ENTERTAINMENTS

Dominion, Volume 9, Issue 2807, 27 June 1916, Page 3

ENTERTAINMENTS

"MOTHER GOOSE."In point of popularity "Mother Goose" is proving no whit the inferior of its many gay predecessors. Indeed, the management 6tato that Saturday's businessmatinee and evening—represented a new record for pautomimo business in this City. On both ■ occasions the sale of tickets had to be stopped before the curtain rose. The pantoiiiimo is now going with a better swing than was the case on the opening night, and the various features are presented ivith that attention to detail that marks the careful stage management of J. C. Williamson, Ltd. Tho "rolling ship" sensation is quite new, and is as daring as it is uproariously funny. It represents the cross-section ot a steamer, which lies quite still at first, but as it puts out to sea the vessel begins to rock more and more violently, until it turns completely over and over, which necessitates Hie passengers being strapped to the sides. Tho electricallyilluminated swings, the "floating fairy" i 1 "The GiTl of My Dreams," are all delectable effects that go well with the audience. Mr. Victor Kelly, as Jack, is very amusing up to a point, and his "Follow tho Moon" pong is a feature that stands out. The smooth-running of the show reflects credit on Mr. J. C. Whitfield, and the orchestra, under Mr. David Keers, is eminently satisfactory. There will be auother matinee to-inor-tow afternoon, commencing at 1-45 p.m. sharp. Two additional performances of "Mother Goose" will be given on Saturday afternoon and evening next. This is the outcome of tho fact that so many people, who, owing to late trains, can only attend tho theatre on Saturdays, were unable to obtain, admission on Saturday last. The plans for the Saturday performances will be opened at the Bristol to-morrow morning.

HIS MAJESTY'S THEATRE. "La Bella Napoli" is the title of the merry littlo musical farce that was presented by the Victor. Prince Kevue Company at His Majesty's Theatre last evening. What a revue exactly is toas never been disclosed by anyone'who matters, but as "La, Bella Napoli" actually nas the semblance of a plot it must be classified as a concoction of more responsibility than that which is entirely devoid of vertebrae. It is written by Charles Zoli, the clever "dago" impersonator, and quite naturally Charles Zoli figures prominently, and altogether etrectivelyHoUs Luigi Harmonica, an Italian organgrinder, who is engaged by a scheming hotelkeeper to impersonate Count Satvatori, in ordeT to secure money by way of dowry from an extremely wealthy but plebian Australian couple, who rejoice in,the aromatic name of Bluegum, and who are dying to wed hkeir daughter to a real Italian count', and make no secret of it. In the meantime the daughter's eyes have looked into those of Harry Ardent (tho Teal Count Salvatori masquerading as an artist), and the lattcr's Indignation 60on turns to laughter When he finds that a greasy organ-grinder ia impersonating him in order to win the golden Marie Bluegum, and finally there is tho.inevitable'explanation, and all jig happily to the lilt of "Finiculi, I'irii-. cula." Mr. Zoli gets rijrnt into .tho skin of the organ-grinder, and his burlesque count is good farcical fooling. Old Bluegum is played on loud boisterous lines, with much unctuous humour, by Mr. Victor Prince, whose big cheerful .voice was heard in that idiotic song, "I Parted My Hair in the Middle." Jiiss Lillian Colenso was suitably rongh and outspoken as plain Mrs. Bluegum, and Miss. Ruby Esdaile made a slim, pretty, Mario (in search-of a count). Mr, Lester Carey played the- lover with spirit, and sings, a couple of songs fairly well. There is a malo quartet, a Castanet dance,' tinkling guitars, and a wellpainted back-cloth to give the requisite colour to tho place people ure advistfl to see—and' die. • In this case it is see "La Bella Napoli"—and laugli. The best turn in the first part is that of the Estelle Wordctto' Company—Miss Wordette and Mr. Thoj. Millar—who speed up the fun in first-rate stylo in a farcical sketch, entitled "When Hj« Cat's AwayV' being the exporienccn of n detective who is employed to recover a man/ in a fur coat and a prize cat, and gets them and his clients mixed Tip. Mr. Athol Tier as tho village icjiot scored plenty of laughter, but Should avoid any leaning towards (he vulgar that taints so much of tho comedy in vaudeville. In Mr. Tier's case there is absolutely no need for. the descent, even if it were original, which is not the case. He is a remarkably clever, loose-jointed, eccentric dancer, and Miss Peggy Boss is a valuable assistant in the vocal way. The "Mcrriuns" consisted of. -Miss Dorothy Gardner, Mr. C. Rose, i and Miss Kate Checkett. Miss Gardner recited a cross, iiig-sweeper story rather well, and was Tun of effort in a patriotic song. Mr. Bose gave his old-time curate sketah, and Miss Obcckott sang a ballad very nicely. Miss Rosina Palmcrston also contributed songs to piano and ' mandolin, accompanied, and played, as a.pianoforte solo, a "Faust" . selection. : ■ . . THE KING'S THEATRE. : jn '"The Girl of the Golden West" the King's Theatre proprietary have secured another very fine picture. The novo! won fame for, 'and in "picturisation" the book loses little, if anything. In. fact, there are parts in tho book which might have been especially written for the kincrna camera. The famous story, of course; is a. thrilling tale of the' Golden West in the days that were. It has all tho life and vim of the best American stories;, it is thrilling and appealing, and its characters are "big" characters, who live long in one's memory. Mr. Johnson is the hero of tho story, and in this outlaw the author draws one of tho most striking characters created in .American Rarely has such a captivating personality been made to live in .the pages of any book. The heroine is a saloon attendant out West. Her saloon is of the most deplorable, riotous kind, but the girl comes through-uncontaminated by her evil environment. Love draws the outlaw and the girl together, and in ■ the end Johnson quits the "road agency" business for . the sake of ' the girl. Around this plot many adventures are woven, ;and many of them are of.a kind which can be very well reproduced on. the screen.. In the present

picture production these .facts are taken full advantage of,- and a really fine film is the result. This week's bill at the King's Theatre includes, also, a highly interesting "Pnthe Gazette," "Mutt and Jeff in a Submarine" (comic cartooning), and "Keyboard Strategy" (comedy). EVERYBODY'S. A very interesting programme is being submitted this week at Everybody's. Tho chief attraction is "The Straight Road," in which the part of Moll O'Hara is taken by Miss Gladys Hanson, one of 'Americas most talented young women. The picture first depicts Moll O'Hara's' lifo in tho. slums, 1 where her mother dies. By the aid of a kind neighbour Moll is brought to have a wholesome regard for things that are good, but sho has one vice which she cannot get rid of, and that is drink. During a drunken fit she is helped by a 1 young man, and the man concerned thus offends his "girl," who later on causes a fight between herself and Moll O'Hara at a cafe. A young society lady, however, comes to Moll's aid, and as an experiment carries her away to a higher life. Here sho frequently comes in contact with a man who is engaged to her helper. .He immediately makes love to Moll, and when found so doing by his fiancee casts Moll from him, nt the same time accusing her of forcing herself upon him. This causes her helper to think sho is no good, and cannot lift herself from the surroundings she has been used to. Moll, determining to have her tovengo and show heT helper what sort of man 6he is engaged to, arranges for him to come to her rooms at (i p.m., arid urges her helper to come at the same hour. How Moll ultimately throws off the degradation of the old lifo and ultimately attains happiness, all combine to i make, up a very fine picture. Tho supporting programme is well worth seeing: th.j latest Topical Budget, tho British Army in France (which shows some very interesting scenes from our trenches), Charlie's Barnyard Pets, the Other Sister, and last but not least eoine scenes from Dublin, showing the wreckages caused by tho rebellion of the Sinn Fein•«9. J

EMPRESS THEATRE. The attraction at the Empress Thcatro for the present week is headed by o. Triangle Film Company's star feature, "Following Fathor's Footsteps."" As the story begins the parents arc fearful that their son will be led astray by the young lady next door. Ford Sterling portrays the stern father, and he goes to the girl with the Intention of abashing her Instead of that he is induced to go with her to a tango dancing cafe. She notifies the sou of the escapade, and mother finds out about the affair. There is some marvellous dancing by the father and the girl, and later there is a great struggle between the .landlord and die father; the latter being thrown out of a ten-story window, but he is saved by his clothing catching on a hook during the descent. The building is set on fire by an overturned lamp during the struggle. Some extraordinary climbing is shown, and a whole lot of comic surprises are sprung on the audience, which is kept in a state of continuous,merriment throughout the play. A Lubin drama, "Sealed Orders," which deals with th" Mexican crisis, contains many thrills, and a tender love story. The Dublin Riots .shows scenes in Dublin during the fighting, and tho demolishing of many of the fine edifices of that city. Wild animal life in Africa and India is a highly interesting 61m, and the Topical Gazette is very entertaining. "THE DANDIES." The new programme which "The Pink Dandies" are producing in the Municipal Concert Chamber is most entertaining. Mr. Ford Waltham is seen and heard to very great advantage; anil Mr. Joseph Brcnn'an, the chief comedian, is as amusing as ever. N Mr. Lawrence is excellent in "On the Road to Mandalay," and the items'chosen for the other members of the company are pleasing and catchy. The season of tho Dandies is now drawing, to a close.