ENTERTAINMENTS.

New Zealand Herald, Volume LII, Issue 16027, 20 September 1915, Page 7

ENTERTAINMENTS.

"THE FIGHTING FORCES OF

EUROPE."

Two successful presentations of the kinemacolor pictures " With the Fighting Forces of Europe," were given at His Majesty's Theatre on Saturday. In addition to the usual evening entertainment the pictures were presented at a matinee in the afternoon. Both entertainments were well attended, and the audience on each occasion showed by loud applause it« appreciation of the series of pictures. The children, who attended in large numbers at the matinee, were most enthusiastic. " With the Fighting Forces of Europe" will be presented again to-night, and every evening until further notice. The management invites wounded soldiers to any performance. MUSICAL COMEDY COMPANY. The J. C. Williamson new English musical comedy season will commence at His Majesty's Theatre on Tuesday, September 28. Three of the most important attractions yet seen in Auckland are to be staged within a fortnight. The opening production will be " The Girl in the Taxi " which will be presented for four nights ; the second production will be "High Jinks," and for the last two nights of the season " The Girl on the Film" will be staged. There are no less than seven new comedians making their first appearance here. They are : C. H. Workman, W. H. Rawlins, Field Fisher, Chris. Wren, Alfred Frith, Fred. Maguire, and Hugh Huntley. Miss Gwen. Hughes, a successful English actress, and the comediennes Florence Vie, Daisy Yates, and Helen Hobson, will also make their local debut, with another new-comer in Paul Plunkett, baritone. Cecil Bradlev. Marie Eaton, and Dorothy Brunton axe also in the cast. Each production, the management announce, is being transported in its entirety, with all the scenery, costuming, and effects, and will be staged upon the same scale of completeness as that which characterised the Melbourne and Sydney productions. The choruses, ballets, dancing, ensembles, and the stage groupings are spoken of as conspicuous features of each show, to say nothing of the tuneful numbers, catchv airs, smart sayings, and uproarious fun. The boplans for the season will open at Wildman and Arev's next Thursday morning at eight o'clock. _ ■

OPERA HOUSE. Practically all the artiste appearing at the Opera House last week made their farewell appearance on Saturday night, 10-iught the Fuller management will present a number of new attractions. The Victoria brought a number from Australia at the end of last week, and three new American acts are to arrive by the -Makura from America this morning, and | will make their first Australasian appearI ance at the Opera House to-night. Among i the new attractions to appear will be ! Charles Edenbury, a novelty American equilibrist of considerable note. The second new American attraction will be Austin, described as a study on wheels. This artist performs on bicycles. The third new American attraction is that of McConnel and Hamford, a speciality duo. A first New Zealand appearance will be made by Pollard and Jackson, operatic duetists, and Eugene Bolahd, a Queensland contralto, Leonard Nelson will be remembered as a clever comedian, and he will reappear after a two years' absence. In addition Hennessey and Martell, comedy jugglers, Dorothy Harris, and other artists will contribute to a vaudeville programme which promises to more than maintain the high standard of vaudeville which is presented weekly by the Fuller management. GRAFTON THEATRE.

■ A pictorial representation of Harold McGrath's well-known story, "The Man on the Box," will commence a season of one week at the Grafton Theatre to-night. On its first appearance in book form the story of "The Man on the Box" was widely read, and its success was equally pronounced when produced on the legitimate stage. The presentation of the story for the cinematograph was entrusted to the famous Players Company, leading parts being taken by Max Figman and Lolita Robertson, artists new to Auckland moving-picture patrons. Altogether 160 performers took part in the presentation. The romantic and moving scenes of the comedy-drama lend themselves admirably to pictorial reproduction. Lieutenant Bob Warburton, having won distinction and honourable wounds in the service of his country, returns home on furlough. To amuse himself he plans a little adventure, and takes the place of his sisters' coachman, with the intention of driving them home from a ball. Through a mistake the young man sets off on a wild midnight career through the city, with ladies who are unknown to him. The story is -well conceived, and the incidents natural, fresh and wholesome, and its presentation by the famous Players Company should ensure its success in picture form. Heading the supporting series will be the first episode of " The Master Key" serial story.

KING GEORGE THEATRE. " The Master Key" serial picture, which has been drawing large audiences to the King George Theatre during the past two to three months, will be advanced another stage to-day, when the eleventh episode of the story will be screened. Four or five more weeks will see the conclusion of this exciting and interesting photo-play, but still new complications arise with each section of the story, and incident follows incident with seemingly neverending variety. Several other fine films are- included in the supporting programme, and the new series should prove a very popular one.

GRAND THEATRE. Miss Mary Pickford, the charming young lady whose winsome and clever acting has made her the idol of the moving picture world, will be presented at the Grand Theatre to-day, and for the remainder of the week, in a comedy-play entitled " How Mary Fixed It." ' This item alone should ensure the success of the new programme, but there are other special attractions to be offered on the supporting programme, including Charles Chaplin, in a comedy entitled "Women." and a film showing the landing at Welington of wounded soldiers.

EVERYBODY'S THEATRE.

Promise of a very enjoyable entertainment is given in the programme to be offered at Everybody's Theatre to-day. Heading the new series will be the third episode of Lhe serial photo, plav, " The Million Dollar Mystery." The tlurd section of the story is entitled " A Leap in the Dark." and is said to be even more exciting than those which preceded it. Mabel Normand in " Mabel Won and Lost," is a feature of the supporting programme.

"SUCH A . LITTLE QUEEN."

At the Lyric Theatre this week, commencing to-night, Miss -Mary Pickford, the well-known moving picture artist, will be seen in her latest triumph, a photo- entitled " Such a Little Queen." The majority of Miss Pickford's successes in the moving picture world have been presented in Auckland, notably "Caprice," "Hearts Adrift," etc., and have proved immensely' popular. It is said that she is seen at her best in " Such a Little Queen." The film was released by the famous Players Company, and is in five parts. A selected supporting series will be presented. There will be no advance in prices, and seats may be booked by telephone. ORGAN RECITAL. There was a fairly large audience at the Town Hall on Saturday evening when an organ recital was given by the city organist, Mr. Maughan Barnett. The programme contained several fine works, including " All Couvent," which is a musical representation of a scene from

convent life by Borodine, one of the greatest composers of the modern Russian school. Another item greatly appreciated by the audience was "Carillon," by Elgar. This work was inspired by Emil Cammeart's poem, " Sing, Belgians, Sing." A fantaisie on " Faust " was the concluding item of a programme of exceptional musical excellence. SCENIC RAILWAY. A new series of entertaining scenic pictures, taken on well known railway routes in various countries, will comprise the programme to be presented for the first time to-day at the Scenic Railwav Theatre, opposite the post office. The" beautiful scenery which the films shown at this theatre have presented since the opening and the novelty of the entertainment is making the Scenic Railway very popular. Each entertainment lasts for an hour, and. as the "passengers"' are allowed to " board the train " during the progress of a "journey," there is no waiting. PICTURE ENTERTAINMENTS. Charles Dickens's '* Tale of Two Cities" appears in picture form at the Palace Theatre to-day. "The Million Dollar Mystery," third episode, heads the new programme at the King's Theatre. " Hearts in Exile " heads the new programme at the Princess Theatre. "The Human Menace" is the title of the chief film <:t the Queen's Theatre. " Children of the Sea " will be the chief film on the new programme at the Globe Theatre.