ENTERTAINMENTS

Dominion, Volume 13, Issue 272, 11 August 1920, Page 5

ENTERTAINMENTS

KING'S THEATRE. The King's Theatre was filled to its utmost capacity last evening, when an excellent programme of pictures, headed by "The Way of a Woman," was screened. The latter is Norma Talmadge's latest Select picture, which was adapted from the famous play of "Nancy Lee." Tho beloved scrcen star excols even her own high mark in this thrilling story of American life. The remaining pictures ■were of the King's usual high standard. The Melody Four gave a very; fine rendering of their unaccompanied part Bongs and glees, and the music by the King's Grand Orchestra left nothing to be desired. There will bo an orchestral matinee to-day. EMPRESS THEATRE. " The great double attraction, "Back to God's Country" and Charlie Chaplin's "Sunnyside," attracted another packed house at the Empress Theatre last night. ' ' "Back to God's' Country" is an unusual romance'of the great outdoors, and is a study of the primitive and elemental in the play of passion and the struggle to live. "Sunnyside" shows Charlie Chaplin in the role of a farm hand. Also showing is tho eighth episode of the "Liberty" serial. EVERYBODY'S THEATRE. "Tho Tong Man," now showing at Everybody's Theatre, is a startling exposure of "Tong" wars. Sessue Hayakawa, the star, says "The Tone Man" is the most thrilling and mysterious picture lie has ever done." Tho fifth episode of "The Mystery of 13," together with other well-varied, subjects, comprise thle'supports. "MALE AND FEMALE." . "Male and Female," the Cecil de Mill« production showing this week at the Grand Opera House, was last night screened' before a large attendance. A much easier task than to define the probable aim of the picture is to disclose the plot, which in outline is simple. Lady Mary, whose blood is blue, _ hap-pens-to lie cast upon a lonely island \vi;n a party including Crichton, her butler, whose 'blood is red. On the island Lady Mary and i hoi' fellow-samples of British aristocracy, being no longer in a position to dictate what the temperature of their bath-water shall be, t or what degree of brownness shall be imparted to 1 -.their, toast, lose their ascendancy over the erstwhilo butler, and are compelled to acknowledge his sway when lie arrogates to himself the dignity of an Oriental potentate. Eventually, indeed. only the advent of a ship at the. time fixed- for the ceremony prevents the noble lady from wedding. Crichton. When the Bhip is espied, however, Crichton considerately abdicates and simultaneously renounces his claim to her hand. Back to civilisation the whole party go, and Crichton exchanges the sceptre for tho salver. Lady.Mary very properly Weds a profligate peer,,and Crichton contents himself with an illiterate but Very affectionate housemaid. In parts the picture (resembles farce; in others it rises to "the level of melodrama. As a mere spectacle the production i 9 in places magnificentj and whatever may belaid of tho relevancy of those scenes _ in • which the wild splendour of ancient Babylon is represented, it must be owned that they are a triumph of stage-setting. An orchestra of ten instruments accompanies the screening with excellent • renderings of many fine 1 compositions. There will be a matinee screening to-day, as well as the usual evening exhibition.

SMART .SET DIGGERS. According to Melbourne and Sydney critics, the Smart Set Diggers entirely justify their title. The clever organisation of entertainers will be seen at the Grand Opera House on Saturday evening next. It is said that no other entertainers of like calibre have been seen in Australia, the combination possessing a company remarkable for _the fact 'that each member individually is a real artist. The combination is said to be also rich in fine musicians, dancers, and singers. '/he name of so eminent a tenor as Mr. George Castles, together with Mr.. Jack Thompson,-a-baritone of'notability, and Mr. Albert' Torzello, whose harp selections invariably are the. cause of much admiration. The company is also ■well provided with female impersonators, there being no fewer than five, of witch Mr. Charles Holt is a more than average exponent. The season is for a limited number of nights. The box plans will be opened at the Bristol this morning. ENGLISH PIERROTS. Those who take pleasure in the lighter forms of entertainment can hardly do better than follow tho English. Pierrots trom programme to programme durin£ their present season. The current bill comprises items of all kinds—except the gloomy kind. Messrs. Turner and Lawrence are, as usual, given ample scope for . the display of their talent, which lies all in the way of humour. "Girls I Have Met" is one of the big hits of the former, while "Exits," a specialty of the latter, never fails to amuse. Miss Lillian Colenzo also deals in the very broadest of fun. Her forte is cockney character work; and anyone.who can preserve a solemn countenance within hearing of her extravagant ballads must be sadly wanting in the sense of hiumour. The Pierrots have some good musicians and songsters among them, and these lend considerable breadth to the appeal of the programme. If past successes are anything to judge by, the Concert Chamber will jigain be ringing with applause and laugnter while the Pierrots are on tho boards to-night. ■' EVANS-GANGE SEASON. ■Amy Evans (a Welsh, soprano) and Fraser Ganjje' (a Scottish baritone) com-, iucnced their tour of the Dominion on Saturday night lost in tho Town Hall, Auckland. ' The "Herald" (Auckland), referring to these artists, said: Both singers come to these parts at tho zenith of their fame,' and such was the enthuiiasm that double encores were the order of the evening. Miss Evans is a vocalist of much vocal charm, with an entrancing pensonality. Her tone transitions completely surprised and charmed her audience. The complete mastery of her magnificent mezzo soprano voice was evident from tho opening bars." Of Fraser Gango the "Herald" said: "This is a 6inger who knows all the possibilities of a song, and gets all there is in it out of it. lit, has a highly-cultivated voice and manner, and possesses a happy knock of sustaining the interest of his audience." The "Wellington season is announced to commence on August 17. The box plans for • the season will open at tho' Bristol to-day.