ENTERTAINMENTS

Dominion, Volume 14, Issue 220, 11 June 1921, Page 9

ENTERTAINMENTS

"HUMPTY DUMPTY.” Pantomime never lacks an appreciative public. Although by popular tradition it is the children’s joy. in actual fact it is the delight of the adult. “Humpty Dumpty,” the Williamson production running at the Grand Opera House, is composed of all 4ho ingredients that go to make a good pantomime plenty of riotous fun, fine ballets, and beautiful scenery and costuming. The Chicken and Poppy Ballets are outstanding feature.? of this pantomime, and the solo dancing of Miss Josie Melville never fails to elicit loud applause. Mr. A. Le Fre as the "dame," Miss Beatrice Allen as tho principal boy, and Miss Marie Fancbonetti as tho principal girl, all come in for liberal commendation. The part of Humpty Dumpty is played by Mr. H. St. Clair, whose make-up is a source of much amusement. A very enjoyable turn is that of tho Lecardo Brothers (acrobats). Pretty songs and spirited orchestral music complete the attractions of the entertainment. There will be a matinee this afternoon, and another performance at night. KING’S THEATRE. "Tho Scoffer,” which was presented for the first time at the King’s Theatre last evening, is a picture that in emotional appeal and foreceful presentation invites comparison with some of the notable successes of tho screen. It is produced by Alan Dwan, who characteristically has refused to allow tho story to be subordinated to any "star” player. The story is the thing with this producer, ami to its effective interpretation ho brings all the resources of his art. The almost breathless interest shown by last nig-Hi’s au-dienco is the measure of his success. Stannard Wayne is a clever surgeon and a good man. He carries hie high ideals and his faith in God into tho practice of his profession and the conduct of his personal affairs. Re marries for love, with fine reverence for the woman of his choice. Then his faith is put to a shattering test. His wife and his friend prove false, his professional career is wrecked by a cruel plot, and he himself is sent td gaol for a term of years for a crime of which ho is innocent. He emerges from prison with all the instincts of mind and soul distorted, by his wrongs; he has hatred in his heat tor his fellow-men and scoffing words on his lips for the faith that had been his. A hard, embittered man, he goes out into the wilds, and presently finds himself in a little village deep in the forests, where he finds opportunity to vent the hatred that is consuming him. And it i? here that in the end he works out his own salvation, and recovers in circumstances of high dramatic intensity tho knowledge of God. This slight sketch of tho central theme of the storm does less than justice to tho ■wealth of detail and incident'thnt the producer has used in ihe making or the big picture. ■ There is a grim and. terrible tale of drunken crime interwoven with tho main narrative at one point, and there are touches of humour and fancy to give human reality to the whole. The staging is particularly good, and tho company that has had the handling of tho story is uniformly stio-ng. In fact, "Tho Scoffer” is a truly notable picture. There is a supporting film, "Going Through tho Rye/ that is in very light vein indeed. This Christie comedy has its origin in a theme that seems to bo attracting considerable attention in the United States the search for liquor in a dry land. Ono bottle of genuine whisky makes an extraordinary amount of trouble for many people and produces some exceedingly funny scenes at an. interrupted wedding. The new programme is completed by the usual satisfying assortment of news films, comprising tho latest editions of tho 00-operativo review, Pathe news, and Gaumont graphic. Not the least attractive feature of a fine programme is tho music provided by the King’s orchestra. /

EVERYBODY’S THEATRE

Alice Joyce is one of the most beautiful actresses on tho. screen. She is a "veteran,” inasmuch as she has been before the picture-going public for some years, but her powers of acting have never diminished, and she possesses unusual histrionic ability. Like Ethel Clayton, she has no trouble in depicting many different moods. In "Tho Prey,” which ie screened, at Everybody’s Theatre yesterday, and which will head the current programme until Friday next, she has a hard task, for eho has to depict a joyous maid whose insouciance bo comets sadness. It is an extremely difficult characterisation, but in the hands of Miss Joyce it is something to be remembered. Marriage, far from being the turning point when happiness enters into her life, is tho loophole for unhappiness, and the play takes a dramatic turn at the point where tho husband is first seen. She was his prey. Her father died, and bitter experience followed bitter experience. In the emotional scenes, of which there are many throughout the film, Miss has excellent opportunities for the display of her talent and her charm. The supporting gramme ie specially good. A Christie comedy, "Mr. Fatima,” is laughable io a degree, depicting a gentleman whose outlook on life is, to say tho least of it, unconventional, in many screamingly funny experiences. A Post eocnic, and the latest Pathe Gazette complete an excellent entertainment.

EMPRESS THEATRE.

"The Lamb and l the Lion,” screened at the Empress Theatre for the first time yesterday, is a fine photoplay. It is an adaptation, by a different writer, of Bernard Shaw's “Pygmalion," a play which pleased critics all over the world. It is an American version, but tho reason that in this case the change is quite allowable, is that "Pygmalion" is not and could never bo picturised from the original play. In "Pygmalion," the characters are rather more clearly defined than in the picture-play—but what does that matter when there aro no lines spoken? Billio Rhodes, tho clever little American actress whose performance in "Hoop-La” is remembered yet among Wellington picture-goers, fakes the Wile of "Boots," a character similar to the star in the Shavian comedy, and her only claim to fame is that she is the niece of a professional burglar, and turns her thoughts, aided by many novels of the Nick Carter variety, to tho -profession ot thieving. She enters a mansion on Fifth Avenue. But unknown to her, n tragedy has been enacted shortly befoio her nocturnal entrance. A wealthy widow, the owner of tho house, has been engaged to a widower for six years. lie has not kept his vow, and, desperate, the woman calle him to the house. lou asked me to marry you.” she says, Now njtirrv me, and atone for the past years. But there have been whispers of intrigue, and the man, proud ol Ins family lineage, and of his young man io the backbone. refuses. 1 will not," he tolls the woman. I will not disgrace mv son’s heritage by marrying you.’’ Tableau. The girl burglar is discovered by the furious woman and, instead of being sent to gaol, is trained in tho manners of tho aristocracy, m i a view to marrying her to the son ot "groat lineage.” That is Gio star?, an an excellent one it i p - Ihe suppor m o programme is good.

QUEEN’S THEATKI-

A captivating and charming programme in every way was presented at tho Queen’s Theatre yesterday. It embodied a pulsing story of modern Hlo in tho shape of "Tho Castle ol lh>w. n British photo-play of eon-iderab e merit. "The Castle of Dream* we.l presented and impressively acted, and ns a story possesses those qualities ol p.i thos and sentiment which make for human appeal. Backgrounds oi scenic Uvitr make it pleasing to the eye and

intensely dramatic situations sustain interest throughout its varying scenes. Tho story is woven around the fortunes of a married couple who start out with a groat handicap to happiness. A quarrel leads to separation and the child of the marriage—a girl—is brought up by the father in a small village. She becomes involved in great danger and her mother goes to the husband she has deserted ns tho last means of saving her child. Another picture screened is A Metro production entitled "Tho Spender.” full of original humour and wholesome romance.

CESARONI AND STUDENTS’ RECITALS.

The box plan is open now at the Bristol for the recital bo Uo given by Signor Cesaroni ami his students. Signor Cesaroni will sing the grand solo, "Jiff I’aff,” from "Les Hugenots,” and Prologue to "Otello,” for the first time in Wellington. The assisting artists are: Miss O. Barth, soprano; Miss E. Harris, mezzo soprano; Miss Ethel Bignoll (Wanganui), solo pianist : Mr. R. I’orteous. tenor; Mr. E. Jones, baritone; and Mr. L. Daniell, basso. M l '. Harold Whittle will accompany.