ENTERTAINMENTS.

Dominion, Volume 5, Issue 1279, 7 November 1911, Page 7

ENTERTAINMENTS.

"THE WOMAN IN THE CASE." "Tho Woman in the Case," as played by the members of tho Clarke-Meynell Dramatic Company, under .tho auspices of tho J. C. Williamson-Clarke'-Meyncll management, is a striking play. The plot is a strong'one, the situations are highly dramatic, and tho climax, when "the woman in the case"—Claire Forster—confesses to the lie which has placed Julian Ttolie, tho hero, within mrasurablo distance of the scaffold on a charge of murder, is a tenso piece of acting. Miss Mabel Trevor, as Margaret liolt'e, is a fine study, whilo the impersonation by Mr. Hugh Buckler of the part of tho lawyer who defends Julian Kolfe, is distinctly excellent. The play will bo continued nightly till tho end of the week.

THEATRE ROYAL. Fullers' new programmo drew a big house to the Theatre Royal last night, when several artists new to Now Zealand appeared. One of the most pleasing turns staged for some time was that contributed by "Tho Tit Bits." "Tho Tit Bits" aro three little children, &o dressed as to suggest the cowboy out-rig, who.como on ana sing, dance, and tumble. There is nothing of tho marvellous about their contribution, but it is good and very entertaining, and it concludes with a clever and amusing piece of tumbling. Veda Harcourt, a_girl with a very pretty voice, made her Wellington debut, and received quite an exceptional hearing. Maud Stewart is another artist now to the city, who had a_ very successful opening as a coster comedienne. She \yas loudly encored for her rendering of "Sho's My . Pal." Mabclle, specialty, dancer, reappeared, and gavo a very clever exhibition of dainty footwork. Comedy was supplied by Tim Howard. Millie Doris reappeared. Jessie Lee, the' popular motto vocalist, is again on'the programme, and still grips the audience with catchy numbers. Beryl Nicholls was very good in "Donovan," which she sang with much humour and effect. She-is quite at homo in this style of sorig. Other artists who are reappearing are: Harry Jones, comedian; Leah Boyd. serio and dancer; Frank Martin, coon singer and dancer; Walter Jamieson, balladist; and The Musical Sheppards.

' HIS MAJESTY'S THEATKE. A new programmo of pictures was presented,to patrons of His Majesty's Theatre last evening, there being a large attendance of.tho public. Tho series was full of variety, and included several studies of conspicuous merit. One of the most elaborately-mounted historical picture dramas evor screened at the theatre is .that entitled "Clios and Phylotes" (an Itala film). The theme is an ancient .one. About the romance of Clios and Phylotes there is set the exciting representation of o barbarian invasion of an ancient city, sack and pillage, and all crudo honours of warfare of a fairly primitivo civilisation. Of great topical interest are the scenes _ kinematographed in Toulin Harbour immediately after the terrible explosion which reduced tha French battleship Liberte to a twisted mass of scrapiron, a recent disaster which was accompanied by appalling loss of lifo. Cruising about the shapeless bulk of tho wrecked warship aro scores of naval cutters, looking for the bodies of their comrades. Hard by is seen the battleship Kepublique, with a huge gap torn in her plat-ed side by a flying mass of splintered steel from the Liberie. On shore aro seen fatiguo parties bringing in tho dead. The whole picture presents an idea of tho magnitude of tho disaster, which tho most graphic pen could not approach.' Another fine study is "Tho Doomed Ship," a dramatic study built upon tho iniquitous system of fitting out heavily-insured but unsea-woi-thy vessels for voyages. Tho "Coffin Ships" l of avaricious owners havo furnished tho idea for many a powerful tale, aiul in the'stndy of "The Doomed Ship" the kinomatograpiier has made tho most of his opportunities. _Other good films include "The Ross of Kentucky," a romance of the American tobacco plantations: 'Tor a Straw," a lively burlesque; "Tent Village," an amusing seaside comedy; the Pathe Gazette, "Through Jealous Eyes" (a Jmbin dramatic study), and "Subduing Mrs. Nag." The programme will be re-peated-this eveniilg. ' • ■ ft

THE KING'S THEATEE. A large "houso" attended the King's Theatre' last evening fo witness the new programme of "West's and tho Royal Pictures, and from the frequent demonstrations of appreciation by tho spectators it was evident' that the series was greatly to their liking. With characteristic enterprise the management has secured a series of pictures of places which arc of special interest at tho present momeDl'. The war between Italy and Turkey lends a topical attraction to an interesting number of.scenes from these countries, wliile a dashing series of pictures of Italian cavalry—the horsemanship of (he Italian cavalry, regiments is t'ho admiration of all who have seen it, to judge from tho various feats which, according to tho pictures, these cavalrymen set themselves' to accomplish. Life in one of these regiments must be a risky business. "Scenes from China," Avhich country is now in tho throes of a great political upheaval, were also much appreciated from their topical value. Other good pictures includo "The Doomed Ship," "The llarriuge of Jane," "Tho Eose of Kentucky," a characteristic Tontolini film, Pahte's weekly and "Faust*" tjio last-mentioned being a very fine represectation of Gounod's favourite opera of that name. "Tho Doomed Ship" is a dramatic sea study, founded upon the 'collin ships" of unprincipled owners— unseaworthy vessels, heavily insured, sent out to sea to their doom. About what was once a notorious traffic—the traffic in "coffin ships"—is built a romance. Tho father is a ship-owner who dispatches a ''coffin ship" a voyage, ignorant till too late that his' daughter's betrothed is aboard her. The ship springs a leak, the men tako to tho boats, and ono man is saved-tho girl's lover. The shock of his return kills t'ho father, who latterly is possessed by the reproaches of his conscience. "Tho Marriago of Jano" is a most, amusing comedy. The programme will be repeated this evening. An announcement of special interest states that the management' have secured a splendid series of views of Mount Etna in eruption showing the terrible inferno at a distanco Oi only nino loot nway. These pictures were taken under such perilous circumetances that the operator literally carried mis life in his hands.