ENTERTAINMENTS

Dominion, Volume 13, Issue 263, 31 July 1920, Page 5

ENTERTAINMENTS

"MOTHER HUBBARD." Tho J. and N. Tait' pantomime, which has onjoyed such a successful run in Wellington, ia now not far from the end of its local 'season. A matineo performanco will bo given to-day, and there will,of course, be another performance at night. Tho production sparkles with bright musical numbers and nttractivo balleta, and an abundance of breezy humour is provided by Barry Lupino and Jack Cannot. Clever "spocialty" turns give an added interest to the pantomime. "BACK TO 'GOD'S COUNTRY." ' The big, all-round appeal of tho double bill at the King's Theatre should ensure full houses for the ensuing week. After a long absene, Charles Chaplin, best of picture clowns) and a good actor nil the timo,- reappears iu "Sunnyside," a country idyll. Charlie in bed and booted out; Charlie mowing the grass in tho bar-room; Charlie heading the cows and losing them in a church on a Sabbath morning; Charlie as- a cow-jockey, and Charlio in love with a simple village maidon was all admirable fooling, and thoroughly enjoyed. Ia ; strong contrast camo "Back to God's Country," a vigorous drama of the frozen nortn—a scenio, a Nature study, and a red-blood-.ed tale of Alaska, all in one. It is a very vivid screen version of J. 0. Cur-1 wood's novel "Wapi the Walrus"—one | of those'■gripping stories ,of primitive life that one must read at a sitting. Miss Nell Shipman appears to marked advantage as Dolores le Beau, the French maid of the woods, who makes friends with all the bird 3 and beasts,' and is never happy away from them. Only a short time after Dolores has found a truo lovor in young Peter Burke, a Government naturalist, Burke is called away, and 6he is exposed to a terrible experience through the villainy, of one. Rrdal, Burke's fortunate return just saves nim from seeing his. romance sink into an abyss of tragedy. •./ Peter and Dolores marry in Nome' dfe. • One day comes a message that he musft proceed to the Arctic on a certain trading ship. Away at sea the skipper turns out to be the unspeakable Eydal, and tho trip is discovered to bo a plot to catch the girl. In the vast frozen world of the north destiny weaves her web, but Dolores' lovo of and command over animals sees her safely through many perils, and it is good. At last to seo Rydal sink in an icypool never to rise again. The scenery Is original and amazingly realistic, and tho acting of Miss Shipman is as good as anything seen on the' screen' for a long time past. Thev orchestra, under Mr. E. L. Austin, played Sehuberfs overture 'Tlosamunde" very nicely,' and a fine seloction of music during the dramatic picture, including Rachmaninoff's "Prelude." The pictures include a'fine view of the Derby of 1920, won by Spion Kop.

EVERYBODY'S THEATRE. ' Comedy and drama are, judiciously blended in the' big picture, "All the World to Nothing/' which headed the new bill presented at Everybody's Theatre last evening. The leading rolo i 8 played by Bill Russell, who adds to his already great popularity by his portrayal of tho wealthy young man whose teste for gambling and adventure getshim into .all sorts of difficulties. He loses a fortune at poker, but replenishes his coffers in unexpected fashion. He receives a leap year' proposal from a fascinating heiress. He jumps at the offer, and his charming brido brings with her another fortune to replace .the one lost at cards. Winifred Westovcr makes a delightful heroine, and the play is characterised by live-action and well6ustained comedy. It was witnessed by a big audience last night, and is bound to have a very successful season. Variety is lent to the programme by tho screening of a piotaro depicting the latest English Derby: It shows all tho preliminaries—the parade,' tho start—and tho classic event itself from start to finish. Tho fourth episode of .the thrilling serial, "Mystery of 13,". is also 'being shown. :' EMPRESS THEATRE. ' A thrilling story of the Royal Canadian North-West Mounted • Police, yclept "The Devil's Trail," was screened, at the Empress Theatre yesterday in connection with the weekly change of programme. Winsome Betty Compson, who made suoh a pronounced success with her role in "The Miracle Man," takes the part of tho heroino in "The Devil's Trail," and she veritably excells herself. The fame of the "Soarlet Riders'" of the Canadian hinterland is world-wide, and the present picture give 9 a 'splendid insight into tho perilous nature of their work. Incidentally "The Devil's Trail" in noteworthy on uccount of tho magnificent, rugged scenery cf the far north which is so admirably reproduced. Indeed many of the scenes in "The Devil's 'i'rail" were actually filmed in the very section of .tho Cnnjulian North-West territories where the scene of the picture is laid. The story tells of primeval passions amid primitive surroundings, and harks back to the days of the mad gold rush near the Arctic wastes. Action in the play centres largely around the fortunes of Julie, tho youngest daughter of the _Pwt Commandant, and Sergeant MacNair, who arrives from headquarters to depose her father, and takes his placo as commander of the outpost. Julio openly scorns MacNair, but later she revises her opinion of him on account of hid gallant and 'fearless conduct in interpreting law and order in a community of 'rough-necks." A tough danco hall is the scene of many thrilling fights, and excitement runs high all through the five reels. East riding, daring rescues, nnd-a generous flavouring of romance all tend to make a most entertaining picture., The supporting films include 500 feet of the English Derby of 1920, and the seventh episode of tho thrilling •erial, 'liberty."

harmonic society. Sir Edward Elgar, considered by many to be the greatest living composer, will provide the wholo of tho vocal part of the programme of the second concert of tho 1920 season of the Wellington Hnrmonic Society on Wednesday evening next, undor the conductorship of Mr. H. Temple White. The choir of fifty picked voices has put in some very hard practice to work this programme up to the high standard which has been reached in past concerts. Such numbers as "Tho Challenge of Thor," "Go, Song of Mine," "Weary Wind of tho West," "My Love Dwelt in a Northern Land," and "O Happy Eyes" aro calculated to test the capabilities of' an> body of singera; yet all these nndiinore aro included in the programme. Special mention should be made ql "The Snow"—for ladies' voices, with accompaniment for two violins.and piano. In addition to the work of :the society, Miss Mabelle Esqnilant (contralto) will sing "Like to the Damask Rose" and "Where Corals Lie"; Mr. Prank Charles, "The Pipes of Pan"; and the Harmonic Quartet, After Many a Dusty Mile." Miss Ava Symons, viol, inist, will play "Allegro Maosloso," and "Air on G String." Mr. Harold Whittie will bo at tho piano. The box plan is at the Bristol, where seats may be reserved without extra charge.

TO-NIGHT'S ORGAN RECITAL., Mr. Bernard P. Page (city organist) will give his weekly organ recital tonight at the Town Hall, and the programmo is as follows:—Sonata in D Minor (Taulkes); Rachmaninoff's Melodio; (a. A Tear, b. Meditation), by Moussorgsky; Third Movement from "Scheherazade" (auito Symphonique for Orchestra), Op. 85, Rimsky-Korsakoff; Cesar Frances (1822-90) Priere in C Sharp Minor (Op, 20), and Toccata and Fugue in D Minor (Dorian), (1685-1750), by Bach. SUNDAY CONCERT. : The Professional Orchestra will break new ground to-morrow evening at His Majesty's Theatre, when it will give Tschaikovsky's famous Pathetic Symphony in full. Tho rehearsals indicate that a good performance wili result, and n crowded audience is anticipated. By special request tho "Prince 'Igor" overture of Borodin is to bo repeated. Mr. H. Mosohini will conduct. There will be a silver coin collection.