ENTERTAINMENTS

Dominion, Volume 8, Issue 2458, 11 May 1915, Page 3

ENTERTAINMENTS

"THIS IS THE LIFE." A VAUDEVILLE GAMBOL. Paul Stanhope's rovuo company, wh'ch appeared at His Majesty's Theatre last evening, in the gambol, "This is the Life," was met by a large audience, which received the now company with open arms and hard-working hands, testifying to a satisfying appreciation of the frivolity that was lunged at them by a spry lot of Americans. Paul Stanhope, who was here with "The Grafters" last year, is the character "Thin Mick" of the revue, and the fun revolves round him as naturally as flies round a honcy-pot. Being by instinct a beer cadger, Mick is called upon, to play a whole round of parts, and as the villain in a fake drama, "Desdemona Gone Crazy," or a "Masquerading Millionaire," he squeezes out laughs at ovcry angle. The company, apart from Paul Stanhope, has a 'ightfooted sextot of well-gowned, trimfigured girls, a couple of female soloists, and an exceptionally good male quartet. Miss Ruby Kennedy (Baby Kennedy of the long ago) acts somewhat perfunctarily as Janette Duprec, a coin-catching widow, and liftsup a vigorous soprano in tho song, "Sail On, Silvery Slocn." Her friend, Daisy Dollars, falls to the lot of Miss I'Vitzee do Guy, who is fair and willowy, and sings tunefully in love-slang, "T'l 1 Get You," and "Here Conies the Whip-poor-will." The Grafter Quartet sang a very pleasing medley of ragtime ditties. Les Bates appeared to advantage as the proprietor of the al fresco cafe, where all the fun happens, and incidentally sang "This is the Lifo." As a conclusion to a jolly hour, Mr. Renshaw dug out "Tipperary" from the trenches, which air served as the accompaniment to a costume parade of pie Allies by the "ButyKorus." "This is the Life" is airy frippery that leads to nowhere, but it has snap of tho American brand all through, and may be set down as a bright banisher of the war blues. Apart from the revue the vaudeville programme was interesting. The Dentines reappeared, swinging from desperate heights by their teeth, and executing a number of feats on the trapeze and swinging rope. A. double dislocation by the male performer caußed a good deal of nervous squirming among the audience. Courtenay and Shaw, rag-time singers with a piano, are boys in grey suits with a middle-west twang. Either Mr. Courtenay or Mr. Shaw (it is never made plain which is which) sang a patriotic song about the old flag, which made a special appeal to those in front. George Campbell, .the comedy juggler, is really funny, and, moreover, is a capital juggler. His plate-spinning sweepstake is • very clever. Les Warton sang coon songs with gusto and Mandeno's highlytrained do® gave excellent entertainment every minute they were in viow. JOSEPH BLASCHECK. Again last night Mr. Joseph Biascheck presented his "Society Snapshots" at tho Grand Opera House. Although the weather was bad the management had made arrangements to make the patrons comfortable. Many of the items given on Saturday evening were repeated, and received the well-deserved applause of the audience. There were new items introduced and Mr. Blascheck was heard to advantage in "The Little Red Ribbon," "Soroggins, Not Such a Fool as he Looks," while Miss Alyce Austin was recalled time after time for her vocal and pianoforte selections. To-night is to be a, lujmorous night, when these clever artists will introduce many humorous numbers. 'The box plan is at the Bristol and day sales at Miss Lennox's. THE KING'S THEATRE. A change programme of all-round excellence was presented at the King's Theatre last night. The star film was a stirring Kalem drama, entitled "Tho Derelict," dealing with the debasing effect the drug habit has on its victims. The principal character is a young married man who suffers from severe headaches. His business partner falls in love with the young man's wife, and I despite the fact tnat she does not (favour his suit, sets out to win her by first getting rid of the husband. This he does by inducing him to take headache powders and then drugs, until he becomes a drug-sodden derelict. His wife leaves him, but ultimately he is saved from himself by his little daughter and the story ends happily. Comedy is provided by an absurd Keystone fares, entitled "Love, Speed, and Thrills," in which the actors go through some amazing adventures. A topical film of | particular interest shows work in an American arsenal, with electrio machines cutting out uniforms by the dozen and other ingenious machines making designs on flags and uniform badges. "A Night's Adventure" is a good example of the ends to which men go to gain money, at the same time telling a pretty love story of a doctor, and a brave girl of Western America. The Lusitania was also shown on a special film, and gave a good idea of the wonderful size of the vessel. "An Old-Fashioned Girl" was a pretty domestic drama, in which the characters wore old-style costumes. This added to the interest in the film. A Vitagraph favourite also caused a good deal of merriment. It was entitled "Cutey's Vocation," and showed a young man at a country resort, spending a holiday amongst crowds of girls who were all seeking his attentions. "Pathe's War Gazette" included some good pictures of Russian Cossacks in action. The programme will be repeated this evening. EVERYBODY'S PICTURES. A fine representation of Hugh Conway's great novel, "Called Back,/' fear tures on the new selection of pictures shown for the first time at Everybody's Pictures yesterday. The picture is 3600 feet in length. Tho play is produced by the famous London Ifilm Company. The plot deals with the period when Italy was scheming to oust Austria's suzerainty. One of the chief personages in the story is Dr. Ceneri, who is a fanatio in respect to the grpat question of the period to such an extent that he unlawfully uses his deceased sister's money. His nephew demands that Dr Ceneri account for the money. This leads to Dr. Ceneri plotting with a certain Paoli Macari, who quarrels with the r-ephew and murders him. The subsequent eyents, which are very exciting, are depicted with great realism. Supporting this great picture aro some excellent scenic, dramatic, and comio subjects. "The Superfluous Baby" is a fascinating type of comedy, while there is a beautiful scenic, "Lake Katrine." Besides an interesting number of Gaumont Graphic, there is a film of particular interest at the moment as it shows the ill-fated Cunard liner Lusitania leaving New York on a record trip across the Atlantic. PEOPLE'S PICTURE PALACE. One of the finest Biblical picture dramas that Wellington audiences have ever been favoured with was shown publicly for the first time at the People's Picture Palace, Manners Street, yesterday. The film records with marvellous realism the life of Samson. Everyone is familiar with the story of Samson, of his mighty strength, which he derived from his hair, how he slew a thousand Philistines with the jawbone of an ass, how he fell victim to the seductive wiles of Delilah, of his fall and his final triumph in death. All these great events in the story of his life are depicted with rare fidelity. First is shown the simple, youthful Samson, how ho grows into manhood to display bis remarkable strength. H© moots a £ouug Ikm, Bounces on it*

after a struggle rends its jaws apart. | Samson meets mightier - enemies, however. He incurs the enmity of the priesthood, but his mighty strength awes them. The priesthood intrigue with Delilah to deprive Samson of his strength. ■ Samson falls victim to her charms and in the most powerful scene of the whole drama he is seen deprived of his strength, and a captive 'mongst the triumphant priesthood. Degradation follows, and Samson, deprived of strength, honour, and 'hope, is seen doing the work of a slave. Time passes and he is brought before the priests so that they might taunt him. Samson, howevor, calls on God for strength, in the midst of 'his humiliation, and seizing the two great pillars with his amis pulls them down, and "in his death, slaying more than he did during his lifo." It is a groat picture, while the acting of Mr. J. Warren Kerrigan, as Samson is truly magnificent. The film will be screened until further notice. THE EMPRESS THEATRE. "Tho Wireless Voice," a stirring "feature" drama by t'he Reliance Company, is the principal subject of the change of programme presented at the Empress Theatre Continuous Pictures yesterday. Hastings and Warren, perfect a wireless telephone, Hastings j goes to John Manners, his _ fiancee's uncle, and solicits his financial aid to exploit the invention. This is refused by Manners, who subsequently sends his confederate, Sykes, to draw plans of the mechanism with a view to stealing the patent. Sykes is surprised by ■Hastings, but after a desperate struggle the intruder gets away with the plans and hurries off in a motor-car with Manners. Hastings tells Warren by wireless to intercept the thieves at | any cost. Warren, with a loaded revolver, holds up the_ thieves, and Manners is eventually imprisoned for his roguery. When he is subsequently released he breaks into Hastings's dynamo room and sets a trap to electro- j cute the inventors. • When Manners's ' own niece is in danger of being killed ho quickly attempts to shut off the current, but he catches the switch too low and is instantly killed. The supporting films inolude "Ambrose's First Falsehood" (Keystone comedy), "The Last Assignment" (Edison drama), "British India" (Patho scenic), and "The Topical Budget." "THE VIOLETS." "The Violets" appear to have struck the public fancy, for nightly the little Concert Chamber is well tilled with audiences that fully enjoy the refined music and frivolity that are so cleverly served up. Miss Dorothy Gard'ner is a talented soubretto, with a good gift for comedy character, and Mr. Cuthbert Rose is an entertainer with ingratiating qualities, who extracts smiles rather than laughter. Mr. George Brooks sings with taste, and Mr. Howard Hall supplies a solid basso wherever required. "The Violets" promise a complete change of programme to-morrow evening. COURT CARDS' FAREWELL SEASON. At the Grand Opera House on Saturday night, Edgar Warwick's well-re-membered English Costume _ Comedy Company will commence their adieu, and will continue saying goodbye for a season of seven nights; The farewells will be marked by the presentation of three entirely new programmes, and by the rendering for the first time in Wellington of a fresh budget of songs, sketches, and humorous items. A new scene, "The Cruet," will, it is stated, provide seasoning guaranteed to adequately tickle the palate of all to whom it is passed. To-morrow at 9 a.m. the box plan opens at the Bristol, where it is anticipated the demand for seats will be as steady as is the merit of the company. As before, popular prices are being charged and day sales of tickets will be made at Miss Lennox's.