ENTERTAINMENTS

Dominion, Volume 13, Issue 178, 23 April 1920, Page 3

ENTERTAINMENTS

GRAND OPERA HOUSE. Last night's presentation of "Daddies" by the J. and N. Tait Comedy-Drama Company again delighted a laTgo audience at the Grand Opera House. ..The company is a specially strong .one,'.and the acting.of the chief characters last', night was splendid. Miss Ernita las-' celles !was especially'pleasing"'.iii her artistic representation' of. a fino-mindod girl of 6cventacn..'. Mr, Ransom as the yoiing author, .'. 'also playoo In finished style. Mr. George Bryant.i as Crockett, was responsible, for mu'ch..'m(irk riment, and littlo Elvie Powio gave a fine performance.' "Daddies" -will be reagain this evening. There-will bo, a matinee to-morrow afternoon... THEATRE,' .' C '"'■"'". Last night there was a large-audience to witness the- last screening of : "The Better Wife" at the filing's Theatre. A complete new programme is. advertised' for to-night, headed % "The Cry of tho Weak," featuring : the great • ■ emotional actress Fannie Ward. The play is said to be one of ■ enthralling 1 interest fromstart to'finish, and emphasises,•without.', "preaching", or "propaganda"-tho theory that a great many .crimes c'ommitted'to'-'' day are based on vengeance against.the harshness of society, and that many criminals,'if given the proper "opportunity," might be reclaimed;' Mrs. J. E. Woodward, the well-known soprano,' will'sinfe "April Morn", (Robt. Batten), "Happf Song"'(D'Riegoj,'and Masc'agni's "Ave Marie." Tlie King's grind orchestra plays "as an entr'acte three dances from . •Nell Gwyn" (Edw'd.. German)'. There ' will be a- full orchestral' matinee' tomorrow. The plan is at.the'; Bristol... ';. EVERYBODY'S THEATRE;'.''. ' "In tho Gloaming,"- wliich ;is..founded on the famous song,.,is the-latest English picture, and ; will be' -shown at■ Everybody's Theatre,' commencing today. The favourably known English actress, Violet Hopson,, will appear in the leading role. A simple love story turns with, dramatic suddenness into tragedy. ■; Misunderstanding; parts,':twb lives, to meet again ' later when- theshadows seem to have lifted. /But 'Fate again forces the two apart,- and'not until a human life is sacrificed do tho clouds lift. In spite of its dramatic intensity it is stated that the picture is never morbid, and the interest is sustained throughout. The supports include the latest Gazette,'a comedy, "and'. a scenic- subject. . - : '■•' ■ EMPRESS THEATRE. The new World Film drama, "The Rough Neck,".stars Montagu Love.as,a big truculent., heavy fisted lumber .'.boss..', Jack Mastera's father is the political' . boss of the town, and,wants his-'eon to' come and take over the .job and clean up the grafters who are despoiling the. place. The business is complicated by the young _ man- falling in; love.■ His. dealings • with the grafters develops a - thrilling, series of highly sensational incidents, including, a Teal- good .fight. An-. other chapter of the woekly 6erial, "The Man of Might/' is, pp-.-.this; week's,,bili, which features William Duncan Smashing Horror," said to; be full .of. thrilling deeds and narrow escapes. The . usual supporting -pictures .will include scenics and gazettes, which make up o. good' programme. ■ . -■ •• • - ■■■'■' QUEEN'S THEATRE.' '.:.•'"-' '■'"'' "The Man' Hunter," with William Fariram as the star, will bti 6hown to-day at the Queen's Theatre.; Thisistory is-dif-' ferent from anything Mr: Farnum bore-, tofore has-done, and it is also as big astory as he ever has presented, on the screen.' It was ; written by .Frank Lloyd,who 'also directed the picture; v and;Mr.; Lloyd,' having directed -Mr. Farnum-in., all his recent big pictures, knew exactly-, what his star; could'do:. The picture shows that Mr. Lloyd went to. tha limit. of Mr. Farnum's .-unusual strength, • for. : he has him in • three- of. the .most realistic fights ever shown-'on the screen. Those., who' saw r the" fight m "Whea" ; a-Man SeesRed," knows what this screen'star ced do' in this direction, and when be puts on three of these fights in one picture it is certainly worth going a long way'jto see. The story is intensely human, and is relieved here arid I 'theTe by_ genuine good humour. Good supports', include a Sunshine comedy,,' "The' BackrW-Nature Girls" and Mult and Jeff, and f;ho weekly Gazettes. ' .■-.. }, .■ ''".;' ;■;; "LIGHTNIN'." •' "Lightnin'," the comedy-drama to hepresented by J; C. Williamson, Ltd;,;inv terpreted by : a specially' selected' com-: winy, with Mr. John D. O'Hara 'at the.; head, on Wednesday next, at-the .Grand. Opera House, is described as a most Temarkable play. The critic of the Mel-, bourne "Age", writes of the "play .as follows:—"Every phase of the bibulous, grey-haired backwoodsman Mr. .O'Hara. •brought out. v with jemarkable fidelity.' He. played with' quiet 'force, yet always in an atmosphere of humour which never failed to rivet ' attention." The court scene, where.'Lightnin' appears compulsorily to defend' his-, suit, is full of dramatic'efre6ta. v He is a cute, original cross-questioner,-' winning through,'naturally,,'and'in tbeend retaining his wife, and' property;" 'The speculators foiled, there is the return' to • the old home, with all its joys and happiness." "Lifihtnin'". is a play of bright contrasts. Miss Diana Wilson, in the EVond act, showing the superior court at Reno, has her best opportunity. Of commanding presence and-beauty, - 6he is a fascinating petitioner. No wonder the judge falls to her.charms. Slio pleads her cause in such alluring fashion that exaggeration is readily forgiven."' Sucha divorce, .of course,'could only he' triedin Reno, with- tho judge's decision .to go temporarily into' 'recess whilst he.' renews; pleasant■ "acquaintanceship first formed in Lightnin-s' boundary 1 hotel. Mr. Esmeltoh,'. a 9 * the amorous judge, is provided with a' fund of witty sayings, which hit'tbeir .mark'.':. In the" wilds of Novada 'John Marvin,-' timber-'' getter and law student, first met Mildred Buckley, Lightnin's adopted tor;..and falls in-.10ye.;. He.has-a hard task to convince her- that he is a-dis-interested party in preventing the Tombing of old Bill.. How.the girl's "Never"' is turned into sweet complaisance is told amid surroundings full of interest.' Miss Lizetto Parkes and Mr. Robert Toms appear in picturesquo sceneSi . . The box plans, for. tho first,six nightswill bo opened at tho Bristol .on-. Monday morning. ... ---..., . ' ' " ' ■>''''" '" ' "■'