ENTERTAINMENTS

New Zealand Times, Volume XLII, Issue 9630, 10 April 1917, Page 8

ENTERTAINMENTS

"SEVEN KEYS TO BALDPATE." The puzzling mystery farce, "Seven Keys to Bulapate, ' kept a largo audience guessing aud bnmiul of iaughter at the Grand Opera Uouso yesterday afternoon and evening. As William Haliowell Staged, au egotistical and consequential American writer of abort stories, Mr Robert Ureig, with his clever patter and contagious laugh, is the life and soul of the piece, which went with vim aud verve from start to finish. Mr Greig is well supported by a strong cast, notably by Mr Edwin Lester as Peters, the hermit and “ghost” of Baldpate, and Mr J- B. Athol wood, as caretaker of the Inn. Mr Herbert Leigh scored a success as Jim Cargan, a crooked-running mayor of a small country town, and Miss Beatrice Holloway, as a lady journalist, made the most of a somewhat small part. The faroo is very American in quality, but is none the worse for that, tho quaint, unexpected idioms and the characteristically breezy “business” being responsible for much of the fun of the farce. "Seven Keys to Baldpate” will be staged again this evening. "Seven Keys to Baldpate" will he staged until Friday night, and on Saturday evening and, the *wo following nights the brilliantly clever. American farce comedy. “A Pair of Sixes' 1 will be produced for the first time in New Zealand. On Thursday, April 19tb. and two following nights, "The Travelling Salesman” will be presented. Tho plans for the season are now open at tho Bristol. HIS MAJESTY'S. Tho bumper houses at His Majesty’! Theatre yesterday afternoon and evening showed unmistakably by their loud applause and frequent encores that they tfioroughly enjoyed the excellent bill of tare provided. The leading feature was again the turn of M. Zakaree Ermakov, who showed great dexterity as a swordsman and sharpshooter, and gave a thrilling exhibition of axe-jug-gling, lance-throwing, and gun-spinning. His lantern-talk on the German espionage system, her preparations for tho present war, the Russian forces, and notable places in the Extern and South-Eastern theatres \pf war, was followed with the greatest interest. Mr Huntley Spencer (a coloured tenor), Mr Dan Crew (with his excellent Scottish patter and songs). Miss Jennie Mcßae (a popular Scots contralto),. Thompson and Montey (musical comediennes and dancers). Merlin (the mock wizard), tha Delavale Bros., Miss Lily Vockler, Miss Maud Fanning and the Elliot Sisters also contributed greatly to the evening f entertainment. THE EMPRESS. Holiday crowds packed The Empress at all sessions yesterday. The main ate traction is a World Company » film play entitled "The Men She Married, ’ a remarkably fine picture, in which, the popular Gail Kane is seen in one or the best characterisations she has done. The nart of a rather over-romamtio but extremely pretty stepdaughter is pleasingly portrayed by Muriel Ostnche, and the versatile Arthur Ashlov la. seen as a new type of suave villain. A particularly interesting picture showed the -scene of the recent eruption at Waimangu, with the ruins of the accommodation house, etc. THE KING’S. Ethel Clayton, who has become sO popular lately by her screen appearances in pictures suoh as "The Hidden Scar” and "The Madness of Helen,” is making still more friends with her latest picture. "Broken Chains,” au immensely powerful World film play, in which ehe is again supported bv the handsome and capable Carlyle Blackwell. The picture is based upon a peculiar American prison law. which permits the leasing of convicts. The heroine hires her own lover, who has been wrongfully imprisoned. The Waimangu eruption is ineluded among the interesting supporting pictures. EVERYBODY’S. Frank Keenan gives a remarkable performance in the Triangle play “The Sjn. Ve Do,” a very fine picture, based upon Kipling’s lino, "The sin yo do by two and two ye must pay for one by one." He has the role of a lawyer whose ideas of the unwritten, law undergo a complete change when he finds his own. daughter on trial for killing her father's best friend in defence of her honour. Margery Wilson i« an appealing figure as tne heroine, and the other members of the cast, as indeed the whole picture, can only be classed as exceUent. Billie Burke in "The Harvest of Sin” and the pictures of the Waimangu eruption, are shown. CROWN THEATRE. "The Common Law,” featuring Mis! Clara Kimball Young, in a powerful, strongly emotional part, again drew large aud appreciative audiences at tho Crown Theatre yesterday afternoon and evening. This photo-drama is a prob-lem-play dealing with one of the muchvexed questions of social life in a manner at once instructive and pleasing. Tho beautiful and charming actress makes the most of a part that admirably suits her talent and her personality. and the unfolding of the plot was followed with the keenest interest throughout. At the matinee a special cow-boy and Indian film was shown for the benefit of the children; and the fine scenery and the stirrin- action combined to make a very popular piece.