ENTERTAINMENTS

Dominion, Volume 9, Issue 2599, 22 October 1915, Page 2

ENTERTAINMENTS

MUSICAL COMEDY COMPANY. "HIGH JINKS." The tide of popularity of the J. C. Wil. iiamson Musical Comedy Company shows no sign of ebbing, 'the final performance of "The Girl in the Taxi" last evening drew another crowded house to the Grand Opera House. In view of the brevity of the season and a policy of rapid change, "The Girl in the Taxi" will give way to-night to the famous American musical play, "High Jinks." Light and catchy music, a series of beautiful stage pictures, and a generally spirited performance are claimed to be the special features of "High Jinks." It is said that the music possesses far more spontaneity than is usual in many of tho popular and recent musical comedy successes. The play has enjoyed a' popularity second only to that of the famous "Miss Gibbs." There are three acts in tlio piece, and according to present-day .customs great attention is given to the appointments and costuming. It is worthy of noto that it is the intention of the management to stage the play in precisely the same elaborate manner that obtained in Sydney and other centres.

"High Jinks" has been the rage of, Now York, London, and Australia, avid is credited with being the brightest of all modern musical plays. It will be produced by Mr. Harry B. Burcher, the music being under the direction of Mr. H. Burton. "High Jinks" will be played for four nights only, and will be followed on Wednesday and Thursday next, tlio last two nights of the season, by another famous musical comedy, "The Girl on the Film."

HIS MAJESTY'S THEATRE. . It is cv.idont .that there is something' of special merit about this week's programme at ]J.is Majesty's 'Theatre. Herbert Brooks, described as "The King of Mystifiers," certainly puzzles everyone in a most thorough manner. His trick of extricating himself from a steel box threatens to make one believe in the supernatural. Comedy, songs, and music are dispensed in exceilont style by I conard Nelson, Lou Hoffman, Pollard and Jackson, and the Do-Re-Mi Trio, the Musical Ibsons, and others. There will be but a. few moro opportunities of seeing Herbert Brooks.

THE KING'S. The remarkable drama by William Lo> Queux, "Sons of Satan," holds the audience at the King's Theatre fascinated with its vivid and sensational situations and wonderfully effective plotting and counter-plotting. Tho arch-fiend gloats over his victim, and the result of the lifetime of evil by the leader of the desperate gang of criminals is an impressive lesson oil the psychology of sin. The picture will be sliotvn for only three more occasions—to-night and tc-movrow, after-r.c-on and evening. The other subjects are all interesting. On Monday night a very fine film will be shown. This is a production of the Famous World Film Corporation, entitled "When It Stiikes Home." The story is claimed to bo a very striking one, and makes a magnetic appeal to human nature. The plot breaks new ground, the story is cleverly told, and the acting and production are of the very best, and, as someone has described it, " 'When It Strikes Home' lays, a grip on the heart and sets every chord vibrating." Special attention is drawn to the matinees to-morrow afternoon and on Monday (Labour Day).

EVERYBODY'S. Thanhouser's special dramatic feature, "At the Bottom of the S'ea," the fifth episode of "The Million Dollar Mystery"; "Tho Midnight Limited," Kalem sensational railroad drama; "Flashlight Flivvers," a very funny comedy, and other subjects will be screened for only two more days. On Monday a new bill will be screened, the star item of which will b« a grand melodramatic study, "Tho Countess's Coaching Party"; the sixth episode of that splendid serial drama, "The Million' Dollar Mystery." In this number Florence arid Jones are invited to a ; party at the Countess' chateau. Norton, tho reporter, suspecting a trap, starts out to rescue Florence. With the assistance of Jones, the trio escape in a quite unexpected and ingenious manner. Supporting subjects include "WifFles on the Eiviera," a coloured Pathe comedy of a very humorous nature; "Britain's New Army" gives interesting glimpses of Kitchener's millions in the making; the Gauinont Graphic (topical), and "The itfew Valet," comedy, complete a superior programme.

EMPRESS THEATRE. "In the Blood," a society drama, tellThat fine dramatic film "Sons of Satan" man to overcome a weakness thathas been handed down through generations, is the head-liner at the Empres Theatre this week. The story is unravelled amidst some very strong dramatic scenes, and the undercurrent of love adds considerably to the interest of tha film. Other good pictures are "The Fatal Note," "The Substitute Fireman," and the latest war happenings the world over are shown in the "Topical Budget." ,

"WOMEN AND WINE." On Monday morning next at the Empress, William Elliott, one of America's foremost character delineators, will held a notable east of film players in tlia World Film Corporation's sensational screen adaptation of Arthur Shirley's drama, "Women and Wine." The picture is in five parts, and follows closelv tho original Drury Laiio production, which' tho laic Bland Holt staged with success throughout the Southern Hemisphere. Thero are, of coi rse, many scenes in the film version which it would be impossible to put on in the confines of a stage; as, for instance, the great revel scene in tho Moulin Rouge, Paris, in which over a thousand people take part. M-axime's cabaret at midnight is depicted with all its gaiety, glitter, and abandon. Thrilling in the extreme is the death duel between the two women of the Parisian demi-mondes. Gorgeously artistic is the reproduction of tho ceremony of crownin" the Queen of Beauty at the artist's ball. The World Film Corporation, are among the foremost of America's classical film producers, and this production is claimed to rank with . their greatest achievements in the photo-dramatic art. Taken in all this stovy "of ti brand plucked from t'ne burning" may b.i said to bp one of the greatest expositions of the folly of loose living that the screen lias ever portrayed.

"DAMON AND PYTHIAS." "Damon and Pythias," the gorgeous photo-drama, is drawing groat houses at tiie People's Picture Palace, where it is being screened every hour and a half, commencing at 12 noon. This is undoubtedly a most remarkable achievement of kineniatogr-aphy, and shows in realistic fashion tho marvellous ■ glory of Greece at the lime of her greatest power. Tho story of "Damon and "Pythias® lends itself with peculiar ease imd appropriateness to picture art. The spectators aro shown the. city of Agrigentum, stormed and captured by the Carthaginian hordes only to be relieved in fierce battle by tho hero, Pythias, and his Greeks from Syracuse. The great arena at Syracuse, gay with triumphal games when Pythias "returns, is probably one of tl\o most ambitious ami most successful examples of modern kinematograph production. The of Damon, the Senator, stands out clearly as representing Liberty itself, and the sceno where he reviles hig fellowSenators when lie learns that they have decided to elect the tyrant, Dionys'ius, as King, is remarkably thrilling and realistic.