ENTERTAINMENTS

Dominion, Volume 11, Issue 47, 19 November 1917, Page 7

ENTERTAINMENTS

'"J'UltN TO Till; JUOIIT." Messrs.' .1.-and A l . Tail's comedy company dosed its Wellington season on Batii''(lay night Willi a. Jinal performance of tlii! clever American play "Turn to tlio Jtiflit." A lai't'i! luinience enjoyed ' tlio lilny heartily. it is announcea that the company will return to Wellington early in December, and will present lor tho llrsi, time another highly successful comedy, "The Mew Henrietta."

HIS MAJESTY'S THEATItE. 'l'hc decision of the Fuller management to extend the season of .Miss Jtuth Mudd will no douht bn weleuined by her many admirers, and tlio number of people who have not yet been able to see and hear this artist in hor daring aerial feats and her rellnod comedy. Lhvini; to her bookings which follow directly upon her Fuller engagement, MiHS Bmld will be unable to renppear in Wellington, so that theatregoers who have not. yet seen this intrepid and musical youns lady should avail themselves of tho few remaining opportunities. Mr. Lea Bates' Follies of Pleasure combination will commence their farewell week to-uiffht. in a production entitled "In Joyland." The Creole Fashion Plate, M'luty, anil Graham (vocalistß), Ireno l'earso (Hcotch comedienne), and Jolly John Lai-kin (coloured comedian) will complete what, appears to bo an entertaining programme. Tho bill will bo repeated nightly, for one i week, with the usual afternoon matinee on Saturday next.

THE KING'S THEATItE. The great popularity of Anita Stewart in the eyes of the picture-loving public was again demonstrated at tho lung's Theatre 011 tfuiurUiiy, when there was excellent business recorded at botli sessions. The latest picttiro.in which this actress is featured is entitled "Tho More Excellent Way," and in tlio working out of the 6tory Miss Stewart is given ample Bcopo for tho display of her particular talents. The picture tells of a young girl, (Jlirissy, whose lather (her ouly remaining parent) dies when sho is about eighteen years of age, and who leaves her a considerable sum of money. John Warburton (a millionaire) is appointed bolo trustee aud tho girl's guardian. Clirissy Is in love with a young fellow, Keylaud, who is, howover, a "wastor," an overfondness for alcohol being not the least Borious of his shortcomings. Ohrissy and Neyland become engaged, hut the former, although deeply in love, eventually becomes so utterly disgusted with Keyland's loose habits that she breaks oil the engagement. Ultimately Chrissy's guardian, Warburton, who has all along secretly loved the girl, proposes, is accepted, and thoy are married, immediately after the ceremony a lingering doubt arises in Olirispy's mind as to whether sho is really indilforent to Neyland or not. As timo passes she discovers that sho still loves hiiu, and not her husbaud, and of this fact Keylaud is quite aware, lie proceeds to take advantage of it, his object being the complete llnancial and domestic ruin of Warburton. However, Neyland goes too far, and lie over-reaches himself—and tho story ends in a manner perfectly satisfactory for Clirissy and' lier Husband. In addition to "Tho More Excellent Way," there arc tho latest Graphic and a Keystone comedy.

EVERYBODY'S THEATRE. "The Habit of Happiness" is the namo of the principal picture on the bill at Everybody's Theatre for the week, aud tlm chief actor in tho drama, Douglas Fairbanks, is a man who has learned well how to be happy and to keep happy, liis intectious smile, his air of general wellbeing, and-his all-pervading good humour are the best attributes which he possesses as a picture actor. Ho is singularly well fitted for tho task he is set to do in this play—that of curing down-hearted people of the blues. One of his -worst and moat obstinately pessimistic patients is a crabbed old millionaire, but there are points about this millionaire as a patient lie has a daughter in whom tho Fun Doctor luib more than a passing interest, and he coutrives to do himself Bome good its well as tho old Gorgon with the moneybags. It was while he was doing his best to drive the gloom out of the days of thi? mans sorry life that he unearthed a very wicked plot among the wicked men in wall Street to rob tho poor old eiok millionaire of his hard-won millions, and it was the task of the smile-producer to beat tho brigands of the Stock Exchange with* out making the patient miserable. How Ho sct3 about this task and carries ii through successfully makeß a very amiißing story. And of course he had his .lust reward, not all of it paid in Treasury notes. The ouly othor drama is in "tho nature of another episode in a serial— au adventure entitled "The Sealed Packet," which is the third episode of "The Seoret Kingdom." The Bealed packet in this part of the story contains the proof that tho right man ought to have tho throno after all. A leaven of farcical comedy ia introduced by tho evergreen Charles Chaplin, who appears in a piece of folly entitled "Easy Street." Charles i? rather out of hiß proper medium in any placo that is easy, and somehow or othor tho street becomes feverish before he ia out of it.

EMPRESS THEATRE. "Tho Little Duchess" is tho star attraction at the Empress Theatro this week. Tlio story is a, simple one, but it is prettily told, and tlie scenes aro very fascinating. Geraldiue Oarmichacl and her mother, Evelyn Carmichael. an English widow, live in tho tenement district. The mother dies, leaving "Jerry," as the daughter is called, alone. Beforo her I death tlio mother directs a letter to Earl Onruiuioro, iu England, and leaves certain papers which sho tells "Jerry" will be of treat value to her. "Jerry" hides the papers behind a board in the wall and soon after her mother's death she is removed to an orphan asylum. Jiin Dawson, an unprincipled neighbour, finds the papers, which includo "Jerry's" birth certificate. The papers show that "Jorry" Is related to tho Earl of Oarnimore. flawson hits upon the idea of passing oH his own daughter, Sophie, for "Jerry," as they are both about the same age. "Jerry" in tho meantime runs away from the orphango with a boy friend, and tho two join a circus. Tho letter wltlch her mother had written to Earl Oarnimore has its resluts, for tho earl jends a representative to America to find "Jerry," lie locates her at tho circus and takes her back to England. "Jerry" is given tho freedom of Oarnimoro Castle, and when Dawson and Ilia daughter arrive, they aro surprised to find "Jerry" there, and their dastardly plot is exposed. Tho scenes in tho tenement district, in tho orphanage, tho circus, and at Castle Oarnimore ase all cicollcnt. Tho epiaodo of "The Iron Claw" this week is entitled "The Dave of Despair," and brings tho story to a vory interesting point. The Topical Budget, as usual, gives tho latest of tho moro important world events.

THE OHEERO'S. A BDecial benefit performance, in aid of the Soldiers' Christmas Gift .Fund, will be given at tho Grand Opera House on Wednesday evening by the "Charley's Aunt" Club, who will produce in the first part of the programmo three smart oneact plays, "The Avenger," "Tho Eleventh Hour," and "ICisaes and Hisses." The different characters will be played by Miss Mable llardinge-Maltby, Miss Ituby Scott, ifr. W. W. Crawford, Mr. Kenneth Aitken, Mr. Yere St. John, Mr. Paul Latham, Mr Norman Aitken, Miss Mabel Gallichan. Mr. Albert ltussell, and Mr. Geo. Clapliani. The second part o£ the programme will introduce for the first time the club's costume comedy company, "Tho Oheero'B," in which' Albert Russell. Norman Aitken, W. W. Crawford, Chas. Moore, G. Austin Blackic, Winnie Birch-Johnston, Eileen Driscoll, Eleen Millar, and Ethel Tracey will appear in new and catchy numbers. "The Olio.ero's" will be produoed under the direotion of Maud Blcstoe-Buck-eridge. The box plan is now open at the Bristol. DANCE RECITAL. The pupils of Miss Dorothy Saunders gave a second performance of their dance recital "A Trip Witli the Brownies," in tho Town Hall Concert Chamber on Saturday evening. The young people were again highly- successful. They carried their audience with them on a journey i through fairy scenes, and danced with skill and grace that were enhanced by their own evident enjoyment of their efforts. The staging and dressing were very good throughout, and the arrangement of the dances, which followed the general theme of tho little playlet on which they wero strung, was most effective. The recital was given in aid of Sir Arthur Pearson's Freeh Air Fund and Blind Soldiers' Fund, which have benefited substautially. ORGAN RECITAL. A "request" programme of music was played by Mr. Bernard F. Page, City Organist, at the Town Hall on Saturday evening, and it gave deep pleasure to those who wero fortunate enough to be present. It included the Karg-Elert Sonatina in a Minor, a delightful and strongly-cxpresscd "I'astorale" by Cesar Frauck, Wolstenholme's charming Vignettes "Tho Question" and "The Answer," Reblkofl's "Psychological Poem," the fountain niusio and duet from Debussy's opera "l'elleas and Melisniide," and the third movement from Tschailcowsky'B weirdly beautiful "Sixth Symphony."