ENTERTAINMENTS

New Zealand Times, Volume XLII, Issue 9621, 29 March 1917, Page 8

ENTERTAINMENTS

GRAND OPERA HOUSE. “The Law of the Land” was repeated before a good audience at the Opera House last night. The play has its locale in America, where the strong individualism which obtains in social life lends to the creation of extreme types. One of these is a brutal lawyer, who makes the life of his wife, a martyrdom and drives her to revolt against the conventional moral code, and finally to murder him. The play grips from the outset and is replete with emotional scenes, which give Miss Florence Rockwell fine play for her talents as a delineator of feeling. The part of the husband is ably acted by Mr Robert Harding, and the cast generally did justice to their respective roles. The “Law of the Land” is a powerful, realistic play which reveals some of the higher aspects of modern , American life,: but falls short of a tragedy owing, to the demand for “poetic justice” by a public which prefers “happy endings” rather than the hard and too often cruel facts of life. HIS MAJESTY’S. The popularity, of the current programme by Puller's Vaudeville Company was. again exemplified bv a crowded attendance at His Majesty’s Theatre last evening, : The chief, attraction ie the remarkable contortionist and acrobatic act by the Lo Grohs. Other popular “turns” include those by Armitago and Hine, Jldmc. Alvurna and Ma Jean Laorte, Hrull 'and Hemsley, De Baker’s Models, and Billy Cl Brown. Tbs programme will be repeated to-night. THE’ EMPRESS. Ethel Clayton is both beautiful and clever in “The Mattness of Helen," the World feature here. She plays the part of a girl whose sister has become insane through the desertion of her husband. The ahdience is kept in a state of suspense and uncertainty right through the picture, and not till the final scene does it become apparent that the mad girl and her sister are both played' by Miss Clayton. There are some eerie scenes when the poor girl escapes at night and tempts the village fishermen to. follow her. .There is a complete surprise at the end of this excellent production. Clara Kimball Young will screen on Saturday in the much-discussed picture. “The Dark Silence." THE KING’S. "Spartacns," the splendid and spectacular historical pageant, is being well received at this, house. The production has many features reminiscent of "Cabiria," the, last big success of this kind. The story of the Thracian slave who organised an army and twice overthrew the Roman legions makes an entertaining picture, and has been well directed. There are good comedy and topical supporting pictures. Saturday’s picture is called “Prudence, the Pirate” —described as a good attraction.

EVERTBODY’S THEATRE. A dragon fly's mouth magnified 150,000 diameters is a ferocious sight, and draws "Oh! he bit me,” from Constance Talmadge, the pretty heroine of "The Microscope Mystery," a novel Triangle play now being presented at Everybody'sl. The picture is not only an interesting scientific film, but has its comedy- ana romantic aspect. Some sidelights are thrown on the methods of medical quacks. Billie Burke is delighting her many admirers in the present instalment of Gloria’s Romance, "The Gathering Storm." Douglas Fairbanks appears nest ' Saturday-' in "The Matrimaniac.” CROWN THEATRE. . The rigorous training Mme. Kalich has received in the theatres of seven lands has left its imprint, of complete finish on , her 'newest norir, "Ambition” now screening at the Orem Theatre. In Mine, ivalich’s pictures the comment has been. made that it is really unnecessary lor any cautions or sub-titles and that the* only primed, words required wxli • the names of the ptayers and the roles they are called upon to portray. ano management announces a now departure at the down starting next Saturday with two bomplete changes . of programme every week. The matinee programme on Saturday afternoon is to include an Indian and Cowboy picture especially for the delight, of the children. -