ENTERTAINMENTS.

New Zealand Herald, Volume LIV, Issue 16562, 11 June 1917, Page 7

ENTERTAINMENTS.

HIS MAJESTY'S' THEATRE. r The interest of playgoers has been aroused - to considerable extent by the production. I of " Daddy Long tegs " to-night. Not only ' is this accounted for by the reputation the r play has won in London, New York, and 3 Australia, but anticipation runs high ro--3 garding Miss Kathleen MacDonell and Mr. • Charles Waldron, who share the romance 1 of the play. Both artists have star rank ? and qualities that make for popularity. They will bo supported by a number of 5 favourite players, including Miss Maggie [ Moore in the role of a homely nurse, and r Mr. Louis Kimball as James Mcßrido, Mr. • Arthur Cornell as Cyrus Wykoff, Mr. ' Plumpton Wilson as Abner Parsons,.Mr. Messenger Bollis as John Codman, Mr. J. P. Wilson as Griggs, Miss Emma Temple ! as Miss Pritchard, Miss Olive Wilton as r Mrs. Pendleton, Miss Audrey Worth as > Julia Pendleton, Miss Clarice Hardwicke » as Sallie Mcßride, Miss Madge Herrick as r Mrs. Lippett, Miss Mabel North as maid, ' Miss Mattie Brown as Carrie, and clave? juveniles, who will represent the orphans of the John Grier Home. Mr. E. W. Mor(1 rison. who producod " Within the Law " and " Peg o' My Heart," is responsible for ; the production. The box plans will be on view at Wildman and Aroy's till 5 p.m., afterwards at Coleman's, tobacconist, where day tickets may also be obtained. KING'S THEATRE. All the characteristics of melodrama, a succession of startling scenes and of situations where the emotional elements are emphasised, aro featured in " Mill Girl to Millionairess," the now piece which ! opened at the King's Theatre on Saturi day. The story centres round the fate of ■ Lina Lee, apparently a humble mill girl, ' but in reality the daughter of Matthew 1 Marsh, the millionaire owner of the mill i where she worked. The girl is a change- > ling, taken from her parents by a Gipsy 1 woman, who substitutes her own child, i The gipsy's daughter, who appears as I Muriel Marsh, chances upon the secret of . her own identity and that of the mill girl, i Lina Lee. She immediately plots with 1 Dr. Levallie to remove the obstacle to the I continuance of her masquerade as the > daughter of the mill-owner. The doctor • decoys the mill girl to London, where he ' goes through a bogus marriage ceremony • with her. Through the indiscretion of ' his accomplice the girl's eyes are opened 1 to the position, and she escapes, returning 1 to her own home. By the further machina- ' tions of the arch-viilainess she is confined • in a lunatic asylum, and later held cap--1 tive in a lonely shooting-box. From then ' on affairs begin to disentangle themselves, ■ and the way is paved for a triumphant reunion of the mill girl and the man she loves and the recognition of her rightful status. The part of Lina Lee is capably handled by Miss Clarice Warner, while • Mr. Ronald Riley fills acceptably the role of Lawrence Langdale. Miss Beatrice > Esmand and Mr. Kenneth Carlisle are con- » jointly responsible for the sinister element > in the plot, and are in no small measure i responsible for the dramatic intensity of the climax. The part of the gipsy woman ' is played by Miss Rachael Rice. Miss 1 Stella Gray takes the role of Mrs. Lee, a ' confirmed invalid, and Mr. Ernest Yan- ' dell portrays Matthew Marsh, the rich » mill-owner. The remaining parts are well 1 filled, while the staging of the drama' 1 and the incidental effects are all that ' could be wished. i , OPERA HOUSE. ' A large and appreciative audience was • present at the final presentation of last ' week's programme at the Opera House on ' Saturday evening. The programme was 1 of an unusually interesting and varied ' nature, and met with the approval of all ' present. The new programme to be pre- ' sented for the first time this evening includes a number of exceptionally strong turns. Foremost among the newcomers are the Togos, Japanese jugglers and i acrobats, and Minerva and; Grace,' lady acrobats. The announcement that Mobnari is to stay another week will un- - doubtedly meet with the approval of the many people with whom he has become so popular. "THE DANDIEB." The excellent entertainment provided by the " Orange Dandies," in the concert chamber of the Town Hall, continues to prove very popular with the large audiences present at each performance. The originality and variety displayed in the combination of music and comedy are of a most pleasing nature, each item being loudly applauded. One or two vocalists of unusual ability are included in the company, while the wholesome humour of the others is of a high quality. "The Dandies" will appear again this evening. TIVOLI THEATRE. The initial screening of the Famous Players-Lasky feature "Miss George Washington" at the Tivoli Theatre on Saturday was witnessed by an unusually large audience. The picture is one of the most enjoyable that has been screened at this theatre, and besides being excellently produced contains many interesting scenes. The theme of the story is woven around a girl, who, unlike her namesake, is a notorious little "fibber." The story opens while she is attending a.girl's college, and from there passes on to the time when she enters society. The many melodramatic scenes contained throughout the picture terminate' in her having to marry a man rather than confess her misrepresentations. The title role is capably portrayed by the brilliant little actress, Marguerite Clark, her splendid characterisation of her part accounting, to a large extent, for the success of the picture. The strong supporting programme of interesting Para- ; mount subjects is a pleasing. variety and 1 of considerable educational value. LYRIC THEATRE. 1 The first screening of the William Fox E reduction "Romeo and Juliet," at the yric Theatre on Saturday was witnessed I bv large audiences throughout the day. : This film is one of the most interesting i yet seen in Auckland. It is the first [ attempt that has been made to produce in 1 picture form one. of Shakespere's great i dramas. An excellent interpretation of 1 Juliet is given by the popular player, • Theda Ban, who probably has not appeared to such advantage before. ; The scenery includes many fine • reproductions of tho City of Verona. 1 The picture has many advantages over ! the play as produced on the stage. The I scenes portrayed on the screen are more 1. numerous, the number of supernumeraries > is increased by thousands, and the time occupied is greatly lessened; at the same time all the important factors that make for the success of the play are included. STRAND THEATRE. , The leading picture on the new programme at the Strand Theatre is of a ! quality that meets with the approval of ' 'the numerous patrons of this theatre. The f" icture, which is entitled "Tho Price She Paid," is excellently portrayed, and contains that continuity of action which is so 1 essential to maintain interest. Tho prin- ! cipal part is taken by the famous actress, 1 I Clara Kimball Young, who capably por- ; I trays the life of a young woman, who, I after having lived a life of luxury and ; ease, finds herself penniless. The various scones through which she passes before finally regaining her social position make the picture one of unusual interest. The supporting programme, which contains 1 the usual variety of subjects, is also of a , j pleasing nature. J EVERYBODY'S THEATRE. si" Dulcie's Adventure," the principal 3 'feature of the new programme screened at . ; Everybody's Theatre for the first time on • Saturday, was witnessed by large audir ! enccs at each session. The ever-popular s actress, Mary Miles Minter, gives an excel- : lent interpretation of a girl who lives with i ' two aristocratic, though impecunious, "' aunts. The manner in which these aunts • attempt to bring about the girl's marriage : with a 80-called count, forms the basis of < j many interesting adventures. 6 j GRAND THEATRE. v I An entertaining story of unustial interest is contained in "The Last of the J. Ingrams," the leading feature on the. new e programme at the Grand Theatre. The ; film is ft production of the Trianjla Com.

pany, and besides containing a strong love romance forms a photo-play of a _ high standard. • The supporting programme is of the usual interesting nature provided by the management of this theatre, and includes an excellent series of war pictures. SCOTCH CONCERT. What was undoubtedly one of the .most successful Scotch concerts presented to an Auckland audience was given by the Highland Unit of the National Reserve, under the auspices of the Red Cross Society, in tho Town Hall, on Saturday evening. ' From the opening selection of the 3rd, Auckland. Regiment Band, to the singing of "Auld Lang Syne," the enthusiasm of the ever-appreciative audience was maintained. The Auckland Pipe Band* under Pipe-Major Mac Donald, rendered a number of Scotch selections, which were well received by the audience. Mr. Hector Black was heard to advantage in his comic selections { "Tho Farmers Boy" being of a particularly appealing nature. Madame Bella Russell sang in a pleasing manner, "Auld Robin Gray," for which she was enthusiastically oncored. Mr. D. Black sang, "Hurrah for the Highlands'" and "My Ain Wee Houso" in an excellent manner. Miss Kathleen Thomas recited "Tho Usual Way," and, as an encoro, gavo "The Soldier's Kiss." One of the most pleasing features of the concert was the dancing of the pupils of Mr. W. T. Chadwick in the "Highland Fling" and '.'Sailor's Hornpipe." Miss Fassie McDougal, the popular Scotch dancer, was very well received for her performance of " Gillie Callum," and, in company with her sistor, Miss Ophir McDougal, in " Shoan Truibhas." Other contributors to .tho programme were Messrs. W. Gemmell, fed Forte, Gilbert Parker, and Miss Elsa Teague. The accompaniments wero capably played by Miss May Shirley.

PRINCESS THEATRE. It is seldom that a picture has the reception _ that was meted out to "A Mortal Sin," which was screened at the Princess Theatre for the first time on Saturday. The photo-play contains an exceptionally strong story, and is produced in a most pleasing manner. The story deals with a wife's sacrifice of her honour in order to help hor invalid husband. Anderson, an author, who develops tuberculosis, goes West, when he needs money, and then his brain story becomes one in real life. Ho returns to find his wife in the homo of a wealthy man. In the book which he wrote, Anderson had his hero forgive. the wife. But in his own life he is overcome by rage and jealousy. QUEEN'S THEATRE. The picturisation of Upton Sinclair's popular novel, "The Adventurer," which was screened at the head of the new programme at the Queen's Theatre on Saturday, proved very popular with the large audiences present at each session. The story contains an unusually strong plot. GLOBE THEATRE. A considerable amount of interest was manifested in the " All-red Route," the leading feature on the new programme at the Globe Theatre. The picture details in a most entertaining manner a trip from Sydney to Vancouver, by what is known aii the All-red route. WEST END THEATRE. The popular player, Frank Keenan, is appearing in "The Crab," the leading feature on the programme screened at the West End Theatre for the first time on Saturday. A strong supporting programme is also screened.