ENTERTAINMENTS.

New Zealand Herald, Volume LIV, Issue 16497, 24 March 1917, Page 10

ENTERTAINMENTS.

♦ "WATCH YOUR STEP* REVUE. i ■ . "'.• , The initial performance of the " Watch f Your Step" Revue,: arranged 'under the '■■■.'' "auspices of the Returned Soldiers'..,Asso- ' ' ciation, takes place at His Majesty's " ' Theatre.this evening. The revue, which has for some time been in rehearsal under '•'■ .the direction :of Mr. Owen Cardston, is performed by a caste of well-known ;vV.. Auckland amateurs. The company num- ."'.,'- bers some 200, and the majority of the- [.- i: male performers are themselves returned [■;.. soldiers. The performance comprises a p: long list of musical numbers, choruses, I';. quartettes, and solo items. Ballets and j tableaux are also included, and especial M efforts ; have' been made to achieve good r results on the spectacular Bide. The proj' - duction of a three-act revue is no light task for a company of amateurs, but the *' performers have been earnestly engaged for some time past in rehearsing their parts, and it is hoped that the success which is claimed for "Watch Your Step" in Australia will be eclipsed by the forthcoming season at His Majesty's. The principal male parts are in the hands of such well-known performers as Messrs. 1 Wallace Atkinson, J. H. Davey, 0. James, K. Mynott, and W. J. Meredith, while s the ladies playing leading roles include l : Misses Eva Cardston, Ethel Rae, Jean Russell, Ida, Histed, Ella Walker, and Beth Haven. The supporting company has brought to the task in hand a fund of enthusiasm which has made light of all the difficulties in the way, and the results produced at the more recent rehearsals have encouraged the management committee to fed confident that, apart from the. cause to which all funds will be devoted, the performances will merit liberal support upon their own merits. To-night . '''ill be tho first of a season lasting over the following week. Patrons are requested to ho seated at 7.45 p.m. sharp. OPERA HOUSE To-night is the last occasion on which patrons of the Opera House will have the opportunity of seeing La Blanc's popular re .-no company. During their five weeks' stay in Auckland this clever company of comedians has presented some of the mostappreciated vaudeville turns yet seen on the circuit. Lcs (irolis, tho contortionists, arc also making their final appearance tonight. On Monday evening Victor Prince's comedians will commence a short season. KING'S THEATRE. The popular melodrama " Arrah-na-Fogue," which has delighted tho patrons of the King's Theatre during the week, v.a presented fur the last time last night. Commencing from the matinee to-day the Brandon-Ocmer Dramatic Company will stage "Who Killed John Watson?" and this piece will bo produced throughout the week. ORGAN RECITAL TO-NIGHT. Tho city organist will give an organ recital in the Town Hall to-night, when he will have the assistance of Miss Jessie Bartlett, vocalist. The organ numbers will include standard organ works and • transcriptions of popular compositions. Miss Bartlelt will sing Willeby's " Crossing the Bar." • , PRINCESS THEATRE. '" Dorian's Divorce," with Lionel Barrymore and Grace Valentine in the leading roles, is the Metro photo-play to be shown at the Princess Theatre to-day. Iri this production. Mr. Barn-more is seen in a dual role, that of a prosperous young broker, who meets with reverses, assumes tliegarb of a highwayman for a time, and afterwards ships.as a stoker in a yacht t- which he formerly , owned. Miss Valentino has a part equally prominent, and her personality and versatility aro presented to their full advantage. The photodrama is said to abound with intense and '; • thrilling situations, and there are many novel and interesting scenes aboard a large ] vessel at sea. "Dorian's Divorce" promises to be as successful as the previous Metro pictures screened at the Princess Theatre. Miss '.Valentino makes her first appearance as a leading player in this picture. Her work, nevertheless, is favour•ably known to local patrons. The supporting programme includes a varied selection of films. A neat comedy, "Duplicity," is reputed to be an original piece of humour, while jC Metro travelogue, featuring American scenic spots of interest should prove; popular. QUEEN'S -THEATRE. Tho new programme to be presented at the Queen's .Theatre to-day is headed by the photo-drama "Madame de Thebes," , or " The Mother-.Who Paid," a production ■ from the studios of the Nordisk Company : of Copenhagen. '•'ln the prologue the basis of a complicated chain of events is built. Tho i long-looked-for child of the .. Countess Julia is,.born, only to die, while the unwanted child of tho gipsy is strong and healthy. ,The gipsy mother- is cursed by the;' chief of the band. , . The distracted gipsy meets tho heart- ; - broken countess, the latter fearing that she will lose her husband's love if he knows of the death of his .son.- A change is made, and the gipsy's son is taken into the..; luxurious homo of the ■countess and reared as her son. The supporting programme; features Charlie Chaplin in a revue, and a war" budget, picturing the latest events on the western front. It should provide good entertainment.:.. "" „ TTVOLI THEATRE. : . The programme to be presented at the Tivoli Theatre" ; to-day is.headed by a Famous Players production, "Little Lady Eileen," with, Marguerite Clark in the leading part. r.Picture patrons have become accustomed to see something out of the ordinary when Miss Clark is announced as playing the ■principal role in a screen production, and "Little Lady Eileen" is ,v said to cive the talented artist' great op-. nortunities for showing her abilities. The character is different from Miss Clark's ordinary roles, but sho is reputed to acauit. herself ? with every distinction, showing her power as an emotional actress. Innumerable fine situations are pictured in tho production, while the photographic effects are in keeping with the Famous Plavers standard. The supporting proirramme has been well selected, and includes one' of , the laughable Bray cartoon comodies. A J matinee will be held this afternoon, the \ performance commencing at three o'clock.-..." LYRIC THEATRE. A photo-play .presenting Mary Pickford in what is reputed to bo her best part has been selected as the leading attraction in the new programme at tho Lyric Theatre to-dav. " A Girl of Yesterday" is the title of the picture which gives "the world's sweetheart" excellent.opportunities for displaying her many talents. Ample scope is afforded Miss Pickford to display with artistic fidelity the life of a L'irl of vesierday. Her winsomeness and charming personality make additional anneal to audiences. The story is one which lends itself to reproduction on the picture screen, 'and suits exactly such a -Genius as Mary Pickford. Passionate in her love and displaying where necessary tho licht-heartedness of a happy girl, it fmav be said that in "A Girl of Yesterday" she appears at her best. A good supporting programme covering a. wide range of subjects will also be shown. GLOBE THEATRE. Ethel -Clayton ,_ in the photo-dramli "Broken Chains," is the principal picture in the new programme at the Globe . Theatre to-day. Tho plot concerns the doings of a sang of illicit whisky dealers and;negro influence in Southern States. The' picture is said to be well staged and directed. A good supporting programme •will also be screened. '; ', J 'STRAND THEATRE. ;■ The programme to be presented at the . Strand Theatre to-day features Frank r-" Keenan in a, Triangle- drama "The Sin Ye, ;"*x Do." r Barret Steele, a,great lawyer, has' earned a.. ; reputation for doubtful morals. He begins a flirtation with Mrs.' Hose ■:7^.DHrrow,^a J flighty society matron, whose ' ~, husband,".., Bob Barrow,: a broker, has: , little time for. her foolish amusements. ' Dace Whitlock, "a clubman, and Steele, : , ." are .".bosom friends. Steele, visits Whit- • _ • lock's: office lone morning and sees a '■ -' sweet-faced, girl at the secretary's desk i She is Miss Alice Ward, living. with her ' . mother, and has 'attracted Whitlock's at- j _ tent-ion. Tho girl appeals, to Steele. He j lilP'' ' • - .'-■■' ■ • -■■- --;.:

begs Whitlcck to let her remain as she is, pure and swiet' and undefiled. Many dramatic ' incidents follow, the ; story being completed with trial scene in which the girl is acquitted: ;> The seventh episode in "Gloria's Romance" . will also be screened. EVERYBODY'S THEATRE. An- excellent selection of '' pictures is to be screened : at < Everybody's / Theatre to-day. . The programme is headed by a World Film Company's production, "The Men' She Married," a ■ drama said to be remarkable for its \ freshness «nd originality. The leading parts are portrayed by Gail Kane and Arthur Ashley, and the piece is adapted from: a story by..Harold tickers in 'a widely-read American magazine. The plot : concerns a mock marriage and the harrowing circumstances which arose from the illegal union. Gail Kane, as the heroine, is' said to be seen in a role of surpassing difficulty. She sees her step-daughter falling a preyi to the very man who had disillusioned her. Then she does the desperate deed-she lures him I back, meanwhile risking all that is dear to her. The supporting programme includes a varied selection of original pictures, the principal of which is a Triangle comedy, featuring Miss Fay Tincher. entitled'"The Two o'Clock Train." It is claimed for the picture that it has never been excelled as a laughter producer. PALACE THEATRE. At the Palace Theatre to-night Ckra Kimball Young in the photo-drama, " The Dark Silence," will be the leading attraction. The picture is an excellent production, both in point of plot and presentation. When screened in the city it proved to bo very popular, and should prove equally successful at the Palace. A good supporting programme of photoplays will also be screened. GRAND THEATRE. " The World's sweetheart," Mary Pickford, plays the leading part in the feature picture, *"A Girl of Yesterday," to be screened at the Grand Theatre for the first time to-day. The popularity of this charming little actress should assure a successful reception for the film, which is reputed to present Mary in one of her best characters. The supporting programme has been selected for its varied nature, and will include a comedy picture and a war gazette. ALEXANDRA THEATRE. At the Alexandra Theatre, Green Lane, a powerful drama, "The Forbidden Adventure," will bo the principal picture to be presented in the new programme this evening.