ENTERTAINMENTS

Dominion, Volume 7, Issue 2235, 22 August 1914, Page 4

ENTERTAINMENTS

; r ■ : '.'READY MONEY." : < The theme of -the- comedy "Ready Money"—wealth—which will", bo , produced at tho Grand' Opera House on Monday next by the J. C-. Williamson Company may seem a curiously daring one i'or tho basis of a comedy, but tho success of _ Mr. Montgomery's play in the recognised dramatic centres of tho -world justifies tho assumption that he has produced a play that is quite out of the ordinary. "Ready Money" is an excursion into a .hitherto-' unexploited field of humour, and it 13 claimed that Mr. Montgomery has struck a rich streak of the gold of healthy merriment in his excursion. The play is said to bo full of intensely funny and clever situations, and to be studded with epigram and'crisp lines, It is a difficult piece to play, out the comedic element, according to contemporary criticism, is in very safehaiids with Mr. Charles A Millward and Mr. William Harrigan at the head. These two American comedians com© with a high reputation, and are facing Wellington with no perturbation. They will be supported by . a lengthy cast of clever actors and actressea, among whom aro numbered Messrs. Arthur Styan, Harry B. Burclior, George Bryant, Robert Whyte, Charles Brown, Misses Sylvia Breiiier Stella Payter, Maggie Moore, and Nellio uramley, as well as a number'of others. The box plan is open at-the Dresden. ;At the last, moment .the taurine arrangements have been altered. "Ready Money" will'be staged for two nights only, and "The Argylo Case" on Wednesday and Thursday— a four-night season only. ■ . .° . HIS MAJESTY'S THEATRE. _ Those who have not seon the electrical Daisy Jerome at work are reminded that she is to make her final'appearances I Ms afternoon and this evening at His Majesty's Theatre. Besides this bright particular star there are now included m the mil such entertaining performers asthe New York Comedy Four, Jessy and Dolly Miller, Gordon and Day\ Jrotton and Kremka, Sam Le Mert, S. Merrill'and his Yip Yaps, and Les and Sol Bern. : ■■'■'.'■,■ j ::^.'KING'S-THEATRE.: - ;': .Tie: most absorbing dramatic pictuie at the,King's.Theatre this week' is • % en n., X y a , Iter ' s e t r Png> diama "Paid '" l M\ .(P.layed in; wHlirigton'by.the Jiatnerine Grey. Company . some four years.ago). The/play, was very arresting and human/ and the picture faith:ully reflects those. qualities. «Tlien am 1 ' 0 £• a ,' fine " aval P' oturo entitled . Iho lung's Navee," during the showing of which Mr. Charles Grey sings Rule Britannia" quite stirringly. Local pictures are represented by views of the al fresco street carnival by the theatrical companies of last Saturday, and the departure of the Auckland tro.ops for Wellington. Thero will be a matinee this afternoon. \ , "HINEMOA." For Monday night the King's Theatro has. secured a, picture play which should excite local interest and attract large audiences during the , full term of its screening, Tho film; presents what is really the first ambitious cinema work yet attempted in New, Zealand. It reproduces in motion pictures that most beautiful of all Maori legends "Hinemoa," in 2500 ft, of motion photography. Tho legend as presented was re-enacted at- the traditional places at Rotorua by' a cast of fifty Maoris, selected by the Rev. F. Bennett, of Ohinerautu, and the acting of the Natives is said to reach an astonishingly high standard. The natural scenic beauties of Rotorria furnish an effective and interesting background. It is stated that the cordial recognition extended to this, New Zealand's, first home, drama, has .in-duced-the producers to seriously cprW sidnr the question of entering into competition with the imported article. 'A special arrangement of melodies from the compositions of the New Zealand composer, Mr. Alfred Hill, ■ will accompany tlie unfolding. Other subjects on a particularly str,ong programme are: "The Bos'un's Mate (Jacobs comedy), "A Song at Twilight" (with incidental song), "The Mighty Monarch" (Vita comedy), and the latest Gaumont Graphic. Box plans are. now open at the Dresden. /.: .;.' k'~, -;.->■ ' ■'" ,-..- MAOMAHON'S NEW THEATRE. > Years ago when-people'scoffed at the idea of a continuous .picture show findind sufficient support to warrant its'establishment in New Zealand, Mr. MacMahon pitted his , judgment against that of the man in the street, and established the New Theatre, in Manners Street, as the first continuous show in the Dominion. His judgment was speedily justified,, with the result that ho was followed j>y a host of imitators. Tho New Theatre continued its prosperous career until Mr. MacMahon sold out his interest. Recently Mr. MacMahon returned to Wellington and repurchased the lease 011 his own account. Efis first action has been to overhaul tho building from ceiling to cellar. It lias been repainted, reseated, relighted, redecorated, the whole of its-internal structure rebodied and remodelled, and it now stands as one of the most , comfortable and compact picture theatres iu the Dominion. Mr. MacMahon has arranged for a series of photo-plays of the very highest class. The first of these,;',! The Silence of Dean Maitland," will be the headliner for tho reopening of the theatroon Saturday, August 29. The story is too well-known to require recapitulation here. It is a pitiable tragedy of immensely human payts, and 60 Strong .is .the book from which the picturo has been taken that it had been translated into no fewer'than five languages and has been staged in four. This will be supported by a Btrong programme of scenic, industrial, and othor )ictures, and it will be succeeded during the following week by a. uiaetorly dramatisation entitled "Absintho," based practically upon Marie Corelli's celebrated story "Wormwood." This 'gives a graphic and terrible presentment of the evils of intemperance) more especially when it takes tho form of tho drug habit. "The Lights of London," apfoture purchased by Mr. MacMahon himself when abroad, will be the nest star film, and following- it will be a series of the celebrated Klaw and Ehrlanger photo-plays, for which arrangements liavo been made with the Fraser Film Company nf Sydney. ■ ■ HARRY LAUDER. ': 'Messrs. 'Ji and, N. Tait .'have .within the last few years introduced to "this fcquntry many famous artists : of "■. tho musical and theatrical world, but' it is doubtful if any of.these ever.created tho widespread interest which is being manie'sted in tho forthcoming visit of Harry Luuder, the faino'us ; Scotch Comedian, who in this.issuo is announced.'to' raakb his appearance here on Saturday, Se-j* tombor 5, at the Grand Opera House. the term "unique" might almost he used in describing thepersoii'-who has never heard of Harry Lauder, and tlio countless, thousands who have bccoino acquainted with him through the medium of the gramophone rogard him Sβ a personal friend of , long : standing. Wonderful as tlio reproductions of the gramophone undoubtedly are/'it is said that they give only a "very- email idea of tho entertaining powers of Harry Lander. Ho has a wonderful personality, frequently described fls magnetic, and ho has an excellent singing voice. His methods of handling an audience arc slated to bo as original as they aro unconventional, and his .character studies arc. illustrative of the.master lie is) of''detail,', arid'his touches of pathos lire in wonderful contrast to his ready wit and.genuine humour., Mr. Lander brings with him. an excellent company of visiting artists of international fambj who wore specially engaged for this

world's tour. Tho Wellington season is a limited one, aud tho box plan of reserved seats will bo opened at tlio Dresden on Monday, August 81. Applications for seats from country patrons will be promptly attended to.

EVERYBODY'S" PICTURES.

Tho popularity of Everybody's Pictures at tho.old Opera House is evidenced by very large and appreciative audiences. That fine play, "The Mystfm! ous ase >" a,1( l au admirable comedy lho Water Dog" are sufficient attractions in themselves. "Auckland's Contingent off to the Front," to which added interest is lent by Mr. Charles trrey's singing of "Soldiers of the King," creates enthusiasm nightly, while the' remaining pictures are all meritorious. This programme will be withdrawn after to-night. The special feature of next Monday's all-new list will he tho'historical drama "Fighting Blood of 1809," which is said to relate m excellent manner the heroic career and tragic death of the Tyrolese patriot Andreas Hofer. As part and parcel of tho play, many battle pictures «re shown, which reproduce encounters between the French army and the untrained but brave peasants of the Tyrol. Conspicuous amongst theso is said to be a very realistic representation of the historic fight at Still Bridge. The film is eaid to bo of value as an educator. Some patriotic views, calculated to appeal to the sympathies of an audience at the present juncture, are.to be shown in the film "Spithead Naval Review."- Other subjects are "Pathe's Latest English Gazette" and the Keystone comedy "The Fatal Mallet." The. orchestra attends afternoon and sights sessions. EMPRESS THEATRE. For the last time the Film d'Art "feature" drama "Not Guilty" will be screened to-day and to-night with the current programme of the Empress Theatre continuous pictures. The supporting pictures are all right up to the high standard set at the Empress. At the Empress Theatre on Monday next will be screened the great naval and military picture, entitled "In the King'd Service," a 3000 ft. picture taken officially by command of His Majesty the King. The picture is said to give a vivid idea of our troops at; work during manoeuvres, and a aeries of striking illustrations, of service conditions in the Navy. . "The Dandies" will return to. Wellington for a short season of six nights, commencing on Monday, August 31; They will appear in the Concert Chamber of the Town Hall. "The Dandies" have an extensive repertoire, and will present two entirely new programmes during their short season. The plan opens at tho Dresden next Wednesday morning. '