ENTERTAINMENTS.

New Zealand Herald, Volume XLIX, Issue 14930, 1 March 1912, Page 5

ENTERTAINMENTS.

1 " WHY MEN LOVE WOMEN." > [ The interesting problem as: to. why men . love women, is not in any ; way solved by , the play which was revived by Mr. Allan { Hamilton's Company at His Majesty's i Theatre last night. The endeavour to throw light on the question has, however, . placed among the volumes of dramatic , literature a melodrama rich enough in , varied incident to satisfy the most jaded 3 lover of such plays. , Except that ".Why 3 Men' Love .Women "is a melodrama, and . that any melodrama will find an audience f if it is melodramatic enough, the play, was, L . from any. but the 'economic point of. view, 1 hardly worth writing about. Its only 3 claim upon attention, as a play, is that; it t enforces the old lesson of; all melodramas ■ by unusual means.' Consequently it proi vides the audience with sensation in some i unaccustomed forms; and certainly some, i of the' situations created have an unusual i interest. The 'introduction of a mysteri- , ous Indian poison, which produces a death- , like trance, is off the beaten, track and ' some of the villain's devices in the cause of evil have a fresher flavour; than most. The play is exceedingly weak on its comedy side. It seems to be an inviolable rule that in melodrama there shall be a streak of comedy. In this case the streak has been , put in with a very big brush .by; ». Very poor artist. Its carelessly placed edges splash over upon the other parts of the play, and good acting could not save it from being quite absurd. Fortunately the drama is sufficiently full of interesting incidents to enable it to be successful without much attention to fine considerations in the matter of acting. How this feature operates is well shown in •': the .closing scene, whore the villain is shot dead by a, lady for whose':. death 1 he was almost responsible; whereupon the hero and .the heroine stroll amiably away to ask why men loved women, and nobody is sufficiently interested ' in the villain's" timely end to even shako a head over him. The hero of the play is Gerald Fielding, who is charged with a murder of which ho is guiltless, and which thanks to the Indian drug turns out to be no murder at all. He passes through prison and imE ending madness and a duel all unscathed back to his wife; and Mr. Billiard Vox, who wears the loose white shirt of wronged innocence, carries out the requirements of the part with much effect. Captain Staniloff, a Russian officer with furtive eyes and teeth that gleam while he speaks in a soft but wicked voice, is the villain. Mr. Richard Bellairs performed in this role rather conventionally, and maintained his villainy well until his just death in the last act. Mr. 'Robert Greig was cast as Ackbar Mahommcd Khan, an Indian Prince and guardian of the heroine, and small though the part was invested it with considerable character. Mr. Kenneth Brampton, as Tommy Fitzhorbert, filled his place in the picture very satisfactorily. Mr. Charles Brown had the ungrateful task of being Orlando Figgins, the principal comedian,-who had not even the satisfaction of being useful as an accuser at the undoing of the villain. His part was boisterous, and he did it such justice as it deserved. Mr. John F. Forde "was the Rev. Arthur Grey ; Mr. Wilton Welch was Chundra Singh, tho Indian doctor-hermit, and Mr. John Bruce, Hassan. The heroino of the play, Violet Livingstone, was represented by Miss Beatrice Holloway. ? Her performance, was pretty and dainty ; and while she is not cast in the mould for the class of acting demanded of a persecuted and heart-broken heroine the earnestness with which she supplemented her natural ability brought her the whole goodwill of tho audience. Muriel Zoluski is a Russian woman who occupies a peculiar, passive position in the play; Miss Lilian Lloyd's performance in I the part was uninteresting. Miss Katie I Towors, as Matilda Figgins, ably assisted j her. stage husband in the comedy provided ; and Misses Muriel Dale and Agnes Keosh, as Baby and Birdie, " the Umptidoodlems," supplemented their efforts very I capably. ■■- " Wliv' Men Love Women " -will » & repealed tins evening. I lie season w. \ be closed to-morrow with one* p&rforman.» of Uifl popular "Jimp From Mars.'' . wniTii's emeus. .' . The annual visit of Wirth's Circus to ' 'Auckland is announced. Tho circus will open on Monday, March .4,: at Victoria Park. , Wirths introduce.each year something hew, fresh, and edifying. * This year the proprietors have excelled; oil. previous efforts, for they havo engaged from America and Europe 35 new artists and 20 new wild animals. Amongst the latter are 10 ..pure,:.white full-grown Polar bears, ' which, together' with two American buffaloes, three griiizly bears* and twa,beawti-v .

ful Russian boar hounds, perform "a J remarkable '-■■'Hep. ' ; This is Kijd to bo the largest group of Polar bears in existence, and. cost Wirth Brothers £2000, plr.ts their faro and expenses from Hamburg.'. The circus artiste aro billed as the best in, their lino tho world can produce, and include, the seven Flying Jordans, double company of aerialists;' tho sisters Adclia and George, acrobatic wira-walkesa;' AIL Tick, tho upside-down phenomenon; La Van Arlois and s Stump, aerial horizontal ■ bar performers; Toy and Kitchen, trami polmo experts; Hairy Barge and Co., of . six comedians in comedy act on a real , motor car; Herr and Fraulein Schmidt, Polar bear educators; and the Bastion family of 11, who perform, an acrobatic act) 1 on horseback. The. menagerie may be ' seen in the afternoon from four to five, ! I when tho hand will play selections at in- , tcrvals. The box plan of reserved seats is now open at Wildman and Arey's. Mati- ' nees will be held on Wednesday and Satur- ' day afternoons. . I QUEEN'S THEATRE. Many fino programmes have been, sub- , nutted at tho Queen's Theatre in the past, , but for sheer merit tho series presented yesterday must certainly ho awarded the "' palm. "The Discovery of America,"- an, historical item, . depicts with masterly fidelity tho events closely associated with Columbus's discovery of America. Columbus at Genoa trying to obtain assistance I for his intended voyage of discovery; his . j interview with the Queen of Spain; and j all tho incidents of tho fateful voyage are faithfully reproduced. "Over the Rockies" is an excellent film. Ah aeroplane is seen making a flight over the Rocky Mountains. It gradually rises like an immense | bird, scuds through the clouds, and"boI comes a mere speck against the gigantic mountains. This picture is all the mors remarkable in that the photographs of the • aeroplane are taken at an elevation of ..•000ft from another aeroplane. "A Daughter of Italy" is a fino dramatic item, and "The Sheriff Got his Man" is intensely interesting. The humorous side , of the programme has not been forgotten, "The Fall of a Knight" «and "While Masters Dance" providing some hearty run. Throughout yesterday the theatre . was filled. • The programme will be repeated • throughout to-day and to-morrow. OPERA HOUSE. : ' Fasola, tho man of mystery, entertained a largo audience at tho* Opera House last evening... He will only appear for two • more nights. On Monday evening a firstclass vaudeville programme is, to be pro*sented at tho Opera House. .. ...» , , "JUDAS MACCABAEUS." v A special attraction for next Monday evening in the new Town Hall will bo tho performance of "Judas Maccabaeus," the well-known 'orotorio, by . the combined Methodist choirs, of 250 voices, assisted by an efficient orchestra, under the leadership of Herr Kreutzer. Mr. E. J. Gatland will conduct the whole performance. ' So great is { the interest, shown, that , tickets'; are in great demand, and heavy booking is recorded at Wildman and Arey's., ""' : PICTURE ENTERTAINMENTS. Hayward's Pictures at the Lyric Theatre are nightly visited by largo audiences. The : current programme is an exceptionally fine : one. .:, :\ ; ,; '. : .. / :..../' ', v ' ' ; ."■;■ "Tho King's Theatre was well patronised last 'evening, the audience being most 1 appreciative. '"The Fisherman's Daughter" and "Thrown to the Lions" are probably the most interesting subjects of the firstclass programme. ' i, '~ . "Undoubtedly. one of, the finest .programmes of moving pictures screened by West's at tho Royal Albert Hall" was the general verdict pronounced by a large audience last evening. Tho Vitograph comedy, " Tho Gossip," 'is out of the ordinary, and was responsible for much merriment. "Tho Valley of the Chalvagne" is a beautiful scenic, in natural colours, and the other capital films of the new series' are all to bo desired; •-'■'•■ ..■»■'- """ A"' new departure is being made ' at ' the King George Theatre :to-night,' when a special attraction is offered' by. introducing two of Shakespere's ' most beautiful 1 ' plays, ■ viz., "Midsummer Night's Dream" and "Twelfth Night." A private view of these' pictures elicited very high commendation, and all those interested in the author's • works;will appreciate such an v opportunity / of seeing-these^ plays ( interpreted by : : ; leading English artists. In order to increase tho interest ' of"' school children • in! these great works; : both pictures'will also bo shown at-, tho matineo oh Saturday. These items are 'in • addition to k the programme , which 'Was received" so enthusiastically by a largo audience last evening. ' The lead- , ing drama, "The Sins of the 'Fathers,"'.,■■ kept the house spellbound throughout, and ;';■ tho leading incidents elicited rounds 'of applause. "'' Tho long 'and varied 'programme i was .highly interesting; * ;■; * " \,-^ Largo crowds -of people continue, to palronise tho Newton Picture Palace. " ' Skaters in large numbers were present at i the Prince's Rink last night. ' ,, v ". ; - "'