ENTERTAINMENTS

Dominion, Volume 14, Issue 24, 23 October 1920, Page 7

ENTERTAINMENTS

KING'S THEATRE. Tho star attraction at tho King's'Thentve this week is a thrilling drama, entitled "Cheating Cheaters," featuring Clara Kimball Young, a favourite who never fails to draw. The new drama is tomowhat on tho lines of "De Luxe .Annie," and- tho 6tory, briefly, is that a Rang of crooks, assuming the name of Brockton, take up their quarters near New York, lluth Brockton (Clara Kim- • ball Young) is the moving spirit of. tho rang, who'e object it is to steal the valu. .able jewellery of their neighbours, the Palmers. Ruth meets Tom Palmer, the son of the house, and there is mutual. fascination, resulting in Ruth being in- ., vited to stay with the Palmerß until the return of her parents, who have been called away by a fake telegram. 'Ruth has not been in the Palmer homo long before she discovers that tho Palmer diamonds are worthless paste imitations, and, further, that the Palmers themselves are crooks bent on robbing the supposedly wealthy Brochtons. Both sides, on learning tho truth, 'decide to merge their forces. Ruth then brings off. another surprise, which is indeed a surprise. The drama isjn every respect excellent. The story is good, the costuming, scenery, and all .the details that make un n, fine moving picture ara excellent. The supporting pictures in elude two Rolin comedies, an Educational Review, and. tho latest Gazette. 'An additional attraction is the music of the grand orchestra; which jilays selections from "The Fortune Teller" Victor .Herbert) as an 'cntr'act. There will be a -matinee this Afternoon.

'■■-'• "THE END OP THE ROAD." Those who believe in the modern idea of opening the eyes of young folk, to a more intimate knowledge of the mysteries oflifo as a protection .against those dangers likely to beset the ignorant of both sexes will welcome tho straightforward. lesson taught by the nlcture I'The End of the Road," which is ' being exhibited for ladies only at. the Empress' Theatre, and for men only at Everybody's Theatre. The social chango which has come over the world during the .last decade, resulting in a growing moral looseness, probably calls for drastic counteracting measures, and one "of these is certainly "The End—of the Road." How that. lesson is received and applied is a matter for tho individual conscience. Suffice that tho picture is a' danger signal, vivid and thought-compelling, and, if accepted as such, must have' a purifying inflnence, even if it is at the expense of thatiiinocence which our grandparents cherished as an inestimable virtue. The story by.which the lossori is conveyed is that of two girls, Mary 'Lee (whose mind has been enlightened in a very delicate and beautiful manner) 'and Vera Wapiior (whose natural questionings havo been rebuffed ,by a mother, who considers the 'child naughty for asking such questions). Mary, armed against tho dangers that beset young girls, goes through life a free," happy, helpful being nntsi she finally finds' her true helpmato in an Army doctor. On the other hand, Vera, predisnosed to moral looseness' and ignorant of its diro results, finds that the "easiest way" conducts her to the depths of misery and desnair. Becoming tho mistress of a wealthy young Teprobate, she becomes infected with a loathfome disease, and in her -pathetic wretchedness sho discloses her condition, to h.er old playmate Mary. who asks the adrice of Dr. Bell, who diagnoses her af-, fliction correctly, and orders drastic treatment. The poor. girl • revolts at having to undergo this course, but on being shown the awful results of the disease—a section of the picturo which might be'cut down a little—consents, and is finally cured. There are incidental scenes introduced which serve to force home the dreadful results of veneral disease—the sins of the father reflected in the physical ineptitude of the children— which lesson it is imnossiblo to misapply. Viewing "The End of tho Road" in' this light, the effect of its. mission' is necessarilv restricted by the age limitation' which tho management have i voluntarily set on those desirous of seeing the picture. The programme also includes some extremely beautiful post-nature studies, and a Gfaumont Gazette. 'The End of the Boad"- : will be. on at the Empress. and "Everybody's Theatres continuously throughout tho current week.

TO-NIGHT'S ORGAN RECITAL. The following items ivill. lja played at Hie organ reeitnl to be given at tlie Town Hall to-night by Mr. Bernard F. Page (city organist) ■.—Suite Aneienne Debussy's Andnnte (from String Quartet). Gla7ouuov's Prelude in D Flat Maior On. 49 .(No. 1), Toccata and Fusrue in E Maior (Bach). Rhapsodie Wo. 31 On. 7 bv Saint-Siiens, MacDowell's "In Passing 'Moods,'" and Cesar Franek's Toccata 'in P. SUNDAY CONCERT. The last concert of the season By the Wellington Professional Orchestra will bo liven to-morrow evening at His Majesty's Theatre.- Amonir the principal items will be the Tyatitifiil "Unfinished Rvmnhbny" of Schubert, Mendelssohn's '"Midsummer Night's Dream" Overture, and "Four Old English Dances"- by Cowen. Liehfer nieces will include a Chinese Wedding Procession by Hosmer. Mr. H. Moschini will conduct.,, Admission will he by silver, coin collection. ■ ... "TILLY OP BLOOMSBURY." "Tilly of Bloomsbury," the' latest bier •T. C. Williamson comedy success, will be staged at the Grand Onera House,' commencing on Tuesday. According to Australian critics, the new comedy can be summarised briefly as a play of welldrawn .clear-cut type, only in' a couple of instances overdrawn, and then only for farcical purposes. The joyous noteis struck in the first act by the curate, carried _on> by Perce Welwyn. and continned into the. second act. where it is suddenly cut out. and sentiment intervenes. The socinl rap bptween Dick Mainwaring and Tilly Welwyn, ln's bride-elect, is indicated by the comparison drawn between the Mainwaring-'i luxurious home in "The Towers" and Welwyns boardinghonse in the musty antiqititv of Bloomsbury. "What' the anthor Ims SP t out. to prove is that traditions and family are of little consenuenee wliere. lovo is concerned. Sixteen distinct, types figure in 'the action of the comedy, each keeping closely to thn characterisation 'as • drawn ' in Happy-Go-Luckv," 'from which hook' the play was adanted. Box' plans are now open at the Bristol. LOWELL THOMAS. Mr. Lowell Thomas's "travelogues" are drawing crowded houses at the- Opera House, and last evening's ontertainmeni was attended -by Viscount "Jellicoe and l„ y J* !l ' co ° and Party. Mr. Thomas tells tho story of the Palestine campaign, and tho enthralling tale of the young Oxford scholar, Colonel Lawrence, Hie uncrowned King of Arabia. The "travelogue" fs illustrated; with wonderful' motion pictures and coloured lantern slides. Tho last "travelogue" will be presented to-night.. There- will bo a matinee this afternoon. '