ENTERTAINMENTS

Evening Post, Volume LXXXV, Issue 19, 23 January 1913, Page 2

ENTERTAINMENTS

"THE FOLLIES." There vvero largo holiday audiences at the performances given by "The Follies" yesterday. Mr. Percy Clifton, with Ilia humorous passages, delighted his hearers immensely, and Miss Cieaie O'Keefo also proved a very popular entertainer. The singing, dancing, and humour of other members of the clever company came in for a fair shar« of applause. "THE GIRL IN THE TRAIN." Tho box plans for the season of the J. C. Williamson New Comic Opera Company aro now open at the Dresden. It [9 said that "The Girl in the Train," which will be staged here for the first timo on Saturday next, is notable for the humorous nature of the "book" by Victor Leon, nnd the especially charming nature of the music by Leo Fall. These, with" an interpretation by a strong company, are responsible to a great degree for the success that the piece has achieved. ■ Tho fact that it ran in Sydney < for fourteen weeks, having in> opposition two other big musical attractions, one of which was the Melba Grand Opera Company, speaks volumes for its popularity. "The Girl in the Train* ha* teen spoken of as being a peer in the way of l light opera emanations. It is described as a clever, bright, and captivating work, containing an abundance of catchy melodies, swinging choruses, beautiful ballets, smart dialogue, and a. plot which- in the unravelling affords the artist innumerable opportunities for exciting plenty of laughter. " The Girl in the Train " will be played for the firßt four nights, to be followed by "The Nightbirds.' ? THEATRE ROYAL. Full houses are the Tule at the Theatre Royal, and the programme is generally voted first class. The binging by Mies Bessie Slaughter, who possesses a magnificent contralto voice, js one of the principal attractions, but from beginning to end the programme is full of variety and interest, and there Is not one dull moment. HIS MAJESTY'S THEATRE. One of the ; triumphs of kinematography is contained in the film picturing the greatest* engineering feat of. modern titties, "The Panama, Canal." screened this week at His Majesty's Theatre. The picture starts at Colon, with the landing of black labour from the West Indies, and shows in succession the enormous Gatun Locks, the Gatun dam, looking like a huge inland lake, the famous Culebra Cut, and the Pedro Miguel and Miraflores Locks.t and Port of Panama. Altogether the picture is a triumph of production, and should be seen to be appreciated. The programme is supplemented by other excellent pictures. The entertainment will be repeated this evening. On Friday night the picture will be viewed by His Excellency the Gov-' efnor". The box plan fa at the Dresden. THE KING'S THEATRE. "The Greed for Gold" is the leading sicture in this week's programme at 'he King's Theatre. It is an admirably produced drama, well acted, and set in realistic fashion throughout. Supporting it are a number of exceptionally fine dramas, comedies, and topics — including "The Girl in the Caboose," "Captain Buncle'e Waif," a Pathe Gazette, and "The Green-eyed Monster." THE NEW THEATRE. "The Power of Love," an interesting and attractively _ staged "feature drama, ie the principal attraction of the new progi'amme of continuous pictures at the New Theatre to-day. • It is a. powerfully-told story of the follies of riotous living in high circles, and the redemption of the hero by the subtle influence of a woman's love. , The play occupies over three-quarters of an hour. The central figure in the Lubin drama, "Gentleman, Joe," is a swell housebreaker, , who steals a bracelet, and eventually is incriminated by presenting it to the girl who originally owned it^ The art of taxidermy ie interestingly dealt with in the film, "Animal Preservation." It ehowa the entire process of stuffing objects co widely different as a squirrel and a huge moose's head. The ecenic beauties of a noted river are unfolded in "The Banks of Yerras." The comic items, "Is Leah Downhearted?" and "Funnicues'a Mother 'inlaw," compel laughter. The eeries will bo screened this evening and throughout to-morrow. THE EMPRESS THEATRE. The regular change of programme of the Empress Theatre continuous pictures to-day included another exclusive A.B. drama, "The Burglar's Dilemma." The plot is developed along original lines, and while the climax provides a tense situation there is a general air of feasibility which ensures its popularity. The Western story, "The Brand Blotter," is a romance of the cattle lands of Colorado, in which a wealthy ranch owner's daughter alters the brands of her father's stock to look like those of her lover. The girl does this in order to increase her suitor's wealth, as her father had withheld consent for their marriage on account of the suitor's comparative poverty. The lover is accused of the faking of the brands, but the giri comes forward and confesses all. There is unlimited excitement,, with hot pursuits, in the foreign spy episode, "Dr. Brian Pellie and the Secret Despatch." A young Briton is waylaid by Pellio and his female accomplice, who seize the document. The excitement then begins, but finally, after a fierce combat, the police arrest the foreigners and recover the despatch. Topical happenings fill an important part in the bill, European news being conveyed by "The Warwick Chronicle, and Australian matters are j handled by "Williams's Weekly." The comedies, "Do Advertisements Pay?" and "The Butler's Revenge" afford enjoyment for young and old. . PEOPLE'S PICTURE PALACE. Popular pictures at the People's drew good audiences on the last night of the old programme. To-day the now series commenced with promising patronage. The picture of pictures is " Partners, ' a Western story, with a scenario fall of interest. The elements are the lifelong friends—partners ill' a cattle ranch— the dividing wedge of woman, and the mis-chief-making third man. The plot is well worked out, and the production excellent. "The Uprising is it Lubin tale of Indian fighting in Arizona, realistically depicted. " Other pictures on the bill ate:— "Dr. Brian Pellio and the Secret Despatch," " Bloomer Tries Acting," , " On L&ave," " Just His Luck, " Life of a Heron," " Deep-sea Shellfish," "Sagetario Valley," and "The Eclair Journal." STAR THEATRE. To-night's programme at the Star Theatre will include "The Work of His Hands," a romance full of powerful situations and presented on a most elaborate scale. Two Western dramas, "Friends." by the A.B. Company, and Saunders's Sacrifice," by tho Kalem Company, provide plenty of excitement. Two Vttagraph productions are "Captain Barnacles Legacy" and "Weary in Pumpkin ville." "In a Garden" is another drama described as intensely interesting. The orchestra provides popular musici ""-"*

SHOKTT'S PICTURES. A complete- change of programme was presented at Shortt's Theatre to-day, when n film by the Lubin Company, entitled '"The Stronger Sex," -was" the star foal 11 rp in a well-arranged and pleasantly-diversified bill. Another picture, "A Fortune in a Tea Cup," is one that will surely appeal to the ladies. A pretty little love story is blended in the scheme of the picture), and it is quite in accordance with the recognised course of events that- everything should turn out happily, and that tho bright things predicted when the cup was "read" should be fulfilled to the letter. Then there is " The Vitagraph Romance," in which the chief actors of the Vitagraph Company all appear. The daughter of a Senator elopes with and marries a young playwright against her father's wishes. • The Senator finds his daughter and his s^n-in-law playing in Vitagraph life portrayals* In visiting the Vitagraph studios, the Senator is escorted through them, and all are given a Bplehdid opportunity of seeing the • actors at work. ( Finally father > and daughter are re-united. Other pictures are "The Revolt of the Peasants," "The that. Faid the Rent," " Captain Cuff's Neighbours," and "The Squaw's Love." ST. THOMAS'S HALL. There will be a changer of programme at St. Thomas's Hall to-night, headed by "The Broken Sword "^-a powerful drama relating the experiences of a young officer who marries an actress, breaks with hia family, and becomes a trick motor-cyclist. The, star item is supported by "The Uprising," a Lnbin drama, "Partners" (Selig), an interesting study in deep-rica fishing by the T3aumont Company, and a good selection of comics. i»