ENTERTAINMENTS

Dominion, Volume 15, Issue 42, 12 November 1921, Page 13

ENTERTAINMENTS

r KING’S THEATRE. Winsome, ;wilful, woe-dispelling Constance Talmadge is the bewitching heroine of "Lessons in Love,’’ presented to a crowded and delighted audience at the King’s Theatre last evening. When it is stated that "Lessons in Love" is a highly-embellished picturisation of "The Man from Toronto,” it does not need to be etressed that it made a most delightful and satisfying bill, full of sun'shino and laughter, with never a suspicion of anything that should not be. The motif is as old as the Pharaohs. It did gallant duty in "She Stoops \to Conquer,” '.'Dorothy,” and a dozen other plays or all kinds, and is still working, hard among ' the writers of original plays. It ia the idea of the mistress posing as the menial, to find if her true love is honest-to-goodncss true. In this instance the mistress is Leila Calthorpo, who is left a lot of money by a man who ia not dead, conditionally on her marrying his nephew, who, instead of being the man from Toronto, is .the man from California, John Warren. Leila, hating the idea, is.at length persuaded by her old lawyer to ."look him over," and in order to do so in an unprejudiced way, pretends to be the parlourmaid, Perkins. There are a score of comical situations, wild skirmishes in the warp and woof of the tangle, before the giddy 'and very much in love Perkins discloses her identity to the wild man from the West, and a new ending, which includes the burning of the . heavily-mortgaged Calthorpe mansion, with Warren as the wholesale rescuer oi females, gives a melodramatic touch to a rattling good! comedy. Miss Talmadge has seldom been seen to such advantage . since she was seen in the screen version of "At the Barn," which.seems to . indicate that her best pictures are those annexed, from the legitimate stage. Mr. .Kenneth Harlon, as John Warren, makes a handsome, purposeful leading man, whoso work inn be looked for in the future. Old George Fawcett as tho . lawyer in the case is also a satisfying figure in a particularly good. tost. “Ono Best Pet” is an amazing animal comedy, in which "Snooky” (the chimpanzee) and Ms bay friend become mixed and muddled in a menagerie. There is also a Gaumont Graphic, packed with pictorial news. The singer of the evening was Miss Violet Reith, who has a sweetvoiced 1 , nicely-tutored ' mezzo voice, and allows! the audience to know exactly what she is singing about without tonal sacrifice. She sang "Home, Sweet Home," ''Spring’s Awakening,* and "Just Because? with compelling artistry. Tho King’s orchestra, in good form, played "In a Persian Market" (Ketelby), an attractive Oriental, bizarro in its reflection of tho souT|db of the bazaar. "Happy Herbert" (a jazz number) was also bright and jolly music. QUEEN'S THEATRE. "The Beautiful. Gambler," Peter B. Kyne’s stirring drama of the West, presented by the Universal Film Corporation, yesterday pleased ' audiences who attended the Queen's Theatre. The story features Grace Darmond os principal figure in an all-star cast, and the production as a whole is as satisfactory as any production shown here in recent months. Ae Molly Hanlon, tho heroine of the story. Miss Darmond leaves nothing to bo desired either in beauty or dramatic power, and, segno by scene, she enacts tho highly emotional role with convincing reality. Tho story is based | upon a girl’s heroic effort to. save her father from disgrace and ruin caused by gambling losses, by literally selling herself in marriage to the owner of the gambling don. Her sacrifice comes too late, however, for as the ceremony is performed the father (dies by his own hand, leaving his'daughter at the mercy of a craven brute. Then tifto the West comes Miles Rand; scapegrace son of a famous Judge, sent West to redeem his manhood. He finds Molly in the gambling den and learns 'her pathetic story. How her husband is thought to have died in the; burning of his iniquitous hall, and how he later returns in a traglo effort to blight the happiness of the man and woman is ’ forcefully narrated, and the strong climax is wholly unexpected. Jack Mower Is a handsome fellow who has Jatelv won his spurs as a dramatic actor. He plays opposite Miss Darmond, while Harry van Meter is effective os the gambler. Kirk. Charles Brinley, Hershall Mayall, and Willis Marks acquit themselves notably. Other good films aro screened, and good music is played by the Queen’s Orchestra. EVERYBODY'S THEATRE. A screen version of George M. Cohan's musical comedy success "Forty-five Minutes from Broadway” is the feature film showing at Everybody’s Theatre this week. The story centres round the exploits of Kid Burns, an ex-prize fighter, in his fights nga'inst many crooked enemies of his rich pal Tom Bennett. Charles Ray, as the prizefighter, gives an excellent characterisation of a somewhat difficult part. Kid Burns receives n telegram from Tom Bennett, an educated pal whom Burns had befriended In former days. Bennett had inherited a fortune, and wanted tho prize fighter to assist him in his new station of life. When tho ex-pugilist arrives ho is tendered a great reception by those who mistook him for Bonnett,' the heir of old Castleton. Cronin, the guardian of Mary, Castleton’s faithful housemaid, hoped tho girl would inherit some portion of Castleton's millions, but in this he was disappointed, because through the absence of a will Bonnett inherited the entire estate. With Burns and Mary it was a case of lovo at first eight. Ben! nett confides in Burns that he is in love with Flora Dora Dean, and the girl and hoi- mother, an avaricious, ill-tempered woman, arrive. Bennett gives a dinner party, a dress affair, and Bums appears in a dress suit, the property of the late millionaire Castleton. In the dress suit are some papers, and amongst these. Burns discovers Castleton's will, in which everything is left to Mary. Tho administrator of the Castleton estate informs Burns that Cronin, Mary’s guardian, is crooked, and Burns watches him. During the night Cronin attempts to rob the safe, and he and Mrs. Deans, whom Cronin know in former days, are discovered attempting to blow open the safe. How Cronin escapes and is captured, and how the love stories of Burns nnd Bennett terminate make a fitting climax to a good story. The supports include a two-reel comedy of unusual merit, entitled, "Speed," nnd the latest Patho Gazette] and Toplcals. ELGAR CONCERT.’ The second concert of the series of three which will be given on Monday next in the Town Hall, under the auspices of tho Society of Musicians, promises to be a successful one, and intending patrons are advised ko book early.’ The programme will bo devoted entirely to thd\works of Sir Edward Elgar, and will bo under the direction of Mr. C. W. Kerry and Mr. H. Temple White, who will have the assistance of Miss Mabello Esquilant, Misa Laurie Anderson, Mr. Gordon Short, Mr. ReginG. Blow, the Wellington Harmonic Society, and the Harmonlo Quartet, while Mr. Kerry will play two solos on the grand organ, and be responsible for a sketch of Elgar's life and annotations. It has been decided to devote tho third concert to the works of Mendelssohn. The concert will take place in the New Year. The entertainments are 1 under the patronage of the Governor-General and Lady Jellicoe. Details of the booking arrangements will bo found In the advertising columns. London papers have been inquiring as to the whereabouts of Miss Marie Tempest and Mr. Grahame Browne. Thcso distinguished artists originally enme to Australia for a six months’ tour under the J. C. Williamson, Ltd., management, but have been prevailed upon nt least three times to prolong their stay, so that their visit has extended into years Tnfttead of weeks. Miss Tempest and Mr.

Browne are returning to Melbourne for a fourth season—surely a record—and will then enter upon a comprehensive tour of New Zealand. WILKIE BARD, COMEDIAN. Tho box plans for tho first eix nights of the Wilkie Bard season will be opened at tho Bristol on Tuesday morning next. Mr. Bard is acknowledged as the foremost of English singing comedians, and io said to be easily the highest-sala* tied artist in high-class vaudeville that has yet-yisited tho Dominion. He will make his first appearance here at the Grand Opera llouso on Thursday next, and will be seen in some of the inimitable sketches that have made him famous tho world over. Of thia artist a leading Australian critic writes: "He is gaiety and joy. He is solace and compensation. He is the something altogether different that makes all the rest seem worth while. He is Wilkie Bard, and there is no other like him. The brightest, keenest, cleanest, briskest, tendepest, gayest, most original, most versatile, most human, and most genial comedian in the world. He is the world’s most famous singing comedian in celebrated song scenes. Re is, in the arena of refined vaudeville, probably the most distinguished and vtslubrate.'l English comedian on earth. life enormous success in Sydney has been based solely ton pure merit. Hie name is honoured with the greatest of living entertainers. He is the most original and human, and tender of the world’s most famous come, dians. He is one of those rare comedians of whom the big public never tires. Mr. Bard will be supported by an allstar vaudeville company. EMPRESS THEATRE. The beautiful star of the film firmament, Alice Calhoun,' is given a role in "Closed Doors ’ in which to display her undoubted dramatic ability. "Closed Doors" is the feature film screened at the Empress Theatre at all sessions yesterday, and which will bo shown during the current picture week. Tho story is filled with human interest, and pulsates with human emotion. The theme is not altogether new, but the treatment is novel and exciting. Jim Ransom, when ranching out West, knew the Brainerds, who were his neighbours. Dorothy Brainerd (Alice Calhoun) was then a slip of a girl, fourteen years of age. Ransom went East, and started in business as a broker, and the Brainerds, having coma East also, Ransom was invited to a reception given in honour of the debutante, Dorothy. Ransom, anxious to see how the girl had developed since he last saw her, attends the reception, falls in love with Dorothy, and they are married. Ransom was a power in tho financial world of New York, and ips whole attention was centred in amassing a fortune, with the result that his young wife was neglected. The girl’s only companion durinn her many lonely hours was "Blister,” a pet dog. Driving in ths country in her motor, a number of "crooks” arrange a motor accident, but when they discovered that thoir victim was Mrs. Ransom, they patched up a friendship, Rex Gordon, the leader of the crooks, in order to make "a call, returns a handbag that had been stolen from Dorothy. This was the beginning of a strange friendship, and the husband was always too busy to meet his wife’s new' friends. The awakening came wh?n a friend said to him, “By the way, Ransom, who is that nice-look-ing young’ chap your wife motors with?’’ Ransom subsequently receives an anonymous letter, wljucb. sets him thinking. I Ho announces his departure for Boston, and return the following day. Rex Gordon arrivra in the afternoon, and proposes an elopement, which horrifies the girl, and sho bursts into tears. Rex leaves, but is determined to steal the beautiful necklace that Ransom had given his wife. After the girl had retired he enters the house, and tho climax is positively thrilling. It is a fascinating story. Tho supporting films include the twelfth episode of "The Lost City,” a Snooky comedy, and tho Gaumont Graphic. j "THE GOLDEN LEGEND." Considerable interest is being taken in the Choral Union’s final subscription concert of the 1921 season, when Sir Arthur Sullivan’s "The Golden Legend" will be performed at the Town Hall on Saturday next, with a chorus and orchestra numbering 290 performers. The society has engaged an exceptionally strong cast, as follows: —Elsie, Madame Winnie Eraser (Christchurch); Ursula, Miss Mabello Esquilant; Prince Henry, Mr. Ernest Drake (Auckland); Lucifer, Mr. Barry Coney (Aukland); Forester, Mr. Harry PaTgetter. The/"Herold," writing of Madame Frasers singing in Auckland last week in “The. Golden Legend," wrote: "Madame Winnie Fraser was set down for the trying soprano music, and from the outset was thoroughly en rapport with tho moods demanded, her interpretations ranging from much tlhat was sympathetic or appealing to the strongly dramatic. Her brilliant and well-trained soprano voice was heard to the best advantages in her various solo numbers. The clearness of her diction, too, add&l much to the enjoyment of her vocal essay.” The box plan will open at the Bristol on Mon.day at 9 a.m. SUNDAY ORGAN RECITAL. Another organ recital is to be given ' at the Town Hall on Sunday by the city organist. Mr. Bernard F. Page. The programme arranged is as followsr Overture, "Coriolan" (Beethoven); Elegie (Clausmann) Prelude nnd Fugue in A Minor (Bach); Priere (by request), (Cpsar‘Franck); Finale in B Flat (Westerholme).