ENTERTAINMENTS

Dominion, Volume 10, Issue 3118, 23 June 1917, Page 5

ENTERTAINMENTS

.'TUB HOUSE THAT JACK BUILT." "Tho House That. .Tack Built" was played »t, tho Grand Opera, Bouse strain last evening;. As on tho previous flights, tlio uttcudanco was roo<l, and tho performers all met with the best of receptions. Tho nantomimo is full of catchy melodies and rollicking humour. Dame Barleycorn is represented, by Mr. Arthur Stipant. who contrives to extract every, particle of tho Xiin that is in Uio part-no nefrligiblo quantity, as those who liavo seen 51 r. Mtipinl's performance will readily agree, ilr. Ernest Landlord's melancholic humour never fails to tell, and his Farmer Barleycorn is a most, diverting personage. The lady members of tho company aro pretty and entertaining. Attractive scenes include "Tho Animated Dolls, "The Procession of Vegetables, rho Telephone. Scono." "The Minstrel Show, "Tho' Terrifying Tanks," and "The Bno chanaliau Banquet." Tho ballets are excellently arranged, and most effective. Further performances of the panfonumo will take, placo tnis afternoon and tonight.

"THE FLIRTING WIDOW." "The Flirting Widow," a new revuo that, is said to bo fresh, rompingly humorous, and delightfully droll, will be introduced' by tho Walter Johnson Musical Kcvuo Company to Wellington playgoers at His Majesty's Theatre this afternoon and evening. Tho general verdict is that, this is tho best-equipped and most entertaining of tho ninny revue companies Mr. Ben. Fuller has on his vaudoviilo circuit, and tho now iproductiou should provide capital fare. Mr. Johnson produced this "nonsense" play, identical in every respect, at the Palaco Theatre, Melbourne, sonio months ago, when tho Fuller flrm opened that new "house," and it was tho success of the season. There aro ten speaking parts in it, and for their delineation Mr. Johnson is grounded by a clover and versatile band of players, including Harry Burgess, Jack Kearns, Gus Franks, Ernest Lashbrook, and Lola Htint, Belle Millctte, Vera Kearns, and Lydia Came, together witli a big bevy of ballerinas and chorus girls. There are in all twenty-five musical and dance interruptions in tho production, os well as four purely vaudoviilo diversions. On Monday the management announces the initial appearance of. tho Royal Togos, a troirpe of Japanese acrobats, said to be greater even than the woll-rcmembered Manchurians.

THE ENGLISH PIEREOTS. The remarkably successful season of this talented company closes next Wednesday night. The now programmo is one of the best of, the varied series presented. Tho "amateur competition" is one of tho most laughable and clever skits yet seen here. Tho Pierrots provide a wonderful variety of items, and throughout their season have°maintaincd an unusually liigli standard of merit. The box plans are at tho Bristol, and patrons aro advised' to booli early for the farewell performance, when several favourite numbers will be repeated.

"THE KUOE SHE PAID." In thu treucaeo on uio sournl battleground is wiiero most of t-no scenes 01 ■"I'jie I'noe buo Paw," tflc latest, success ol Glare. ICiiuoall ioung, are liud. Tnu play is produced uy jujss loung's own corporation, and it m a ycritublo masterpiece, llic sewing is eaici to be extraordinarily luxurious, especially bo tile ly,rnisnings 01 , the ricix Hour's oi wealtny Americans, 'rue story duals witl) tjae experiences of a society girl who, is, iorced io marry a repulsive littlo man, who lias hewn out an enormous fortune through absolute ruthlcssness. When tho final test arrives the iieijoiue, ililoxcd (iower, is not prepared to "pa.y tho price," and sue leaves her uncongenial husband to seeli her own career. Then she finds black trouble, and she passes through tho (lark valley of despair before she earns her right to lifo and love. The picturo will bo presented twice daily at tho King's commencing to-day. EVERYBODY'S THEATKE. A conflict bewecn the narrow ideas cf the descendants of the early Puritans and a man .and woman seeking to live, jlown pa-st sins, is the themo of tho "tast ol the Ingrahanis," the Triangle play to bo screened at Everybody's Tncatre to-day. Marjory Wilsoij appears in a ro'c of f<llo dramatio Rower, and William Desmond as Jules Ingram is effective, especially in ,tho scenes wfcero ho defends the heroine from an attacking mob of hate-crazed villagers. The photography of the picture is described as remarkable for some extraordinary ■ scenes on a wild sea coast, where Ingraham is seen staggering over rocks with tho weird and uncanny monsters of his foverish brain close at his heels. Billie BurUo in "Gloria's Komance" No. 18-learns' "Tho Bitter Truth."

THE. EMPRESS THEATEK Tho evil work of Russian Court corruption is seen in "The Angel of Jterey." or "Darkest Itussia," the World Film drama screening to-day at tho Empress Theatre. Alice 'Brady is the heroine, and she is said to be especially fine in the intense emotional scenes which arc- frequent throughout the play. There ore stated to be some wonderful Eceiies of Sibenu* to which desolate country all the leading characters in the story find their way, and eventually work out their salvation.

■ OFFICIAL WAR .PICTURE. The public will have this afternoon and evening the two final opportunities, eo far as the Wellington season is concerned, for witnessing the wonderful official war picture, "Tho Battle of the Ancre." There is a, matineo at tho Town Hall, at 2.30, at which a crowded audience is already assured, and the final exhibition is to bo given at 8 o'clock.> This screening will bo preceded by a brief iprosramme of organ music, courteously contributed Mr. EernaTd Page. Tho interest in the picture is still unabated, and those who have not taken the precaution of booking a seat will be wise to present themselves early i£ they wish to secure admission.

. FIVE SHORT PLAYS. An attractive programme of five short plays will be presented at the Concert Chamber next Thursday and Friday evenings by Mr. Culford Bell and. students of his School of Dramatic Art. The plays range from grave to gay, and are well varied, there being a comedy eketch, a humorous scene, a farcical sketch, a Japanese fantasy, and a beautiful dramatic playlet. The entertainment is under the patronago of Her Excellency tho Oounte«a of Liverpool, and. the oroceeds will go to the Crippled Soldiers' Hostel Fund. Special music will be rendered hy an orcheetra under the direction of Mr. F. Wolfgang.

J. C. WILLIAMSON COMEDY CO. Theorists who concern themselves with aflairs domestic usually regard it as an axiom that the childless marriage is not a success. Apart from the exceptions, which in some mysterious way are al-

ways said to prove rules, the axiom is accepted pretty generally, and the arrival of the little stranger is heralded as tho solution of many domestic difficulties. Margaret Mayo, however, in her clover farce "Baby Mine," which will be presented hero at tho Grand Opera House on Saturday next by the J. C. Williamson Farce Comedy Company, headed by the two popular artists, Robert Greig and Beatrice Holloway, has not merely proved an oxcoption. Sho has attacked tho axiom, and incidentally—or, perhaps primarily,' since the play is nothing less than a serious attempt to make people laugh—she has written one of tho neatest and funniest farces over seen. Miss Mayo sets out with the idea that the arrival of the family provides trouble and heaps of it, and being a woman sho adopts the right of a woman to make her yea a nay, and in the last moment demolishes her own good case established with much gaiety. The J. 0. Williamson company which plays "Baby Mine" has made a popular success of tho production. Contemporaries speak of the performance in glowing terms. Of Mien Beatrice Holloway's characterisation of tho part of Zoic, they say that sho has never been seen in anything better. The comedy is said to be clever, daring, and undeniably funny. The 'story of the comedy is a simple one, and a. brief rcHuino of tho plot will be given in a later issue. The box plans of reserved seals are announced to be opened at the Bristol on Thursday next.

WEIiLINGTON HARMONIC SOCIETY. Headers are reminded that tho box plan for tho next concert of. the abovo society, at. which the assisting artists will bn Miss Eileen Driscoll aud Mr. Herbert. Bloy, will open at the Bristol Piano Company on Monday next, at 9 a.m. The. concert will be held in the Concert. Chamber of tho Town Hall on Saturday, Juno 30.