ENTERTAINMENTS

Dominion, Volume 9, Issue 2581, 1 October 1915, Page 3

ENTERTAINMENTS

• EMPRESS THEATRE. , ■ There.is hardly 'any need to record the state of the poll" at the Empress Thoatro this. week. "Tillie's Punctured Romance," a is illumined by tho inimitable comedy-acting of Charles Chaplin, Marie Dressier, and Mabel Nor. niand, can scarcely fail to make a special appeal to picture lovers. : The action of this merry photo-play keeps crowded audiences in spasms of laughter from beginning- fo end. Marie Dressier, is just as funny as Chaplin, and lias to bo seen to be appreciated. . The picture will be shown all day to-day and to-morrow.

"WHEN LONDON .SLEEPS." The Tenowned old English melodrama, "When London Sleeps," has been adapted to the screen, and will be shown for the .first time in this City at the Empress Theatre for. one week, commencing on Monday next. For some'considerable time the owners of the dramatic rights for the play were able to prevent the kinematograph version from .being exhibited,. as it'was deemed to be an infringement of their oopyright.. After much costly litigation the courts decided that' the rights to film [exhibitions did rot belong to the owners of the dramatic license, and the way was thus clear for the presentation of this, perhaps, the most popular of . the English .dramatic plays. The picture is in four parts, and is conspicuous for splendid acting, highly , superior settings and mountings, and remarkably- clear photography. . The many thrilling situations in the staged play are doubly intensified in the film version, and some wonderful effects are introduced which would be impossible'in the confines of a stage. The scene where the circus girl escapes from the burning house by walking the telephone, wires, with the child on her back, is breathlessly realistic. Another notable scene is the interior of the house' "which only' opens when respectable London sleeps. '

"LES CLOCHES DE CORNEVILLE." ■Robert Planquette's tuneful opera "Les Cloches'' de Corneville,": with its haunting music, bright humour, and beautiful 6tage pictures, is creating considerable interest among playgoers in Wellington, and the Amateur Operatic Society is being congratulated on the completeness o£ the production at the Grand Opera House..The opera ha 9 revealed the existence of" a. good deal of budding talent. Miss Annie Sullivan makes a very sweet and modest Germ'aine, and sings the music of the role quite admirably.' Her singing of the "Legend of the Bells," with its catchy "ding-dong" refrain, is one of .the features of the evaning. As Serpolette lliss Isabel Wilford acts : with vivacity, and is singing the part with more confidence and a fuller tone than on the opening night. Mr. H. G. Shakes is excellent as Gaspard, and Mr. Frank Charlton is singing the music of the Marquis capitally." Good characterisations are also being given by Mr. Alva Shaw a_s Gobo, and Mr. D. A. Kenny as the Bailee. For the final two performances soldiers'in. uniform are being admitted at half-price to all parts of the house.

■ HIS MAJESTY'S THEATRE. . A very bright vaudeville programme is being submitted by the Fuller management at. His Majesty's Theatre this week. Heniiessy and Martell are .spirited comedy jugglers, and; the Eclair' Brothers ' give an astonishing exhibition of strength combined with-the knowledge of how to apply it. Two «tat eoubrettes are included in the bill—Miss Violet Trevenyon and Miss Dorothy Harris. Other performers of talent aro the Gibson Girls, 1 ■Nat Hanley, the Jeunettes,- Miss Eileen Fieury, and the Bhodesburys. There .will bo a matinee performance to-morrow afternoon. ' ' . £

; MARY PICKFORD'S LAST NIGHTS'. Only two. more nights remain of Mary Pickford's season at.,the King's Theatre. On Monday she will be a pleasant'memory to those who.had seized the opportunity of seeing her in what is granted to be the finest piece .of characterisation-this lovable artist has ever portrayed. "Such a Little Queen" is made up of all the elements of success.' It- ; is a story involving intensely real situations,.interspersed.with brilliant comedy touches, which bring ripples of delightful wholesome fmn, and played by a cast reconised to' be the nest "The Famous Flayers" has evei' gathered together. On Monday next an attraction out of tho ordinary-in the way of photo-play programmes ; will be presented.; . .

EVERYBODY'S. V The last two nights are announced of ■ the brilliant programme at Everybody's, which includes a great fun-loving' Keystone comedy, "Those College Girls;" 2000 ft. of hearty laughter, and the'second episode of "The Million Dollar Mystery." On Monday one of the new -6tyle .- of society comedies that the Keystone Co. are featuring will be the head-liner. In. this film, "Mabel' Lost and Won," the principal artists of this famous company take part;. J^abelUormand and Owen Moore ■ Ambrose are starred, and the whole production is full of fun throughout its fifteen minutes' screening. "A Leap in the Dark," the third episode of "The Million Dollar Mystery," will also bo screened. The'mystery is carried on ■ a further step amidst exciting ' adventures, during which Florence and Nor- - ton/secure the capture of a number of the Black Hand Gang.' "Departure of the Sixth. Reinforcements,"' "Mother's Justice" (pathetic drama), "Cartoons in a Hotel" (comedy), and "Gaumont Graphic" complete the programme. '

"NEPTUNE'S DAUGHTER." ' Last night's audionce at the People's Picture Palace supplied further evidence of the. enormous hold that the startling photo-play, "Neptune's Daughter," has gained on tho Wellington public. Not a single soat or any available standingroom was to be had ten minutes before the performance started. As a mermaid in the water, surrounded by some lovely island .scenery, Annette Kellerman, despite the handicap of her mermaid's tail, gives a wonderful exhibition of swimming which ,is always graceful. Using the breast-stroke, she , makes the waves her play-fellows or turns them into her royal road to a revenge which • provides the plot of tho story. It is, however, when as a mortal tho call of the water overcomes • her, that she is seen at her very best, for then she does a series of magnificent dives into the almost transparent water. So real does the pictured scene become that' the audience unconsciously bursts' into- enthusiastic applause. The box plan for "Neptune's Daughter" is at tho Bristol.

"ARMIES OP EUROPE AT WAR." Referring to the first production in Napier of the pictures, "The Armies of Europe at-War," to bi shown, at the Concert Chamber 'on Saturday, Monday, and Tuesday, the "Hawke's Bay Herald" states that the Municipal Theatre was packed to the ■ doors, and the spectators loudly applauded the , different scenes. The films showed the New Zealand aud Australian troops in Australia, and then marching through Cairo. Then came tho brave Indian troops leaving Bombay and arriving in Egypt. Following in the tracks of the barbarous Huns in Europe there were shown the ruins of Malines and Senlis. These 'pictures gave ail idea of tho utter devastation caused by the Germans. What appeared to have been magnificent buildings were smashed to atoms, great gaps blown in any walls which were partially left standing. An armoured train in action caused great excitement.' After dealing with troops from Ceylon and Algeria, the pictures went on to depict'trenches out of which were' coming. French - soldiers who had been for sixty hours knee-deep—and sometimes waist-deep—in mud. A portion of the programme which aroused loud applause was when the -London Scottish—or rather what was left of them—were seen marching out of Messines. Roars of derison and hooting arose when the Kaiser's Grenadiers were shown. A startling incident was. depicted in, which the photographer's camera, which he held in his hands, was smashed by a bullet from a Taubo aeroplane. ' There were some nitiful scene's of Belgian refugees hurrying into Holland. -The Tsar Tsarina ; of Russia were shown at tho great reception they were accorded at Moscow. The gallant work of the band of Red Cross toilers aroused the; admiration of those present. Men with all manner.of. bayonet and bullet wounds were shown being skilfully attended by the Ambulance Corps. A splendid picture of tho Red Cross ship en route to the front, views of warships and submarines, of onr battleships, including the Queen : Elizabeth, and some of the latest types of German waTships were also shown. , During .the evening several patriotic songs were sung.