ENTERTAINMENTS

Dominion, Volume 13, Issue 144, 13 March 1920, Page 8

ENTERTAINMENTS

GRAND OPERA HOUSE. The Grand Opera House was again well attended last evening when "The Luck of the. Navy" was? repeated by the Allan Wilkie Dramatic Company. The final performance will take place this afternoon and evening. At the matinee, which is under tho patronage of the Navy League, children will be admitted nt half-price, and there will be special rates for school parties. 11. F. Mnlt'by s famous comedy-drama, "The Rotters, will be presented for the first time in New Zealand on Mondny evening bv the company. The plot lias to do with a family which is regarded bv everyone as eminently respectnblp, and the head of the household. Clugeton, a self-made man, who has risen to the middle class in provincial North of England, |irides himself on the good repute of himself and his people. A series of disillusionments as to the respectability of the Clugston family provides most laughable situations throughout tho piece. Mr. "Wilkie will tnlro the part of Clugston's chauffeur, who comes from a superior family, but is n quite unworthy individual. Miss Fiediswyde Hunter-Watts will appear as Cingstoii's elder daughter, who infatuated with the chauffeur. Mr Edward Landor. who played the role of the admiral in "The Luck of the Navy, will figure as Clugston. The box planwill be at the Bristol till noon to-day. after which hour it will he at Perry's, Manners Street.

"A ROAD THROUGH THE DARK."

For sheer dramatic intensity, without poing into melodramatic extremes A Road Through the Dark" may be classed as one of Clara Kimball Youngs finest achievements. It is a drama that gives n fascinating series of moods for the display of this beautiful screen players remarkable versatility. The story 18 admirably acted, and both the photography and mounting are up to tho highest standard. Miss Young in the pl-'V is Guhricllo -Tardee, a young French gi.rl, who 'has fallen in love with an American student, John Morgan, but ne being poor if promising. Papa Jardeo thinks to put an end to Gabnelle s folly by sending her to an aunt who resides in a small village of the Mouse. Whilst there the war breaks out, the village is sacked bv the Boches, and Gabrielles sister anil small brother are bivtchered before her eyes. P.rince Karl of btu.elitz, who is in charge of the troops, is rmitten with Gabrielle's beauty, and threatens to put every soul in the village to the sword unless she becomes his mistress, and, for France, she sub*mits. As Karl's companion she learns many secrets, and sends them m invisible ink to Morgan. At" length Karl detects her stealing l a plan of operations, and she, admitting her deathless loyalty to France, stabs him, and escapes with a forged passport into Holland, where her sacrificial acts are properly rewarded, and once more she. is united to her American lover. There is a fine dramatic intensity sustained throughout, and Miss Young adds to her reputation as an uctre63 of rare emotional powor and finish. The programme also. includes « very good "Gaumont Graphic" and a wildly humourous farce, entitled "Vamps and "Variety." The King's Orchestra, under Mr. L. D. Austin, is a splendid feature, playing suiih admirable music as Delibe's, "Coppelia" ballet music, a Greig "Berceuse," St. Saen's prelude to "The. Deluge," Rubinstein's Qaprice," and an adagio from a Schumann symphony. Tho vocalist of tho evening was Mrs. J. F. Woodward, whose cultuml light soprano was heard k> advantage in such attractive soli a* "Invitation," "Rosa Kesiirgot," and "Carnuna." This programme will bo repeated this nfternoon and evening and throughout next week.

• EMPRESS THEATEE. Commencing to-day another great Australian production will be shown at tho Empress—"The Face at tlm Window." a spectacular- and thrilling picture of the,weird, blood-curdling stageplay of that' name, wbicli was last staged tore by Mr. Brandon Cremer. In this play Miss Agnes Dobson is seen at her best, and many theatre-goers will remember her when she toured through this country as lending ladv of Anderson's Dramatic Company. The Sydney Press describes the' picture as the most fascinating mystery screen play ever seen. "The Man of Might" serial will also be continued, and the third episode is even more exciting than the previous'ones. "The Face at the Window" will' bo screened as follows:—ll.4s, 1.55, 4.5, 6.15, 8.20.

EVERYBODY'S THEATRE. The programme, screened at Everybody's Theatre yesterday has ■ for its principal feature a Japaneso phptoplay, entitled "A Heart in Pawn," a capital dramatic .study; with Sessuo Hayakawa in the title role. The picture contains many beautiful glimpses" of" quaint Japanese scenery. Ono especially fine- scene,' which the "movie" man lias taken to perfection, is that depicting the island home of Toyania, a Japanese moSical student. Throughout the play the acting is splendid and the Oriental colouring delightful. Hayakawa as To.rama is very fascinating. Whilst studying medicine, Toyama secretly marries Sada, a pretty Japanese girl. He then leaves liis native land for America in order to complete his studies. In America lie enters thn family of an invalid doctor. With tlii» eminent physician Toyania engages upon a search after the.means of curing cefrtain hereditary mental affliction;;, and while ho is pursuing the investigation he learns that his wife has been sentenced to death for murder. "Believing the report, he marries again, and with his new wife returns to Japan. He then delivers a scries of lectures, and during an address to female 'convicts ho discovers his former wife, who is serving a life sentence. They meet, and soon afterwards Sada elfccts her escape; but when the police are almost upou her she drowns herself in a lake. The supporting items include two interesting gazettes and a beautiful scenic study of Colarado. The programme will be repeated throughout the week.

, TO-NIGHT'S ORGAN RECITAL. Mr. Bernard F. Page' (city organist) will give his weekly organ recital 011 tho Town Hall organ this evening. The programme consists of the following:— Concert overture in F (Mendelssohn); •'ficriabine's Prelude (Op. 1G), No. 3; Melodie by RachmaninoffG.ivotta ,oMr<rt,ini), 1708-1754;- Kar,g-Elert's Air and Variations (upon a Theme of Handel's) ; Wagner's Prelude (Act 1), "Tristan and Isolde" and Prelude, Fugue, and Variation (Op. 18) by Cesar Franek will be played by' request. • .