ENTERTAINMENTS

Dominion, Volume 11, Issue 17, 15 October 1917, Page 3

ENTERTAINMENTS

UIS MAJESTY'S THEATRE. So great has been the popularity or Mr. Malcolm M'Jiachern iit ilis Majesty's theatre that, at the eleventh hour as it were last .week, /he mungcuieut decided to postpone his tour through the firm's southern houses, thus enabling hini, iu deference to the numorous requests, to continue at the Wellington theatre tor a weeli longer. Messrs. Jfullor regret that, owing to the contracts Mr. it'Eaehern has signed (which follow direct after, his Antipodean tour), this must be his farewell appearance here. Therefore, those who had intended hearing the basso and the many who desire to hear him again will have to avail themselves of the limited opportunities this forthcoming week will afford. The popular Hebraic comedian, Mr. Leu James, together with his dainty and vivacious partner, Miss Iteina Selma, will also embark upon a farewell season this evening. A duo of comedians, Clark and Wallace, who are not unknown to Wellington audiences, are announced for reappearance to-night, and the variety portion of the programme will be completed by Murfayne, the talented manipulator of the xylophone. Paul Stanhope win launch his sixth revue enterprise, "Hokey-pokey" with himself in the leading comedy role. His machinations, as a piano-mover who desires the hand of a rich and liighty widow, lead tp all manner of compromising situations - of the most laugh-provok-ing description. Throughout this comedy of errors there run many lively and tuneful song measures. The song hits of the piece will include "You and the Moon •• "Doreen," and "1 Love a Piano," bv tlie popular Gratters' Quartet. Besides' Mr. Stanhope, the cast includes such wellknown people as Val Newman. Ddna M'Oall. Lottie Newman, Win Itaynor, Helen Le Cain, Teddy Long, George k'Call, Clifl Toon, Gerald Oasliuian, and a comedy chorus of attractive maidens. The customary matinee will be given neit Satur-' day afternoon.

ENGLISH WEB-HOTS REOPEN. Tlio English Pierrots reopened oil Saturday evening to a crowded house, and gave •wnat was perhaps tho best entertainment they have yec. put oil trio boiuds in Wellington. Tlie company wits too well known to ■ need ■ any introduction to the local public, and Saturday's audience greeted them as old frionds. The programme comprised a great variety of matter, treated with the consistent good taste and brilliancy characteristic ot the Pierrots. Among the numbers were come alrcidy made familiar to Wellington audiences by the couipa-ny, and these items proved juofc as popular as ever. It ivas quite apparent, in fact, that a largo section of the .attendance would have been disappointed had they been omitted. One does not readily tire, for instance, of hearing Miss Elsa Langley sing her quaint littlq "Baggv Broeohes" number, or Miss liillio Wilsoii render "Slum-berland"'and "I Don't Want to be Washed." Those, and many 'similar items of the Pierrots' repertoire, wiH stand reipitition and still retain thoir ohonn. A feature ot the latest performance was t-ho oxquisito comicality of Mr. Charles Lawrence, whose travesties of "nigh art" were simply delightful. His illiiminatng exposition of grand opera (in the telling tragedy of the lovo-lorn tenor, the ill-advised soprano, and the vengeful baritone husband) -was a perfeot gem. No less olevcr and amusing was his exploitation of musical possibilities in "Poor Old Joe," which ho rendered in the various forms of waltz, polka, "rag," and ( anthcm—to the unmixed joy of his hearers. Messrs. Lawrence and Turner together extracted a; good deal of fun from muddled, conundrums, and Mr. Leslie Austin very euccessfully rattled through tho "rag." "When Pndcmvslri Plays." As usual, Mr. Aii'-ton was Miss Langlcy's ipartner in a, pretty scries of duets, billed under the familiar titjos of "Mando-lay," "If I Thought," and "I'm After You." Mi-sn Wilson's popularity stood at the same level as formerly, and no entertainer oould lava wished for a, better reception than that accorded hoiin all her selections. The singers of t.ho company wore in good voice, and the audionco was treated to delightful^renderings of numbers that mado considerable demands upon the srti. e ts. Mr.. David Lylo sang the -solos, "Love Lily" and "Tlio Great Unknown." an<l wan also teard with Mr. Hoy Oooko in "I Rise from Dreams of Thee." Mr. Louis Mitchell's solo? included "Friend of Mine,"' and Mr. CookeX tho "Toreador's Song" from "Carmen," and "The King's Minstrel" Two farces. "Tuking a Moving Picture" and "Amateur Trials in a Mnsio Hall" respectively, closed tho first _ftndi second mparts of the programme. ' The Pierrots will be before the publio again this evening.

THE KING'S THEATRE. ' William Desmond and Enid Markey aro featured in tho film play "Blood Will Tell," which heads the new programme at tho King's Theatre. The .story depicts tho somewhat varied career of young Sammy Oakloy, son of a wealthy financier, llio young fellow is apparently worthless (according to his father's standards), but. nevertheless is good'at heart. Samiuy, alter living for a time tho ■ life of a man about town," marries in somewhat romantic circumstances a humble chorus Rirl. His father, of course, iB furious, anu steadily rofuses the couple auy assistance. Undaunted, Sammy turns to manual work to Bupport himself and his wife. Hiß opportunity to "make good," however, comes when a group of unscrupulous financiers attempts to wreck' his father's interests while the latter is at sea on a health trjp. A report is circulated that Oakley, senr., has died at sea, and tho outcome of this is a panio on the stock exchange—to the detriment of the Oakley interests. Sammy steps into the breach, assumes full control of hlB father's affairs, and succceds in fully restoring tho credit of the house. When Sammy's father returns and learnß of the exoitlng happenings that have occurred during his absence, he is convinced that he has held wrong opinions of his son and of his daughter-in-law also. The minor pictures comprise . tho latest Gazette, two comedies, and a beautiful eceuio sujijcot in Pathc-colour.

IMPRESS THEATRE. A fresh programme was screened at the Empress Tlieatro ou Saturday. The chief of the new pictures is "l'QUth." It is a son" atory, net in Tennessee. Bryan Goodwin (Carlylc Blaokwell) after one of many sprees, is sent by his father (Robert Broderick) to Tennessee, where' a dam is in progress of construction. Ho meets Jean Elliott (Juno Elviiigc), sister of the engineer in charge of the construction work, and falls in love with her. While under the influence of Hquor he offends her, and later, smarting under the sting of her retort, he atalrta to make good. Ho lis the means of reforming her brother (George Oowl), who is also addicted to drink, and finally, when his regeneration is : complete, Jean pardons him at the request of his father. The new instalment of "The Iron Claw" is entitled "The Plunge for-Life." The episode is thrilling, and grips the attention of the jnany who aro following the exciting serial. The programme includes a.lso '"Hie TopicaJ Budget," consisting of brief pictures of recent happenings of note.

EVERYBODY'S I'HEATRE. One of the latest -things in pictures is a series, entitled "The Soven Deadly Sins." The series iB bo be Bhown in Wellington at Everybody's Theatre, and a commencement was made on Saturday, when the usual weekly change oi' pro* gramme was made. Each one of tho seven deadly ains is a complete drama ill it-self. The first to be shown is "Envy" Tho whole chain of dramas in connected li£ a love Btory, in which the chief players arc Shirley jlason and George Le Gucrc. Miss Mason plays the fcart of Eve Leslie, who is the ono to whom the seven deadly temptations aro to come. # In "Envy" the tempted ono becomes envious of a great aotreßS. She passes through severe trials, but triumphs in the end. Among tho other pictures in the programme ale a Keystone comody, "Maggie's False Step,' "fathe Gazette/' "in and Around San Diego."/

"IT IS* FOB, ENGLAND-" The official Navy League super-feature, "It Is for England," will Iks presented at the Queen's Theatre on Saturday next. The British Government and the Admiralty granted unprecedented facilities lor the production of this picture, with the result that the Btory contains sccues of the Grand Fleet in actual service conditions, and scenes in the Uritish Houso of Commons. Unlimited pains were taken to make the production as comprehensive and elaborate as possible, and the result, it is stated, ia that the movements ol the plot $ass from sensation to sensation with increasing thrill. The plot is aimed at exposing enemy intrigue in Britain. Of the thousands of scenes displayed in the production every one ia claimed to be absolutely accurate. For instance, the powerfully-dramatic situations that occur in the Houso of Commons show th« members of the British Parliament in actual debate. The villain of the story, a naturalised Gorman, is the Kaiser's secret spy and agent. A*""Tomantio lovo tliemo is an outstanding feature of the pl?iy The box plan will open at the Bristol next Wednesday.

OULFOUD BELVB PUPILS. The juvenile and ndnJt pupils of fitr. and Mrs. Culford Bell will give their annual dramatic recital in the Concert Chamber of the Town Hall to-morrow and Wednesday evenings, different pupilß appearing in different items fach night. The programme will comprise goblin and fa'ry plays, dromati© and humorous sketches, scenes and monologues, comediettas, eta., nearly all the items being in character. There will o-Ibo be a. Shal-espearoan sceno, "Pyramus and Thi'sbe,'' from "A Midsummer Night's Dream," and a Scriptural scene, "Naomi's Farewell," both in costume. The proceeds will go to the "Our Day" Fund, and Their Excellenoies the Governor-General and the Countess of Liverpool will be present.