ENTERTAINMENTS.

New Zealand Herald, Volume LII, Issue 16034, 28 September 1915, Page 4

ENTERTAINMENTS.

"THE GIRL IN THE TAXI."

Owing to the delay of the Victoria, by which J. C. Williamson's new English Musical Comedy Company are travelling, the first production of " The Girl in the Taxi," which was announced to take place this evening, has necessarily to be postponed till to-morrow night. The steamer is due to arrive to-night, so that playgoers need fear no further disappointment. There was heavy booking for this evening, but holders of reserved seats are notified that their tickets, on presentation at the box office, will be made available for any evening during the week. The new company is composed principally of English artists, recently organised by the J. C. Williamson firm for the purpose of presenting the latest musi'al eomed'e*, which have proved successful in London and New York. " The Girl in the Taxi" is described as a bright, | sparkling, musical comedy, which ran for two seasons in the Metropolis, and which has proved correspondingly successful an the principal Australian cities. Next ; Monday night the company will present what is described as a musical jollity in three acts, entitled "High Jinks." On Friday and Saturday, October 8 and 9, another London Gaiety success will be ! presented in "The Girl on the F : lm." A staff of mechanists, electricians, property men and wardrobe mistress, arrived from Wellington last Thursday, bringing the scenery and the entire outfit of the three productions. Box plans are now on view at Wildman and Arev's. Day sale tickets may be secured at deal's. OPERA HOUSE. The change of programme at the Opera House attracted a. crowded attendance, the wet weather having no apparent effect, on the si2e of the audience. The performers new to Auckland included May Erne and " He,"' two clever vaudeville artists, the former a skilled player on a new variety of xylophone and the latter the possessor of a tuneful falsetto. The male partner did not make his appearance until late in the act, and he sang his first song out of view of the audience, who were deceived into believing that the lady was the singer. The turn was capably staged and the performance both bright and entertaining. A novelty in trick ball-punching was introduced by Walter de Oria, billed as " America's champion ball-puncher." His work was clean and neat, and the trick effects were decidedly good. The turn commenced .with the punching alternately of a transparent ball, lighted by art electric globe inside, and an ordinary ball on a platform designed to contribute a maximum of sound. The result was a very creditable imitation of a violent thunderstorm. The artist kept three balls in motion at one time with apparent ease, and employed head, hands, knees or elbows in the process with equal facility. A re-appearance was made by George Edwards and Eosie Parkes. a talented pair of comedians, who received a cordial welcome. For his recitation, " Kid from Timaru," an effort inspired by the Gallipoli campaign, Edwards was well applauded. Quite a number of the performers are making their final appearances in Auckland, for this year at least, notably, McConnell and Austin, trick cyclists of more than average merit. One of their chief acts last night was a remarkable " waltz on wheels," in. which both performers displayed considerable skill. The popularity of Pollard and Jackson, " operatic, duettists and harmonisers," increases nightly, and they were recalled several times last evening. Leonard Nelson, also, found an abundance of admirers, and was unusually successful in persuading his audience to assist in the chorus. An entertaining turn was staged by Phil PercivaL who appeared as the " sacked" policeman, who had decided to run a station of his own. This week will also see the last appearance here of Eugene Boland, a Queensland contralto. The same programme will be given this evening and throughout the i week.

PANTOMIME IN VAUDEVILLE. Next Monday night at the Opera House Mr. Ben J. Fuller -will introduce Stanley McKay's Pantomime Company in a complete pantomime, "Old Mother Hubbard." The management states that this production will be staged with all the wealth of scenic effect, gorgeous mounting, and brilliant electrical effects that people have come to associate with the word pantomime. The pantomime comprises 40 artists, all of whom have had considerable experience on' the vaudeville stage. The pantomime will run the whole evening, but in order to make the production even more attractive, the Fuller management will distribute throughout the piece several vaudeville acts. The box plan is now open at Robertson's Music Stores. The management will not increase the. prices. KING GEORGE THEATRE. Pictures of outstanding merit comprise the programme which made its first appearance at the King George Theatre yesterday. The chief attraction is the 12th episode of " The Master Key " serial photo-play. The incidents portrayed in this section of the story quite equal, for excitement and clever acting, the most thrilling scenes presented in the earlier instalments. The scene of the story changes to India, where the principal characters endeavour to obtain possession of an idol which contains a much-coveted secret. Exciting incidents follow each other with almost bewildering rapidity when the searchers enter an Indian temple -and steal the idol. The staging effects of this week's episode are most elaborate. Topical scenery is introduced with excellent results. Scenes depicting a street in the native quarter of Bombay, beautiful temples and palaces" are presented in all their splsndour. Two selected dramas " The Law of the Wild " and " The Man! the Mission, and the Maid," figure on the supporting programme.

GRAFTON THEATRE. A well-satisfied audience at the Grafton Theatre last night witnessed the presentation, in picture form, of Robert Eggleston's story, " The Hoosier Schoolmaster." As presented on the" screen, the story should command all the success it achieved in book form. The various phases of life on an Indiana frontier in 1863, as depicted by Eggleston's story, are cleverly illustrated in the film, and the acting is of a high standard. There is an excellent supporting programme. PRINCESS THEATRE. A new series of pictures w a3 introduced at the Princess Theatre yesterday. The .chief attraction in the current programme is entitled " A Daughter of the People." In the production of this picture Miss Laura Sawyer, Frederic de Belleville and Robert BrodicK, three well-known and talented artists, played the principal parts. The story concerns a factory owner named Arthur Stillman, who causes much suffering by closing his cotton mills. Many tnnlhng episodes are introduced, and a most interesting picture is the resultOther attractions include "The Gang's New Member," "A Topical War Budget" and a number of local views. '

KING'S THEATRE. j " The Third Floor Flat," the fourth instalment of the " Million Dollar Mystery " serial photo-play, was the chief item in a very entertaining series of pic- ' tares presented at the King's Theatre last night. The interest aroused in the first sections of this story is being fully maintamed by the many exciting incidents de- j picted in this week's episode. Excellent films comprise the supporting series. QUEEN'S THEATRE. I The leading attraction in the new pro- ' gramma shown at the Queen's Theatre yesterday -was a drama entitled " The I' Under-world of London." In the picture j the adventures of Lord Hurst are detailed. Having separated from, his first |

wife. Lord Hurst decides to'amr» , .£- but before doing so places Wsdauffi ' Marjone in the care of a Jew y 7S"-* 1 *.-. sight into the evils of slum life in jTLJ 0 " ;.-' is given. Hurst's daughter i^S5 ' - ■ from a life of degradation by a Smi police raid A fine ejection of supSII - ng films is also shown, including an ?%r. - land Gazette, depicting the Avoldale & ' Hardwick the boxer, and a review rrf v V * Zealand troops. ICTr of *•» \ . GLOBE THEATRE. «««r, highly-emotional drama entitle "Whom the Gods Would Destroy•?S* " ' chief film in a very entertaining g J£* presented at the Globe Theatre for Vlf " first time yesterday Retribution «0f : justice is the theme of the drama, wMtf | centres round a mysterious I I tragedy. Exciting and thrilling Qgf j run through the drama. Tbl B STt ~ i excellently conceived and the scenes most '■ i convincing. "Mabel, Busy Dn?*:: comedy m which Charles Chaplin' and .: ' Mabel Normand appear, is a featflra rf the supporting programme. .":';,] EVERYBODY'S THEATRE. *. The new programme screened at Ever* "?' | body s Theatre was very much appreciated -* | by the large audiences which witnessed I | it. The fourth episode of " The S Dollar Mystery was shown. The 2 • I chapter, which is entitled "The Top FW * Hat, contains many exciting. incidents'- : ! and the interest of those who witnelrf- ' 'the screening of the first three episode*/ i remains unabated. An important feature" ' of the current programme is the fin! ! gazette shown. A pretty scenic study « contained in the nicture "Tiberin. '-J •. I the Lakes of Galilee." A dramat£ £ i ture of considerable merit is entitled''"Th« ■' •' ! Man, the Mission, and the Maid."

PICTURE ENTERTAINMENTS. jl "Whom the Gods Would Destroy" » - the chief film at the Grand Theatre! ■' " War " is the title of a comedy apnear mg at the Lyric and West End Theatres" -' A fine programme of scenic films win be " ' screened at the Scenic Railway Tours to- : day for the last time. " . ' jf-Jii