ENTERTAINMENTS.

New Zealand Herald, Volume XLIX, Issue 15124, 15 October 1912, Page 5

ENTERTAINMENTS.

HIS MAJESTY'S THEATRE.

" NOBODY'S DAUGHTER,"-

The Plimmer-Donniston Company opened, its season at His Majesty's Theatre last evening with a performance of -" Nobody's Daughter."

The young person whose parentage is not in accord with all the conventions is a. centre about which the circle- of dramatic argument runs easily and well in the making of plays of sober hue, and this is such a play. It is all rather a solemn farce. The child was; in the beginning given to a trusted woman of humble station to bring up, and her parents, each marrying afterwards, are at last in a quandary as to what they shall do when the child grows up. The drama argues very seriously upon the virtue, in the circumstances, of making a. clean breast of the irrevocable past. There is a little dissertation upon the unwisdom of crying over spilt milk, and finally everybody decides very tearfully to make the best of a. bad job. The curtain goes down upon tears that have been falling steadily all through the last act, and the audience, furtively wiping its damp eyes, wonders if the actors will really be as happy as they all hope to be.

There are many people who like to take their pleasure sadly, and to sympathise keenly with the deep woes imagined by others, and for these Nobody's Daughter" is thoroughly suited. It is a perfectly moral play. Even the error which is the foundation-stone of the play happened so long ago that it has lost its bad taste. It is a play that has much good sense in it, even if most of it is fairly obvious, and it is all rational. It has the merit of making its audience think seriously about such a situation as it sets forth. It may in some way do good, even beyond being an entertainment.

As a production, "Nobody's Daughter" is creditably staged, and the acting is kept at a praiseworthy standard but there is .'something lacking, which makes it seem rather to drag at times. The seriousness of the whole story is relieved by many touches, of humour, and is emphasised in. tile- production by the enthusiasm with which they aro brought out. In some instances the enthusiasm is even a little overdone. The company comprises a number of good performers. Mr. Harry Plimmer, as Mr. Frampton, represents the husband whose life- is threatened with ruin, not by the fact that his wife sinned, in her youth, but because' she did,' not trust him, Frampton is a cheery soul, and Mr. Plimmer portrayed him very well. Mrs. Robert Brough played Mrs. Frampton, and her acting was marked by the thoroughness and sound good sense which has made her one of the real favourites of tho Australasian stage. .Mr.../ Geprgo. S. Titheradge, as Colonel Torrehs, the father of the girlish central figm'e, played his part with a reserve and naturalness that almost concealed the talent which really enabled. him to act as he did. The three made an excellent scene in that stage of the. story where the secret is laid bars and tho drama approaches the tragic in intensity. The tone of the scene is. kept as quiet as its strength will allow, and this throws into ' strong, relief ..the mental struggle in which the- cheerful Frampton is suddenly converted into a brokenhearted man. Miss Lizotte Parkes played Hohora May, the pretty girl who has to find a place in tho world and society, and fulfilled the general . expectation that her performance, would be very attractive. She was a little out "of ; perspective at first, however,' in being too lively and ..high - school-girlish for one brought up in a text-hung. home, with a severely Presbyterian mentor. This Scottish lady was finely played by Miss Tempo Piggott, whose acting was thoroughly in accord with the admirable char-, acter 'of Christine Grant. • Miss Beatrice Day gave a very pleasant performance of the part of Mrs. Ton-ens, broad-minded and philosophical enough to be the first to see the way out of the difficulties of the situation. Mr. Harry Sweeney played Will Lennard, Honora's sweetheart, in rather a, melodramatic way, and gave the impression that he was quite■ ready :to suffer under some unfounded charge to be brought against him by the villain. Mr. Cyril Bell was intensely cheerful as Tony Torrens, another subsidiary part, that of Teresa Holroyd, was very nicely handled by Miss Beatrice Usher.' "For perhaps the first time in New Zealand, an aviator' is included among tho characters, and Sir! Jasper Marchrnont, ■ an amateur fiver, is played by Mr. A. E. Greenaway." ""Nobody's' Daughter" will be repeafed nightly this week, and will be succeeded next Monday by "A Woman of No Importance."

OPERA HOUSE. One of the best features. of the new programme submitted by the BrennanFuller Vaudeville Company-at the Opera House last evening was its excellent yariety. In the first part a clever band of artists— Huxham's Entertainers— whose entertainment is similar to that cf the Dandies, held sway, and in the second half there- were no less than six turns of more than average merit. First and foremost must be mentioned the dancing act of Hamlin and Mack, two . American artists, who revealed a skill in clog, step, and other styles of dancing which came quite as a revelation. '' The keynote of the act was novelty, practically every one of the steps being new, and • the large audience demonstrated its approval in no uncertain manner. The act is well worth a visit. Second in order of merit wan the turn of Harold Heath, an English comedian, who, unlike the majority of comedians, dispenses entirely with a comic make-up. His songs were most amusing, and his dancing was novel and graceful., Miss Lallio Brooke, whose quaint costumes' never fail to amuse, had to respond to several encores, as did the - Harmonious Huxhams, three artiris whose singing is always tuneful. The Anderson trio, juvenile gymnasts, Misses Elsie Maguire. Peggy Roma, and the other members of the company presented new items, and added materially to their former successes. The programme. : one well worth seeing, will be repeated this evening.

LYRIC THEATRE. The new programme screened at the Lyric Theatre last night contains many features of exceptional interest. '• The French Spy " is a fine drama, full of exciting situations and thrilling episodes. General Derimout, with his wife and daughter Mathilde, are on their way to Algiers, when pirates board the vessel, and after making Mrs. Derimonb walk the plank, carry all into captivity. Mathilde, however, escapes, and guides an expedition, under the command of Colonel Birnell, to secure the release of her father. The colonel falls in love with the girl, and they marry. In an attack on the French camp Colonel Birnell is taken prisoner by the Arabs, so also is Mathilde. but not before she manages to shoot an important letter into the French lines. Finally one sees a thrilling attack by the French troops, and the army bursts into the Arab fortress just in time to save the colonel and Mathilde from death. " A Western Courtship " and " The Lair of the Wolf," are another two fhie dramas. Two good comedies, " Will as an Artist," and " Springing a Surprise," are also shown. There is also screened one of Hayward's ! beautiful scenic pictures, " New Ply- [ mouth Recreation Grounds." The Lyric Symphony Orchestra, as usual,' played selections fitted to the subjects screened. KING'S THEATRE. . A crowded house witnessed the usual change of programme at tho King's Theatre last nights A very fine picture dealing with coster life, is entitled " The Old Kent Road." The story deals with an old coster and his family. In the opening scenes they are depicted in somewhat humble surroundings. - The old man is the recipient of a large amount of money under a will. Finding himself no longer dependent on the sales of his wares, the old fellow puts on grandiloquent airs and despises the humble suitor who has • been paying court to his. daughter. However, $

transpires that there' was a codicil to the will • under which the old coster received the money, and he was not the rightful heir, Finding himself deprived of the for- , tune, the coster has perforce to return to his former mode of living, and changes his mind. as regards the desirability of his daughter's suitor. The picture is really excellent, the expressions on the faces of the coster's wife and children being remarkably realistic. Other pictures in the series are " The Life of a Racing Pigeon," "At the L'Jungan," "Kirni'l and its Falls," "Lieutenant Daring, Middleweight Champion." ,: Calino Marries a, Suffragette," "The School Teacher and the Waif," "Fire and Straw," and "Bewildering Transformations." The programme will be repeated.to-night. "TINY TOWN." The midget inhabitants of " Tiny Town"were again visited by a largo number of people yesterday. In response to the managerial invitation to inmates of! benevolent institutions to attend free of charge at the matinee there was a. bier at- ! tendance.. The invitation also applies to to-day, and _ to-night the lilliputian company will give their final performance im Auckland. QUEEN'S THEATRE. A continuous stream of people attended Messrs. MacMahon and Lodder's cosy Queen's Theatre at the various sessions yesterday and last evening, and at the latter sessions' the seating accommodation was fully taxed right up to closing time. A new programme of an excellent series of animated pictures was presented, some of which are highly interesting, containing as they do such absorbing matter as scenic, dramatic, and industrial subjects. The programme commences with, a 'most excellent subject, entitled '" Danish Dairying Industry,". which ' clearly depict-, all the methods employed in the manufacture of butter and its exports to various parts of the world. " The Lost Daughter" is a, powerful dramatic picture, and is a long and complicated story extending over % period of 15 years, and deals with the substitution of a kidnapped girl for the dead baby of a marquis. The plot is well founded, and is easily followed throughout, while the various characters are well acted. A beautiful subject is the picture entitled "In the Valley of Ossada, P3'renees," in which some remarkable scenerv is portrayed. ." The Laplander's-Bride" is also an absorbing dramatic subject, and the snow scenes are especially well photographed. The story is enacted -in the far north, and is interesting from start to finish. The programme concludes with art unusually amusing comic picture, entitled. .['Ob, That, Fly,", and the antics of tho individual who endeavours to capture these torments raise .screams of laughter. The powerful Irish domestic drama, "Shamus O'Brien," a story of '98, will be shown for the first time to-day. ■ During the presentation of the picture, Mr. Rud Petersen will recite. Lefanu's poem, " Shamus O'Brien." |:.'..-. PALACE PICTURES A ; Among the many . excellent feature? embodied in the > new programme at the Newton Picture Palace are two very-fine scenic ..pictures of outstanding merit. "The Delta of the Nile "and " A Holiday on the Zambesi," the latter containing beautiful photographs of the famous falls. "Her Cowboy Lover" and '""Forgiven in Death" are- two dramas which are sure to be popular/ while . " The Hypnotic Detective," is a thriving:' and sensational drama, with an unusual plot.

KING GEORGE THEATRE. * The new programme of continuous mov- . ing pictures presented at the King George Theatre at the" various sessions; yesterday and last evening attracted large audiences. Several attractive subjects are included in the' present series, .the dramatic films being ...most... interesting, while .the. list is well supported by a host of comic, scenic, and topical subjects. The " star" ■; picture is '{ The -Ballet -Dancer," which, is,,a lengthy and'interesting film dealing with the life of a, ballet' dancer..- ~-.,.- .-,-,, •-■> PICTURES. AT ONEHUNGA. Messrs. MacMahon and Lodder, of the Queen's Theatre, have taken'a lease of the new Forester's. Hall at Ohehunga, and intend showing a programme of. moving pictures there. The hall .with' bo opened officially next Saturday evening. by the Mayor ofOnehunga (Mr. J; Rowe), when the first programme will be presented. The management has decided to devote the whole of the proceeds of this performance to. the Onehunga liadies' Benevolent Society. The pictures will be shown at the new hall twice a week, with a matinee on Saturdays, when all the latest films, deal-: ing with every subject, will be screened. PICTURE ENTERTAINMENTS. Tho current programme at the Royal Albert Hall will be presented for the last time tliis ■ evening. At tho matinee tomorrow afternoon a sensational circus romance entitled " Tho Platform of Death," will be the star attraction, in conjunction with a new series of pictures.