ENTERTAINMENTS.

Dominion, Volume 5, Issue 1285, 14 November 1911, Page 7

ENTERTAINMENTS.

4 "A FOOL TUERE WAS." "A Fool There Was," t.lir powerful Play which has origin in Kipling's poem "Tho Vampire,'' was played before a largo audience at tho Opera House last evening. • It is an interesting, if morbid, play, and, viewed from a purely histrionic standpoint, is a. remarkably nble performance.- Excellent work of a highly dramatic character is done by Mr. Hugh Buckler as the husband, Mr. Gerald Sonper as the friend, and Miss Mabel Trevor as the woman. The play is well-mount-ed, and the ladies display a fine taste in dress. "A Fool There Was" will be produced this evening. " THEATRE ROYAL, Fullers' Vaudeville Company commenced a now programme at the Theatre Royal •last night, 'hie. three sprightly juvenile?, "Tho Tit Bits," were given a great, welcome on their reappearance, and before, they left wero being encored to the echo. They gave a pretty, cleverly done, and screamingly funny" skit on the fashions of varions'times, from Elizabeth's day to now. ' Following this Ihey appeared n one of their pleasin- acrobatic turns. They frolicked and tumbled daintily, and rolled eft' tho stage amidst great applause. Veda Harcourt figured on tho bill as "Wellington's Melba." She-has a very nice soprano voice, and for her rendering of "Carmepata" she was loudly encored. An amusing item was contributed by Charles Emerald and Maude Dupre. Signoi G. Martijjengo played a pathetic wena. in which he introduced some exoei-Icntly-rendercd 'cello His playing of "Home, Sweet Home" drew n great round of applause from the audience. "Windows to Mend," by Frank Martin, was a vory, fine coon item. This comedian is now a firm favourite. The pretty coster artiste, Maud Stewart, considerably increased her already high reputation as a splendid entertainer. Other artists who contributed to the programme were Leah Boyd, serio and dancer; Walter .Tamie=on, descriptive balladist; Beryl Nicholls, serio and dancer; Harry Jones, eccentric comedian; Jessie Lee, motto vocalist; Tim Howard, comedian; and Millie Doris.

HIS MAJESTY'S THEATRE. That fascinating psychological play "Tho Bells," in which the late Sir Henry Irving made a name for himsolf, was the subject of the star film presented to a crowdo.l audioace at His Uajosty's Theatre last eveniug. Additional interest attaches to this picture, as it was enacted in Melbourne quitn recently with Jfr. Arthur Styan (for so lonp with the Bland Holt Company) as Mathias. The'actios is very pood all-round, and no fault, can bo found in its photographic quality. "The Bells" chime a grim little story. Mathias, the innkeeper, being hard pressed for money, murders a Polish Jew, seizes his girdle of gold ,and throws the body into a lime kiln. Years nftorwards, when Mathias has risen to be Burgomaster of the town, nn old cronv recalls the story of tho disappearance of the Jew, and Mathias, who has long been the playthine'of remorse, is for ever hearing the imgle of the sleigh bells in his ears—the bells of the Jew's sleigh as he approaches tho spot where Mathias killed him with an In tlio midst of the rejoicings in connection with his daughter's wedding, he is haunted by the bells to such an oxtoat'that ho becomes seriously ill, and is taken to bed. There he dreams (and tho picture accomnaaics him to dreamland) that he stands in the dock chargcd with tho crime. He protests his innocence, but'a-mesmerist is enllcd in, and under his influence ho enacts the scene ot tho murder over again. On awaking from this hideous nightmare, Mathias loses his reason, and finally dies with the sccret of the crimo still locked in his breast. A pleasant relief to the tragical e«nt .and its sequel, is the pretty love a~nir of tho burgomaster's daughter, Annette, handsome Lieutenant Hans Christian. Other good pictures presented in the now programme are "Swords and Hearts," a dramatic love story of tho American Civil War; "Rebellions Blossom," "Tha Switchman's Tower". {a.-tale of the railroad), "Tlio Baron, 1 ' the English "Pathe Gazette." A. picture of th', race for the Melbourne^-Cup, run'<>n Tuesday last, will bo shown this evening.

KING'S THEATRE. The many who have read Victor Hugo's work, "Notre Dame de Paris," and also thoso who have not, now lave tho chance ot witnessing tho story as illustrated by the kinematograph at tho King's Theatre. It is beyond all question a very fine dramatic picture. The story is closely adhered to, the photographic qualitv is excellent, and the acting is uniformly 'and artistically admirable. Most people know the story of the priest, Claude Frollo's passion for the gipsy girl, Esmeralda, and how, after the dwarf Quasimodo fails to carrjr her off, Irollo liears her make an appointment with her rescuer. Captain Phoebus, and secreting himself near the trysting place, stabs the officer in tho -back and escapes. Esmeralda is accused ot tho murder, is brought to trial, and condemned to be tortured. She confesses, under torture, to the crime she never committed. When about to pay the full penalty of the crime, Quasimodo, whom slio has befriended, sees her, breaks through tho crowd, and bears her aloft to tho topmost towers of Notre Dame. There she is discovered by Frollo, who gives her up to the executioner. Quasimodo, crazv with 'grief, wreaks au awful revenqO on Frollo by hurling him from the parapet of Notre Damo to his death on the steps below. This tragic stwy is magnificently acted by M. Garry, Kraus?, Alexandre. and Mdlle. Naoierkowska. "Swords and Hearts" is a graphic story of the Civil War in America. As Hugh Frazier, son of a wealthy tobacco planter, leaves to join tho Confederate army, ho becomes engaged to a pretty but calculating girl, with whom he is very much in love. Unknown to . him another girls of lowly station has fallen in love with him, hut her father loathes tho wealthy class, and when Hugh makes a firing visit to his lady love he is saved from death by tho poor girl's devotion. That night Jennie's (the poor girl) father is killed in on attack on the Frazier mansion, but at the same time the old home is destroved by fire, and Hugh's father nerish-.f. 'in tho flames. When Hugh returns he finds himself ruined'and homeless. In this condition. he is deserted by his highly-bred sweetheart for a Union officer, but Jennie remains faithful, and, seeing hsr worth, Hugh takes her to his heart. Other good pictures are "Tho Snirit of the Gorge," "Hamburg," "Picturesque Snots in New South Wales," "Wet Paint," and the Pathe Gazette. This evening a nicture of tho Melbourne Cup (won by The Parisian) will bo i<hown. On Tb.nrsdav, a very fine "star" picture, entitle.-* "Angry Nature," will b? Presented. This picture shows Mount' Etna in eruption, the views of which were f'o.keu during tho recent upheaval in Sicilv.

THE NEW THEATRE. TliNew Theatre was again largely patronised .yesterday afternoon and evenin.?, whoa the current series of moving pictures were shown for tho last time. The customary change will be introduced to-day and to-night, but; in response to numerous reriuests, "Tho Battle Hymn of tho Republic will be repeated at every session. A Bison exclusive drama, "A Man of Honour," is a stirring Western picture-play with natural surroundings, and is interpreted with convincing realism. "Waves In Motion" is. an impressive nature study. It shows the action of breakers expending th;>ir fury on a rockbound coast. Tho Champion exclusive comedy, "The Cowboy and Easterner," : s a delightfully amusing episode. The noted Cines Company are responsible for a powerful dramagraph, "Happy in Spite of Herself." A hilarious production, "A Double Elopement," by the Lubin Company, is in keeping with that firm's excellent reputation for good tilings. "I.ea's Holidays" is a continental laughter-maker of an extreme type. The new programme will bo shown from 11 o'clock this morning till 11 o'clock to-night.