ENTERTAINMENTS

New Zealand Times, Volume XLII, Issue 9792, 16 October 1917, Page 8

ENTERTAINMENTS

HIS MAJESTY'S. A change of programme was given last night at His Majesty’s Theatre, the now musical comedy revue of the Stanhope Company being "Hokey-Pokey,” which is certainly the best yet staged by the company. The staging and costumes are new and all the musical numbers scored a success. Mr Paul Stanhope- is seen this time as Spike Murphy, a piano mover, and in some of his newly introduced "business” he certainly moved the audience to loud merriment. Mr -Nat Newman and Mr Will Raynor made K J oeilent foils for his drolleries in several most laughable scenes# _ Among the musical numbers Mr t al Newman sang "The Bandolero” and Mr Will Raynor “Doreen,” both receiving hearty encores. "You and the Moon,” "Welcome Song and “Amsterdam” were melodiously rendered by the company, and the Gratters Quartette were given hearty applause for their tuneful rendering of “i. rove a Piano,” and “A Simple Melody.’ for encores they tiring "Molly O'Moore, and ’T'vo got the Honolulu Blues.” Murfayne, the xylophone specialist, played "The Broken Doll.” “The Rosary, and ragtime melodies, displaying his usual masterj of his instrument. • James anti Soima were as pleasing as ever in vneir variety torn. ■ Mr Janios, who has a remarkably good tenor voice, sanp "Always/* which was succeeded’ by some clever patter and an original’ ragtime duet ar.d dance. Both these talented partners are graceful acid clover dancers. Mr Malcolm McEachern, who is • appearing tor 'a specially extopUed season of six nights only, was continuously //' called for further items. He sang in ms usual artistic stylo “Blow, blow, thou Winter Wind.” "The Lute “MV Old Shako,” "Up from Somerset, and "The Floral Dance.” During the week Mr McEachem will sing a peries of Soots and Irish songs and others am popular request, including:' •‘fatner O’Flynn,” “Off to Philadelnhia. • Myhrlas the Cretan,” and “WP a hundred pipers an’ a’, an’ a’.” THE ENGLISH PIERROTS. At the Grand Opera House last evening the English Pierrots appeared again before a crowded and appreciative audience. The programme /being of a popular 'character, every item by these talented performers was enthusiastically encored. Mr Charles Lawrence s humorous numbers made a big bit. Charming contributions were those by Miss Elsa Langley. Eminently pleasing also was Miss Billie Wilson. Mr Leslie Austin excelled in ragtime ditties. Artistic ballads won favour for Mr Ray Cooke. The tenor vocalisations by Mr David Lyle were deservedly applauded to the echo. Mr Louis Mitchell Mr W. F. Turner, and Miss Shirley Cooke were also exceedingly entertaining. The English Pierrots will appear for two more nights. “IT IB FOB ENGLAND.” The official Navy League super-fea-ture play “It is for England,” which win bo shown -at the Queon*s Thoa.tr* fox the fimt time hero on Saturday afternoon, in aid- of the Navy League funds, comes with the 'reputation of being the greatest achievement in picture production ever- ahtemptod In Great Britain. The film took two years to produce, and hhd the full a-ssastance of the British Parliament and the Admiralty. EVery' scene iu the story was filmed on 1 the spot where the -situations were Irnfagined to tia.j*pen. Thrill follows thrill in qudtek succession, and the audience ib, plunged .into every shade of emotioii Be the aerbiuh' pf theplay rushes on; The leading role is played by one of the, World’s , greatddt Red Cross workers, the Baroness Helene Gingbid. while,,--.the supporting, cast was chosen frdm 4 5the leading adtbnji and,:’ ncfpeesos of England. "It is nqt only a spocflaStfo, -'it' is a--vivid, inteiise mclodi’ama. •' The liox plan will be opened at the. Bristol tonforrow. ’ CROWN THEATRE. Wilfred* Luoas is seen at his best as Oakley IXI. in “Blood Will -Tell," which again drew a large audience to the Cnokva Theatre la-st night. Oiakley 111. is turned from his home by , his father, whose enemies are plotting his downfall. Oakfev 111. pomes to the rescue in time and-Abves his father from disgrace The supporting: items are good, which add to the entertuinme-nt. A change, .of programme will commence tp-morrdw,' ’when the detective drama, “The Page Mystery.” will be screened, also .the first episode in “The Iron Claw.” , . “LE BAL MASQUE PARISIEN.” There- is, every prospect of success for the plain and fancy dress masquerade which has been organised by the Wellington Drapery Assistants, . who invite the public to take part. The proceeds are to be devoted to the citizens’ Christmas gift fund. - A .limited number of tickets are available for the public and- soldiers in uniform. Spectators also are to be admitted; the box plan for 'reserved seats is now open at the Bristol Piano Co. A feature of the function is a poster pageant, for which good support is promised, so the Town Hall should present a gay spectacle when the, grand march starts on Wednesday, October 24th. The window-dressers have arranged to co-operate in the decorations, and the Trentham Band Orchestra will provide the music. Tickets for dancers, soldiers and spectators are available at the drapery establishments. Special prizes are - oii'ered by the newspaper proprietors for the best poster and fancy dresses. Particulars have been advertised. ' EVERYBODY’S THEATRE. “Envy,” the first drama of "The a even Deadly Sins," now screening at Everybody's, carries ou|t the meaning oi the .title’ by showing of the stage surrounded- by flatterers, mioifqy and apparently everything make her happy, yet haunted by apprehension c-f her criminal brother and ter physioi-1 cond:(tion, then bnngißg iritlo the story a simple little country eirl who envies tho lot of the unknown celebrities, and findb her frtte stihngely bound up with this same woman. Ann .Murdiaak heads the cast in her Part as Hetty Howard, the actress, and her [beauty and histrionic skill are importiaijt a*ete in. the success of the picture. ,Tn addition to this feature is a rollicking side-splitting Keystone comedy, '“Maggie's False Step.” EMPRESS THEATRE. "I am abjectly ashamed.” This is the conclusion c-f one of the most: powerful Situations in “Vc-mth," the star feature now* screening at the Einproys. where the hero, half tipsy, has inveigled the girl iirto the cabin of mi-hou-seboat. To hit utter dismay, she proves not only to he totally different fitom the frivolous, light woman he has Hitheito met, but she is easily his physios 1 superior. And vo, on coming to hit (senses, he realises what he has done. June Elvidge has the role of I (sister to the engineer who is giving way ■to drink and imperilling, his position. Muriel Ostriche is a society bud. and Carlyle Blackwell has a role in which he s attractive, particularly i v n -the first scone, where he portrays a gilded youth irr-porteble and likely' to wreck his (fortune.