DRA MATIC AND MUSICAL

Free Lance, Volume XV, Issue 815, 11 February 1916, Page 10

DRA MATIC AND MUSICAL

By Fobtlight.

" The Crucible." MISS Marguerite Clark, already an established favourite with local patrons of the movies, adds to her reputation as a picture-actress in "The Crucible," the fine feature film at the King's Theatre this week. She is a delightful little actress of the Mary Pickford type, and "The Crucible" is a delightful photo-play. Marguerite Clark plays the role in the story of Jean Fanshawe, a 'pretty little heroine, whose hard and unswerving fight through life wins admiration from crowded audiences at every screening. When still a girl she is wrongfully committed to Jv reformatory. This proves a big handicap to the girl in after life, but the way she surmounts all obstacles grips the attention of the audience to the usual happy ending. You should see this film before it is withdrawn.' tomorrow (Saturday) evening. It is easily the best film of the week. The supplementary items are "John Bulls Sketch Book" (which shows in a clever skit how J. B. euchres Kaiser Bill), ''Their Night Out," and a fresh number of the Pathe Gazette, which is always eagerly looked for. « * « ® The red-label feature for the King's next week will be Mary Pickford m "Rags." Nuff said. * • • ' • * His Majesty's. . The Bletsoe revue boom at His Majesty's continues unabated. Indeed unoccupied seats after 8 p.m. are a rare commodity. "J^e-Beautiful," the title of this week's revue, is the old-fashion-farce, which, under another name, used to wind up our vaudeville performances of a dozen years ago. Only in this case it is more elaborately staged. The scene of action of "Be Beautiful" is a ladies' beauty parlour, and surely never before has such a farce been enacted in a beauty parlour. Two comedians, a Hebrew and an Irishman (stage burlesque versions) take chiarge of the parlour, and then follows a riot of fun and frolic.' Though their efforts to make humour sometimes are rather apparent, the audience laughs none the less. The incidental dancing numbers are pretty and graceful, and the lighting and dress-

ing first-class. One misses, however, the vocal items of Miss Maud Bletsoe, who appeared in last week's revue. ' •» «• * » • _ A. new star illuminating the first half of" Has Majesty's programme, which comprises the usual vaudeville items, is Lawrence Watkins, a clever and original. American ventriloquist. His item on this week's programme is well received. Several other entertaining performers complete a bright bill. «• » '.» ■» Apropos of the par in this column in last .week's, issue stating that Mary Plickford's contract with the Famous Players Company of New York had-ex-pired or was about to expire, much interest is aroused as to which of the competing cinema companies _ would secure the little lady. The probability is. that she will renew with the "F.P." Whilst under their banner she has appeared in many notable productions. Among them will be remembered "Such a _ Little Queen." "Fanchon the Cricket," "Tess of the Storm Country." and others. Of more recent "F.P." productions in which she has appeared and which have still to be screened are "Rags," which will be. seen at the King's Theatre next week, "Madam Butterfly." "Pals," and "The Dawn of a To-morrow." which is the most recent production in which she has played. The last three will be' screened in New ■Zealand in due course. » * ' •» # Of "Rags," an American journal says: "In this delightful study, Miss Pickford reaches the highest point she has yet attained, and it seirves to show the great versatility of the popular little lady. First as the saddened little mother in a Western mining camp, to whom death comes as a happy release, and then, supposedly, sixteen years later, as the uproarious little ruffian, "Rags," the butt of v the camp, a daredevil with a big-loving heart. "little Mary" is inimitable, and forever answers the question : "Can Mary Pickford act or is it only her charming personality that attracts ?—she has undoubtedly both charm and talent." # » « «• Miss Alice < Pierce, appearing at His Majesty's this week, was impersonating some tragedy queen, when in a tense scene the other night, she _ threw a chair clean the drop at the back. If Alice will _ "pierce" things like this in make-believe playacting, what would she be like in a real passion ?

' In a new studio which, the Essanay Company is building, one of the features will be a completely equipped gymnasium. There will also be a running track, and an indoor tennis court.

Rumoured that Melba is returning to her native Melbourne next April for a "rest cure.'' We didn't even know she had been ailing. Recent news from England concerning -Willie Percy indicates that he is doing well. For some months he has been successfully touring the English halls with the well-known Herbert Clayton, who sang in Australia in several' musical comedy productions under the J. C. Williamson management. According to advices Percy and. Clayton were to play in a farcical comedy revue, entitled "Who's .Who?" at the London Oxford. • * •. * # * ' The Pickford family of "movies" fame should never be stuck for a shilling. Stated' that thdir collective earn- - ings total at least £600 a week, which is a few hundred more than the average mortal gets in nearly a year of _ weeks. . . * » « ' George Mallow, the managerial head of George Mariow, Ltd., has risen again and is publicly announcing that be will . shortly be an open competitor to J. C. WiHiamon, ..Ltd., in the production of musical comedies, light operas, and revues. So long as he produces his plays at a reasonable tariff and gives such sordid stuff as "The Girl who took the Wrong Turning" a wide berth, the new firm should do very well. At present he is producing Shakespeare on the other shore at popular prices and reaping good results. . . •&- ■& S- .. "The Twin Beds" poster, which raised such a hullabaloo amongst Sydney parsons is now being covered up — after the run of the play has ended. However, the parsons have scored by securing a censorship of all posters. , ■ ' * *■ Madeline. Traverse, who will be remembered as Queen Sonia in "Three Weeks," will be seen opposite Robert Warwick in a World film, entitled "The Ambition of Mark Truitt." «■ # » Mr. George Green, president of the Showmen's Association of Great Britain and popularly known as the premier showman, has passed away at the rather premature age of 54. As he was a. non-smoker and a total abstainer from drinks that inebriate, the antiTobacco League and the Brigade are for once saved the trouble of naming the cause of -this untimely • end. ■' » » « «■ A young Wellingtonian, Cyril F. W. Goodreds, has had a photo-play he has written accepted by an American film company. It is called "The Embassy Ball," dealing with life in New York City. It is presumed the youthful author has been to Noo Yark. -* & 9 ■ » Ellis Ash mead Bartlett, who commences a lecturing tour of Australia and New Zealand next month in Sydney under the J. and N. Tait management, went both the Balkan Wars as a duly accredited British press representatve. He saw a good deal of the Bulgar attacks on the Turk's at Kirk Kilisse in the first Balkan War, and was an ©ye-witness of the dreadful battle of Bregnalnita, where the Serbs severely thrashed their treacherous Bulgar Allies. Ashmead 'Bartlett is of opinion that the Serbs are the most valiant of the Balkan peoples, and gives them full credit for the defeat of the more numerous and better-equipped Bulgars in the Balkan War. Though the Greeks assisted the Serbians, they did little hard fighting, and it was mainly

the tenacious fighting capacity of the Serbian Army that won Salonika and Eavalla for Constantine's forces.

The Bletsoes' frolic to be staged at His Majesty's next week is entitled "In Vacation Time," which is said to be qurfee different from the two preceding revues, but just as entertaining, if not more so. One of the novelties of the new production, which will be lavishly staged, is the "Tree of Truth," bearing all kinds of fruit,, even . the kinds admitted into the definition of Mark Twain's agricultural editor. This tree is an infallible judge of truth, and any person deviating from the narrow path of veracious statement has his offence visited upon him by a shower of fruit upon his devoted head. Here, obviously, are many opportunities for hilarity.. Roy Rene, Albert and Maud Bletsoe, Horace Mann, , and Carrie Franks all have good parts in the revue. •»

Mr. Freedric Shipman has received definite advice that Paul Dufault, tlie great Canadian-French tenor, will open his Australasian tour either l in Wellington or in Dunedin next Easter, April 24th. This is good news.

A new Sydney picture theatre, the Australian Picture Palace, will open its doors for the first time within the next week or two. The most important innovation it will introduce will be a device for ventilation. A special plant has been installed for this purpose. It is claimed that it will be capable of emptying the theatre of stale air eight times per hour, replacing the same with equal quantities of fresh air. The new theatre has seating accommodation for 1000 people.

Daisy Jerome, "the live-wire comedienne," will scintillate., sparkle, dazzle, and otherwise entertain Wellington audiences at His .Majesty's, commencing next Monday % Consequently, the management is__seriously - contemplating a scheme for erecting seating accommodation on the roof. Something of the sort must be done, for it is whispered (stage whisper) that Daisy's salary runs into three figures per week.