ENTERTAINMENTS

Evening Post, Volume LXXXV, Issue 20, 24 January 1913, Page 2

ENTERTAINMENTS

OPERA HOUSE. " The Follies,-" whose entertainment has proved so popular 'during the past week, will make their final appearance at the Opera House this evening. The items in this company's repertoire are well varied, and with Mr. Percy Clifton at the head of affairs the humour is never allowed to slacken. The company also excels in concerted numbers, duets, and quartettes. "THE GIRL IN THE TRAIN." The plans for the thirteen nights' season of the J. O. Williamson's New Comic Opera Company were opened at the Dresden yesterday, when exceptionally good advance booking was effected Apart from the much-praised music, the piece is said to be splendidly diverting. The story, briefly' told, is as follows :— Herr Karel Van Buren,' travelling in a sleeping car from Nice to Amsterdam, meets Fraulein Gonda Van der Loo, a charming actress. The train is crowded, and the Fraulein is unable to obtain a sleeping compartment. She is much upset. The gallant Karel offers her his compartment. The grateful Gonda accents, ivisd' Van Buren, having also put at her disposal the contents of a dainty hamper provided by Frau Van Buren, she invites him to sup with her. , An irate and stupid conductor slams the door of tho coupe so violently that the lock jams and refuses to' open. Thus the luckless pair are shut in the compartment till morning. Frau Jana Van Buren, hearing of the circumstances, sues for divorce. This takes place in the High Court of Amsterdam, and it is the hearing of the case that provides the uproarious fun of the first act. It is heard before Judge Van Evck. The evidence given, and the various rulings of the amorous Judge, together with Hie irresistible comedy supplied by wily Cornelius Scrop, the whilom conductor of the train, are provocative of the most hearty of laughter. In the second act a reconciliation between the husband and wife, whose love for each other has never altered, is arrived at, mainly through the unconscious solicitude of Jana's father, returned suddenly from abroad. Lucas Van Tromp, the fathel 1 , is entirely ignorant of what has hap- i pened, and, imagining that a trivial quarrel has occurred, insists upon the young couple embracing each other. Finally the legal decree of divorce is revoked, and happiness is. restored. Incidental to the second act will be introduced a burlesque of the famous Bath Scene in "Kismet"— Oscar Asche (W. S. Percy), Lily Brayton (Fred. Winn), Herbert GriinWood (Victor Prince)— an item that never, fails of being provocative of much hearty laughter. The second production, "Nightbirds," will be presented on Thursday next. THEATRE ROYAL. An excellent vaudeville programme is being submitted at the Theatre Royal just now. Perhaps the most popular artist is Miss 4 Bessie Slaughter, a con.* •tralto vocalist of parts. The , programme will be repeated this evening. HIS MAJESTY'S THEATRE. Once again that wonderful kinematograph productipn, "The Panama Canal," filled His Majesty's Theatre last evening with an interested audience. The pictures, showing the most marvellous engineering feat the World has ever known are clear and steady.^ They start at Colon, with the landing of black labour from the West Indies, . and show the Gatun Locks, one of the wonders of tho world in themselves— the opening of the first gate is an actual historical event included in the film— the great inland lake 'formed by the massive Gatun dam, the famous • Cubebra Cut, and the Pedro "Miguel and. Miraflores Locks. This evening the. picture wilL be viewed by His Excellency ' the , ' THE KING'S THEATRE. "The Gfeed_ for Gold," with an excellent supporting programme, continues a strong attraction at The King's Theatre. Last night thero .was a large attendance) and all persons present appeared to be thoroughly pleased with the pictures. '_ A special prize matinee for children is announced for to-morrow afternoon. On Monday there will be the usual complete change. - SHORTT'S THEATRE. Ambitions of a Woman" is the principal item on the programme at Shortt's Theatre, Willis-street. The plot describes the ambition of a foolish woman to become wealthy, with which end in view she deserts her husband, only to fall into the clutches' of a worthless adventurer. ' Lady patrons are well catered for in a Vitagraph photo play entitled "A Fortune in a Teacup" — a charming love story which is full of human interest. "The Vitagraph Romance," besides being a highly interesting drama, gives patrons a splendid idea of how vitagraph pictures are produced, j '•'i'he Squaw's Love" and "The Pony That Paid the Rent" are excellent supporting pictures, and the programme as a, whole is well up to standard. A ! special matinee for children will be held to-morrow. EMPRESS THEATRE. The process of wringing a "confession" from a prisoner sometimes resorted to by the* American police furnishes the basis of the plot of the A.B. exclusive drama "The Burglar's Dilemma," the main' j attraction of the Empress Theatre oon- | tinuous. pictures.. The illustratior of the manner in which a prisoner is harassed 1 till he is almost demented shows up the much-condemned practice in its true light. "The Burglar's Dilemma" is more than a sensational drama; it is anobject lesson upon modern American police methods. "The Brand Blotter 1 is a characteristic Western love story. These subjects are supplemented by several others, including "The Warwick Chronicle," "Williams' Weekly," "Scutari" (travel), and "Do Advertisements' Pay?'* On Monday night will be introduced "In a Den of Lions," a most exciting' wild-animal circus drama. PEOPLE'S PICTURE PALACE. There are, three outstanding pictures in the. programme now being screened at the People's Picture Palace. First on the list is a Selig drama, "Partners," a story of the -, difficulties of two men who loved the same girl- "Dr. Pellie and the Secret Despatch" is also a dramatic study of a class different from "Partners/ but equally interesting. Exciting scenes are shown in an Indian drama, ' entitled. "Tho Uprising," STAR THEATRE. One of the best all-round programmes yet shown at the Star Theatre. Newtown, was comprised in the bi-weekly change of programme last evening. Some of the latest productions from reputable lirma were shown, and the films were highly appreciated by the large number of people present. a "The Work of His Hands" was a telling* drama, and a real "star 1 ' attraction. Then there were several other splendid dramas, such as "Friends" (A.B- Company), and "Sa«n« ders' Sacrifice" (Kalem). _Both are Woatorn dramas of merit. The Vitagraph Company provided "Captain Bainacle's J-egaoy" and "Weary in Pumpkinville." There were Beveral films of scenery and travel, in addition to a number of comic items. The programme will be- shown again to-night^

THE NEW THEATRE. "The Power of Love," a lengthy dramagraph of society life on the Continent, is the "feature" of the present series of New Theatre continuous pictures. The story deals with the career iof a spendthrift count who marries a beautiful young heiress solely for her wealth. HJ? squanders her money, but eventually her devotion to him causes his reformation., "Gentleman Joe" is a 'Lubin drama depicting the misfortune of. a burglar who is ensnared by accidentally presenting to the rightful owner a bracelet which he has stolen from her lover. There are also attractive scenic, industrial, and comic items. ST. THOMAS'S HALL, NEWTOWN. There was a complete change of programme at St> -Thomas's Hall, Newtown, last evening, headed by a powerful drama entitled "The Broken Sword." It told' of, .the experiences of a young officer who earns the displeasure of his family by marrying an actress. The picture, which was very popular last evening, contains many exciting and dramatic incidents. Other pictures' included are "The Uprising" (Lubin), "Partners" (Selig), "Deep-sea Fishing" (Gaumont), and a. number of splendid comics. The programme will be repeated this evening. ■ „ , PICTURES AT LOWER' HUTT. "The Power of Love," a story of love and eensation,'is the star attraction at the King George Theatre, Lower Hutt, to-morrow and Monday. Excellently acted, and staged by the Nordisk Co., this production is ettre to prove popular. A live Lubin • detective • drama, "The Mjesing Finger," is the latest in the way of sensation, and it . rivets the at' tention from start to finish, ; Vitagraph productions- always prove popular, and "The Triumph of Right ? " a Western drama, should 1 be exceptionally attrac- . tive. There are also :> to be shown I ecqnfcs " and .teomice'by 'the best film makers. ' ■ ■ ' i