roses of Picavdy" acceptably,. and en Saturday, at both sessions, won wellmerited applause. The musical programme, which is quite a featuro at the lung's now, is this week fully up to tho high standard set by the King's orchestra. GRAND OPERA HOUSE. The Williamson farce, "Oh, Boy!" was presented at the Opera House again on Saturday night. While the play does not reach the standard of "Gome Up, tha company acquits itself as well as on the previous occasion. Miss Cecil Bradley has a role that fits her perfectly; and she acts and sings in a way ( that earns her liberal'applause. Mr. William Greene is at his best, positively, in the role allotted to him. As a young bride who right at the outset of her conjugal career is the victim of all sorts ot unpleasant happenings, Miss Gracie Layers also makes a decided hit. Her 6ong, 'An Old-fashioned Wife," is the best number in the comedv, and'her dainty singing of "Words Are Not Needed" is another feature of the entertainment. Needless to say, Mr. Alfred Frith provides the cream of all the fun with his lively humour and lis ability to make points with no effort whatever. The music is very catchy, and the mounting 'and dressing splendid. Another representation will be given to-night. EVERYBODY'S THEATRE. An interesting series of pictures is being screened at Everybody's Theatro this week, and those who delight in baffling detective stories will bo particularly pleased with "The Hand at the Window," in which Margery Wilson and Joe King are featured in tho principal roles. The slory tolls of a wedding which is interrupted by the police, and the bridegroom.is taken to tho station. At his trial he is found guilty of counterfeiting, and is sent to gaol. Detective Roderick Moran, of the New York Police Department, is instrumental in securing the man's conviction, and the criminal swears to bo revenged. Moran next turns his attention to Laura Bowers, because her business is somewhat mysterious, but instead of discovering a wninal he finds his bride. The two become engaged, and Moran recalls the threat made to him five years previously by the counterfeiter. Moran marries Laura, and a'few moments after they enter their home a bullet crashes through tho window, and Moran is very nearly killed. The would-be murderer e=capos,but a finger-print found on the window shows that tho counterfeiter was concerned in the affair. Who fired the shot? The mystery baffles the pojice, and the climax, is very dramatic. It is' a/powerful and thrilling drama, full of surprises. The French comedian Mas Linder provides the comedy element in a picture entitled "Max in a Taxi." The programme will be repented each afternoon and evening this week. EMPRESS THEATRE. So attractive was the programme provided at the Empress Theatre on Saturday that numbers of people had to be turned away. Heading the bill of the new series is a problem play entitled "The Divine Sacrifice." This is a gripping society play showing how children are the bond promoting domestic felicity, and it presents an interesting question to married couples. The cast is exceptionally strong, and is led by Kitty Gordon, who is ably supported by her daughter, Vera Beresford. It so happens that Miss Beresford also acts the rart of the daughter in the picture. A feature of the picture is the gorgeous settings. The costuming also is beautiful, and the photography is excellent. Full of action, the play possesses strong emotional characteristics. Generally speaking, the plot is an unusual one in a motion picture, buj it admirably illustrates the dangers and evils of a restricted birth-rate. It treats of a wife's refusal to be troubled with children, and the consequent estrangement of her husband. Subsequently, she sails for Egypt, where she is entrapped in a fire during the course of a ball, and, though she survives, is wrongly reported dead. As she fails to return home her husband marries again, and there is issue of the union. Then the first wife appears on the scene, and, of course, it is apparent that explanations are necessary. The situation is plainly embarrassing, not only for the husband who has two wives, but for the two wives who have one husband. What is he to do? What are they to do? Does he love then] both or do they both love him ? Should he fly with one and forsake the other, or cling to the other and forsake the one? Or should he settle the problem, as far as he himself is concerned, by fleeing from them both, leaving them to extricate themselves from the tangle? How he finally escapes from the puzzling contretemps is interestingly told' in the picture, -providing a verv dramatic climax. The theme of "The Divine Sacrifice is, perhaps, not a dainty one. Nevertheless, there is presented an excellent picture, which .will 'doubtless appeal to many film lovers. Charlie Chaplin is seen in "Easy Street," which is a screamingly funny picture. The Topical Budget contains the latest series of films dealing with the closing scenes of the great war, and another splendid picture is "The Dorset Regiment." This gives glimpses of the training and nciivc service career of one of England's most famous reiuments, and is well worth seeing, the programme will be repented to-day.