ENTERTAINMENTS

Evening Post, Volume LXXXVIII, Issue 48, 25 August 1914, Page 3

ENTERTAINMENTS

"READY MONEY" AT THE GRAND. OPERA HOUSE.

"Ready Money," the latest American comedy presented by J. C Williamson, Ltd., has followed rather too closely on the heels of the Fred Niblo-Josephine Cohan combination. The contrast is too sharp, too — black and white — and yet it proved very acceptable to the comparatively large audience at the Grand Opera House last evening. There was no denying the fact that this company, along with that headed by the original and inimitable Niblo, suffered by reason of the tense interest felt locally in the serious business afoot in Europe. Nevertheless, those who saw "Ready Money" last evening will recall it with the utmost pleasure in dull and uneventful days to come. The plot is very ingenious and rather difficult to adequately describe in a few lines. Suffice it to say that it is, as it ought to be, a grossly improbable story, but like all such comedies, just within the region of possibility. Stephen Baird, a young New Yorker, the intimate friend of wealthy people, has a mine out in Arizona which has had excellent prospects but no gold, Things go quite hard with him, and the miners, gold or no gold, have to be paid. Just when ruin grins in his face he is called upon by Jackson Ives, a wonderful counterfeiter of bank notes. So great is his skill that, although sus-\ pected, he is able to completely baffle the cleverest detectives. He lends Baird a bundle of 1000-dbllar notes. This great sum of money dazzles Ids. friends, who are all feverish to buy into the mine. They will take* no denial. The. sight of the money has worked its spell. They attribute it all to the mine, and overwhelm its owner with cheques for huge amounts. Then the fun begins. Its owner is only saved from gaol by the mine turning out rich and the general turn of circumstances. Mr. Charles Millward, as the counterfeiter Ives, showed himself to be a finished actor, with a stage vpresence that would carry him through any part, a musical voice, a perfectly natural manner of acting, and a diction which so many even popular actors might profitably emulate. Stephen Baird was allotted to Mr. William Harrigan. It was played with as much resemblance to real life as the unusual circumstances of the j story would permit, but it was not until ! the middle of the second act that Mr. Harrigan showed any real belief in his part. After that he was quit© delightful. The supporting characters were admirably cast, and they included Mr. George Bryant, as a hard New York financier; Mr. Robert Whyte, Jun., as Hon. John Tyler, a rich retired business man ; Mi". Arthur Styan, as a New York chief detective; Miss Maggie Moore as Mrs. Tyler, a fussy mother of pretty and marriageable daughters ; and Miss < Sylvia Bremner as one of those daughters. "Ready Money" will be repeated tonight for, ,the last time, and to-morrow and on Thursday ■" The Argyle Case " will be presented. The "Argyle Case" is a play with a distinctly suggestive title, and it is said that it quite lives up to its reputation, inasmuch as it is exciting, absorbing, and markedly impressive. It is the story of a mystery, and that mystery seeks for solution at the hands of the American detective force with all the modern equipments of science to help them. The unfolding of it is a graphic presentation of police methods, and, the audience is kept in the dark until almost the finish of the play as to who really did kill John Argyle. A pretty love story and a nice vein of legitimate comedy leaven the sensationalism of the -pliy,' and, according to contemporary criticism, the piece is one of tho best that the well-known firm of entrepreneurs has ever sent to New Zealand. The box-plan is open at the Dresden, and day sales are available at Miss Lennox's, Grand Opera House Buildings. THE DANDIES. Amongst the new items to bo submitted by "The Dandies" during their return season, which opens in the Concert Chamber of the Town Hall next Monday night, is a selection from Balfe's opera "The Bohemian Girl." The number includes several well-known airs from the popular work, and as the Dandies have already proved themselves a, -capable company of vocalists,, it may be accepted that they will do justice to Balfe's composition. The Dandies are at present concluding a most successful season of seven weeks in Auckland, where they have proved immensely popular. The box plan opens at tha Dresden to-morrow morning. THE KING'S THEATRE. The exploitation of Maori lore for motion picture purposes is an entirely new departure, and opens up fresh fields for the kinematographic machine. In taking as his initial subject the Maori love legend, "Hinemoa," Mr. G. H. Tarr, the producer, hit upon a very happy theme, for the romantic story is undoubtedly the most beautiful of all Native love chimera. The picture, was the principal attraction in the new programme screened at The King's Theatre last evening, and the clearness with which it was depicted reflected great credit on Mr. Charles Newham, who "pictured" the film. The main featu£§s of the legend are shown, including Hinemoa's four-mile swim across the waters of Lake Rotorua to the island of Mokoia, where lived Tv; a handsome Maori youth with whom tne heroine was in love, and whom she afterwards wedded. The picture was taken in the localities in which the legend was supposed* to have transpired. The setting is most effective and attractive throughout. While the film is being screened appropriate selections from Mr. Alfred Hill's compositions are played by the orchestra. Another great attraction of much topical interest at the present time is a film, "Exercise and Tests of Strength in the French Army," in which French soldiers are seen, performing some remarkable athletic feats. The rest of the programme comprises "ASong at Twilight," a charming little drama featuring the clever acting of two little children, "Gaumorit Graphic," and "The Misadventure of a Mighty Monarch," one of the Vitagraph Company's cleverest comedies. EVERYBODY'S PICTURES. The current programme at " Everybody's Pictures " is full of interest and amusement, and includes a very fine review of the Belgian army, which has since astonished the world by its stand against the Germans. Additional interest is lent to the film by some excellent views of Brussels and one of the Crown Prince of Germany. " The Fighting Blood of 1809 " is another, military picture, and depicts the "rise of the Tyrolese under Andreas Hofer and the gallant vfight his mountain people made against the troops of Napoleon. Other pictures, all of good quality, include "The Naval "Review off Spithead," a picture which should not be missed. THE BRITANNIA. The feature film at tli6 Britannia Theatre is a two-reel Edison drama, " The Double Shadow." the story of & dis1 honest partner and a drama of absorbing interest. The supporting programme includes "A Brewery Town Romance," Lubin comic; "Hall Room Rivals," a Vitagraph comedy featuring Davy Jones ; " Mabel's Bear Escape," a Keystone farce ; tho latest Australian Gazette, and , &.»etie* oi actual Mexican Ww »iotur«t.

HIS MAJESTY'S THEATRE. A capital evening's entertainment was presented at His Majesty's Theatre last night. Several new and notable additions were made to an otherwise strong programme. Chief among these was the act given by the Aerial Bartletts. As an acrobatic performance the feats of the Bartletts would not be easy to excel, and the house was not slow to recognise the merit of the turn. One daring feat after another followed in quick succession, carried out with the utmost ease and grace. Another item which contributed largely to the success of the entertainment was given by the Four Goldinis, a quartet of clever Spanish dancers, who gave an interesting and spectacular exhibition of rug-spinning — the first performance of its kind seen in Wellington. The rugs were large circular coloured affairs, and the various members of the company spun these with tho greatest ease, the rugs spreading out from the ends of pointed sticks like huge tropical flowers. The act included dancing, tumbling, and other performances, and must be seen to be appreciated. A novel turn was provided by the Chipola Twins and a bear. Their excellent turn includes singing and dancing, and "bruin" takes an uncommonly agile part in the performance. Miss Tilly Dunbar, a bright comedienne, was given a warm reception. Hart and Kenny captivated the audience with some tastefully-sung duets, and were loudly recalled. Stan. Stanley, an able reconteur, kept the audience amused with Hebrew song and story, and Miss Jessie Millar, an accomplished cornet player, was greeted as an old favourite. Gordon and Day, two entertainers of variety, also made a welcome reappearance. The entertainment concluded with an amusing and topical farce, entitled "A German Invasion." The various roles were cleverly taken by Misses Tilly Dunbar and Daisy Merritt and Messrs. Nat Phillips and Dan Dunbar. SHORTT'S THEATRE. "A Chinese Vengeance"' is the outstanding feature of the new programme screened at Shortt's Theatre to-day. It ifl a story of a stolen, idol, and fully illustrates the fanatical worship of Chinese idols, the jealousy with which the secrets of their, religion are guarded, the intone© hatred of the foreigner, the length to which the worshippers will go to avenge an insult to their idol, and the inexhaustive patience with which they will follow an enemy until their revenge is finally accomplished. "The Quality of MeTcy" is> a charming drama of the London- poor, which cannot fail to excite the sympathy and enchain the interest of all who witnep it. "Tweedledum's Riding Boots" is almost too funny for words,' and tho other items are all of excellent quality. PEOPLE'S PICTURE PALACE. The star picture on to-day's new proframme is entitled "The Man Who lied," full of human, interest from start to finish. It shows how one lie leads inevitably to another, and how, in this particular caee^'the end is a iragody. "The Volcanoes of Java" is a picture of great educational value, giving enthralling views of these volcanoes in active eruption. Unique views of a volcano in eruption^ photographed from a distance ana at close I'ajigo, are shown. The supporting films are well up to date. TEE EMPRESS THEATRE. Crowded sessions were recorded at the Empress Theatre Continuous Pictures ■ last evening when the military and niival spectacular production "In the King's Service" was enthusiastically received. The 6ubject deals with Me in the British land and sea forces. It depicts military manoeuvres carried out as though in actual warfare, and a brilliant cavalry chaige is witnessed. King George is shown, embarking on the flagship, and tho warships then put to sea for battle practice. A magnificent spectacle is seen when the «uper-Dreadnoughts fire their big guns. Boat drill and rescuing at sea form a special attraction. .Among other incidents is a pageant in'\vhich are »cv« / eral squads of soldiers and sailors dressed in the different styles of uniform adopted by tho British from the time of Drake to the present day. The main attraction is supported by "The Benefactor" (Lubin drama), "Cured" (A.B. comedy), and "Specimens of Wading Birds/ STAR THEATRE, NEWTOWN. A splendid new programme of films, headed by "Hinemoa," is being ehowii at the Star Theatre this week. Supporting films included "Exercise and Tests of Strength in the French Army."