ENTERTAINMENTS

Evening Post, Volume LXXXVIII, Issue 150, 22 December 1914, Page 3

ENTERTAINMENTS

A ROYAL DIVORCE. At the Dresden music warehouse tomorrow . morning at 9 o'clock the box plans will be opened for the seven representations of the Napoleonic military dramatic spectacle, "A Royal Divorce," in which Mr. Julius Knight will inaugurate his brief season at the Opera House,, on Saturday night next. Anticipating the same large demand for seats as in Christchurch and Auckland, the J. C. Williamson, Ltd., management will have a staff of ushers in attendance from an early hour to form a queue, which will ensure^the earliest arrival first choice of seats. The company supporting Mr. Knight consists of ovei ninety specially selected artists, including the clever London actress Miss 1 Irene Browne, who will take the role of the Empress Josephine, in which she created much enthusiasm recently in Melbourne. Julius Knight's Napoleon has been described as a dramatic masterpiece. Miss Liisette ' Parkes is said to give a delightful per- ' formance of the part of Stephanie' de ! Beauharnais,, and she is proving Herself | one of the best artists the Australasian ! stage has yet produced. The humorous I part of Grimaud is in the capable hands of Mr. Eardley Turner, and Mr. Leslie Victor will once again appear in his i favourite role, that of Talleyrand. A feature of the production will be the series of thrilling war tableaux. " A . Royal Divorce " will be followed by I " The Scarlet Pimpernel," " The Sign J of the Cross." " The Silver King," and I " Monsieur Beaucaire." The company arrives on Friday morning. PETER DAWSON CONCERTS. In the Town Hall, commencing on Saturday .evening next, Mr. Peter Dawson, the world-famous baritone, ' will begin a series of concerts, assisted by his English Concert Party. Peter Dawson is known all over the world through the medium of hits gramophone records, and his name is now a household word He has fought his way up the ladder of fame in London, and he is proud of it. The crisp staccato and wonderful breath control are points that give real distinction to JU". Dawson's renderings. He is* the possessor of a beautiful rich and rdsonant voice of extraordinary range. The box plan is at the Dresden. »' MACMAHON'S NEW THEATRE. This week is children's week at MacMahon's Theatre, every child who attends being given a pretty Christmas present and allowed to view a special children's programme of fairy stories and other pictures. This will apply to the day sessions up to Thursday, whilst the usual programme is being shown at the night sessions. To-day saw the usual bi-weekly change of programme, headed by a stirring Rex drama, entitled "The Spider and the Web," an allegorical title which is self-explanatory. This is supported by "He and She," a drama of the inevitable human two, a couple of smart comics, and a new Egyptian war picture. On Christmas Day there will be a special programme, starting at 2 p.m., the chief feature being a pretty semi-historic drama, "The Power of the Cross." A fine series of views of the | weiid thermal regions around Rotorua will also be shown. This picture is described as being one of the finest scenic pictures ever shown in New Zealand, and ,has been secured by the Government to send Home. THE BRITANNIA. "The Guiding Hand," by the popular Thanhouser Company, is the prirwpal picture at the Britannia Theatre, Man-ners-street. It is a two-part drama, with j an absorbing and an appealing theme, j j The big crowds which attended tho | i evening sessions yesterday appealed to j i thoroughly appreciate the film. "In the j Days of '49" is a powerful war drama, j , and " Three of a Kind," a typical Reli- j ; ance comedy. The latest War Gazette ' shows the London Scottish near Ypres, i The li* Uan Army, Shins of the North Sea Fleet, the wrecked hospital ship Rohilla, and other interesting scenes. THE EMPRESS THEATRE. Crowded attendances at last evening'? sessions of the Empress Theatre Con- ; | tinuous Pictures testified to the popu- ' i larity of the new programme headed by . the war picture "Changing the Map of i Europe."' The main .attraction is a I reproduction of actual happenings assoI ciated with the war. Among_ the most striking scenes are the Tsar reviowing the j pick of his army before i^ leaves for , the front, German artillery en route to 1 the front, the Kiel Canal with German warships, French war balloons, British marinps arrive at Ostend yi destroyers, refugees' camp at Ostend, Fi'ench artillery in action, Irish Guards leaving their barracks for the Continent, and military operations at Aldershot. Another recent record of doings at the fiont, "The Topical Wai Budget," is also an excellent subject. The phota-plays in- ■ elude "A Chapter of Life" (Majestic drama), and comic items. The contributions by the Empress full orchestra add to the enjoyment of the evening sessions. EVERYBODY'S PICTURES. The screening of " Kronstadt," an excellent adaptation of Max Pemberton's famous novel of that name, was attended with much success at Everybody's Theatre, Manners-street yesterday. It • contains a remarkable story of the work ! of an international spy, and is particularly appropriate just now when so much is heard of Germany's extensive spy system. " Mabel's Latest Pranks," as outlined in a splendid Keystone comedy, are as funny as ever, and the war films, ; containing the latest from the storm centres, are crammed full of interest. SHORTT'S THEATRE. Of the pictures in the new programme now being screened at Short ts Continuous Theatre, Willis-street, "The Torch of War" is worthy of special mention. It is a masterpiece by the well-known Nordisk Company and runs to 3000 feet. Another notable picture is "George Robey turns Anarchist," featuring EngJand's great comedi.in, George Robey. The final instalment of the big serial "Lucille Love" is also- included, and an-* other film shows a series of Sherlock Holmes adventures. STAR PICTURES, NEWTOWN. An excellent Vitagraph comedy, with John Bunnpr supplying the comic element, is being shown at the Star. The | picture, " The Adventures of Miss Tom- J boy,'' is the chief attraction of a splendid j list. By the Moeraki this morning Miss Florence Young, the well-known actress, ! arrived from Sydney with her company, j which is to tour the Dominion under the direction of Messrs. Stephcrison and Linley. .The company opens in the Christchurch Opera House on Boxing Night in " The Climax," a play in which Miss Young has been touring Australasia for some time with much srecess. The company, which includes Messrs. Reginald Roberts, Edmund Sherras, and Claude Bantock, goes on to Christchurch tonight. " ' Mr. Charles H. Knight, the wellknown manager of George Willoughby, Ltd., arrived in Wellington this morning by the Moeraki, bringing with him the Adelphi Dramatic Company, which is to open at His Majesty's Theatre, Dunedin. on Boxing Night, with George R. Sims's successful play, " The Ever-open Door." Mr. Knight states that this play has eclipsed all records put up at. | Sydney's mammoth theatre. It will be seen in Wellington later on. (

HIS MAJESTY'S THEATRE. Several new vaudeville stars appeared at His Majesty's Theatre last evening. Chief among these was_ the Helen-Leach-Wallin Trio, three dainty and talented young ladies, with remarkable strength of i jaw One of the trio gives a clever gymnastic display on a slack wire, which is held by the teeth —^— Tie other two i performers. othei % feats she I spins through the ail- like a living wheel, with the aid of a rope also held in the. teeth of the other two. The turn is artistically staged, and the clever performance was loudly applauded. Another new-comer was Mr. George Melrose, 1 who gave several impersonations of Australian actors. His imitation of Mr. Maurice Dudley as Lively in "Sunday" was an excellent one. Mr. Neil Cant>, a Scottish entertainer^ made a successful reappearance, and Mr. George Hall, the American story-teller, fairly brought down the house with his contributions, which included two capital monologues, "Trouble in. the Amen Corner" and "The Green Eye of the Little Yellow "God." Mr. Charlea Bartholomew gave a successful performance, .his recital of "The Whitest Man I Know" earning him hearty rounds of applause. The Magpies once again gave a bright and attractive performance. Miss Pearl Livingstone captured, the audience with her ragtime melodies. Her rendering of "My Brudder Sylvest" won for her a hearty encore. Mr. Clifford O'Keefe was heard to advantage in "My Old Shako" and "Little Grey Home in the West," and Mr. Loi' Vernon, supplied plenty of comed\ Miss Cissy O'Keefe sang "Three Fislier*" very nicely indeedj and Miss Iris Edgar, and Mr. K. Black all added to the pleasure of the entertainment. The performance will be repeated this evening. > , THE KING'S THEATRE. Some _ very up-to-date ideas are embodied in v " The Adventures of ,Miss Tomboy," which holds pride of place in the new programme presented at the King's Theatre last evening. It is essen-. tially a comedy on broad lines, but incidentally some exciting yacht, hydroplane, and aeroplane racing are ingeniously introduced. The fact that John Bunny plays one of the leading roles is a guarantee that the production is a genuine " laugh-raiser." The "motif" is : breezy and, at times, boisterous. Lillian Walker, the part of whose lather is played by John Bunny, is an irrepres* sible tomboy. The aider and abettor in her pranks is Wallie Van, a wealthy young man who wants to be her husband. But Walker dislikes hiß daughter's choice, and wishes to marry her to Van Alstein, an unathletic young person ! for whom Lillian has the strongest dis- j like. Walker is the owner of a fine sailing yacht, and the captain becomes indisposed on the eve of a race he has hoped to win. " Miss Tomboy " appoints herself captain, and handles the craft 'so well that Walker is surprised and delighted to see his boat come in first. "Miss Tomboy" and her lover scheme to get married, and amusement and excitement hold sway when steam yachts, motor-boats, and a monoplane are requisitioned in a wild chase by the father after his daughter. Bunny 'falls into che sea, and a reconciliation follows after the couple have rescued him. The

programme also includes an excellent picture entitled " New York Police Carnival," a Kalem drama "Tho Chief of j Police," and one of the best war " bud- ' gets " yet seen here. PEOPLE'S PICTURE PALACE. Very big business was registered at the People's Picture Palace yesterday, patrons Deing attracted by an excellent! bill. "War and the Woman" is the I 1 star. It is a notable production, based on a war between Servia and Turkey. Some actual battle scenes are depicted J I with striking reality, and incidentally the picture gives some idea of the sufferings of a Red Cross nurse on duty at the front. Some remarkable exploits on the part of the woman are screened. Supporting pictures include the final instalment of " Lucille Love" and numerous excellent war scenes. 1 j