ENTERTAINMENTS

Dominion, Volume 14, Issue 18, 16 October 1920, Page 5

ENTERTAINMENTS

KING'S THEATRE.

Many Neir Zealandera regretted the fact that some years ago an Engtieh theatrical company abandoned a tour 1o the Dominion with the tfyn new melodrama of the East, "Mr. Wu," but with the advent of the motion picture the ■want has been supplied, and an exceptionally large audiencu attended the Kings Theatre laßt evening to see the initial screening in Wellington of the feature film, "ilr Wu," written by a foremost English playwright, when produced on the speaking stage, hod the game effect as had Ibsen's "Ghosts" and Hauptmann's "■ Weavers" a quarfer of a century before. Smug Britons held up their, hands in horron at the theme of the play,' and were scandalised by the unravelling of the plot. Wu, the- Chinaman, bereft of his only daughter, killed by his own hand after her betrayal by ft young Englishman, is a male Mrs, Alving. Be sees the hypocrisy of the "foreign devil," who comes to'.his shores with religion and knowledge—and who denies the honour of his ancestors. At the shrine of the Bonze, this W«. who although a Chinese might hav)) been a character from Strindberg—swears eternal enmity to the family of his daughter's betrayer. In his inscrutable waj> he enlists the sympathy; of tlifc Tongs, the high-binders, ahd besides imprisoning the youth responsible for the death of his daughter, Wu plans to ruin the lad's father. There is a hiistorio meeting between the two men, one that shows the confident Englishman how much there is' behind the impassive, yfellow mask of the Old World Chinaman. "An eye for nn eye, a tooth for a tooth: thus you foreign Christians taught us in China," says Wu to the lad's mother. "Well, in China, it is a woman for a woman, and death to both." 'A strong climax_ is reachbd, : the ending of the play being most unusual.' Matheson Lang, the noted English actor, surpasses all previous efforts in his delineation' of the extremely liffioult'role of Wu. He shows has talent; rrore .especially towards the end of the piece, when he. is called upon to do* diih'cult work. The'supporting nlayers arp of' a high standard. As a prologue to the film, a dance by Mr. Francis Delaney gained much'applause. The overture, at 8 pm.was "Carmen," and tins stirring work.was splendidly played by thja King s Orchestra. Incidental musio was selected from the, .following pieces:-- Desert Suite" (Grunn), "Chinese Episode (Lubormisky), "Two Pictures /Letter) "Fourth! Movement from Pathetic Symphony" (Tschnikowski), ','Onentale (Caesar Cui, selections from Chu Chin Chow".Morton), and "Die Walhire" (Wagngr).

EVERYBODY'S THEATRE. ' Sprightliness "is one of the .<*yeral pleising -characteristics of "Tium. -from Broadway," which is billed as the pnn.--cipal attoctioE-at Theatre The ' photo-play was put through its ' initial screening-yesterday, and theabegoers in .attendance were delighted with thcbreezy- personality of Margarita Fisher, who plays the leading role, fane revels throughout the piece as the shining light in a Broadway hit which xe- ■ ioices in the title, pf "Oh, Chicken. The efforts 'of her bucolic husband to make her settle down as a respectable married woman make one of the most laughable comedies.: Her; transfpttna-. tion intotho model.-wife took sonic(doing, and Incidentally involved her and her immediate circle of friends and _ admirers in alii sorts of trouble "Tnxio from Broadway"-goes with a-swing from .tart'to finish, and Miss Fisher's drollery throws the audience into gales of laughter and waves of delight: Another attraction is the final episode of The Mystery of 13," whioh is replete with (exiting -and adventurous' stttowi land an astounding "mystery.. Topical and scenic subjects are also included >n the programme. ■ ■ • ■■■-■.< EMPRESS, THEATRE. ' A romance of three 1 modern Musketeers is delightfully told in the course of a pleasing photo-drania. "The Great Impostor," which headed the new programme'presented .at the Empress Thea-tre-yesterday. The picture is the latest British-Hariua,release,:and it 6peaks volumes for- the.. astounding progress made since the war by English film producers. The star roles are played by Bernard Dudley and Marie Blanche, both of-whom have rapidly leapt into fame. The ■ story is.- intensely interesting .and is somewhat-out of the ordinary run of film dramas. In the main'it concerns n, jailor's impersonation of an earl's son to win the affections of the girl he byes, and whose .station is-above his own. When the imposture is discovered other remarkable disclosures are made, the'whole forming a most • acceptable ■romance. The play.has a truly British, atmosphere, and in this respect it affords some pleasing contrasts with American methods. The settings I a*© of a most picturesque order and the scenery "as -unrivalled. The supporting films; include the 19th opisode. of the Liberty serial, Giaumont Graphic, and a rot, licking comedy. "Dreamy Dud Joy-rid-ing." "TILLY' OF BLOOMSBURY." . Wellington playgoers are' promised another fine attraction in "Tilly of Bloomsbury," the'latest big J. ft' Williamson' comedy success; which Will be staged at the Grand Opera Housed commencing on October 26. 'According to Australiancritics,'the new comedy - can be summarised briefly as a play of types well drawn, clear cut types, only in a couple of instances' overdrawn, and then only for farcical purposos. . The joyous note is struck- in the first act by the curate carried, on-by- Perce Wolwyn, and continued "into, the second'act, where it is suddenly .cut out and sentiment inter- . vohes.,-.''The social gap between Dick Mainwaring and Tilly Welwyn, his bride-elect;' is indicated by th« comparison : drawn between the Mainwanngs' luxurious home in "The Towers" and Welwyn's boardinghouse in the mu6ty .antiquity of Bloomsbury. What the democratic author has set out to prove is that traditions and family are of little consequence where love is concerned..' Sixteen distinct types'figure in the'' action of the comedy, each helping closely to the characterisation, as drawn in "Happy-go-Lucky" from which book the play was adapted. Mrs. Robert Brough shows.she can still give, points in artistry to young actresses. Dorothy Manville,. the sensible, Tilly, who recognises the sopial bar, but determines "to carry war into enemy territory, by 6wank, swank, swank, rank? high Jn. nrtfctic merit, and Dick Mainwaring (Frank Freeman) ennnot be blamed for giving l his susceptible heart to the young, lady. Anyone who 'chases a girl on to a bus in the main and makes his proposal of marriage on top of another bus is romantically amorous. - Few would search for Cupid,on a smoky, lumbering London bus. .Mr. Freeman is perfectly at home in-, the nart. as aTe George' Blunt m the Bailiff and Percy Rhodes as Tilly's father, all of whom were imported from the. leading Enirlisli theatres. The box plan 'opens on Friday next at the Bristol. -V"

A. STANLEY WARWICK RECITALS.

Mr.- A. Stanley Warwick, adjudicator of the elocutionary'section of tho Competitions, . announces that for his first recital on Tuesday next in tho Concert Chamber' of the Town Hall, the pjoCTammo will include "Tho Story of n, Miniature," ."The Workhouse Man," "Carillon," and "Tho Ballad of Heading Gaol." Tho -well-known soprano, Miss Etaio Kell, will assist, and Mr. Harold Whittle will be the accompanist. Tho second reeitnl will bo held on the following nijrht. The box plan is at tho Bristol Piano Co,