ENTERTAINMENTS

Evening Post, Volume XC, Issue 83, 6 October 1915, Page 3

ENTERTAINMENTS

HIS MAJESTY'S THEATRE. Dancing, juggling, and comedy work are the features of the present entertainment at His Majesty's Theatre. Clemans and. Dean, tangle-foot dancers, and musical comedy artists, provide a novel turn, which never fails to please. An exhibition of clog-dancing is given by Rowley and Tointon. As trick cyclists, O'Connell and Austin are both daring and clever. Mr. Leonard Nelson, " just a plain comedian," has the gift for enter- ! tainment. Among other artists who perform most creditably are Charles Edenbury, equilibrist and hand-balancer, Violet Trevenyon, the Eclair Brothers, Hennessy and Martell, Nat Hanley, and the Gibsons. MISS SPINNEY'S RECITAL. The .art of Miss Dorothea Spinney in breathing into the old Greek plays & spirit of realism has Keen much appreciated by the people who have attended her recitals. Last night she delighted a large audience with a recital somewhat different iD character. Her powers of interpretation were displayed in two Irish plays and a dainty Pierrot, play. The first play wa6 "The Riders to the Sea," a tragedy by John Synge, who, in many years among the Irish of the Isle of Arran, discerned and understood the heart of the peasant, people. The principal characters are "Herself," the mother of six sons, five of whonv when the play opens, have been claimed by the stormy sea which runs betweeD the Isle and Connemara on the mainland. Michael, the fifth son, has been drowned nine days, and his old mother, when the tide flows in, goes down to the shore to see if his body may be recovered and given a clean burial. Then^ the men bring in the body of her sixth son, drowned also. Miss Spinney's presentation of the tragedy was an excellent piece of work. Her audience, as she spoke, could see the old Irish peasamywoman, keening and lamenting, the eldest daughter made irritable by the constant grief, the younger daughter sympathies not yet dulled, and the6tout sixth son who will not be warned against sea dangers. "Kathleen, ni-Houlahan," by W. B Yeats, is a symbolic play. Kathleen-ni Houlahan, an old woman, personifies the spirit of Ireland, calling on Irishmen to fight for her. She comes to a peasant home in the west, and is there welcomed. Her spell has no effect on the old man or his wife, nor on the youthful son, but Michael, a fine young map about to be married, yields himself willingly. In the symbolic character, Miss Spinney found ample ecope for her Jjift. She presented a most vivid _ picture of the Irish family, and the influence which Kathleen exerts upon the various members. Miss Spinney's wonderful versatility was exemplified in "The Maker of Dreams," by Oliphant Down. This was a charming Pierrot play, a delicate piece of idealism with a very pretty numour. Heariing Mies Spmney in. Greek tragedy one would be inclined to doubt whether she could present a scene limned so lightly, but she has the light touch also, and her^audience greatly appreciated the sketch. BAXTER BUCKLEY'S FAREWELL. > Mr. Baxter Buckley will give his final pianoforte recital in the Concert Chamber of the Town Hall on 15th instant, prior to his departure for London. He will play several numbers which are new to Wellington audiences, and which include works by the most modern composers, as well as classical pieces by Handel, Beethoven, Scailatti, and Schumann. Mrs. J. F. Woodward and Mr. Frank Charlton will sing. THE BRITANNIA. " The four-act World Corporation photoplay "Mother," which is the feature attraction of an excellent programme at the Britannia, is a picture of more than ordinary interest. The theme of how a mother's love puts all her , children on the right path, when they have strayed, provides the dramatist with a charming motive. The picture is splendidly mounted. Miss Ella Dunn as the "mother* gives an excellent character study. The supporting pictures include dramatic and comedy subjects, and the music j provided by the Britannia orchestra is distinctly good. EVERYBODY'S THEATRE. "Fatty's Plucky' Pup>" » superior Keystone comedy with Roscoe Arbnckle in the lead, is having a phenomenally successful run at Everybody's Theatre. It is a typical Keystone farce, full of Tjoisterous humour in which the Keystone police are once again prominent. The third episode of "The Millon Dollar Mystery," entitled "The Leap in the Dark," gives no clue as to the thief, but only deepens the mystery. There is a thrilling capture of some of the gang. "The Gaumont War Graphic," "Mother's Justice" (pathetic drama), and "The De- ! parture of the 6th Reinforcements," are included in the programme. THE EMPRESS. "When London Sleeps " is proving a very popular attraction at this house. This famous melodrama was played throughout the Dominion in 1904 by the William Anderson Company, but has never before been seen in film form. Judging by the crowded audiences at each session the picture should achieve a substantial success this week. Notably humorous is the scene at the Night Club, where " Sammy ", slips on the girl's cloak* and so spoils the effect of the nicely-arranged scene which showed the captain bending over the supposed lover. The dramatic surprise the villain gets when he discovers the change invariably causes loud laughter. Supporting the star feature are The Topical Budget, a Vitagraph comedy called " The Egyptian Mummy," and the recent assault-at-arms at the Park. . MAOMAHON'S THEATRE. The big Mexican drama, "The Americano," will be shown for the last time at Macmahon's Theatre to-night. The twelfth chapter of " The Master Key " is also due to make way for the thirteenth after to-day. " The Outlaw's Bride," which is associated with these two star features, is ■ typical American melodrama. The comedy section of the programme is headed by_ a capital extravaganza, entitled " Chiefly' Concerning j Males, " and the usual scenic and topical I subjects are embodied in the programme. To-morrow a picture dramatisation of Tosti's popular song "Good-bye" will be screened. SHORTT'S THEATRE. The current , programme at Shortt's Continuous Theatre, Willis-street, has been so successful that it will be shown for the rest of the week. Nordisk's fourreel feature, "The Ballet Girl's Vindication," is proving a great attraction. The story is exciting, and the scenes realistic in the extreme, particularly the fire scene. "Asphyxiating Gases" is a wonderful picture, and should be of special interest to students of science as well as the general public. The remainder of the programme includes the latest War Gazette and "Hunting Big Game at Sea." STAR PICTURES. " It May be You," " War," and " The Quality of Mercy " are the titles of some "star*" films presented laat evening at tka Hixr Fuifcur* Th*n,tra» Newtcw- *

"THE ARMIES OF EUROPE AT WAR." The war pictures which have pro* vided a special attraction at the Concert Chamber of the Town Hall were exhibited before another large audience last evening. Both the pictures, with their vivid presentation of war and preparations for war, and the musical items by Mr. A. Rowe and Miss Miriam Russell, were warmly applauded. This evening a special "soldiers' evening" will be held. The large hall has been engaged for the purpose, and a large number of men at Trentham have been invited to attend. His Excellency the Governor and as many members of the Cabinet as can be absent, from Parliament will be present. The Trentham Band will march from Lambton Station to the Town Hall at 7.15 p.m., to form a guard of honour for Lord Liverpool, and will afterwards play the military overture. Part of the proceeds will be contributed to the Wounded Soldiers Fund. THE KING'S THEATRE. The current programme screened at the King's Theatre is attracting large audiences nightly. There are several strong comedy dramas, chief among which is a Vitagraph film, entitled "War," a funny story dealing with the adventure* of two French and German families in America. i Another funny subject is "It May Bo You," a newspaper comedy. '"The Quality of Mercy" and "The Cornet" are two domestic dramas, and the Gaumont Graphic is responsible for many interesting glimpses of the great theatre of war. The pJeasure of the entertainment is added to by an efficient orchestra. "NEPTUNE'S DAUGHTER." The wonderful photo. -play " Neptune's Daughter " is still crowding the People s Picture Palace nightly. A noticeable feature of this delightful film is the fact that it can be seeu many times without wearying of it. When " Neptune s Daughter " :s first v'ewed the spectator is so interested ip the story that he is unable to grasp the wimierful heauty of the scenery or even the surpassing loveliness of Annette Kellennan At the second seeing, after having grasped the main points of the thrilling +ale, one is able to allow his vision to take in the wonderful caverns, submarine caves, and coral grottoes where Neptune holds court. Although Miss Kellennan's feats are so wonderful they are done so artistically and naturally that it is not until the third or fourth visit that one begins to realise how very daring they are. A daily matinee is given at 2.30. The box plans are at the Bristol.