ENTERTAINMENTS

Dominion, Volume 13, Issue 186, 3 May 1920, Page 3

ENTERTAINMENTS

, "LIGHTNIN'." Th,e highly ingenious and amusing | comedy, 'Lightmn'," was played to an- j other enthusiastic audience by the Wil-1 liamson Company at tho Grand Opera , House on Saturday night. Mr. Jphn D.' O'Hara; as the genial old ruffian "Bill," ' is the character who dominates this play, and his work is uncommonly good. Ho is tho husband of Mrs. Jones, the proprietress of a busy hotel, which is eituatcd.half in California and half in Nevada. This convenient hotel, whore would-bo divorcer may live nominally in California whilo really qualifying by residence for easy divorce in Nevada, is the 6Cone of many humorous happenings. Tho play has divorce for its theme, and one cf its most hilarious scenes is > laid in a: Reno divorco court, where an emotional plaintiff and a pair of real estate trickstors help to make fun. Miss Diana Wilson, as the plaintiff, is also strikingly successful. Although "Light- ( nin'" deals with divorce, it hag no unpleasant flavour. It is a really good American' comedy, not to be missed by ' any of the people who like to laugh. ' .' KING'S THEATRE. So much attention is generally paid to - , the longest picture of any kinema bill that whole programmes are made to stand or fall according to tho merits of a single production. It would be totally -unfair, however, to 6um\up the attractions of tho cunent scriqs at tho King's'by reference merely to tho weaknesses 'of Anita Stewart's picture "Human Desire;" the bill possesses other features that alono,would be sufficient to earn; for it tho wannest commendation. These more attractive items aro: A "Gazetto," teeming with records of interesting events; a film showing how magnificent a spectacle was tho children's wclcome to the.'Prince at Auckland; an "educational review"—hardly educative* 'in the deeper "senso of - tho word,'but verv curious and entertaining for all that; and, finally, an absorbing Chester travel picture with quaintly humorous ", letterpress set between glimpses of I; life and scenery. "Human J Deshe" moves quakily by means of an elaborate mechanism ot too improbablo coincidence; and there is inoro than a. hint of inconsistency in the.characterisation of the heroine who, for all that she professes a yearning to mother cold and hungry children, succeeds in never meet-, ing any of the type, and readily, forgets to Yearn when a modern American home, with husband complete is offered to her. Tho playing of the King's orchestra on Saturday night was splendid. The big liouso could not have wished to hear anything . finer than the interpretations given of Grieg's "Norwegian Bridal Procession" and the March from "'faunhauser" (Wagner). Theie nas a beautiful contrast, incidentally, between the liptht, mirthful spult of the former piece , and the rather sombre grandeur of tho laltCT. Mr. Leo Buckeridge sang "Suzon" (Tostil, "A Jolly Old Cavalier" (Dix), and "Father O'Elynn" (Stanford). EMPRESS THEATRE. / At the Empress Theatre there is being screened this .week an emotional drania entitled "Josselyn's Wife," in which Bessie Barriscale takes, the lend. . Tho story,is bdth interesting and unusual. A .woman marries an artist, and tho artist later on falls in love with his fascinating stepmother: Bessie Barriscale, as the wronged wife, has an emotional part' , to pUy.'and she handles the part in a human and sympathetic manner. .Thero is -an excitirig , climax when the artist- i husband is charged with the', murdor of his father. The wife"goes thiough a Bsries of beart-breabng experiences, -but' in the end happiness enfolds her. The ' manner in which the real: murderer is I discovered is very interesting. The l tenth episode of "The Man of Might" and "Tho Living Flag," showing the children's display in,the Auckland Domain before the Prince of "Wales, are tho supporting pictures. EVERYBODY'S THEATR.E.

■ "This'iHero Stuff," the'new film screened' at Everybody's Theatre on Saturday, : features William Russell, and unfolds , a somewhat 'remarkable stoTy; iTho hero is roalry, a hero, for he come?-back from France' with>■■ three -for bravery,, but "the plaudits that overwheltn him on'his return get on liis nerves, arid His welcome wears him out. He then tarns coward-in order to . sicken his admirers, and succeeds., well ( enough;until taunted by. "the one girl" '• She thinks 'he had a jyellow sb-eak in . him, but-he soons undeceives'her. There are plenty of humorous,situations,'and tho fights and fisticuffs and quick action .'arouse the' keenest interest. The wonderful exhibition given : by. the Auckland school 'children before the • Prince . of • W T ales is a decidedly: interesting picture,''-. and this and the ■ Gazette'make >'up a very strong programme. .-•;■. . ; "''■■• ORGiN RECITAL. ' . The .city organist (Mr. Bernard ■■ ¥. Paffe) gave an organ recitnl'before a- restricted audiehep at the Town Hall on - Saturday, evening; and to those whoso musical education. has given them'the necessary appetite to.appreciate the'elerating music the was enjoyable. -The programme included' : tho• Bpirituelle "Good .Friday''Music" ~' from Wagner's opera "Parsifal," W. F. 'Bach's "Concerto in D Minor," "Glazounov^sj"Ls. Nuit,",.Rebikoif's "Nainde" (from, the five melo-mimics), ■ Cesar Franbk's' "Fantasie in A," i and Ravel's ' Pavane pottr-'nne Infunte Defunte." For Dr. Barnado's Homes. On Saturday evening,., at the residence of/Mr. and Mrs;. Frank Clark, Brougham Street, a number of clever children gave ; a very, jolly entertainment in' aid of . the funds of ;Dr.,Barnardb's' Homes in England,.which .was a success from start to reflecting infinite credit on the . organisers. The first part consisted.of "■. ' the two-act play, "A Form Mix-up,", a *•. ? so . W■ °f ' an amusing character. \ with, the action'located in the school ; study and drill-room. «.Tho'latter scene enabled the children to give a' smart display "of, school acrobatics up' to date, which would, certainly, have raised the eyebrows of their great grandmothers, the parts m the play were assumed by Misses Eileen Milligan; Bci-yl Clark, Cressoll Vaughan, Ira Inglesby/Edna Plimaier. Cecilia Taylor, and Gretta MlAwn. In the second part most'of tlie lit'.o, ladies present participated in a concert performance, consisting mostly , of character songs and dances, which : were hugely enjoyed by all present.