ENTERTAINMENTS

Evening Post, Volume LXXXVIII, Issue 138, 8 December 1914, Page 5

ENTERTAINMENTS

~ 7 "BUNTY PULLS THE STRINGS." To-morrow even at the Grand Opera House, Mr. and Mrs. Graham Moffat and their company of Scottish players commence their farewell season .with "Bunty Pulls tho Strings." Three performances only will be given. The company leave for Tasmania and Australia on Saturday. Mr. and Mrs. Moffat will play their original parts as Tammas Bieear and Ellen Dunlop, as also do tho other members of the company. The box plans aro at the Dresden. The election results will be announced at the performance on Thursday evening immediately they are known. HIS MAJESTY'S THEATRE. The large audience at His Majesty's Theatre' last evening thoroughly appreciated the capital evening's enjoyment provided by the management. The outstanding feature of the programme was the weird and wonderful act given by the "Mysterious Masquerader," the striking originality of which called forth loud applause. The turn is a comedy, which opens with a telephone conversation by the lady wondering what her husband would wear at a fancy-dress ball. A skeleton suddenly makes a dramatic appearance, and dances in the most fantastic manner over the stage, executing some wonderful and difficult feats in the way of dancing and contortion. The uncanny masquerader met with a warm reception. Miss Carrie Moore made a reappearance, and her vivacious songs were much appreciated. Brown and Sorlie, two coloured comedians ( who have made 'themselves popular with Wellington audiences, also made a reappearance and were warmly welcomed. Ywaxy, the dancing violinist, and Matilde and Elvira once again charmed the audience with their clever turns. The Magpies, talented entertainers, added new songs to their already extensive repertoire. Lou Vernon's humorous manner and clever work carried him though his contributions with llying colours, and he was obliged to respond with numerous encores before the audience was satisfied. , Miss Pearl Livingston, a gay little comedienne, was immediately successful. She has both vim and personality, and has won for' herself many admirers. Music was represented on its more serious side by Mr. Clifford O'Keefe and Miss Cissy O'Keefe, and Miss Iris Edgar and Mr. K. Black j were heard to advantage in an amusing vocal sketch. A first appearance will be made this evening by Bartholomew, "the Dublin Dandy." THE KING'S THEATRE. In setting out to plan a picture drama upon the theme of, the old song, Home, Sweet Home," Mr. D. W. Griffith, the celebrated picture-producei, aimed at achieving something entirely novel. KM& ' picture was screened at The King's Theatre for the first tim 6 "last night, and it undoubtedly made ah impression on the audience. The fetory is divided into four distinct parts — which are termed a "biography" and chree episodee — and each is really a drama in itself. The "biography" tells of the circumstances under which the song, "Home, Sweet Home," wa6 written by John Howard I Payne, and is really a portrayal of his adventurous career, terminating in his j lonely death in a foreign country. Then , follow the three episodes, which depict the far-reaching effects such an -appeal- . ing melody may have in human lives. . The first tells of how a young man. ' wavering between a marriage for wealth j and one for love, is helped in his dcci- | eion by hearing the strains of the old | melody. Then follows a tragedy of the I intense hate of two brothers towards on© another, in which tht> song again plays a part. And the final episode deals with a young wife's strong tempuation, which., i 6 overcome by the same means. "Home, Sweet Home," merits the patronage of j picturegoers. Tho orchestral accompani- . ment to the screening was in every way effective. Other pictures on the programme are "The Topical Budget," "Evacuation of Ghent and Ostend," and "His Wife's Burglar" (comedy). 'SHORTT'S PICTURES. The big star film; "The Prince of Darkness," is no doubt responsible for the exceptionally big business being done at Shortt's Continuous Theatre, Willis-street. The film is 6000 ft in length, and in practically eveiy foot there is a. thrill. An amazing story of crime is unfolded, and the whole thing is done with a thoroughness which invariably marks the Aquila Company's work. The film should not bo missed. A double number of the latest War Gazette tells realistically of happenings at the front, and there are several supporting numbers. BRITANNIA 1 THEATRE.. The Lubin Company is responsible for "The Debt," the star production in the current programme at the Britannia Continuous Theatre. "The Debt" is a pathetic story of love and devotion, and shows how a girl was saved from the hands of a villain. "The Fatal Sweet Tooth" is a Keystone farce of considerable meria ; "A Question of Language," an A.K. comedy; "Darker," an exceptionally fine scenic; "Fighting Blood," a notable drama by the famous A.B. firm; and the late War Gazette all go to make up an excellent programme. THE EMPRESS THEATRE. 'Animated Historj of the War To Date" at the Empress Theatre Continuous Pictures drew crowded attendances at last evening's sessions. The screening of the subject occupies about an hour, and is highly interesting and instructive throughout. Something like an adequate idea of the actual condition* in France and Belgium may be gathered from the picture. The scenes are vivid and well-selected. The advance and attack of the Belgians, their field artil* leryyin action, machine guns, and infantry firing from the trenches are all very realistic. The Britishers, #speciftlly tha Nav»' Brigade, which was in action at Antwerp, ar» prominent in some of the scenes. The armoured motor-cars, equipped with machine guns for Uhlan hunting, were warmly applauded. The retreat from Antwerp includes a view of a train full of troops drawn by six locomotives. "Down with the Huns" (Eclair War Special No. 6) and some entertaining photo-plays make up the remainder of tho programme. PEOPLE'S PICTURE PALACE. "At the Mercy of Niagara" is a thrilling picture drama, and was responsible for much enthusiasm at all sessions at the People's Picture Palace yesterday. The sensational feat of going over the great Horseshoe Fplls in a barrel is incidental to a thoroughly interesting story. There are somo remarkably fine views of tho big falls. This week's edition of the "War News" is particularly good, and the supporting pictures are all excellent in their way. On Thursday a film showing the actual building of a New York skyscraper will be shown. EVERYBODY'S PICTURES. The star picture at Everybody's Thaatre this week is "The Land of Shadows," a notable A.K. drama, depicting the novel love story of an artist. Tho production is remarkably wellhandled, and the theme is an appealing one, with many new and interesting features. In "Our First Line of Defence" the Hepworth firm provides some splendid views of life in the Nayy — view* which aro always popular, The l»t§*t

War Gazette (Pathe) is full of good things, and another war film shows she evacuations of Ghent and Ostend. Firstclass dramas and comedies make up the balance of the programme. MACMAHON'S PICTURES. The New Theatre was well filled at the picture session to-day, when the new programme vu introduced by Messrs. MacMahon with a three-act photo-play, "Detective King and the Marine Mystery," as the feature item. The production is by the well-known Imp Company, and combines sensation and incident ■with, telling action and artistic technique. Of topical pictures "The Watch-dogs of the Navy," showing a 1 fleet in action, as seen from the top of a battleship, is a fine example. Of a similar character is "Wireless from the War," while of the eternal drama of peace, "Western Hearts," in three acts, stands out conspicuously representative. The programme is completed by entertaining items such as "Dorothea and Chief Ramolez," "Scooped by Cupid " and the comic interlude "Mixed Indentities." STAR THEATRE, NEWTOWN. " Home, Sweet Home," is the principal film at the Star Theatre, Newtown. Last night the picture was screened before a numerous attendance. Other subjects include " The Evacuation of Ghent and Ostend," Topical Budget, and " His Wife's Burglar."