ENTERTAINMENTS

Dominion, Volume 12, Issue 171, 14 April 1919, Page 3

ENTERTAINMENTS

KING'S THEATRE.

"Tho Studio Girl" heads the current programme at tho Kind's. Tho comedy is an adaptation of "La Gamine," and while it would appear that the story has not gained by its squaring to the American film requirements, "The Studio Girl" is nevertheless a charming production. Tha explanation of its charm is rather simple: it is that Constance Talmadgo plays the leading rolo. Since she appeared as the wild mountain girl in ''Intolerance," this brilliant young actress with the beautiful eyes and the defiant little mouth and chin has brought countless admirers under her sway. On this occasion she is a village girl chafing beneath tho restraint imposed by two puritanical maidon aunts, and by her betrothal to a clumsy young fool about whom no woman could have any illusions. When . a handsomo artist arrives from New York, he plays the part of a spark in a powder magazine. He unintentionally attracts the girl.and shows her, moreover, a why of escaping from the monotony of life as it is lived at Cliff Haven. When sick of the scandalous gossip of the villagers, he at last motors oft, ho has Constan-.o for a passenger, but does not know it. A rainstorm, however, leads to tho inevitable discovery, and Constance is haled, in tho interests of respectability, to the nearest railway station and directed to go home. The train turns out to be bound for New York. Constance, duly grateful to Providence for the artists error, travels on with a high heart to tho great metropolis. She is wearing the artist's ulster,, and in it she finds a card and an address. This is, to • her, quite as good as an ' invitation, and when the painter enters his home again he finds the young lady curled up, fast asleep, in his best armchair. The meeting is not without results for him, for his Italian fiancee, and for Constance. Within the space of two days everything is known, and the Italian lady, after free indulgence in vituperative language leaves Constance in triumphant possession of a husband. The picture programme, accompanying "The Studio Girl" is widely varied and exceedingly interesting, and the selections played by the orchestra are again a feature of the entertainment. Mr. H. F. Wood contributes one or two popular songs.

EVERYBODY'S THEATRE. Tho new programme presented at Everybody's '.Theatre- ou Saturday attracted large patronage at both the afternoon and evening sessions. A Goldwyn photoplay entitled "The Turn of the Wheel," featuring the American prima donna, Geraldine Parrar, an artist of I distinctive qualities, is the etar film. Miss Farrar—this was her premiere at Everybody's—tak«s the role or an American girl who sees in the Casino at Monte Carlo a man to whom she is instantly drawn. Aftgr losing all his money he attempts to commit suicide, but is presented by the girl. He then confides in her, saying he is sure he can win back all he has lost, and her great love for him compels her ro fight for him. She forces a small sum of money on him and he is later-seen winning heavily, in a magnificent scene of the Casino at Monte Carlo. I'ollowing this, tho two are frequently together, but their happiness is interrupted by the arrest of Grey on a charge of murdering his divorced wife in New York. The piny is magnificently arranged, and intensely dramatic. The supporting items include Episode* 7 of that movie thrill entitled 'The House of Hate." The orchestral accompaniments are all that could be desired. The programme will ba repeated at both sessions to-day. .

EMPRESS THEATRE. A drama and two comedies, with the usual Topical Budget, make up the picture programme of the. Empress Theatre this week. The films are excellent. In the world drama "Tinsel,", Kitty Gordon takes the role of Princess Sylvia, and Muriel Ostriche that of. Ruth. The story .is based on tho training of a daughter. The Princess Sylvia knows how to distinguish between good men and bad, and .being anxious that her daughter Ruth should :becomo as competent a judge,, introduces her: to all the various typos of men''and ;. then allows the daughter to; shif ( t'for-' herself. The mother, however,\k«ps ; -.a'.-closo watchon the girl and e'ven't.unlly saves her from a serious predicament.. The drama is well mounted, the dresses pretty, and the incidents exciting and thrilling. In "Behind the Scene's"'-the inimitable Charlie Chaplin provides excellent comedy, and another -comedy, "His Nine Lives," is also laughter-provoking. The Topical Budget is this week well worth witnessing.

COMIC OPERA SEASON. Unusual interest attaches to the coming visit of the J. C. Williamson ever popular Royal Comic .'Opera Company. Each of tho four productions will be presented in every dotail, scenery, costumes, properties, and effects, exactly as at Her Majesty's Theatre, Sydnoy. The company now numbers some 150 members. The piays to bo submitted during the season are "Maytime," an exceptionally beautiful musical comedy; "Oh! Oh! Delphine," recently the rage of Sydney ; and revivals of. "Katinka" and "The Pink Lady," a repetition which will doubtless prove eminently popular, and Mr. George A. Highland_ will personally supervise' the productions. Miss Minnie Hooper, the well-known Austrar lian ballet mistress, will also make a special visit to the Dominion. An added featuro will be the augmented orchestra,- together with the strengthening numerically of the ballet and chorus. The box plans for "Maytime," the opening production, will be open at the Bristol to-morrow morning at 9. "Maytime" will be played for the first six nights and will be followed by "Oh! Oh! Delphine," "Katinka," and "Tho Pink Lady."

HYPNOTISM FOR AMUSEMENT. Professor • Barraden, who was in Wellington a little over a week ago, commenced a second short' season at the Urand Opera House on Saturday evening before a 'fairly large audience,, which signified bv its continuous and hoartj laughter- that it was haying a very good time. The professor had no difficulty in getting a very large class of subjectsindeed, to judge from, the way the stagu was rushed, one would conclude that there is something very attractive in ui'iujf hypnotised. After the usual formulae or prow of biisccntimlity, illustrated bv the falling forward test under the magnetic eye of the professor, a number of humorous stunts were sucoessfully undertaken, all of them designed to Ciiitsc laughter. Among these were the hypnotic boxing match, the twirling of tho hands, the seaside picnic, and other tests new and familiar. To illustrate that a person under the influonco ol Lipnotism can bo • given a suggestion that he feels no pain even when pain is inflicted, the professor sent ono of his subjects to sleep, then inserted a needlo Ihrouch his ear, and a pin in his arm without causing a twitch on the part of the subject. In the second half of the programme the professor caused a great deal of amusement by suggesting to Mb hypnotised clas's that they were ladies crossing Cuba Stroet on a wet and windy ciav. The. mincing gait and antics of most of those concerned were ,- ery amusing, but one at least used language anything but that of a lady. Next the whole school was given the suggestion that thoy were Caupelli, the Italian tenor. Evidently the subjests had the vaguest idea as to who they were, for on being touched on the shoulder they came forward and sang all kinds of songs, ranging from "Twinkle, TVinkle Littlo Star" to "Mister Booze," nono of which Cnpelli would dream of singing. The audience could draw its own conclusions from this test. What was no doubt a very funny, but in doubtful taste,'scene was that in which the school was given the suggestion thnt they were at a great banquet, and that the food spread before them was of the very best, whereas it consisted of raw vegetables, including c.irrots. potatoes, and cucumbers, and, in addition, candles, coal, etc. The boys munched these goods with a hearty udish. a teeth-to-tceth fight ensuing over the iiossession of tho candle. When restored to their normal selves many had their mouths filled, and thoy promptly emptied tho contents all over the staite. l-'iaallv the class was given the suggostioin that thoy were nurses attending to ll (-ir.babies at. night. Professor Barraden will appear for anothor threo nights ihis week. A flashlight photograph of the' audience is to be taken at tiia evening's performance.

' ORGAN RECITAL. Mr. Bernard Pago, City Organist, gave an organ recital in tho Town Hall on Saturday evening, when ho presented a programme- of music made familiar at his recitals during recent years. It included the third movement from Rinisky Korsakoff's symphonic suite, "Scheherazade," a highly coloured work of profound musical quality, wliich embodie.-, the tales of Scheherazade, of "Arabian Nights" fame. Parts of this line composition have been adopted by the Russian dancers to depict the dramas involved in tho stories of Scheherazade. Once more. Mr. Page- played the "Anoante" from Debussy's string quartet, Leraaro's . "Summer Sketches," Cesar Franck's "Fantas'ie in A," some Groig melodies, and Robikofi's "Phychological Poem."