ENTERTAINMENTS

Dominion, Volume 10, Issue 2953, 13 December 1916, Page 3

ENTERTAINMENTS

HIS MAJESTY'S THEATRE. A reappearance of tho Bert La Blano's Musical Travesty Stars is made at His Majesty's Theatre- this week, a bright band of girls appear in a number of ballets, and they support Bert La Blanc ' capitally. Amusing dialogue and funny songs make up an- excellent entertainment, which lasts over half the programme. "The Alberts," a very smart duo, give a sensational item." Tho male member balances a number of sharp bayonets, broadswords, and battle axes, tosses them and catches them, and finally allows them to fall, and they stick quivering iu tho floor, convincing the audienco that they are truo steel. Mr. D. Cornwallis is again on the programme, and lie gives a number of entertaining items, some new pieces being vcry_ good. The principal attraction is a patriotic'poem entitled "Man the Fleet." Wilfred Dubois, a smart juggler and balancer; the Freda Boys, tumbling violinists; and Miss E. Cowley, a contralto from South Africa, are also on the bill. LILLIAN GISH AT THE KING'S. At the King' 3 Theatre much attention still continues to be displayed in the present programme. The Triangle Fine Arts Company has excelled itself in the picture "Daphne and the Pirate," in which Lillian Gish, iu tho leading character, acts up to her reputation. The story is a delightfully improbable and romantio one of the days when girls were sent across the seas to Louisiana, a French colony, to be sold as wives to the colonists. With the hero on a pirate ship, and the heroine (Lillian Gish) a captive amongst -tho conscript wives, on anothor vessel, the possibilities are obvious, and they are filmed into a sensational- and fascinating story. "The High Cost of Living" (Vitagraph) fills the humorous portion of tho programme, whilst "Young Bird Life," a coloured study, and a fine "Pathe Gazette," comprising an interesting assortment of news and war items, aro also shown. "THE PERILS OF DIVORCE" AT EVERYBODY'S. Those who have seriously considered some of the complications that arise a3 a result of the divorce system in America will find much food for thought in the picture called "Perils of Divorce" now showing at Everybody's Theatre. Every nation faces the divorce question. That this great and growing evil is a dangerous proposition if not regulated has been conceded by the ablest authorities, and yet divorce is in many cases justified. The story tells how Johu Graham, a married man of quiet and retiring disposition, faecd divorce, but found in that hour when all must pay that he had misjudged his very faithful wife. A miscellaneous assortment of pictures support the star film. 'THE HYPOCRITES." . "Hypocrisy is the homage Vice pays to Virtue" is a clever French saying, and this aphorism is the basic idea of the film now showing at the Empress entitled "The Hypocrites." The picture is an attempt at the teaching by the method of parable or allegory of one of the most subtle lessons that could possibly be taught. The film is a tribute to the courage of its producers, both as to the subject matter and the method of its presentment. The theme of the picture is highly idealistic, and the conception and elaboration of it are in the least degree artistic. Thero ;s no coarseness or evon, to use a different basis of judgment, impropriety in any part of the spectacle. The organ music accompaniment is much appreciated by the audience. "The Hypocrites" will also be screened at thoStar Theatre, Newtown, to-night. , ; QUEEN'S THEATEE. The old story that "nothing succeeds like success" bids fair to be amply justified in the case of the new Queen's Theatre, in Cuba Street, for the comfortable house is putting to lecord attendances daily. At the head Of the current programme is the big Lasky star, "The Thousand Dollar Husband." The story is a crisp and .bright exemplification of the manners and methods of tho cheap fortune-tellers of tho day and their happy unmasking by, the hero of the drama. It is a quaint mixture of pathos and humoar .and reality, with a delight-, ful little love story interwoven, in which Blanche Sweet figures charmingly. The supporting items aro worthy of the star '-pictuTe, and excllent music is an additional attraotiou. Other features to be presented shortly are Mary PickfoTd and Marguerite Clark, in powerful Paramount productions. Mary Pickford will appear next Saturday in "Poor Little Peppina," a soven-reol production, said to be her greatest achievement to date. ST. MAEY'S CONVENT CONCERT. • A concert of quite extraordinary artistio merit was given last night by tho senior pupils of St." Mary's Convent, the musical side of which has been for some years directed by one of the most successful teachers of vocalisation in New Zealand. The performers were only a small party in number, but there were no unattraotive item 6 on the programme. Miss Eileen Connolly, the first to appear, has a very sound contralto voice, well under control. She sang "There's a Land" (Allitsen), and was given her meed of applause. Miss Annie Foster has a very dainty, flexible lyric 60prano voice, and her item, "O, Luce di Quest Anima" (Donizetti), was likewise appreciated after its worth. Miss Violet Lamecroft is rather a dramatic soprano, with a presence and manner which emphasise her vocal gifts. Miss Enid j Hanna, a mezzo soprano, was last year's gold medallist,' a fact which is a sufficient warranty of her quality. Miss Agnes Segrief gave a chaTmmg rendering of a passage from "Romeo and Juliet," and Mi6s Frances Morrison, a contralto singer with a golden voice, Bang "The Enchantress" iHntton). These, with Miss Teresa M'Enroe, who sang "Theme' with variations (Proch) and was loudly acclaimed, were tho only soloists appearing. All of them appeared also in othem items—a duet, a trio, and a double trio. The double trio was one of the greatest artistic successes of tho entertainment, "Ave Maria" (Marchetti), an exquisite composition interpreted and produced with perfeot taste. The only instrumental item on programme was a pianoforte duet, "Italy" (Moskowsky), played very acceptably by Misses Dwyer and Huia Shepherd. The proceeds of the concert were for patriotic objects—the Catholic Field Service Guild and tho Catholic Knitting Guild.