ENTERTAINMENTS

Dominion, Volume 10, Issue 3066, 30 April 1917, Page 3

ENTERTAINMENTS

HIS MAJBSTT'S THEATRE.

"Something new" is the slogan of the large vaudeville firms of to-day, ami Messrs. Fuller aro proving themselves no exception to tho rule. Bach change of programme at any Fuller houeo is certain to contain something altogether awa.y from the ordinary in cither novelty or skill. The latest specialty act - announced for His Majesty's Theatre is that of the Cavanna Duo, who will make their first appearance to-night Tine is a "turn" in which rollicking comedy is said to combine -with the most sensational surprises to constitute a truly marvellous offering. The following is an excerpt from the' Chicago "Tribune" concerning this act: "A medley offering of thrills and laughs, melody and dance, tho act of the Cavannas is one of tho astoundinp surprises, of the programme at the Orphpum. It would he unfair to this ' truly original couple to here disclose the nature of the many novelties, introduced. Suffice to eay it is an aot of blueribbon quality." Another first appearance of an exceptionally original genre will be that of Celero, a Parisian booking. Celere is a French comedian, and besides a style of .humour that is all his own he is said to offer an amazingly, novel eccentrio musical act. Tien there will be/ the Three Panlastos, brilliant pantomime acrobats, who are also eaid to possess a rich talent for grotesque comedy. Their etnge setting will be a. boat in mid-ocean, and the humour these three artists are stated to extract from a ten-minute offering is said to be unique. Minerva and Grace, aerial gymnasts, George Wheeler, the "musical tramp," Fred Arthur, "shabby genteel" comedian, Tiny Tots, juvenile acrobats, Huntley. Spencer, tenor, <Jwen Hasto, 6oubrette, and Walter Emerson, comedian, will complete the bill, whioh will be repeated nightly for one week.

KING'S THEATRE. The etar items at the King's Theatre on Saturday were a Greater Vitagraph drama, "The Enemy," and a Charlie Chaplin farce. "The Enemy" was marked by the outstanding excellence of two characterisations—that of Charleo Kent •as tho drink-ruined engineer, and that of Peggy Hyland as the engineer's daughter. Rent makes the most of'a splendid opportunity, and is impressive throughout. He first appears as a wildeyed, unkempt old man, cursing the liquor- to which he is a slave, and falling evor deeper into misery and degradation; then as the maa he was before, but with a new strength of oharaotor and a happiness unknown in former days. Miss Hyland's role is that of a pretty, sweet and modest girl, and few parts could be found that would 'be more admirably suited to her quiet type of beauty. Her always pleasing face and gentle manner are perhaps the biggest factors in the suocess of the piotuie. The whole story deals in a restrained, but effective style, with the evils of over-indulgence in liquor. Saturday's screening attracted a crowded house, and the pioture should draw further good attendances during its currency.

■ EVERYBODY'S THEATEE. Owing to the programme being overcarried and not arriving in Wellington on Saturday from Auckland a special bill was presented at this theatre on Saturday, but it is hoped that the new programme will turn, up to-day. In the event of its not doing so, the special will be repeated. The pictures submitted on Saturday were good ones, and made up for the disappointment' of not seeing the programme which should have been screened. The prinoipalpicturo was one entitled 'Woman and Wine" and featured William Elliot and A. B. Franois and. a number of other stars of the World Company. The play centred round three people, the father and hie eon and adopted daughter. The eon is left a large sum o£ money by an aunt and sucoumbing to the seductive charms of b, model runs away with her to Paris. She (with the help of a number of accomplices) soon rids him of his fortune, and leaves him. Later, the girl is murdered, and the blame falls on the son, and as lie was drugged at the time he does not know whether ho committed the crimo or not. During , the trial and just as the jury pronounce him guilty the adopted daughter drags the woman who committed the crimo into Court, and she confesses. The picture jumps two years, and shows the family again happily assembled, and all tho interest centring round the baby of the son and adopted daughter, who are now married. A comedy on the bill ie entitled "His last Scent," and features Fred Mace. The picture.is highly amusing,: and has many sensational episodes.

EMPRESS THEATRE. The new pictures screened at, the Empress Theatre on Saturday were "The Soul of New York" and "The Vagabond." In "The Vagabond" Charlie Chaplin .lias it all Uβ own. way. and he creates no end of laughter. "Tho Vagabond" ia planned after the style of the old Keystone comedies. _ The story is a connected one, and quite a number of charaoters are introduced. Charlie Chaplin is'a wandering fiddler, who finds that competition with. German bands'_ and organ-grinders is detrimental to his income, bo he quits tho city, and makes for the rural districts. His rural adventures and experiences are excruciatingly funny. In "The Soul of New York" the audience see something of stage life, the chief charaoter boing Valonoia, a beauti-. ful actress, but heartless as a, "Carmen" in her love affairs. Her lover (portrayed with.great feeling by William E. Shay) 'becomes a thief that he may shower luxuries upon her, and a long sentence of imprisonment results. When the prisoner emerges, ead-faced, and aged, he has given'up his infatuation, and marries happily a good woman. The temptress tries to win him back, stopping at nothing in lier mad jealousy. Her threat to expose his past brings tho story to a climax in which fate takes a hand, swiftly and terribly resolving the situation. Almost every;phase of New York life is pictured 'with daring originality. Valeeka Suratt, as La Valencia, Is a magnificent -woman, and her gowning is a revelation of fashion.'

"TOM, DICK, AND HARRY." The Charley's Aunt Comedy Company will commence a six-nighte' season _at the Grand Opera House on Saturday next, when they will produce the ecreamr ing thiee-act comedy, "Tom, Dick, and Harry." Tho company has just returned from Christchurcb, where it played a six-nights' eeason to packed and ontnusiastic audiences. Both -Prees and public declared that no fawe during.the last ten years has made a bigger hit than "Tom, Dick, and Harry." J?or the forthcoming production the cast includes the following well-known performers:— Mr. Norman Aitken, Mr. Kenneth Aife ken, Mr. Paul Latham, Mr. Albert Russell, Mr." Jack Phillips, Mr. J. Larsen, Mr. Phipps Williams, Mr. W. B. Keaney, Miss Mabel Hardinge-Maltby, Mies Ruby Scott, Mr. Vere ■ St. John, Miss Ina M'Donald. The play is described as being full of humorous situations; with an interesting, though, of course, farcical plot, and as giving the opportunity, for some clever characterisations.- Tom, who is in love with the girl that his father, a pepporv old General, disapproves of, disguises himself in order to be near his beloved. A photograph picked" up casually serves as the model for the disguise, Tom not knowing that it is the picture of one of twin brothers, both of whom, unknown to each other; are expeotcd to arrive that day. The complications that ensue when each of tho three are in turn mistaken for one or the other of the remaining two, make for some of tho most langhable situations possible, and not until most of the characters have found their way to a lunatic asylum is the mystery cleared. The box plan' will open to-morrow morning at the Bristol.

Chrysanthemums.—An abundant supply of these beautiful flowers now ready. Also Fragrant Violets and Paper White Narcissi. Send some to your sicli, friends and see how they will enjoy them. Flowers packed and sent to all parts of the country. Miss Poole, Art Ploriet, 70 Manners Street. 'Phone 2403. Donnelly's Hair Restorer cureo Dandruff, stops hair falling. „ Chemists' Stores, 2s. 6d. Donnelly's, Go Vivian St. -Advt. Little boys' winter needs—Shirts, Is. 6d. to 3s. lid.; Pyjamas, 4s. 6<l. to 7s. 6d., at Geo. Foirtds, Ltd., Moaners gtreeW&dvfa