ENTERTAINMENTS

Dominion, Volume 9, Issue 2858, 24 August 1916, Page 3

ENTERTAINMENTS

"SAN TOY." The Wellington Amateurs nre having a highly successful season with their production of "San Toy." This tuneful and spectacular opera was seen, heard, and appreciated by a good audience again last night, and the applause in fioason was generous. The production is in every way a credit to the performers, and in no lesser degree to the people who have had to do with the preliminary arrangements for the staging of the opera. The scenic effects are uncommonly good, and the costumes aro exceedingly well n=soi'tod, and in keeping with the Oriental setting of this fascinating musical playlet.

"San' Toy" will bo played until the end of tho week.

HIS. MAJESTY'S THUATKK. .. . The Quality of this week's ruiidcrillo bill at His Majesty's Theatre is of a 'higher mark than usual. Bert La Blanc's Travesty Stars aro again the hcadlinors of tlio programme, arid (ho plot of their piece has mora, backbone than previous farces by this clever combination. "In Watts" is the title of Hie piece. Watts is a town named after its long-deceased founder, and the several poor relations and c'uniidcucc people cause great, fun in the endeavour to establish their claim tn the town. Throughout the story several well-filing songs -arc rendered, and pretty ballets introduced. The. piece scores many laushs, and the Yiddish of Messrs. La Blanc and Jlack is v;ell spoken. Messrs. David Urquhart and Abe Barker and Miss Jean Clyde, who delighted audiences in their tour with (ho "Bunly Pulls the Strings" .Company, appear in another Scotch playlet, , '".U'Pherson's Wooing." Their acting is natural, and is above the usual typo of vaudeville. Son.gs of Ireland arc sweetly sung by Connor and Witt. There aro also two neatly finished juggling acts by the I<b Toms and Campbell and Walker. THE KING'S THEATRE. ■ 1 "The Rosary," which is having a most successful season at -the King's Theatre, will be screened to-night and for the last, tiuw to-morrow night. The picture story of Edward Jioso's popular piny is most pleasinx and deeply impressive. The acting of Miss "Kalhlyn'' Williams, Charles Clary, and others in a long cast is exceptionally good and convincing. "JEALOUSY." The change of programme, will be made as usual on Saturday, when the star feature will be tho Triangle four-part drama "Jealousy," or "Tho Green Swamp," described as a remarkable and novel story of a woman's fight against, her own jealous 'nature. The popular actress, Bessie Barriscale, is said to give her best performance as the jealous wife of a fashionable physician. EVERYBODY'S THEATRE. . Only two more nights remain to witness the excelleut programme now being shown at Everybody's Theatre, wlfich includes a-brilliant production by the AllBritish Company. "Iris" is the name of the star picture, with two of the world's most popular stars in the leading roles, Henry Ainley and Alma Taylor. It is a very pathetic story, and shows the sad ending of a good and lovable woman whose downfall may bo atttributed' to nothing more or less than her ambition for wealth, The items supporting this star aro all well chosen. Commencing; at noon oh Saturday will be shown a 'Vitagraph four-reel drama, "The Sins of tho Mothers," featuring Anita Stewart and Earle Williams in an. alluring society story of, the fateful influence of heredity. A Keystone comedy; "The Bath-house Blunder," will also' be shown. EMPRESS THEATRE. ' "Fivo Nights," from the book by Victoria Cross, ■ which is drawing full houses at the. Empress Theatre, will bo withdrawn to-morrow; evening. It is a 'swiftly-moving . story, which shows the author to be n keen observer of human nature and of the rapidly changing conditions iii which we live. The play is lavishly produced, and tho supporting programme is quito adequate. On Saturday "My Valet" will be produced. It is a comedy drama, in which Miss Mabel Normand plays-the lead, and which, it is said, gives her a splendid opportunity to show., her ability to bring tears as easily as she does laughter.

FUEXCH WAR FILMS.

The war pictures taken by the French Government, having been secured by a local syndicate, will be shown at tho Town "Hall on Friday aud Saturday next. In these moving pictures tho public are promised move than there is seen by those who have been actually at the front on the greatest fighting line of all time, every part along the 400 miles of , trenches, from Switzerland to Belgium, being depicted. Tho selection is said to compriso an admirable sot of subjects of great human interest, both' educational and instructive, no phase of the war being omitted. Tho box plan is open at the Bristol.

"THE DIVINITY OP MOTHERHOOD." Commencing on September 0, in tho large Town Hall, "The Divinity of Motherhood," or "Tho Miracle of Life," a four-act photo-play, will bo shown for tho first timo in tho Dominion. The Sydney'"Sun" of August' 6 says: "No eloquence of the pen can describe the olociueneo in motion of n glorious picture shown at tho Strand Theatre yesterday entitled "The Divinity of Motherhood.' There has rnrolv l>een a. picture shown to tho public liko 'this before. It is a message to the world at large, Margiicnta Fischer plays 'The 'Woman,' and, having determined to shirk her maternal responsibilities, sleeps and dreams. She sees herself an old woman being led by a child-like- spirit, into Babyland, and, finally confronted by death, sho shudders at the spectacle of •.women of her own type suffering the torment? of the inferno, as tho mothers ascend the golden stair to eternal life. The allegory is strongly reminiscent of the "Blue Bird," especially tho scene showing the babies waiting to bo born. Of course, when s'lio awakens, the memories of the dream lias its effect, and the picture closes?with her and her husband bending over the cradle of n child." I HORACE GOLDIN. This world-famed illusionist is to open at Hie Grand Opera. House on Wednesday next for eight nights. After record seasons in Australia Mr. Hugh D. M'Tnlosh has induced Mr. Goldin to ex--tend his contract so as to allow him 10, tour New Zealand. Assisted by Barbara Babington. mid supported by a host of trained auxiliaries, Mr. Goldin, presents illusions the showing of which involves carrying tons and tons ,of effects, and his performance takes in a review of conjuring from the fifteenth to the twentieth century. His great plate glass illusion will bo presented, whilo the disappearance of a. lady pealed at a, piano, both b"ing in full view of tho audience, is hardly credible. His performance culminates in a thrilling Moorish mystery ontitled "The Tiger God," in which a live Bengal tiger is used with sensational effect.- Mr. Goldin occupies about half the programme, the reft of the evening being taken up by vaudeville turns, such as the New Zealand public expect from. Mr. Hugh T). M'lutosh. and the performance promises to be what is practically two shows in one. The box plan is to open at the Bristol on Monday.