ENTERTAINMENTS

Dominion, Volume 12, Issue 182, 28 April 1919, Page 10

ENTERTAINMENTS

THE KING'S THEATRE. So. long , as tbo Management of Hie King's Theatre continues to provide such piugramme-s as it has presented of la(o there is little danger that tho wide popularity of tlio theatre will wane. The new bill, presented for the first time on Saturday, comprised six screenings and a wealth of musical entortninment besides. "Tlio Scarlet' Runner" (Episode 8) was, of I'ourae, the, first number projected, "Lost, a Cook," was a Keystone comedy film notable not only l'or the amusement it caused but for cloarness of the, photography. A new "Gazette" and I'art 111 of the. New Zealand scenic picture, "From.Fairlie to Mount Coolc," were two attructivo items. The house spent an hour imd a quarter in unalloyed enjoyment of ."Thirty a Week." Those vvho knew the frank, genial countenance aw) ngrpeable ways of Tom Mooro, or were familiar with the delightful -witchery ol Talhila.lL Bankhead, possessed beforehand some assurance that the play would be worth seeing. As' the event proved, it probably, exceeded the' highest expectations. Tho romantic elopement of llisa Babs Wright, heiress, and Mr. Daniel Murray, chauffeur, their ■subsequent settlement in a pretty flat, their severance through misunderstanding, and their reunion under auspices happier than either could have dared to hope for, made up a pretty fabric of humour and pathos, , of .smiles'and tears, that kept the house enthralled. ■' Alec'-B. Franeis.fis tho father of the wilful heiress, mado his > pleasing personality strongly felt. : Early in tlio play one gathered that J. Andrew YV right knew a, man when he-saw one, and yas not entirely ■ convinced about "Freddie, foremost of the social cligibles for Ins daughter's hand. During tho evening Miss-Anne Sullivan, the popular mezzo, sang, "Love, Here is My Heart," "Cant. You, Hear Me Calling?" nnd "The Bells of. St. Mary." Among tho selections ren. dered by the orchestra were threo "Nell Gwynne": dances. ■.::..

■. EMPRESS '.THEATRE... , -A new programme was presented at tlio Empress Theatre on Saturday before a packed house. The feature picture is a Vitagraph study, entitled "A Game With I'ate," and supporting this is an instructive Topical Budget, a Vitagrapn comedy, "Captain Jinks Kid," and.an industrial subject,- "A Trip on &■ Whaler," by the Patho Company. The ch icf . picture w certainly a most entertaining one. Iho plot is niost original and clever, and its mystery is well concealed till the end. The popular Harry Morey 'and Denton Vano, as well as the pretty Miss Betty Blythe, are the principal actore. 'JUe noting throughout is excellent, whilst tho photographing and screening leave nothing to be desired. The community singing item is becoming extremely popular with patrons who obviously enjoy the singing. On Saturday night _ Mr. Charles Melvin sang "Keep the Homo Fires Burning" pleasingly, and soon had hie audience singing the 'cliorue. The latest Topical Budget is quite an interesting number, containing glimpses of all the principal events and personages in Europe and in England; The' Vitagraph comedy is a highly diverting piece of work, "-which will undoubtedly'provoke laughter. The programme will be repeated throughout th,o, week.

EVERYBODY'S THEATRE. Mabel Nonnimd, . the popular film actress;-takes the principal role in. a sparkling Goldwyn feature play .entitled "Back to the Woods,", whidh is the star attraction at Everybody's Theatre tlna week. Stephanie Trent, a millionairess, daughter of a wealthy lumber .man, feeting tired of tho "Jphnnies" of society, and longing to meet a real man, becomes a school teaclier in' a logging camp village. There she meets Jimmy Raymond, who is an author, but'Tiis appearance is that of a mountaineer. Jimmy incurs the enmity of one of the. lumber men, and Stephanie goes to his cabin to warn him of a plot- against him.' Hβ makes advances to hor, and then follows a sensational struggle. Jimmy explains ■that he wanted to see how a real girl •would act in such a situation, for he wished to use it in his next story. Stephanie makes known her identity to the lumber men, who rally to her aid. Jimmy is wounded in a fight, and Stephanie nurses him back to health. There is a delightful ami surprising climax tc the picture. Episode nine of "The House of Hate" carries the story a stage further, and is sensational throughout, The "Pathe Gazette" is, as usual, composed of interesting bits of present-daj lappenings.

ORG AN RECITAL. ' ■ The organ recital given by the city organist (Mr. Bernard F. Page) in tho Town Hall on Saturday night attracted a small but very appreciative audience. Mr. Page opened his programme with the sonorous Sonata No. 1 (Borowski), a composition that contains some excellent melody and effective contrasts. Guilmant'B Meditatiou-Priere (Op. 90), No. -10, and Canzona (Op. 90), No. 35, were bracketed, and were followed by the fountain muhic from "Pelleae and Mehsar.de"'(Debussy). The rich and perfectly balanced orchestration of Debii6sye greatest work, is well illustrated in the selection. Cesar France's "Piece Here-. ique," written originally for the inauguration of the colossal organ at the Trqcade-ro during the Paris exhibition of 1878, brought the first part of the programme to a close;. In the second part Mr. Pago played Lemare's < Idyll. "Serenade," ■ '■■Musette," and "Solitude," and Saint-Saens's Rhaps'odio (No. 1), Op. 7. His concluding number was Karg-Elert's .Air end Variatious',' from a suito written by Handel ' and published 'first in 1870.. Ibis euitp fas been known popularly as "The ■Harmonious Blacksmith," and its treatment by Karg-Elert is full of charm. The organist played most pleasingly throughout the evening. Tho next recital will be given on Saturday evening..