ENTERTAINMENTS.

New Zealand Herald, Volume LIV, Issue 16600, 25 July 1917, Page 4

ENTERTAINMENTS.

"VERY GOOD EDDIE.'"

The musical comedy, "Very Good Eddie," which has proved so popular to the large audiences present at His Majesty's Theatre, will l>e presented for the last time this evening. To-morrow for the one performance only the Japanese . musical comedy, " The White Chrysan- | themum," will he staged by Messrs. J \ and N. Tait. In this production, Mr* , i Barry Lupino will repeat the chrysanj themum song and acrobatic dance, which created a considerable interest when performed in Auckland some time a-o. "BABY MINE." The J C. Williams Farce Comedy - Company, headed by th.> popular comedy I artists Mr, Robert l.reit; and Mi?', Beatrice Hollo way, will op*--n at Hj Majesty's Theatre on Saturday next, n a three-act comedy entitled " Baby Mine,'' This company will be remembered for the success it achieved in '"'J lie Seven Eevs to BaJdpate" and other nmeciics staged in Auckland a few week? ag>. The story of Baby Mine" is simple. The trouble starts over a lie. The child wife of a jealous man simply raniv-t t.'ll the truth and when she innocently lunches with hep husband's best friend .she launches into fiction and domestic upheavals, when the simple truth would i.l,\iate all troubles. She is found out. and ii--r husband, tired of hearing her tell the " ival truth." leaves in hich dudgeon, nevi ■•- to return. It is at this point, the P nd of the first act" that the authoress takes the -top of opening her farce with a sad note. The little wife, attempting to write an app.-al to hep husband to return, breaks down. The situation is tinned with path and suggests that the writer of t l '" c.nvdv had confidence in her powers wli'i; she cornmenced a farce with tea!?. There comes from the wife's friends the idea of borrowing a baby and of testing its power to bring the husband back. The. result and its attendant adventures make an interesting climax to the play. OPERA HOUSE. The current programme at the Opera; House continues to amuse a considerable amount of enthusiasm from the large audiences present at each performance. Edna McColl, a popular danseuse, and Will Rayner, lyric tenor, will make their first appearance in Auckland this evening. Owing to difficulty in getting their effects to Auckland, the Paul Stanhope Revue Company, whose arrival has been awaited with such interest, will not appear until to-morrow evening. ENGLISH PIERROTS. The merry programme of varied and pleasing items being presented bv the English Pierrots in the concert chamber of the Town Hall this week is considered i by many to be the best yet submitted. ! To-morrow evening an entirely new pro- : gramme will be presented. This proI gramme is said to give the various artists ; better scope for their abilities than any i previous one. On Saturday next a special i souvenir programme will he sold, the j entire proceeds of which will be devoted i to the funds of the Red Cross monthly I appeal. KING'S THEATRE. The Brandon-Cremer Dramatic Company presented the popular comedy, "Much Mar- ' ried," before a large, audience at the King's Theatre laJfc evening. This production will be staged each evening until Friday next, and at the matinee on Saturday ' will give place to the popular Irish drama, "The Shaughraun,"' in which the old Brandon-Cremer Company will make its reappearance in Auckland, after an extended tour of Southern cities. "THE BIRTH OF A NATION.' 1 The presentation of D. W. GrifEths's production. "The Birth of a Nation.'' at the Lyric Theatre is creating considerable interest. Notwithstanding the fact that the film was previously screened in Auckland, the booking is well in excess of the available accommodation at the theatre, and on Monday, the opening night, a large number of people were unable to secure admittance. Last evening also many were disappointed. The present screening is on a much larger scale than formerly, and several special features have been introduced by the personal representative of Mr. Griffiths, Mr. Albert L. I Grey, who was responsible for the screeni ing of the picture at the Theatre Royal, Drury Lane. A large orchestra, under the conductorship of Mr. F. Wynne Jones, plays appropriate airs throughout, and the St. Benedict's choir, under the direction of Mr. W. J. Pringle. is a considerable asset, its singing of many old plantation songs and melodies being pleasing--1 The stage effects, especially during the scenes illustrating the civil war. are realistic. As an example of cinematography "The Birth of a Nation" attains a high-water mark, and is undoubtedly one of the finest and most impressive films shown in the Dominion. Its historical record is valuable, and students of American history and of the life of Abraham Lincoln should not miss seeing it. TTVOLI THEATRE. Each evening since the first screening of " Less Than the Dust " many patrons of the Tivoli Theatre have had to be refused admission, so keen have movingI picture lovers been to see the charming little actress. Mary Pickford. in her latest creation. Produced by the Paramount Artcraft Service as its first super-feature, the v picture is one of the most elaborately staged yet been screened at this popular theatre. When a well-known artist is appearing it is a common fault with producers to neglect to a certain extent the quality of the story contained in the picture. This, however, is not the case with "Less Than the Dust." for. although Miss Pickford greatly increases the interest of j the picture by her capable representation i of her part, the story is such as would j command attention in any circumstances. | One of the most pleasing" features of the S entertainment is the appropriate selections fj played in an excellent manner bv tie I Tivoli Orchestra. PRINCESS THEATRE. A five-act Metro wonderpiay, entitled, '"The Waiting Soul." is being screened at the head of the current programme at the Princess Theatre this week. The story is unusually powerful, the leading part being portrayed in a capable manner by the popular actress. Olga Petrova. The supporting programme includes an entertaining variety of well-selected pictures, " j STRAND THEATRE. The popular Triangle photoplay '-Happiness, '_ in which Mi« s Enid Bennett is appearing, continues to attract large audiences to the Strand Theatre. Miss Bennett in this picture surpasses all her previous efforts, and is largely lesponsible for the success of the production. On • Saturday next a picturisation oi the we'lI known melodrama "The Whip" will be the principal feature of the' new programme. DEMONSTRATION OK HYPNOTISM. A large audience was pre- c nt at the Empress Theatre last evenii c when Mr. George W. Wilson gave his' second demonstration of hypnotism. A number of interesting scientific tests were successfully carried out. while the humorous items of the performance provoked a .great deal of mirth. The cataleptic sleep, in particular, proved very amusing, the patients being made to eat elides without noticing any unpleasant taste. The demonstration will be repeated f. r the last time this evening. OTHER ENTERTAINMENTS. _ A strong photo-play, entitled "Maternity" is the leading feature of an interesting programme at* Everybody's Theatre. The current programme at the Globe Theatre includes a number of entertaining features, foremost of which is a photoplay, entitled "Love's Crucible." The principal feature of the current programme at the Grand Theatre is a powerful photo-play, entitled "The Regeneration." The interesting programme being screened at the Queen's Theatre this week is headed by a F roll man production, entitled "The Conquest of Canaan." Alice Brady is featured in " Maternity," a strong photo-drama, on the current programme at the West End Theatre. "The Pinch Hitter" is at the Palace. Olga Patrova is featured in " Extra-' vagance," which is being screened at thj| Alexandra Theatre this evening*