ENTERTAINMENTS

New Zealand Times, Volume XLIV, Issue 10283, 19 May 1919, Page 40

ENTERTAINMENTS

Hi: MAJESTY'S THEATRE. Lovers of vaudeville are promised someth.up; exceptionally good at His Majesty's Theatre to-night, tv lie u an attractive programme of novelties will be presented by the Fuller proprictry. A number of features, said to bo ol an entertaining description, will bo submitted. Prominent amour; them will be Signor Molinari, the gifted Italian operatic tenor, who will he heard in a number of excerpts from opera, which will include “La Donna o Mobile.” Signora Molinari will also contribute several ballads, and with the tenor will take part in concerted numbers. The Helavale Bros, will reappear, and these popular favourites, wh scored so well on their last visit, will produce a ne wac-t entitled “Chap'hiitis,” which is stated to be of a highly diverting nature. Miss Lily Lock lor, a singer of popular chorus songs, has been re-engnged, and doubtless her re-entry will be warmly welcomed. The supporting company is particularly strong. and includos Bnghtie and Carlyon (who will bo seen in an entirely new musical sketch), James and Selma- (comedians), the Haynes (contortionists'. Ward Jarir, Neili" Kollc. .Marjorie Alwyno and Corrie and Baker. With such a com bination an enjoyable evening may the expected. The programme has been scheduled for six nights and one matinee. “MILESTONES." Bumper bouses were attracted to Everybody's Theatre on Saturday b> the screen masterpiece, “Milestones," a problem play ot three generations, British in spirit, in setting, and m * Story* adapted from Mr Arnold Bennett’s famous drama ot thesame name. “Should a g:rl trust her heart; 1 ” is the problem propounded by tho play, which gives a true and faithful rendering, marked by much insight and power, of English' lu'e from JEW) to 1914. For two generations the wrong answer to the problem is given. Lor two generations the girl of the day follows the wisnes of her parents rather than the promptings of her own heart, and the mercenary marriages that follow prove anything but happy. The girl of 1914, however, revolts against ancient use; she refuses to be bcniuu by her mother's worldly wisdom or her grandfather’s ambition fur a great marriage ; anti determines to lollotv where Jove' leads. Jeter mother’s iite had been blighted by a loveless mar nage, but she blindly endeavours ti force the modern maiden to follow in the same p*th. However, the mother’s early love, now a very successful eng' neer and an able and popular member of Parliament, intervenes at the right moment; hope and happiness dawn once more fur her; and he readily secures her consent to her daughter* love-match. The problem is wonderfully well worked out; it is a delight ful love story, splendidly told; and the unfolding of the threefold plot was watched with the keenest interest and appreciation by the large audiences. Supporting Elms included the twelfth episode of the exciting serial drama,' “The House of Hate,” featuring .as the heroine Miss Pearl White; an interesting Pathe Gazette, and a delightful comedy. “THE BALCONY OP DEATH.” Tho powerful French society drama, “The Balcony of Death,” said to bo the first picture. play produced -in France since the signing ot tho Armistice, drew-and delighted large audi- ' cnees at the Empress Theatre on'Saturday. The picture, .which is a beautiful example of the photographer's art, , depicts tile sorrow resulting from a frivolous society mother’s neglect of her two beautiful daughters. Mdlle Rachel Devirys, of the Palais Royal, Paris, is featured as the heroine,; and tho-"latest Parisian frocks are shown. The contrast between true love and false, between love that cannot face ■the prospect of marriage without a hanrlsone dowry and love that recks naught of such matters, is well brought out, and the crowning tragedy makes a vtTy effective climax. The mother, with her card-playing, her horseracing,, and her’general frivolity, comes within’an ace of wrecking for ever her daughter’s happiness; but, more by goad luck than good management, they both in the long run escape tho rocks and shoals, and all ends well. The play is superbly staged and mount ed, wonderfully beautiful views of Monte Carlo are shown, and the acting throughout is of a high order. A very" interesting topical gazette was also screened. During an interval, Mr Charles Melvin, a well-known Wellington vocalist, sang with power and feeling tiie stirring patriotic song, ‘An Englishman’s Home." The programme will bo repeated ,oaob afternoon and evening during the week. “THE BETTER ’OLE" AT THE KINGS. Who, indeed, has not laughed at_ the inimitable, humour of Bruce . Bairnsfather’s war sketches? The nation owes no inconsiderable debt to the talent of the man who has made it smile through its tears —tears for the calamitous suffering caused bv the holocaust of tho nges. Despite all the sadness and suffering, tho race doggedly carried on .with a brave heart and a disposition to find even .in the 'grim tragedy a lighter side where the pent-up feelings ot hum')’- emotion found vent. During tho darkest days the radiance of Bairnsfathers genius shone .through the gloom with an effulgence that brought happiness to the hearts of the people. -Men have been knighted for less reason. It must be counted, therefore, a fortunate circumstance that prompted the creation of the superb picturisation of Bairnsfather’s great drama “The Better ’Ole,’’’ which was introduced to packed attendances at the King’s Tbeat.rc on Saturday afternoon and evening. “The Better ’Ole"

is the quintessence or epitome of Bairnsfatborism. All the zest, subtlety, * and capriciousness of the great cartoonist’s unhounclrd humour is faithfully expressed in the portrayal of the experiences of the three prineip’'s in the play. ’Ole Bill. Alf and Bert appear as though they had stepped out of a Bairnsfathcr sketch. A Vo see them :aryring on through all the horrors and tribulations of the colossal tragedy with j fortitude and determination, yet fighthcartcdness. which characterised tho spirit in which the British faced the most crucial test that civilisation has ever been put to. Ole Bill is tho very life of tho little party that forgathers in the French cafe of the village in which tho troops are billeted. Then again, wben the enemy’s shells are rocking the ground with terrific explosions. Ole Bill is there at his _ post grimlv “doing his bit,’’ seeing in the deathly realities a causß for “sticking it” even to the very end for the sako of all that an Knglishmnn holds dear to his heart and troo to his ideals. A real hero is Ole Bill. He aecidentaly discovers a German spy at work, wjho has laid a mine under a bridge which

he intern's to blow up after the French have crossed it. and thus catch them in a trap for the massed Gorman guns. Without consulting bis officers Bill goes “over the tep,” settles the spy, and blows the bridge up before the French attempt to cross. Bill is arrested for leaving his post, but although his acI ion is misunderstood at first, h;s heroism in soon revealed and meets with due reward. There are scores of episodes in tie film that caused the very laughter which kept men sane through Armageddon. It created uproarious merriment when Ole Bill steals out of the cafe to follow the spy and one of his pals remarks, “’E must have gone off his onion, ’e’s left his beer.” Laugh after laugh follows in quick succession throughout the play. The squad in tho dug-out, on another occasion, are playing cards and gossiping when one the boys asks in vain for assistance to right a "capsized cart. When ho subsequently adds that it is the grog cart there is a mad ru«H for the door. The life in the trenches, with its mauy vicissitudes and its unexpectedness seemed to grow on one so that Ole Bill is promoted to remark to one of bis mates, “Vcr know, Alf, we’ll miss this hlankv war when it’s all over.” Bert, the third man of tho trio, has a penchant for proposing to a new inamorata each day. but at most inopportune moments either Ole Bill or Alf arrives on tho scene and kills prior Bert’s chanco of success. Ole Bill, himself, has someone in dear old England who is steadily saving his allotment money, and when he returns from the war ho finds a glad welcome from her he loves, in a rosy little inn named “The Better ’Ole.” There is a rich sentimental vein woven through the story. Tho tireless patience and ever-trusting nature of the women who watch and wait at home remind onlookers of the heroism of the mothers, wives and sisters. Though advertised ns “not a war picture “there are a number of spectacular scenes of troops on the march and a glimpse here and there of the actual front. An ingenious idea to introduce the atmosphere of the play is the representation on the stage of a trench over the top of which appear three men made up to resemble Ole Bill, Alf and Pert; and in the first-mentioned role Mr R. H. Meates sang appropriately and in excellent style “Up From' Somerset,” which was efoeted with prolonged applause. The effect, of , tho trench scene was heightened by tho imitation of the noise of shells hurtling overhead, and their subsequent explosion in the rear. A feature of the programme'at this theatre is ■ the artistic performance bv the orchestra under tho direction of Mr L. D. Austin, which excelled itself *on Saturday in an extensive list of incidental numbers of which the most notable items were •‘Medley of Old English Airs." “Pompons March" (Norton). “Battle of tho .Marne" (Borch), ’The Admiral’s Broom," “Mysterioso” (Jacobs), “Shadow Dance" (Pcnnl. and “How Can I Leave Thee ” (Rokell). As usual the latest “Gazette” encompassed manyvivid scenes of attractive hnppe'nings in Europe and America. This evening another phase of the serial “Tho Scarlet Runner" will he added. “The Better ’Ole" and auxiliary subjects will be screened' nightly this week, and there will bo a special matinee on Wednesday. . - ORGAN RECITAL.

Saturday night’s organ recital at the Town Llall was particularly attractive to. lovers of high-class organ music. The city organist (Mr Bernard F, Page) played tho various numbers with his usual skill and taste, and the audience showed no lack of appreciation of his Work. An extremely popular item was Concerto in D minor (No. 10), Handel, while two very choice works by Cesar Franck created a favourable impression. The third movement from “Scheherazade” (suite symphonique fur orchestra); Op. 33, by the Russian composer, Rimsky-Korsa-koff, was well liked. The programme also included: Pensee (MjS.S.), Hugo Anson; choral, “Have Pity Upon Me, O Lord God" (Bach); Prelude and Fugue in D minor. Op. 35 (Glazunnov); Finale . in ' B-flat, Op. 21 (Cesar Franck).