ENTERTAINMENTS.

New Zealand Herald, Volume LIII, Issue 16215, 28 April 1916, Page 7

ENTERTAINMENTS.

THE WAR PLAY, "UNDER FIRE."

The war is the all-absorbing topic of public interest, but few indeed of those who have not actually visited the sceno of hostilities have a realistic idea of the conditions prevailing there, despite the flood of descriptions from many sources. The latest and one of the most successful means of giving the public a better conception is the use of the stage. The Williamson Dramatic Company have realised this, and are presenting "Under Fire" at His Majesty's Theatre this week. The play is fa. powerfully realistic melodrama dealing with many phases of tho wan from a typical discussion on the subject in peaceful British drawingrooms to a day in the trenches with tho Tommies." The scenes are excellent, «artly owing to the exnert knowledge of the returned soldiers who take part. Throughout tho story thero runs a tender love romance, and the adventures of the hero, whose part is taken by the well-known actor Julius Knight, are unusually exciting.

OPERA HOUSE. A successful vaudeville programme was submitted to patrons at the Opera Houss last evening. The items were varied, and proved popular. The humorous portion of tho programme was supplied by Lawrence Johnson, tho ventriloquist, and others. Miss Amy Murphy and Glen Echo rendered vocal items, while McDonnell and Austin give a remarkable exhibition of trick cycling. Bailey's posing dogs rendered their masterpiece, which is dedicated to those who lost their lives at Qallipoli.

PATRIOTIC MATINEE. A rerv attractive programme has been arranged" for the patriotic matinee to bo given in His Majesty's Theatre to-mor-row afternoon, in aid of the fund promoted by the Auckland Dramatic and Vaudeville Employees' Association to equip the children's hospital as a memorial to soldiers, sailors and nurses who have* fallen in the war. Mr. Julius Knight will appear in the first act of the war play " Under Fire," supported by the members of the J. C. Williamson Company. Items will also be given by Miss Molly Taylor, the company's soloist, and by the Mullarey Twins, and Mr. Lawrence Johnston from the Opera House. Miss Cecil Hall's pupils will alio appear. A crowded house is anticip&ted. The box plan is open at Wildman and Arey's.

KING GEORGE THEATRE. _ There is not a town, nor even a small village, in the country that could not furnish examples of the evil wrought by gossip. It follows, therefore, that a film story illustration that has for its object the unfortunate consequences that ensue from scandalmongering will be of interest. " Scandal," or " Life in Suburbia," which is being shown at the King George Theatre this week, is such a film. It deals with the everyday life of everyday people, but if the characters are ordinary "folk, the scenes in which they are the principals arc admirable and the whole idea is well presented. Two tragedies, one featuring a divorce and the other a murder, are realistically acted.

LYRIC THEATRE. The talented actress, -Hazel Dawn, gives a delightful display ot her ability in " Niobe," a novel comedy, which is being presented at the Lyric Picture Theatre this week. She is charming in her woes and amusing in her happy moments. The story deals with a dream of Peter Dunn, the president of an insurance company, who has brought a statue of Niobe, the /Goddess of Tears, home for safe keeping. The statue comes to life, and flinging her arms round his neck the goddess hails him as her master. Dunn is almost paralysed with fear, an! his wife is shocked, and as other such scenes follow she threatens to leave the house. At the crucial moment of his misery the president is awakened, and is inexpressibly relieved to find the statue as bo had left it.

"ALWAYS IN THE WAY." "*

The management of the Princess Theatre announce that a special attraction, a pathetic drama entitled " Always In The Way," will be presented to-morrow as the leading item of the new programme. The story deals with the adventures of a child who is seeking her dead mother, on account of the cruelty of her stepmother. Miss Mary Miles Minter takes the leading part..

QUEEN'S THEATRE. Another successful comedy, featuring Charles Chaplin, was presented at the Queen's Theatre yesterday. It is entitled " Charlie's Night Out." The inimitable Charlie is superb as a comedian in Toles dealing with everyday life, but when ho has "a. night out" his cjpings are more amusing than ever. A powerful four-act drama, "Souls Aflame," is also on the same programme, which includes some very good supporting items. GRAFTON THEATRE. A cinematograph adaptation of Paul Armstrong's play, "The Renegade," will be screened at the Grafton Theatre to-day. It is entitled The Lure of Woman," and is a powerful story of love and adventure among the American Indians. Alice Brady takes the leading part and she is supported by George Ralph and Claude Fleming. To-morrow evening a new programme will be presented. It will be headed by "The House of Tears," which is remarkable on account of the examples of double exposure photography which it contains. Emily Stevens takes the two parts of mother and daughter.

KING'S THEATRE. " The Lamb " is being shown at the King's Picture. Theatre this week. It is an exciting story telling how a coward turns a. hero, and incidently wins the love of-a charming girl, whose part is acted by Sceena Owen. The crisis of the drama is reached when the hero turns a machinegun on a horde of rebel Indians. PRINCESS THEATRE. Madame. Olga Petrova gives a charming performance in " The Heart of a. Painted Woman," a five act drama, which will be screened at the Princess Theatre for the last tim« to-day. The chief supporting item is " The. Battle Hymn of the, Re public," a sacred drama, some of the scenes of which are magnificent. GRAND THEATRE., A drama, "Convict Lyndon's Escape." which deals with the present war, is the principal picture on the programme being screened at the Grand Theatre this week"! The supporting items are an excelk-t scenic study of the town and lake of Lucerne, Switzerland, showing the placid waters encircled by the bluff mountains, and a Topical Budget. PICTURE ENTERTAINMENTS. A drama, "Lil o' London." and a comedy featuring wild animals, " .Toe Martin Turns 'Em Loose," are being screened at the Globe Theatre. An drama, entitled "The Lamb," a story of adventure with Indians, heads the programme at Everybody's Theatre this week.