ENTERTAINMENTS

Dominion, Volume 13, Issue 120, 14 February 1920, Page 5

ENTERTAINMENTS

"HIGH JINKS." Tho Williamson Musical Comedy Co. scored another big success last evening with ' High Jinks," The comedy ran with a swing from tho rise to the fall of tho curtain. Tho members of the company will terminate their very successful 6cason in "High Jinks" this evening, and on Monday they will leave by the Manuka for Christchureh. Tlio plans for this evening's final representation of "High Jinks" will ho on view (it the Bristol until noon, and afterwards seats may be selected at Ned Perry's, where for the back stalls and gallery may also bo purchased. MURIEL STAKE'S FAREWELL. Messrs. J. C. Williamson, Ltd., announce the first local production of the mystery play "The Silent "Witness" at tho Grand Opera House on Saturday evening next, and also tho return of Miss Muriel Starr and Frank Harvey, who will he making their farewell appearances in Wellington prior to their departure for America. "The Silent Witness'' is said to be an intensely absorbing and entirely human drama, full of 6cenic variety, and crowded with action and incident. It gives Miss Starr fine opportunities for, tho cxereise of her talent. , Speaking of this production on its first' presentation in Melbourne tho critic of the "Age" said: "If 'The Silent Witness, 1 the new play in which Miss Muriel Starr and her company appeared fit'the Theatre Royal 011 Saturday evening, had been staged at the beginning of the season, the company ivould 6urelv have been far more successful. The pieco is by Otto Hauerbacb, the author of the successful musical comedy Ka- ■ tinka. It possesses many of ths characteristics that marked her first success 'Within the Law,' and it has equal claims to popular success. Instead of graft as tho main motive for American procedure, the ambition of a young lawyer to become State Attorney is the compelling force. . . . Tho large audience received the play enthusiastically—so enthusiastically that tho applause frequently held the progress of the performance. This production is a far more attractive play than has fallen lately to this clever actress and her talented company, and should prove one of Miss Starr's greatest successes." "The Silent Witness" will be staged for the first four niglits of the season. On February 2G "Common" Clay" will be staged for four nights, and for the last two nights tlio thrilling spy play, "Three Faces Bast," will be presented. Tho box plans for three productions will open at the Bristol next Thursday at 9 a.m. ; 'KING'S THEATRE. Last night'saw the weekly change cf programme'at the King's Theatre, which was well in keeping with the high standard set by this popular theatre. Tho principal attraction was a superb feature film, "Her Kingdom' of Dreams," played by one of tho greatest constellation of- moving picture stais that has yet graced the 6ereen. The leading rolo was sustained by Anita Stowart, who at the outset figured as a lovable mountain girl. Even she was possessed by dreams of the outside world, which for her Kpelt nil that her imagination could picturo. Chancc led her to the'greatest of all American cities, where 6he graduated to the post of private secretary to an eminent banker. Tho latter had lost "one son' by death and tho other , by dishonour," and the erstwhile country girl stepped into the breach in his affections: In order to comply with the banker's dying wish, she contracted a "marriage of convenience" with his dishonoured son and heir. Many worn the vicissitudes through which she had to pass before she eventually won tho love of her husband, who, in the end, tnade good in every sense of- the word. Many side issues were introduced into the story, and these were productive of intensely dramatic situations. The' supporting films were, unusually good, i'n-r-ludiii" an extraordinary comedy "Tho Lion Special." This picturo was a remarkably clever one, and was the Inst wqrd in laughter-misers. An added attraction was the tippearance of Miss Elsie Kelt, an acomplished Wellington Eoprano,' who pleased her audience immensely with tho waltz son? from "Tom Jones," and other carefully chosen numbers. She was thrice recalled. Special music was put, on by tho "King's .Orchestra. EVERYBODY'S THEATRE. Featuring the winsome picture favourite, Miss Olive Thomas, "Toton" is tho title of the leading item of the new programme at Everybody's Theatre. "Toton" is a drama of six parts, _ intensely pathetic throughout, but containing just sufficient sensations to satisfy lovers of Icinematogranh thrills, • The story itself is n delightful war-time romance, with the German advance on Paris as a grim background. "Toton" is the baby girl of Yvonne, a Paris flower seller,_ who secretly marries an American artist, whom she-'subsequently loses through the duplicity of the artist's parents. Yvonne's love for her husband is sorely the advances of Pierre, a plausiblo Apache -thief; but shortly afterwards she dies, and Toton is brought up arryd evil surroundings, as a hoy. Mniinwhile Total's father adopts a boy to cheer his , lonel.n life, and, finally, the outbreak of war brings the adopted hoy and Toton together, and/a pretty love story follows. Miss Olivo Thomas plays her part with a droll impishness that cannot but endear her to. the onlookers.' The picturo is admirably staged, and tho settings and photography are really very fine. Especially is this so in the scenes at an old French chateau, where the American artist takes up his residence long years after Yvonne has died, and where the prettiest details of the story are Unwoven. The supporting programme is good, and includes a charming , ayd delightful scenic. Pnthe's Gazette'deals ■with the (latest happeuings of interest in tho Mother Country. Tasteful orchestral accompaniments serve to enhanco the general attractiveness of tho programme. EMPRESS THEATRE. With a dramatic prophecy ringing in his ears, Rodney Graham, steel magnate, and tho last of his house, proceeds to divorce his first wife because she is "hildless, and re-marries in order that, like Napoleon of France, his own blood may inherit his wealth and possessions. Here is a scheme with went dramatic possibilities, npd, with Montague Love in the commanding and impressivo role of the Napoleon of the steel industry, ruthless, imnerious, and unscrupulous, the new World film production, "The Hand Invisible," commencing at the Empress Theatre to-day abounds in thrilling and intense situations. Included in the programme is episode thirteen _of Pathe's great serial. "The Lightning Raider," featuring Pearl White. Tho episode is entitled "White Roses." N.S.W. STATE ORCHESTRA DELAYED The concert which should have been given by Verbruggheii's Orchestra last night in the Town Hall had to be post- » poned, as owing to the Maori failing to bring passengers up from Lyttelton the whole personnel of the on'bestra ''Wis " detained down there. A telegram received from Mr. 11. Gladstone llill yesterday stated that the orchestra would probably perform in Christchureh 011 Friday evening. and would catch tlio Imt for Wellington after the concert. In our advertising columns the Wellington performance is announced to lako place on Monday' night at 8 o'clock, in the Town Hall. Tickets booked for Friday cvenioj; will, of course, hold gooil for Monday. THE KAIWnAKAKOS. The principal artists for the above production include Mr. Charles Archer, as the Kaiwhakako, or Maori missionary; Miss Mario Denton, as the half-caste wifo

of tho Kaiwhakako; Mr. Perry Harper, as Jim Wise, tlio bad man; Miss Athole Raymond, as .Margery; Lila Stokes, as Mrn. Captain Goodheart; A. M. Coffey, as Richard ,T. Seddon; Mr. Burridge, as Wotene, supported by <1 big cast. There will be New -Zealand scenery and effects by A. Maurice, and the orchestra will bo under Mrs. Johnston. The box plan is at the Bristol Piano Company, and day £ales at N. Perry's. TO-NIGHT'S ORGAN RECITAL. The weekly organ recital will be given to-night 111 the Town Hall by Mr. Bernard F. Page (city organist), and MlO programme, including Meuuet-Scherzo Op. 53 (No. 2), by Jongen, a new item, is as follows:—Concerlo in D Minor (No. 10), by Handel;, Debussy's (a) Prelude from "La Demoiselle Elue" (b) Prelude from "L'Enfant Prodigue"; Harmonies du Soil- (Karg-Elert); Cesar Franck's .Choral (No. 2 in B Minor), and Elegy No. 2 in G for strings, and "Finale" from Symphony No. G in B Minor ("Pathetic"), by Tschaiskovsky. Those two latter, items are by special request.