ENTERTAINMENTS

New Zealand Times, Volume XLII, Issue 9694, 23 June 1917, Page 9

ENTERTAINMENTS

“The house that jack, built.'Every portion of ibe auditorium oi the Grand Opera House was crowded nisi evening u.icu lji... brilliant extravaganza, “'I he House that Jack Built,” "a., again staged. The play with il» many lunguiJiivuc ballet*, tableaux, attractive music, and endless fund 01 humour is an enjoyment lor young and old alike. The iarewell matinee is announced for to-day when children wail bo admitted to' ail parts at half-price except to thi.‘ late door gallery. Trie last three nights of the .pantomime are advertised. “BABY MINE.” J. C. WILLIAMSON COMEDY CO. Thu complication, after complication and yet more complications is the keynote of success that attends the latest J. G. Williamson liuce coiiicoy “Laoj Aline,” which will be ■ presented to local theatre-goers at .the Grand Opera House on Saturday next by those two clever comedy players Robert, Greig and Leatrice Jlolioway and the members of tin? famous “Seven Kays to Baldpate’’ Company who were with us a few weeks back. A comedy that makes the performers faint and the audience fall back Rasping from continuous laughter with their last breath gone, such, in a. nutshell, is the coinudr “Baby Aline.”

“Baby Mine’’ is a farce in its broadest sense, full of briezy humour, .what might bp termed one continuous scream. Tho complications that ensue _ are ondI.'ss. until one wonders what is coming next, and so great is the .strain that one feels like imitating the deceived husband ■at tin- end flopping over in a faint. The Christchurch “Press,” in speaking of tho initial performance of "Baby .Aline” at tho' Theatre Royal says“ Certainly nothing so fun-iiy as ‘Baby Aline’ lias been .seen, iif the Dominion or on the stago for many years. Yet, iji the form of a jest, it also preaches its sermon; in Its way -it is a telling indictment of the empty cot, and of the trouble that may - ensue . between- man and wife through the absence of children’s faces. As Jimmy jinks, Air Greig was in his natural element, taking trouble after trouble upon his broad (shoulders, serenely every time. His whimsical -drolleries were irresistible .and his humour was never forced. One could easily imagine (that it was .Timmy Jinks really living the part, not Mr Greig acting it.” ■ In like terms tho same paper goes on to speak of the performances of Miss Beatrice Holloway and 'the- other ineinbei;; of tilt- clever combination. The season of this highly successful comedy ' locally. is-a limited one., so full advantage should bo taken of the box plans which wil] be opened at. the Bristol on Thursday next.

"BATTLE OF THE ANGEE/’ This alto moon anti evening tlic big official picture of the “Battle of the Ancre/’ which lias been drawing such crowded audiences to the Town Hall this week, will be shown for the last time. The matinee performance will commence at 2.30. and the evening exhibition at S o’clock will' be'preceded by a series of organ selections , that Mr Bernard Page has kindly consented to contribute. On this occasion the half share-of the proceeds set aside for the T.M.C.A. trench . comforts fund is to be handed by the association to the Mayoress for the Countess of Liverpool fund. Judging' •by previous ■"experience those who have not booked seats' will require to be early at the hall if they wish to gain admission. REVUE AT HIS MAJESTY’S. The Johnson combination, which is enjoying a 1 phenomenally popular run at His Majesty’s Theatre, presented the final production of “The Hallway. Tangle" last evening. At .the. matinee this afternoon and to-night at 8 the company will present 'their' third revue," which is entitled, “The Flirting Widow.” Combination, as well as individual merit is the slogan of Producer Johnson, and each artist in' bis new production is accorded full scope for his or her ability, and the. company’s work in unison as perfect as the skill of any one individual performer. It is probably'Lhis fact that has made the 'popularity of the Johnson Company .so enduring wherever they have appeared. To-night the new specialities will be the train load of people travelling, at 50 miles an hour, the piccaninny "parade, ’ the girls walking the plank, the ship at sea (said to be a splendid marine scene), the burlesque grand opera, and the minstrel ballet. 'Violet Trevenyon, the Tuttys, Hal the Juggler, and Sterling and Lovo will support the now production. On Monday an act said to be even more wonderful than the well remembered Manchurians will appear. These will be the Royal Togos. who have just been secured for the Fullers ’by their American representative. THE PIERROTS. Another large attendance gathered at the Town Hall last evening to see the English Pierrots. The program o was rich and varied, and much by the audience. The chief items were-: —“ln the Rain,” by Miss Elsa Langley; the' pianologipe, “Three Blind Mime,” by Mr Charles Lawrence; a song, “The Crown of Love/’ by 3lr David Lyle; a song, “Tho King’s Minstrel,” by _Mr Hoy Cooke; the chorus song, “Exercise,” by Mr Leslie Austin; a song, “The Barber of Turin,” by Mr Louis Mitchell: and vocalisations by Miss Edith Harrold. Tho entertainment was brought to a .close by a laughable sketch called, “The Grand Amateur Competition.”

"THE PRICE SHE PAID.” In tlie trenches on the social battle ground is -where most of the scenes ot "Tiie Price She Paid,” the latest amazing success of Clara Kimball Young, are laid. The setting is extraordinarily luxurious, and the furnishings of the rich homes ol wealthy Americans will surprise oven the picture public already used to scenes of The story is a strong one, dealing with the experiences of a society girl who is forced 'to marry a repulsive and terrible little man who has hewn out an enormous fortune through absolute ruthlessness. When the tinal test arrives the heroine, Mildred Gower, is not prepared to ‘‘nay the price,” and she leaves her uncongenial husband to seek her own career. Then she finds black and terrible trouble,, and she passes through (he, dark valley of despair before she earns her right to life and love. The picture will be screened twice daily at the ICing’s, commencing this afternoon. THE EMPRESS. The evil work of Russian Court corruption is seen in its full hideousness in ‘‘The Angel of Mercy” or “Darkest Russia,” the powerful World filny drama now screening at the Empre-s. Alice Brady is the heroine, and she is especially fine .in. the .intense emotional scenes which are frequent throughout .the .play. The -writer of the-, drama .has chosen with great ingenuity a sidelight on the intrigue which accompanies despotic power, for the settling of his plot difficulties. There ace some more than wonderful scenes of Siberia, to which desolate country all the leading characters find their way, and eventually work out their salvation. CROWN THEATRE. A whirlwind could hardly cover more ground at a sharper pace than Douglas Fairbanks does in the clover comedy drama, entitled “The Matrimaniac,” now screening at the Crown. The athletic champion of the Triangle studios is seen at his very best, and the “stunts” lie performs are in the nature of n-.iraclcs. In one case, for instance, he runs up a wall perpendicularly in the most impossible fashion, and there performs more than one daring miracle of agility. Constance Talmadgc is a delightful heroine, and is one of the best of the coming stars. The story is taken

from a novelerlo by two good American writers. and lately appeared in the *‘AllStory ilagazim?.*' The tale hangs together and without the rush and hurry of Fairbanks’s clever work would have <:ii interesting straightforward romance. There will be a special matinee to-day, at 2:60. t EVERYBODY'S. A conflict oetween the narrow ideas oi the acseenuanU of uie early Euritjiii. ami a maU and a woman seeking lo iivo uown past sins, is the tnuUe of the ‘‘East ui tue ingrains/' the poweruu rnaiigie play now scieening at Everyuudy’t. Aiarjory Wilson is in the roieoi iiiio dramatic power, and invests her part; with supreme pathos. W iilium Desux>nd, as Juics Ingram, is oiEctivc, am-l ai the later scenes where he defends the ueroiao irom an attaching mob oi hatejrazed viJ iagers, he is lull oi fiery strength and energy. The photon repay jf tile picture is remarkable lor some extraordinary bcenes ou a wild sea coast, where Ingram is seen staggering over rocks wiiu tue weird and uncanny mon--ters of his levemh. brain close at his he<-ls. JJillie Burke, in "Gloria s Koirmicc.” Xo. 18, learns "The Hitter Truth." WELLINGTON HARMONIC SOCIETY. headers uro reminded that the box plan lor the next concert of the above society (at winch the assisting artists will be Miss Eileen Driscoll and Air li-erberc JHoy) to be hold on Saturday, June 30th, in the concert chamber. Town Hall, will open at the Bristol Piano Company ou Monday next, Juno 25th. at 9 a.m. FIVE SHORT PLAYS. An attractive programme of live short plays will be presented in the concert chamber next TTuu'sdiLV and inday by Ml- Culford Bell and students of h ls .School of Dramatic Art. The plays are "Comedy Sketch." ‘1 he Art of po\e, "J-apanuse Fantasy," . “The Mirror. "Farcical Sketch/ "A Sister to Assist or,” and dramatic playlet "Dream Faces." Special music will be played by an orchestra under the direction of Mr F. Wolfgang. The proceeds will be given to the Crippled Soldiers Hoslo. Fund- Seats mav be booked at the Bristol Piano Company.