ENTERTAINMENTS

New Zealand Times, Volume XLII, Issue 9613, 20 March 1917, Page 8

ENTERTAINMENTS

HIS MAJESTY’S THEATRE. The old order of things was reverted to at His Alajesty’s Theatre last night when instead of a programme composed in the first half of vaudeville "turns.” and in the second of some special revue presentation, the pertormanoe was entirely devoted to vaudeville items. The programme on the whole was an excellent one. First and foremost was the humorour offering by Brull and Hemsley. The latter is a Canadian In the true sense of the word—in fact he is one of the cleverest fun makers ever seen on the stage at His Alajesty’s. His conception of an inebriated “dude," who endeavours (but by no means succeeds) to pull himself together sufficiently to make some purchases at a music shop, was immense. Hemsley also proved himself a very clever dancer. "Billy" Brown, betterknown as the Brown of “Brown and Sorlie," also proved himself an adept .il uiu lauguler line, iris humour was substle ami clever. Fred Arthur made his bow, billed as “the shabby genteel comedian." The audience enjoyed his songs and patter hugely. He < disinterred the moss-grown parodies on "The Charge of the Light Brigade,” but so successfully that the audience encored him. “Alsace," the musician, gave further evidence as to his ability both as a violinist and a ’cellist. He was at his best in one of German’s incidental > dances to "Henry the Eighth.’’ The Rosie Rifle Co, gave another hair-raising exhibition of rifle markmanship, Marie St. George and Air Murk Erickson were seen with success in the monologue cum tableau affair. "A Sculptor’s Romance,” while Mark Erickson gained applause with his vocal efforts. Pearl Livingstone sang iCn the accepted style of other vaudeville, "comediennes,’’ while Afarjorie Alwyne, a contralto, sang one or two ballads. THE EMPRESS. "Gay days and grey days" have been the lot of the girl of the cabarets who is the heroine of the World Film_ drama "The Hidden Scar,” now screening at this i house. After living an_ upright life for many years with her fatherless child she is sought in marriage by a young minister. Years of happiness follow until the crash comes, when he finds the soar in her past reputation. A mutual friend succeeds in healing the breach by reminding the husband of his sermon of that morning'—Mary Magdalen. EVERYBODY’S. "Noblesse oblige" is a motto that gets various treatment at the hands of the two aristocrats. Lord Rockmore and the Honourable Algy, the hero of the smart Triangle play now screening at Everybody’s. The story concerns a - jewel robbery in which the thief is completely foiled bv the artlessness- pf Algy. The picture is carried out in the finished style characteristic of the Triangle plays and has many powerful dramatic as well as humorous moments. The latest Billie Burke story is “The ■Social Vortex," and. this winsome little lady’s popularity is increasing by leaps and bounds. THE KING’S. "A crown cures not the headache” was a Balkan method of expressing the troubles of a ruler, and this idea is the starting point of the extraordinary adventures of Maurice Costello as the hero of “The Crown Prince’s Double," in which with the popular Norma Talmadge he is pleasing the audiences at the King’s this week. . The picture is a Vitagraph Blue Ribbon play and the plot is filled with tho romance and in. trigue with which novelists have always invested stories of these lesser States of Europe. A special motor trip through Death Valley and an interesting number of the latest Topical film make up the programme, CROWN THEATRE. The Crown Theatre was crowded last night and the programme presented was thoroughly enjoyed. The star item was another of the Fox photoplays, "Hypocrisy." This drama lays bare the iniquity of social ambition, which reduces marriage to a mere business concern. Miss Virginia Pearson, who takes the leading role, has never been seen to so much advantage as in this particular piece, her acting being on a supreme level of excellence. It is worthy of note that two of tho world’s most noted painters have acknowledged that Miss Pearson is "the loveliest and most perfect physical specimen of womanhood.” The supporting items include a short drama featuring J. Warren Kerrjgar, “There is a Destiny," and a side-split-ting comedy.