ENTERTAINMENTS

Dominion, Volume 14, Issue 36, 6 November 1920, Page 12

ENTERTAINMENTS

4 "NINB-TENTHS OP THE LAW."' It will bo many v C ars before tlie tale pf tho North-West in the making, and the story of pioneer life in the Canadian ucrthlands will ccase to ha of, interests hnd the' popularity that is always attendant upon photoplays dealing with tho West was evinced by a large attendaiifo bt tho King's Theatre Inst evening on the occasion of the initial screening in Wellington nf "Nino-Tenths of tho Law. !An American film reviewer and conjiofcseur of Western tales has* said that* .''Nine.-Tenthp of the Law" is a film mute ns good a* l Rex Bcaclv's foinn'l.l "Bax•Tier." This is quite true. The Western atmosphere tho photonlay, bnd the tense and thrillin? situations that occur during the niece never allow tho interest to flap.. The Yukon, with itn snows and dangers. forms 'lie thome of •the photoplav. -Tho-'storv tnfoldpil is cne of the 90'?,. telling ef the life in the 'canvas cities, of tho. rushes to mining olaims. of which so many rloved but • scraps of warthisss parchment, and of that existence where the only law was that meted out by an inexorable 6ix-shooter. The thrillinpr incidents depleted are those showing virile men, in their struggle for life in n country where the creed wm "the survivnl of tho fittest." The characters are such as one would ex- ' pact from Sir Gilbert Parker, Box li»ach, 'or Robert W. Service. Theactii* is Hiiperh. Excellent characterisation of roles that are is a feature <f the plav, and adds much to Its charm. The antics of a tiny tot, "Breezy Reeves." ore a feature of the production, and this nrecooinus youngster plays a hie r-art. Mitchell Lewis is seen to "Teat advantage. ■ Other films include a Christie comedy, entitled "Save lie, Sadie/' and a new Gazette. At last evening's performance, Mr. Frank Charles, a fine baritone, was heard in "Blow,. ,Kow Thou Wintry Wind," and "Until," being vociferously .moored. The King's Orchestra played . "Zampa," Herold'sgreat work, as an overture, and incidental music included the .following compositions:—"Yalso Muliroo" (Nicole), "Madrigale" x Simouett'). •"Once Upon a Time" (Malir), "Tinder ttie Leave?" (TBorne), "Valse T.ente" (Chooin). Elsa's Dream from "1 ohen- . eriri" (Waener). "Spanish Dance" (Jloszkoweki). "The Swan" (St. Saen§), "0 Starr .of Ere" (Warner), "To flip Spring (Griefr); '"Canzonetta" (d'Ambros'p), elections from "Herodias" and "T)on Cesar de fiazan" "Flying (Wagner). The programme will be repented this evening and throughout next week. "THE SHADOW OF .LIGHTNING 5 ."RIDGE " Australian makers of "movies" continue valiantly to advance in their art. They are assisted very valuably in at least one direction by having such a hardy athletic "stunter" in "Snowy" Baker, who is apparently in his glory when achieving tne untoward. t In the - case of "The Shadow of Lightning Ridge/' presented -at the Empress Theatre yesterday and last evening by E. J. Carroll. Ltd.. honour and grit are placed foremost in a very human, if out-of-the-way story. In it Mr. Baker figures dynamically -as the "Shadow," who harasses the life and property of one Sir Edward Marriott in the best Ned Kelly stylo. His hobby is to rob the titled owner of Kambarra station of all things, human and other, he holds most dear, in the belief that ho (Marriott) did his mother a deadly wrong. At first h« •robs tho mail of the Ivambarra pay-roll, th»sn steals from a railway van a valuable racehorse, and then in tho impetujjflis manner of the cave-man descends on the Marriott homestead, and 1 lifts there- ' from the beauteous Dorothea Harden (who is very uncertain in her devotion to her fiance. Sir Edward). To allow of a lively bit of "stunting" on the part of the elusive one, the Shadow, without any very definite excuse, visits the near-, est hotel A with very disturbing results, forhe. pummels and tosseß and bumps about twenty lusty farmers as though he were a machine. It is after is pretty well spent, that Sir Edward himself arrives to iearn that the Shadow's unquenchable hate was directed towards him because he regarded him as having i dishonoured his dead mother. Sir Edward straightens out the tangle by tell'ing the "Shadow" that he only succeeded < fo the title when the Shadow was ten years of age, and that ( his predecessor, Sir" Ernest Marriott, was really married to the Shadow's mother, which, makes the Shadow the owner of the Marriott title and the despoiler of > his own es- • tates. The picture includes -some very picturesque glimpses of rural Australiaits plains, its bush, its mountains—and through it all the Shadow moves as a primal man—quick, sure, daring, elusive, and always honourable, and chivalrous to those deserving of it. Miss Brownie Vernon makes a handsome if somewhat sulkv heroine. Episode one of a serial entitled "Smashing Barriers, featuring William Duncan, was also . screened. It has a nerve jump ill every . foot.' EVERYBODY'S THEATRE. .Corinne Griffith, the charming American ingenue, whose success in the realm of photo-plays has been 60 marked of late, achieves yet Another success in "Deadline at 11," which met with marked appreciation at its initial screenings at Everybody's Theatre yesterday.. In American newspaper parlance "deadline" is the set time at which the line is drawn, for receiving news, [and the "formes" are locked for the edition that is going to press, and the reporter has to get his story in ?by deadline to make the edition. As the title suggests, "Dead- ' lino at 11" is a newspaper story, with Corinne. Griffith in the rolei of a girl ' reporter. Through her clever resource-. fulness sho clears her lover of - a murder charge, runs down tho guilty man, and gets, her storv in l>y deadline, all in record time. The atmosphere of the big newspaper is fascinating to a degreei ' end when one adds ft good story with ' ' dramatic intensity, written by a real newspaper woman, adapted by a newspaper, man, and filmed in a big daily editorial office; it will be understood thai tho picture is' of outstanding merit and fascinating. The supporting iilms • are varied and interesting, and the programme for the current week is decidedly good. CARTER THE GREAT. At. the Grand Opera House to-ni"ht J. . , .C. Williamson, Ltd., will present Cartel the Great, the famous magician and illusionist. Wherever ho has appeared it . !is admitted that Carter is one of the finest exponents of the magic art thai has ever visited New Zealand. II is said that there is not a dull .moment . from riso to fall of the curtain. There is a little of everything, and each illusion is a magic scena both mystifying ond spectacular. Many tons of para phernalia are required to stage these illusions, and a host of mechanists are employed to manipulate the .intricate mechanism. Commencing with a Bouquet of Mysteries, to-night's programnlo includes tho Jlagical Divorce, the .Mystery of the Yogi, tho Crystal Casket, Flyto, the Mystery of Bagdad, the Astral Hand, the Spirit Seance, and tho Lion's Bride, in which a huge lion is made to disappear and reappear in full view 9f the audience; this illusion is claimed to be tho most daring and spectacular illusion lever staged. Evelyn Maxwell, described as a psychic marvel, will-give a remarkable demonstration of mental telepathy and thought transference. The incidental music is provided by a specially selected orchestra under the direction of Miss Nelly Black. Tonight's box plan will be at the Bristol till noon, and after that at the Blue Bird Confectionery, where,, early door tickets may also be obtained. ST. LEON'S CIRCTJS. Tor the better part of a hundred years, St. Loon's Circus has been a Mimo" wellknown and respected in New Zealand and Australia, and to-day St. Leon's Circus has a very strong appeal to all classes of amusement lovers The intimation that this fine circus will open in Wellington oil Wednesday, Novembor 10, near Taranakf Street Wharf, will doubtless be received with satisfaction by all circus devotees. The management announces an attractive programme, comprising all the best features available in thj circus world—sensational and dexterous acts, riders, tumblors, clowns, and <icro't»ats> in the very front rank; and equine performers, from the best and cleverest horses. "HIAWATHA." Coleridge Taylor's masterpiece, "Hia- ' wfttha," will lio performed in its entirety on Wednesday next at ilhe Town

Hall by tho Choral Union for its third and filial subscription concert of tho present season. Tho booking is eaid to bo very heavy. Apart from tho nintftrificenco of tho work itself, an addod atiltactioii in tho engagement of tho world-famous soloists Miss Amy Evans, tho Welsh soprano, and Mr, Fraaer Gauge,. the Scottish basso. Miss Evans's ypico is 01 singularly 'boautiful quality, fresh am* sonorous, and of the oxcoptional compose j <>f three and a qunrtor octiives."' Writing of Mr. Gauge, the "Manchester Giiardian said: "Mr. Praser Gnngo is indeed one of th<> most tnily noteworthy mnirors before the public to-day " Mr. James Simpeon, of Auckland, will sing the tenor solos. A full rehoaraal will be held in St. John's Schoolroom 011 Monday evening. The box plan is at> the Bristol. EVAN-S-GANGE CONCERTS. Amy Evans, tiho Welsh soprano, and Frasor Gangc, the Scottish basso, will commence ft series of fa™™ l certs in the Town Kail on Thursday oveniijff next. Upon the occasion of their previous visit here these artist won many admirers In musical circles. Since their previous season tli6y havfc touied the Dominion, anil liavo mot wn!h success everywhere. A completely now song repertoire will bo submitted- at each covertOn Thursday Miss Evans will suit; Hear Ye, Israel," from "Elijah, "Visßi d'arte" from La rosea. and with Mr? Gange tho duetl from 13 jjahMr ' (jange's nunVbers . ■ will include "Vittoria Vittoria"(Carisaimi) ; In Beauteous Gardens Th ® r °J Hand" (Samuel), Whon I Wit « Bachelor" (Grogm-v). The artists- will be Miss Clarice Wood, solo pianist and accommms':, Die '"l" T will open at the Bristol on Monday. '■X SCOTS. NIGIIT.' The Wellington Caledonian Society's Pipo Band deserves well ot tho publ'c, for on all sorts of occasion? it lias turnJ ed out and roused enthusiasm wth the skirling lilt of the Highland y r P}P B The society has organised an concert to "be held in the Town Hal on November 17, and hopes #"> If' form fund of tho pi pew .from n>°ds The programme is remarkably well varied, and items will bo given J Mrs. John Friwar, tho popular fiontliern singer, General Ivan Tarbayeff, tho noted Russian tenor the Hannonio ?. "{/ tet Mr. I'rod G. Bnurke, ono of Auckland's leading- baritones, and other prominent artistl The plwijr.ll T» opened at the Bristol on November MBUSY SINGERS. Miss Amy Evans and Mr. Eraser Ganga sawr in "'The Messiah" at Dunedin oil Monday and Tuesday With rataMsuc ; cess. They will ftPPcar in H »«at a here on Wednesday nest, and 111 oallnu concerts on Thursday e« nl ,?B to day afternoon. They will tno " rs^'™ SS"' ASto?" «' $ V,' December'l3 and IG. A recital of vocal. and music will be held m St. i'ftiil 8 J"> : Cathedral on Tuesday evening inex) t.Mr John Prouso, who is leavrna for E Mr, in the course of a few days will be the chief' vocalist, and. it will be the las'- onportnniW of lieaimg hira in ®°™ e rflnKt'olos. Miss Ava Symons the talented violinist, will pl«y. mis "Melodv for the 4th StrniL', Mackenzie's "Benedictus," and Handel s with Mr. Robert Parker at the <"¥»"*• Tbe programme will also include solo and concerted vocal numbers by. members of St. Paul's Choir. Mr EI Graves lock, of Messrs. J- and n! Tart's staff, is leaving bydney at the end of the month to make nrraiy for tho coming Christmas-New Tear tour : of illie New Soutli Wales State Orchestra On severing bis connection with Miss : Daisy Kennedy and M Bon™ J oiscwit«eh the former presented Mi. «is"e stock with a handsome diamond and peart $n and th" latter with a solid gold cigarette case.