ENTERTAINMENTS.

New Zealand Herald, Volume LV, Issue 16824, 15 April 1918, Page 7

ENTERTAINMENTS.

OPERA' HOISK. The Walter Johnston .Musical Revue Company, which commences a short return season at the Opera House tonight, specialises in entertainment which is bright and sparkling to a high degree. In addition to possessing a number of j clever comedians, an attractive ballet, and. several pleasing singers, it includes some clever darners, the whole combining to make for amusement calculated to please' all tastes. In the opening production, "The lllobe Trotters.'' Missel Lola Hunt. Belle M:llette, Polly McLaren, the Three Starrs, and Messrs.'' Walter Johnston, litis { Franks, Km Lashhrooke, Les Wharton, and Harry Burgess, are said to he given | every opportunity to give of their best- I talents, and. in addition, a number < f i spei taeniae effects are to he introduced. In addition to the revue. Sergeant Cope land and Kid. the latter a wonder in tele- | patliy; McLean and l.ee, sketch artists; Kelly and Drake, clever in singing, pat ■ ter, and rl.iniing; Clarence Crawford,! xyloph'inist; and McKa\ and Graham, | operatic artists, will reappear. "STORY OK THE ROSARY." The final performance of " The Story of the Rosary " was given by the Allan Wilkie Company at His Majesty's Theatre oil Saturday night, before a veiy large audience. The popularity achieved by Mr. Wilkie and the memaers of the company was demonstrated by the hearty ' farewell accorded the performers. "ITS ALWAYS THE WOMAN." Described as a powerful emotional melodrama, It's Alwava the Woman," the latest production of, the BrandonC remer Dramatic Company, attracted a very large audience to the King's Theatre on Saturday night. Of the play, stiP.ire it to say that, although the story is quite distinct, it is in many respects similar to Mrs. Henry Wood's great success, "East Lynne." It, therefore, follows that it has a particularly strong appeal for women, and for this reason, together with the fact that the acting was consistently good and the staging of a high order, the drama was a distinct success. From the opening fceno to the final curtain the interest was maintained, the audience at times being moved to enthusiasm. In the principal role of Margaret Desmond, who is forced bw the scheming intrigues of Major Stevingtoi. and Paula Carlton to seek refuge in 4 convent. Miss Kathleen Arnold played with marked ability and gained the sympathies of the audience from the outset. Mies Alice Rede represented the Mother Superior of a convent with quiet dignity, while Miss Loris Bingham, as Paula Carlton, was responsible for another pleasing portrayal. As Jack Desmond, the hero, Mr. William Ewart was manly and sincere. Mr. Kenneth Carlisle portrayed the scouncirally Major Stevington with his usual ability, while Messrs. Edgar Kenna, W. Coulter and J. Deenev were successful in other parts. Much wholesome comedy considerably relieves the dramatic situations, and in this connection Miss Lilian Colenso was extremely successful, her Appearance on the stage always being the signal fo r much mirth. It's Always the Woman" will be presented each evening until Saturday next, when a stirring drama, " My Jack,'' will be produced for the firs;, time in the Dominion. At the conclusion of Saturday night's performance, Mr. Cremer announced that, commencing from next week, the old prices will be reverted to.

ORGAN RECITAL. The organ recital given by the city organist, Mr. Maughan Barnett in the Town Hall on Saturday night attracted a large audience. The programme was a most, pleasing one. Stuart Archer's delightful " Minuet," the opening number, was skilfully treated, and the pianissimos in the ensuing selection, Cesar Franck's " Pastorale," were charmingly executed. One of the most popular items was the English Folksong, "Mowing the Barley," which, arranged for organ and carillons by Mr. Barnett, was received with considerable applause. Other items were :— "In Moonlight" (Kindel), Widor's "Andante, Cantabile, Sherzo, and Finale," Gounod's " Serenade," and Sullivan's "March From Henry VIII." The vocal solos, " A Farewell," and " Friend of Mine," by Mr. Ernest Drake, were well received. Miss Clarice Wood played the accompaniments. NATIONAL THEATRE. "Mother o' Mine,'' a Bluebird film in five acts, is the principal attraction at the National Picture Theatre. It tells of a man whose personal ambitions made him neglect his mother. She visits him during the course of a social evening, at which he is host. Quick to notice her son shrink from her, she returns to her country home. The son's fiancee believes that the old lady is his nurse, and takes him to visit her. Several charming incidents follow, and a happy conclusion is provided. The story is one which, on account of its somewhat unusual theme, should make a strong appeal. Rupert Julian, an actor of note, plays the part of the son, and Mrs. La Fayette takes the chief feminine part. The minor parts are well filled. A good supporting programme is provided, and a selection of musical items adds considerably to the pleasure of the entertainment. A special announcement is made by the management that "A Tale of Two Cities" will be presented on Saturday next. TIVOLI THEATRE. As is usual on Saturday nights, every seat at the popular Tivoli Picture Theatre was filled many minutes before the performance was timed to begin. The frequent applause amply testified to the excellence of tho programme submitted. The leading picture was a new Paramount drama, "The Long Trail," in which Lou Tellegen and Mary Fuller appeared as hero and heroine, respectively. The story is one of pathos and humour happily combined. It concerns a Canadian trapper, Andre, and his wife Louise. She has a brother, Paul, who causes tho death of Andre's sister and then kills some men. Andre meets him and when abort to avenge his sister's death he discovers his relation to Paul. After a number of sensational incidents happiness is restored. GLOBE THEATRE. " Extravagance," the leading picture at the Globe Theatre, tells of the foolishly extravagant life of Norma Russell and her father. Going beyond their means, thev have to borrow money, and the father finally commits forgery. Norma is just about to sacrifice herself to the hanker, who holds them in his power, 1 when her fiance returns from South America and pavs their debts, thereby beggaring himself. He marries Norma. The banker manages to have Norma's husband imprisoned, but Norma establishes his innocence, and is responsible for reforming her father into a decent member of society. The picture is supported by the Chaplin comedy. " Behind the Si rren." GRAND THEATRE Judging by the large audience> present at the Grand Theatre on Saturday, its popularity is net waning, and its programmes ate greatly appreciated. The new programme is headed by "The Beggar of Cawnpore." a picture which, without being gruesome, depicts in a strikingly realistic manner the horrors of the Indian mutiny. H. 1?. Warner, whose excellent acting was so highly commended in "God's Man," takes the leading parti most successfully. In addition to the j eleventh chapter of "The Master Key' I other choice su| porting pictures were also shown STRAND THEATRE. ' Hetty lakes a Hand." an amusing liirht comedy, with a complicated plot, is] the leading picture in the new programme at the Strand Theatre. Olive Thomas, the fascinating Triangle actress, whoso | appearance on the screen is always the signal for loud applause, takes the prin-. cipal part. This charming little actressgives an excellent interpretation of her. part. In addition to " Betty Takes a Hand," some most interesting pictures of the work at Kolumarama Flying School are shown. The picture, " Auckland From the Skies." gives an excellent view of the aviation school the seaplane sheds, workshops, and pupils' camp, pupils receiving instruction, and some striking views of Auckland and tho suburbs taken from a seaplane. 1

EVERYBODY'S THEATRE'The latest release from the- World Studios, "The Awakening," is the principal film at Everybody's Theatre. " ai " ques, a man with a peculiar temperam^ 11 '. which causes him to be known as the "Tho Beast." has some good in his nature, and this is awakened by the adorable Marguerite. Another man, who desired Marguerite, lied about her purity, aid when she wrote to Jacques, saying she was a detiltd woman, lie war. forced to believe her. Suhsequent events showed bow foolish he had been to misjudge her, and the picture concludes in a dramatic manner. Dorothy Kelly and Montague Love ably sustain the leading parts, and tho scenery is exceptionally fine. Some good supporting pi' Hires are shown. QUEEN'S THEATRE. Emily Stevens, a justly popular motion picture" a. tress, is appearing at the Queen's Theatre in a Metio play, entitled. "Alias Mrs. Jessop." The tale shows how a woman of the "vampire" type tries to cast the blame of her misdeeds upon her virtuous cousin, her eia< t counterpart in appearance. On the sam«' programme is the eleventh chapter of the sensational serial play, ''The Neglected Wife." LYRIC THEATRE "Thf Awakening," a fine World dram... dealing with life in the Latin quarter of Pans, is the leading him on the current programme shown at the Lyric Theatre The scenic effects of the play are especially fine, the duel scene being remarkah'y realistic. The two clever performers. Dorothv Kelly and Montague Love, figure in the'production. The eleventh episode of "The Neglected Wife." and the latest topical picture, are on tie programme. PRINCESS THEATRE. The (Joldwvn propaganda film. "En lighten Thy Daughter," received its first screening at the Princess Theatre on Saturday, attracting larpe aud.ences at each session. It proved to be a very im pressive picture, with a strong claim to serious attention. The pitfalls which lie in the path of young girls who are allowed by their mothers to face life uninformed are vividly presented in a series of scenes and situations which combine to make a story of tense, and often breath less interest. There is an allegorical opening that seta up the right atmosphere to enable the audience to follow the plot to its inevitably sad conclusion. The family life of two mothers and their idolised daughters are contrasted. In the one case the mother warns her child against the dangers of making chance acquaintanceships with strangers of the opposite sex. In the other the mother, herself addicted to gambling and the life of the smart set, allows her girl to drift. The first girl is able to avoid tho pitfalls, but her cousin's fate, is shame and death. The man responsible is, when the tragedy occurs, the fiance of the girl who has remained unsullied, and both their lives are wrecked by his act. Thero are many side issues in the story, which add to its interest, and the moral lesson is undoubtedly taught with convincing eloquence. ' The situations are delicately handled, and there is nothing offensive in the manner of the film's presentation. A feature is the powerful acting of those in the cast, and the photography is remarkably fine.