ENTERTAINMENTS

Dominion, Volume 9, Issue 2875, 13 September 1916, Page 3

ENTERTAINMENTS

ALLAN AVILRIE SHAKESPEARE SEASON.

Mv. Allan Wilkio anil bis company presented "Ilanilot" ioi: the last time in tho Grand Opera House last night. Opportunities for tlie'study of the Shakespearean plays havo .riot beeii frequent in Wellington ol' Into years, and last night's audience showed that very many lieople of this city are glad to pay their tributo to the great bard in his tercentenary year. To-night at the Grand Opera House the now established Shakespearean company wilt stage for the first time tho great tragi-comedy, "The Merchant of Venice." It was as Shylock and Portia that Mr. Allan Wilkio and Miss Fredisivyde Hunter-Watts made their initial bow to an Australian audicnce. It is said that Mr. Wilkio preserves throughout tho qualities that liavo made "Old Shylock" one of the most impressive of the great dramatist's creations. His demeanour is thoroughly consistent with the spirit of tho text, maintaining tlio haughty dignity of his "Sacred Nation" against the indignities cast lipon liiin. The protestations against t'ho Christian view of his methods, the careless skill with which ho snares hated Antonia into accepting Ms "merry bond," bis unyielding demeanoni in the court scene, and the final crushing of all his hopes of revenge, are all said to be portrayed with skilful and effective judgment. This piece will hold the boards up to and including Saturday's matinee, giving way to "Twelfth Night" on Saturday evening, which will bs repeated on Monday and Tuesday.

HIS MAJESTY'S THEATRE. Several new performers arc on the programme at His Majesty's this week', and among litem is Miss Lallie Brooke, who appears in n sketch entitled "Feminine Fads and Fancies/' in which arc included dresses from the early 'eighties down to tho most modern frocks. Miss Brooko's item is :v distinctly novol ono, and slio accompanied each change with a vorse of tho song, "An Old-Fashioned Girl." Miss J. Spcllman, who is fresh from America, gets in favour immediately, and among other things sings "Tho Quaker Girl." Sully'and Fenner aro a couple of excellent acrobats, and soma very lino wrist-play anil somersaults .are given. The Four Kings, who sing, tuniblo, and dance, make a good impression, as does also Mr. Clement May, who puts on a number of new imperonating acts. Items are also given by Shipp and. Gjffney, Miss Graco Compton, Jjcs"Warton,'Harry Howe and Co., and Val and •Lottie Nowrnan.

THE KING'S THEATRE. "The _ No'er-Do-Well," tho big Selig production of Hex Beach's fascinating story of tho Panama C'anal, is proving a very strong attraction at the King's Theatre this week, many being unablo to gain admittance last night. "Tho Ne'er-Do-Well," both in book form and even more so on the screen, is followed with intense interest from first to last, this interest being excited not only by tho red-blooded exploits of tho hero, but to a great degree by the scenes amid which the action takes place. The onlooker is taken through a new field., in which unusual conditions of life prevail, and' the career of the happy-go-lucky youth who finds his man's suul amid the strenuous scenes at Panama is made more interesting v by its surroundings. There will be a special matinee this afternoon, and the picture will be screened for three more nights only. Seats may be booked at .the Bristol.

EVERYBODY'S THEATRE. •A considerable number of people were unable to gain admission at Everybody's yesterday, the great attraction being

"The Good Bad Man," featuring Douglas Fairbanks and Bessie Love. It is one of the famous Triangle dramas, full of stirring and sensational happenings; Tho story deals with Passin' Through, who becomes an eccentric outlaw on account of doubts as to his parentage. Later on in life ho discovers who his parents were and also the man who murdered his father. The manner in which ho avenges the wrong done him by this man (Tho Wolf) is dramatically -portrayed in the final scenes. Another very fine picture shows the important part woman is playing in the war, in tne making of munitions.

EMPRESS. THEATRE. Tlio big comedy success, "The Lion and. The Girl," continues to crowd the Empress Theatre, and keep the audi-, ences laughing at the absurdly funny situations that occur in rapid sequences. In contrast to the star feature, "Lifo's Yesterdays," creates a vivid impression by its powerfully dramatic episodes. It is the story of a' clevcr young surgeon, whose career was spoiled by the cxcessivo use of a certain drug. His atonement and redemption makes a pleasant ending. Another dramatic story of a very different type .is "The Artist's Wife," a pretty love story. "Far From the Madding Crowd," by the celebrated Thomas K. Hardy, Trill be presented on Saturday. -

"THE DIVINITY OF. MOTHERHOOD."

"God," wrote Mary Howitt, "sends children for another purpose than merely to keep up the race—to enlarge our hearts, to make us unselfish, and full of kindly sympathies and affections; to give our souls higher aims, and to call out all our faculties to extended enterprise and exertion; to bring round our fireside bright faces and happy smiles, and loving, tender hearts. My soul blesses the Heavonly Father every day, that Ho has gladdened the earth with little children." But in an age of morbidity there are not wanting women who decline the responsibilities of motherhood until it is too late for them to realise what they have lost. It is Tound tliis subject that "The Divinity of Motherhood," which i 6 to bo produced for one week, only at tlio Britannia Theatre, starting on Monday nfext, is woven. The picture is said to deal with inflnitß charm vritlLa subject thnt is regarded as taboo. While being a strong sociological study, it is said , to be invested with a gentle graciousncss that robs it of any suggestion of sensationalism or sordid'ity. The picture is described, as .a lesson arid a sermon and a humanism in one, and full of vivid interest in its appeal to domesticity. The cast is a strong" one, headed by- that popular picture actress, llarguerita Fischer, and the incidental scenes of babyhood are among tlio brightest and the best and the prettiest. Owing to the cost ,of the production it has been found necessary to revise the prices for this week only.