ENTERTAINMENTS

Dominion, Volume 12, Issue 159, 31 March 1919, Page 5

ENTERTAINMENTS

THE KING'S THEATRE. Ions; before eight o'clock on Saturday night tho iuanagomeiit ;il' ihc Kings Theatre had to cease selling tickets, and hundreds of disappointed intending patrons had to bfl reluctantly turned awayOn Saturday night ovei 6ix hundrtd miu fifty seats were reserved. Of (he cuiicnt week's programme the star item i= a Select masterpiece, entitled"Tlie Secrc\ of the Storm Country," a sequel to Grace Miller White's famous book "Toss of the Storm Country." The favourite screen star Norma Tnlmadge undertakes tho leadm;.; role, and her portrayal of th:s emctimial character is quite one of lier .best studies. "Tho Secret of the Storm Country" is a play :n which wifehood :s pitted against motherhood in a terrific struggle for supremacy. The story is wonderfully apptftliug, and ends oil a Jioto of happiness which is very unexpectedly achieved. . The photography throughout is of a particularly high standard, and some of the esterior .scenes are superb. The supporting suklects include ir lengthy Gazette of interrrting news; a fine local industrial subject showing the largest all-British milk condensory in the Southern Hemisphere at work; Small Stream Denizens; a coloured Patho Nature study, oil too seldom seen nowadays; and the fourth, episode of "Tho Secret Runner" serial, as usual, lull ,of exciting incidents and hairbreadth escapes. A feature of .the, evening's entertainment was the singir.g ol Miss Anne Sullivan, who sang "Love's Garden of Roses" and "The Bells of St. Mary." For the latter rendition _ Miss b'ullfvan responded to two emphatic reci.lls. The King's Orchestra, under Mr. L. I). Austin, rendered several high-class items, the entr'acte numbers, (a) "The Scottish Patrol" and the gallop "Indian Mail," being especially appreciated.

EVERYBODY'S THEATRE. , "Alias May Brown," tho hendliner of the new bill presented at Everybody's Theatre 011 Saturday, is a picture that should havo no difficulty in earning the favour' of patrons. It presents in firstrate fashion a story tjiat is clevejjLv- constructed and by no means lacking in dramatic interest: Tho motive of the plot is the desire of a young man to have revenge for the death of his father and mother, a tragedy for which the harshness of three money-grabbers is responsible. tale 'movra alonE; tho hero develops i'ronj a careless college youth into a bold and resourceful plottor. He plans and executes two or three daring robberies to the extreme discomfiture of his enemies. In the end, however, the love of a good girl is given him, and he is led to value Mess highly the success of his schemes. In his anxiety' to offer his love a name unsmirclied by. crime, he makes full restitution to his victims, and -strikes tho trail of contentment and, happiness. Ca6son Fergnsson and Pauline Starke make the story a very real and enthralling "The House of, Hate (Chapter V)" is as exciting as the previous instalments have been. Taken all round, the new' programme is quite \capable fof wluling a\hy a couple of hours in pleasant fashion., .. EMPRESS THEATEE. "The Power and the Glory," a World drama, is the star attraction this week at the Empress Theatre. June Elvidge takes the leading role in a delightful story of Johnnie Consadine. ■ Johnnie's mother is a widow, and at _ a very unpropitious moment she marries a second time. The second husband immediately assumes control over Johnnie's young brothers and sister, and sends ttem to the factory to, work, against which Johnnie protests without avail. Grey Stoddart, part owner of the mill, and who is in love with Johnnie is led to believe that Johnnie was responsible for her brothers and sister going to work,' -which leads /to complications which demand sacrifices on the part of Johnnie, who accepts the situation unhesitatingly. How she wins out is one of the charms of the story. The supporting films include a delightful Kcvstono comedy entitled "She Needed a Doctor," and the Topical Budget. This programme will be repeated all this TOpk. PROFESSOR BARRADEN. On Wednesday evening next Professor Bnrraden, hypnotist, will present something new to Wellington in his foature, "Hello, Lizzie!" whicl| is said by tho "Otago Daily Times" to bs a screnm: Professor Barraden had a successful run of 15 nights in Dunedin and 21 iu>Christchurch. While showing in Christchurch ho gave an aftornoon display, with tho result that 6om'e 10,000 people crowded Cashel Street,:' and all tram and other traffic'had to be stopped. The end of this sensation was that the professor was before the Magistrate's Court in Christchurch, and fined- £10 and costs i'or obstructing the traffic. The Sydney "Morning Herald," speaking of Professor Bnrrnden's test from . 'sanity to raving madness,' says:—>"lt. is indeed wonderful The hypnotist was recalled four times." The box plan for the entire season is now opon at the Bristol Piano Co., and scats may be booked without extra, fee—a big season must surely awaiti this' remarkable man.