ENTERTAINMENTS

Evening Post, Volume LXXXV, Issue 27, 25 February 1913, Page 2

ENTERTAINMENTS

THEATRE ROYAL. . There was a crowded house at the Theatre Royal, where a more than usually good programme was anticipated, and the re&Ult came quite up to expectations. Paul Gordon, to begin with, is exceptionally clever. Attired in full evening dress, ho does things on the slack wire which have to be seen to be believed. He swings on the wire from side to side at a furious pace, runs up and down it as easily as if he was running along a plank, and suddenly stops the wire and stands perfectly still on it. Then a ladder is placed on the wire, and he mounts it rung by rung, holding only to the top rang, with as much asgurauce as if it waß placed against a wall. A tub' is handed to him, and he balances it on the wire. He gets into the tub/ walks inside it for a pace or two, and then jigs along in it almost the length of the wire. , His finale is realistic indeed. He goes through all' the t contortions and gyrations of an intoxicated person, recovering his balance again and again in a most extraordinary manner, but never was seen such a cvazy drunk on scich an insecure footway The audience broke into round after round of applause as the turn progressed, and at its close the performer was recalled time -and again, only to bow his acknowledgments. La France gives a couple of interesting entertainments. In the first she appears against a dark background, and, with the aid of a coloured limelight thrown fr%n a lantern, poses as the central figure of some charming pictures— roses, snow and mountain scenes, and such like — concluding with "Rule "Britannia" and a highly-coloured representation of "New Zealand." The effects were received with every ' manifestation 6f appreciation. In the second part the lady gave a series of: clever imitations of various music hall artists, and her grotesque parodies of a child performer were mirth-provoking to a degree. After a long absence from Wellington Hassan, the. Indian conjurer, Made his reappearance, and performed a number of clever tricks with an ease and dexterity that Were decidedly enterfaming. One of the best is his turban trick. A long piece of gauze is cut into lengths, the ends are burnt, and the end is given to a "member of a committee on the stage. He unrolls' it and it is found to be absolutely intact. There are many other clever feats that Hassan performs, but that is the best. Pedrihi executed some marvellous feats, concluding by balancing a heavy gun carriage^ an artilleryman, and. a cannon on his feet and firing the cannon in thai position. The feat is highly sensational, and was received with loud ap' plattse. Ernest Pitcher, "the Big Mug/ caused roars of laughter by his comic songs, aad acceptable humorous turns were provided by Art Slavin and Lily Thompson an.d Maud Fanning and her chips. From, end to end the programme is first-class. , THE FOLLIES. The Follies, In the Concert Chamber of the TOWnHall, again last night diverted their 'appreciative audience. The entertainment is clever, amusing, and original, and in, the .case of some items, touches a 'high "pitch 'of hiusical excellence. They- give,, too," of their accomplishments with "much cheery liberality. To-night and to-morrow night .the same programme will be repeated. RICKAR.DB TIVOLI COMPANY. a The approaching Rickards vaudeville season at the Opera House promises to be highly 'satisfactory impoint of attendance. The initial appearance of the new company takes place next 'Thursday evening when a programme of "all new" attractions is to be offered. Very laudatory criticisms have been showered on De Biere by the Auckland pr^ss. Nella Webb had noiewer than six recalls at her final appearance on Saturday, Taylor and Arnojd, Alberto' Slarini, CHinko; and Minnie Kauf mann are other attractions in the ■ Rickards bill. Jlans* are at the Dresden. . ' 1 THPJ KING'S THEATRE. The usurious money-lender has provided the theme of many a story, and a great number of the more recent 'tales nave been converted into picture form. The scheming nature of a miser lends itself well .to the moving film. One of the j best pictures of this class shown- for some .time is one entitled "The Money-lender," which Wfca screened as a "star" attraction at The King's Theatre last evening. In this an old usurer has the assistance ( of .several accomplices, including a fascinating woman,' and one by one he draws the unsuspecting ' into his net._ He stops at nothing, artd is just about to enjoy witnessing the success of one of hie moet elaboi l ate r Schemes, when an assistant meets with , a serious accident, and, troubled by conscience, makes a confes* fiion on his deathbed. The film is taken hy the Well-khown Pathe Firm, and every attention ia paid to the minutest detail and colouring. "The Face or the Voice" is also a splendid picture. Here the Vitagraph Firm presents a novel" story of two sisters, \ who* both fall in love with the same yotlng'man. • A most exciting story 1 of l al runaway, train is told in "Tom Donovan's* Division," and .'there are numerous 1 other 'toictiires, including "Bunny at ,£he Derby," all of a high order o^fneTik T'.kert all round the programme i» an 'excellent one, and fully, deserving of liberal patronage. The "PatW Gazettes" (Australian "and English) axe splendid. The orchestra also deserves congratulation; > .' THE NEW THEATRE. <"A Man- Without Conscience," a Nor* disk "feature" drama, attracted excellent attendances last evening at the New Theatre; continuous pictures.* .The piece is well- staged, and the plot is interesting throughout. .' The , Remaining subjects include "A Husband's Conscience," "Lieut'. Daring and the Photographing Pigeon," "Through Greece," and others. PEOPLE'S PICTURE PALACE. The new bill screened at the People's Picture Palace yesterday was in all respects an excellent one. The two "star" dramas — "Strength and Cunning" and "The Struggle of Hearts"— are alone worth going to see. The latter film tells of a curate who falls in love with a pretty but capricious girl. She reciprocates his affection and they become engaged. About this time, the curate befriends an escaped .convict who is both young and handsome, and »persuades him to turn over a new feaf. The minister secures tKe young man Work upon a farm, owned by an uncle of the girl he is about to marry. The girl, who is on a visit to the farm, finds the new "hand's" company congenial, and transfers her affections to him. She gives the ex-convict a photo of herself, and he, though in love with her, will 'not proposo because of his past life. He seeks the advice of his friend the curate, who advises him to go and tell the girl all, and if she really loves him she would forgive and forget anything he had done in the past. Before departing the young man shows the portrait of the girl to the emote, who recognises his fiancee. Then begins the struggle oi' hearts, th 6 fight between honour nnd love, and ably interpreted by the Lubin players a dramatic story is brought to a satisfactory "ending. A quite refreshing skit is "Plot and Pash —a Story of Blood," which is one of the best pictures the Hepwotlh Company has produced. Supporting films include "Funnicus as a Boatbuildor" and "The Now Beginning" (Lubin • drama). •• ■

HIS MAJESTY'S THEATRE. Messrs. Fuller are this week reviving two of their most notable recent picture successes—" Sweet Nell of Old Drury " and "The Making of the Panama Canal."The first of these, in conjunction with an entirely new series of supporting subjects, was screened last evening, and, judging by the good attendance of the public and the frequent applause throughout, the reproduction was in every way justified. Among* the new pictures " Sunshine " pleases as a drama of an original and clever kind— refreshing in these flays of a tendency towards similarity of theme. A priest visits a young man in prison under sentence of death; the man, finding mental rest and peace from the comforting words of the good father, confesses the circumstances leading up to the crime : He tells how his parents died, charging him to care for his little sister "Sunshine"; of his loVe for her and of. their happy existence together. Then, without warning, the blow comes— she is enticed away by a lover and betrayed. The youth then avenges liis sister's shame, and gives himself up to the law. The story is put together in an uncommonly realistic manner. "Good for Nothing " is a Well-balanced mixture of comedy, 'cute journalism, and a pretty love story. " The ingredients make up a , very satisfactory and pleasant picture. Some highly instructive and beautiful wonders of science are shown in "The Wonders of Harmonic Design." " A Feathered Comrade " (in which a clever bird "stars"), "His Father's Choice" (comedy), and # the latest Pathe Gazette all supply their quota ( of amusement. On Wednesday evening *• Sweet Nell " will make her last appearance,' and on Thursday will be shown that romantic story of solid achievement, " The Making of the Panama Canal." For Monday^next the management announce the initial screening of an exclusive production of "The Merry Widow," accompanied by all her dainty music. 'THE NEW THEATBE. "A Man Without a Conscience" is the leading film in the latest programme of pictures Screened at the New Theatre yesterday to large attendances. This is a Nordisk drama, well staged and admirably acted, and concerns the fascination of a society woman for a 'violinist virtuoso. "Lieutenant Daring and his Photographic Pigeott" is ft novel study, and other excellent films are "Through Greece" {a charming scenic), and "A Husband's Conscience." The programme Will be screened until 11 o'clock this evening. THE. EMPRESS' THEATRE. The continuous pictures presented at the Empress Theatre last evening attracted a large number of people at the various session*. The leading photo. -play of the new series is ''The .Oath of Stephen Huller"— a sequel to '.'The,Unwritten Law." At the termination of the latter picture Stephen, when saying farewell to his father in the prison cell," promised he never would marry. Jn the sequel he forgets his oath, and ,weds a girl who, notwithstanding the insidious attentions, of another man, remains true to Stephen. "A Cry for Help," the" A.B. Company's latest > dramatic study, shows how a maniac with a revolver i». represented as trying to kill a young doctor. The situation is "becoming critical when help arrives in the form ,of a tramp, whom the doctor had humanely treated a few minutes previously. ' The procession through Delhi depicting the Viceroy on his elephant a few minutes before the recent' attempt on hi» life wan made is the chief event of "The Gaumont Graphic." A humorous method of Obtaining whisky is a "dry" area is illustrated in "Theßite of a Snake"; "FunnicuSs, Boat-builder," is another laughable film. -Miss Margaret Qochrane, of the Normal School, Wellington, is announced as tho winner of the " Christopher Columbus " ptifctf essay competi ' tion. \ SHORTT'S PICTURES. '" Yesterday saw a, change of. programme, at Shortt's Continuous Theatre. In, a really good set of pictures the chief attraction is "From Country to Town, 1 ' a drama enacted with full and effective stage surroundings, depicting a more than usually interesting story. A young man falls in love With the schoolmaster's daughter and leaves the country to pursue his studies for the law by the kindly .monetary assistance of a wealthy patron. • There he succumbs- to the tascinatipns of a lady of "high degree," and owing to prolonged silence, is sought for by his parents, who to his chagrin prove themselves unwelcome' guests among his friends. Tho end, however, is satisfactory. The "call of home" comes rto him and he returns to renew his first love with . the schoolmaster's daughter, whom he finds at the graveside of her father. The picture is .in the first rank^ 'of drama, . Per- , haps as clever and amusing a comic seen for a long time, giving with cunning satire" the villainy of the bad man' of melodrama is "Algernon's Cheeild." It happily portrays the stage t villain without accentuating any absurdity, yet introduces a perfect caricature, truly funny, and much enjoyed by the*hoitae. "On the. Way to-Montserrat" is a good scenic, and "The Thunderbolt," "Maid,, Man and Moustache" all helped to provide a good exhibition. STAR THEATRE, "The' Money-Lender" is a splendid picture in' the programme at present being screened at the Star "Theatre, Newtown. For a deep plot it would be difficult to surpass. ' It deals with the exploits of a money-lender, who wishes to get hold of an old man's money, and to that end tries all manner of plans and schemes, all of them unlawful. "Face or the Voice" is a Vitagraph drama, starring Miss Florence Turner, while "On Donovan's Division" and "Mother of the Ranch" are other not-, able dramatic numbers. There ale a number of very fine topical films, and comedy is "vVell provided for in "Bunny at the Derby.' ST. • THOMAS'S HALL, NEWTOWN.' An excellent programme was shown to a full house at St. Thomas's last night.; The programme opens with " Plot and Pash. ' which is a very clever skit on the "heavy hero" style of pantomimic drama, and was responsible for continued laughter. A Lubin picture, "Struggle of Hearts," is a story of self-sacrifice. A convict "breaking prison steals a chaffeur's coat from a' motor-car, and makes his way to the first house in sight, which happens to be a minister's. The minister takes pity tin him, and after hearing his story, befriends hifn. The convict gets on in life, arid falls in love with the same woman as the minister does. Seeing the position from an unselfish point of view/ ho decides to go away, Ibut is called back, the minister standing aside and leaving the woman to him. Other pictures are "The Mother of the Ranch," ar cowboy subject, and a sensational detective story? " Strength and Cunning." John Bunny appears in one of the comodiqs. Taken all through, the programme is well up to the usual standard.

The weekly session of the Star of Newtown Lodge No. 24, was held in St. Thomas's Schoolroom, the presiding officer being Bio. Hovvitt, sen.. C.T. Thert) was a Hood attendance, including Bfo. Warner from Lo # ndon. The election of regular representative to the Grand Lodge session, to be held at New Plymouth at Easter, resulted in Bro. N. Ingram being elected unopposed. Bro. O. Petherick was elected as alternative representative. Bro. Wyse, who is leaving this week for Scotland, \tbs wished ben yoy.*g*>.