ENTERTAINMENTS

Dominion, Volume 9, Issue 2669, 15 January 1916, Page 3

ENTERTAINMENTS

HIS MAJESTY'S THEATRE. A very entertaining variety programme is being offered at. His Majesty's Theatre this week. The Bollinger and Reynolds team show new possibilities in balancing and comedy on the siack wire. On the musical side, Miss Amy Murphy and Miss Nellie Black, two vocalists of distinction, give .delightful contributions to the programme. These two artists appeal' for' the Inst time to-night. Other performers on . the bill are Miss Violet Trevenyon, George Wheeler, Con Morini, Tom Armstrong and Mabs Howartli, Miss Alice the home of his soil, whom he had cast The company is a very strong one, «s the list 6hows.

THE KING'S. "The Shulamite," the feature film that has been attracting very large audiences to the King's Theatre during the week, will be screened at the matinee -this afternoon, and doubtless many who have been uiiable to obtain admittance dur : ing the week will attend this afternoon, when the same excellent programme will be submitted; The picture will be shown for the last lime to-night, and seats may be reserved at the Bristol till noon, after which hoar, the plan will be at the King's Theatro. Next week's programme is advertised, and includes two "feature" films, both of which promise to be of ail interesting nature. The firm favourites of pic-ture-lovers, Anita Stewart' and Earle Williams, will be seen in a powerful drama of New York life entitled "The Awakening." These two are 'a host in themselves, and assure large audiences to tlin management securing films ill which they figure, while as an added attraction it is announced that Florence La Badie will be seen in an impressive and unusual dramatic offering, "Reincarnation," a picture, it is said, of striking beauty and power. Excellent supporting picturt-s, including a clever Vita comedy, an interesting military subject, "How the French Coast is Guarded," and the latest Pathe Gazette, will, complete what promises to bo a strong hill.

, EVERYBODY'S THEATRE. This week's programme at Everybody"® Theatre has several pictures worthy of favourable comment, notably a melodramatic feature, "A Battle of Wits," tho 17th episode of "The Million Dollar Mystery," "Salonika," the Grecian town where our armies have their headquarters, and two good comedies in "Jimrnie on the Job" and "The Jink on Jenks." The whole series will finish its screening, for the. last time, to-night. On Monday the new bill will contain another chapter of that interesting sensational drama, "The Million Dollar Mystery," which has liow only a few more numbers to go. In this episode, "Trapped by the Flames," a masked ball is one of the big scenes, and use is made of that setting 'to Florence and Norton to attend the dance. The Black Hundred cause a disturbance, during which an explosion occurs and wrecks the building. After desperate efforts,' Norton manages to savo Florence from the fiery flames. Thus ends the 18th part of this serial story. An amusing comedy is featured ■in Vitagraph's "Honeymoon Pact," which tells in comical scenes how promises in the early stages of married life, were broken. • ■ 'An interesting scenic 'study, especially at the present peridd, will be screened, "In . the Heart of Egypt." Every, week something that attracts your attention is seen' in "The Gaumont brapliic." "This number is full of scenes from the war zones. Other good pictures are "Love's Way," a splendid storv of a man's redemption, and "Never Again," a most amusing comedy. The orchestra, under the baton of Mr. Herbert Bloy, discourses sweet music 'o each subject.

THE EMTBESS. The current programme at the Empress Theatre will be screened this evening for the : lust : time. The schedule for next week will have as the main attraction n drama in three reels, entitled "Tho First Commandment." This is the first of a remarkable set of ten features which have. lately been produced by. the ICalem Company, and w'hich are based upon the Commandments. The story shows throughout many powerfully-actcd. situations; how a ginnt of the financial world, who lived only for the worship of the god of gold, is eventually ruined in the battle of competition, and is taken to the home of his son, whome he had cast aside in the race for wealth. As he sits beside his children in the church on Sunday, happier thai) he has been for years, he realises the significance of the preacher's text, "Thon shalt have no other gods " before lie." The otara am Tom Moore "and-Margurite Courtot, two of the screen's most gifted exponents. The supporting films will include "Constantinople" (Gaumont scenic), "Man of the Woods,"'a comedy, in the beautiful Pathe-colour, the "Topical Budget," and the Vitagraph laughter-maker "Booble's Baby." i

ROYAL COMIC OPERA COMPANY. The always welcome J. C. Williamson Royal Comic Opera Company will comiuc*i«co a.season, of fourteen nights at the Grand Opera House on Friday nest, during which the following attractions will be presented:—"Gipsy Love" (for the first timo here), "Our ,Miss Gibbs," "Paul Jones," "Tho Quaker Girl," "Ma Mie Bosette," aiid "i'he Dancing Mistress." "Gipsy Love" is a comic opera in three acts by A. M. Wilner and Robert Bodanzky;. the English libretto is by Basil Hood, the lyrics by Brian. Ross,, and'the music by Franz Leliar, the composer of "Tho Merry Widow," In "Gipsy Love" it is stated, will be found numbers that are closely akin to tho school of grand opera. The music of the first _act is especially characteristic in this respect. Miss Florence Young, whose voice is said to bo as beautiful as ever, will be seen in the prominent part of Lady Babby. In Mr. Derek Hudson, a dramatic baritone, the organisation possesses a vocalist. of reputation and distinction. Miss Ethel Caamah is described as an artist whose personal charm and delightful singing make it a double pleasure to witness her impersonations. The opera is well punctured with the humorous sallies of the. light-hearted comedian, and the plot has been treated with an inventive mind! Messrs. Phil Smith and Leslie Holland' are humorists of an original bent. Such artists as Mr. Reginald Roberts, Claude Bantock,. Jack Ralston, Charles Albert, and Misses Minnie Love, .Ivy Dawn, Ethel Behiietto and Maggie Moore should prove a tower of strength to the combination. The company numbers over 100 members;.also an orchestra of grand opera proportions, under the direction of Mr. Harry .Burton, a full chorus and a complete ballet. The box plans for the first seven nights, during which will be presented "GipsyLove," "Our Miss Gibbs," and , "Paul Jones," will be opened at the Bristol on Wednesday morning. .

SEALS-AND HOW THEY ARE TRAINED. Captain Frank Hilling, whose troupe of performing seals' is one ofj. tile star attractions at Wirths' Circus, which is to open in Wellington, near Te Aro Bailway Station, 011 Monday, January 17, tells some interesting things about seals. These animals inhabit the rocky parts of the coast of California and live exclusively 011 fish. They aro exceptionally ■ fine swimmers arid can catch almost, any fish. The average life of a seal under natural conditions is from 50 to 75 years. Netting these animals is quite an industry on this coast. "When they aro first caught," says Captain Huling, "they aro very ugly and are all the whilo waiting to bite and to injure a captor. This goes on for' about four or five months, and when they have become accustomed to you and are used to being handled, their education commences. Sometimes they take even longer, and sulk. I knew ono seal that refused food for 50 days. This is only iv short way 011 the road, though, for they are about the most difficult animal to train and present that I know of. They have a keen' brain, and if you treat them kindly, you can get along with them all right. It takes about two years to break them in for performing before the public. I don't think much can be done by cruelty," continued Captain Huling. "I liave a letter hero written to onp of the papers in Nancy, France, by Mdlle. Jliirgueriio Jlangen, the president of the Society for the Protection of Animals. She says: 't have much pleasure in announcing that owing to the way in which you present and treat your your act is really a treat to watch. I iiavo never seen animals better trained than those, and they seem to hftve a.jueit aJJeetku,

for you.' That is one of the points I insist 'on—-kindness. I was touring Texas at one time, and wo were on the coast of the Gulf of Mexico at Galveston. One of my best 6eals, a very valuaolo animal, was sick, and the only way * thought of to save him was to let him wo. I took him down to the beach and put him in the wafer. Ho swam, out until lie seemed tut a fly-speck on the sea and I thought he was gone. He camo buck, however, and crawled to my root and I fussed law, bade him good-bye, and drove away. The manager of the theatre undertook to look afler him; and for a. time after I had gone I was, toUl ■he was doing well, but one day I got a wire saving that .lie was dead. He was a fino animal, but I knew that was liis only chance of living—freedom, and J. gave him the , ohance. Matinees will be given-on Wednesday and baturdai. The box plan is at the Bristol.