ENTERTAINMENTS.

New Zealand Herald, Volume LIII, Issue 16374, 31 October 1916, Page 5

ENTERTAINMENTS.

'"."'FG 0' MY HEART."

" Peg o' My Heart" was again presented at His Majesty's Theatre last evening before a very largo audience. The adventures of "Peg" charmed all who saw her unconventional entry into the chilly aristocratic abode of the Chichesters, her trials, her joys and sorrows, and her ultimate triumph. The staging is rich and complete, and the company interpreting the play contains some finished artists. Miss Sara Allgood- as "Peg" fills her part in a manner entirely without blemish. She also sang entrancingly m the second act, revealing sweet quality and expressiveness of voice. The management announces a special matinee for Saturday next. "Peg 0 * My Heart" will be staged every evening this week. OPERA HOUSE.

The weekly change of programme at the Upera House last night attracted a large audience. Fuller's company of varjjeville artists, comprising established favourites and others making their initial appearance litre, presented an entertain merit which met with hearty appreciation. Perhaps the best of the new turns was that of the Lcserts, athletes, from the i J tench halls. This clever pair—a strong man and a straight-limbed, shapely, and i fearless performed remarkable feats. The latter stood rigid, and in graceful pose, upon the head end again upon the upheld hands of her partner. She allowed him thus to carry her about the stage and up and down ten sloping stairs. The remainder of the act was equally startling, and it was vociferously applauded Another good turn was that of Sully and Fenner, two acrobats from America, whose specialty is the turning of somersaults. They did this in a style of their own, which is to eay that was not the old style. Front, back, and sideways somersaults were thrown with the utmost facility, and finally, with the aid of a spring-board device, one of the duo turned a triple somersault which earned applause. His partner's comedy "business" kept ■ onlookers genuinely amused. Tho Farrows, Harry and Louie, ! appeared for the first time in a burlesque i sketch, "The Bargain-hunter," the chief feature of which was the whimsical and grotesque comedy work and patter of tho former. His efforts were very mirth-pro-voking. The Arteens submitted a neat acrobatic turn, in which they were assisted considerably towards their success I by their intelligent dog, Jessie. To this small terrier it was a mere episode to stand on her hind legs upon the head of her mistress, who in turn was standing on the shoulders of her partner. Kingsley and Graham proved acceptable in a little interlude of mimic and dance. Clark and Wallace, patter artists, presented more diverting absurdities. Miss Dora Oberman, the lyric soprano, was heard in operatic solos and a ballad, all well rendered. The Steele-Payne Bcllringcrs made tuneful harmonies once more, and tho Wee McColfa gained fresh friends in their Scottish songs, jokes* and dances. Miss Jessie Barlee's vocalism and coster impersonations completed the programme. The entertainment will be repeated each night this week and at the usual matinees.

KING'S THEATRE. Crowded houses are nightly being attracted to tho melodrama, Mary Latimer, Nun," now being staged at the King's Theatre. Newton. The piece comprises four acts and occupies the stage for two and a-half hours. The attendances at the' King's Theatre during the past three weeks have been uniformly large, and the change from the drama of the- motiorpicture screen to spoken drama would appear to have been amply justified. 'i mm^mmmt LYRIC THEATRE. The picture "Maciste," shown at the Lyric Theatre this week is unique in many ways, and provides new sensations. It sets forth a melodrama of tense power, and presents opportunities for the display of feats of strength of an unusual and striking kind. The story has reference to a girl who is the victim of an uncle's plot to dispossess her of her right to property. She is persecuted by his hired criminals, and in despair she appeals to Maciste, the athlete, who took tho part of the giant slave in the photo-play Ca« biria. He hesitates to champion her because her story appears to be improbable, but as he is leaving her ho hears her cry for help, and sees her net upon and captared. From then onwards his fortunes becomo entangled in hers, and in saving her he accomplishes feats of a well-nigh impossible character. The picture should* certainly be seen. Among the feats performed, Maciste drags a tree trunk, which two men could scarcely move, and uses it as a barricade. In one instance, he saves his life by walking up two walla, his hands I on one wall face, and his feet on the other, j This feat in itself is one which only a man of extraordinary strength could perform. It is a commonplace with Macisto to lift a grown man bodily with one arm alone, and in one instance he carries a struggling man in each hand as if they were handbags. The most striking scene is where he forces his shoulders through a ceiling to get into the room above to rescue the heroine.

PRINCESS THEATRE. Tli© winsomeness and charming acting of Mary Miles Minter in tie picture "Lovely Mary," shown at the Princesr Theatre, delighted week-end audiences. The theme of the story is founded on the contest between two r.gents in the purchase of land belonging to Mary Lane /Lovely Mary) and her shiftless cousin Claiborne Ogilvie Lane, an intemperate wastrel. Wade Dempster, one of the agents, is reckless and double-dealing. Roland Manning ia upright in ail he does. Both know that the Lane property, if drained, will be very valuable, though worth little In its original state. Tin contest between them forms an interesting story crowded with incident, and Manning, the upright, gains both the land and the hand of Lovely Mary. The pichire is supported 'by several very fine films. KINO GEORGE THEATRE. The first screenings of the two-part drama "Her Boy" at the King George I Theatre yesterday were attended with success. The story is an appealing one, in which Stewart Rome and Clirissie White are featured. It deals with a mother's devotion for a selfish son. She is indulI gent even to the extent of foolishness, but !he rewards her by base ingratitude. I Events move, and in time the worthless con goes to war. Then he becomes a changed man. On the field of battle and through great sacrifice he is redeemed. I The programme includes the Eclair Jour- j i nal in a war jerijs, a drama entitled i I " The Little Fraud," and a laughable Icomedy "Their Social Smash." During 'the evening sessions the King George I Orchestra renders special selections.

j GLOBE THEATRE. j At the Globe Theatre "Th"e Woman's. Law" is being screened. It is a film cleverly woven round a highly dramatictheme, the story itself being based on the mother instinct. In Florence Reed thePathe Company havo an artiste who not only makes the very utmost of the part i given her, but imbues the picture with a certain animation, which perhaps otherwise it could not attain. The plot resembles in a marked degree "The Prisoner of Zenda." •

EVERYBODY'S THEATRE. An unfamiliar sotting is seen in the picture " The Feast of Life" shown at Everybody's Theatre. The story is laid in Havana/ Cuba, and the staging was directed by the producer of the pictorial version of the book "Les Miserables." Clara Kimball Young takes the leading ;r. ;■- 1 :'".?.:? which has for its object the portray*! of the passionate ruuiauco and fiery temperament which are said to be the chars cteristlca of the Latin nee.

The heroine, a beautiful Cuban, is persuaded, though unwillingly, to j- become betrothed 1 to the wealthy' Don -'Armada.. In reality she loves a much humbler personage, and secretly the weal thy "Don has been inv.-tveu iu >>» .'..!..',>" r, V Wntna determires thit she shall'not hi forced into a loveless; marriage, and the true lovers become united there are many dramatic incidents recorded.

QUEEN'S THEATRE. Our maritime history has been often illustrated by tales of fortitude and endurance, but it would be diflicu't to dis- : cover a parallel to those which «jo to be I found in die episode s recorded In the i narrative of "The Mutiny of the Bounty." | the pictorial version of which—produced in I Australia— now being screened at the I Queen's Theatre. Tho picture extends over five reels of film, the makers having spared neither expense nor trouble in making it worthy of its subject. At the conclusion of the film two descendants of the mutineers are shown in training. These are now probably on active service "somowhere in France.' The orogramme Includes several other praiseworthy films.

, GRAND THEATRE. ' Featuring at the Grand Theatre this week is a very laughable comedy, entitled "The Snow Cure," in which tho popular American comedian, Ford Sterling, plays an impirtpnt part. Ford in tho course of the film adopts the cure of a quack doctor. This cure is to make even cripples m by letting a hungry hoar chase then through the mountains. The bear chases Ford, who is in a bathing-suit, ! and he is compelled to t.ike refuge in h cabin where a lady is disrobing and about to retire. Happily at the last moment the quaolr • doctor arrives and offers an explanation which settles all things happily. VICTORIA THEATRE. Screening at the Victoria Theatre, Devonport, to-night is the great official war film, "The Battle of the Sonime," which wherever shown has drawn crowded houses daily. Tho only opportunity of ' seeing this picture in Devonport is this evening.