ENTERTAINMENTS

New Zealand Times, Volume XLIX, Issue 11159, 15 March 1922, Page 7

ENTERTAINMENTS

HIS MAJESTY’S THEATRE. "HHR. UNBORN CHILD.” Every available seat in His Majesty's Theatre last night was occupied, when the melodrama, “Her Unborn Child,” was again presented by Fullers' Dramatic -Players. The play itself lias been handled in a delicate, straightforward , manner, and reflects credit upon author and the players. There is a deep moral in the play and undoubtedly a needed message to which no one but ihe nar-row-minded, sightless Parvenue could take exception. 'The play is commend able for the work of the Reverend Frank Gorman as Dr. Remmington, Miss Helen Fergus as the dear old Irish ibotber. Miss Nellie Fergusom as a social reformer, Miss Leslie Adrienne as the girl, and Mr Edgar Gainford as the brother is distinctly good. MV Austin Milroy makes a success of the part- or the man in the piece, and others in the cast are Miss ClSire Scherp, a small girl with an ear for keyholes, and Mi«s Doris Mills, who plays opposite to U r Gainford. The stage settings are bright and the music is appropriate. The play will be presented each evening during the week. , ELLA SHIELDS SEASON. “BURLINGTON BEiRTY FROM BOW.” There was again a very big audience at the Grand Opera House last night, and the clever English star, Miss Elm Shields, was in great favour. It is rarely that a Wellington audience has an opportunity of welcoming so brilliant an artist, and the unmistakable warmth of her reception must have been . a source of delight to the distinguished performer. The applause was generous indeed that greeted every item, and recalled again and again, Miss Shields had to respond with no less than six numbers. As on the opening night the pathos charm and dignity of the wonderful character impersonation "Burlington Borty” came fo. for much appreciation. Itn Miss Shields’s delightful, impersonations there is no straining after effects, hut just that quiet erabdvied style of delivery. so different to anything we have seen here before, that stamps ■ Mies Shields as an artist of the first rank. Hot supporting company is of more than average merit. Messrs Edward Cahill at the piano, and George Brookes, a pleasing tenor, give one of the meet refined vaudeville acts seen in Wellington. The mystery work of Mr and Miss Tree, especially the musical portion of their entertainment, is really wonderful, and the apparent complete absence of a code in transmitting the numbers requested by Mr Tree nil the auditorium to Miss Tree on the stage i» remarkable. The lady’s repertoire as a pianist must be a very extensive one, as she never fails, even when works of the great masters, whfih are seldom heard are called for. The whole programme is evenly balanced 1 and contains several artists, distinguished in their own particular line, and the atmospheffe of the entertainment is wholesome. The season is a short one and will cloee definitely on Friday night.,'

"THE SI6N ON THE DOOR.** OPERA HOUSE ON SATURDAY,

The "Daily News," in speaking of the opening performance of "The Sign on the Door' in Perth, says:—“The Sign on the Door” justifies loud and even extravagant language of praise. _ It is wonderful. Nothing to equal it has been shown in Australia for many yean, and the people of -Perth should pride themselves upon having had the first opportunity to see a play which will assuredly create a theatrical furore -In the East." “A prologue apd'y three acts compass the 6tory, which runs swiftly through a maze of possibilities to a climax as startling as it is satisfactory. There are three women in the case, but only two of them figure in the stage version. Anne, the wife of Tsfff Regan, prior to her marriage- had an experience with Frank Devereaux, a polished wife-rtealer and seducer. Devereaux visited the Regans and fascinated Helen, the daughter of the husband fay a former wife. ‘Lafe* was aware Of an infamous ruse, by which Devereaux-attempted to lure tilie - wife of. a friend, but Tie did not suspect his -wife’s past, tor teris present relations with the man. Complications arise. Mrs Regan, learning that Helen bad an appointment to meet Devereanx at his rooms, sets out to save her. Her husband had left home earlier to confer with iris friend. Anne reached the rooms before the daughter, and while she was there the husband arrived to get even with the scoundrel on lx ,ulf of Iris friend, Anne was concealed. Devereaux wes shot by Regan, who disappeared. ; To sene her husband, Anne OOTrfessedto the-'murder, declaring that Devereaui molested her. Then followed a thrilling procession of incidents, culminating ini surprising fashion. The audience, was spaU-borand by the <tramatiq jiowot of. tfcp play, .fahti sustained intensity- of width captivated the ImaginflUnn, and proclaimed' the genius of the author.’'

This play, will; be, staged In. the .Grand Opera House for a .short season of six nights, commencing bn Saturday evening next, by J. 0. Williamson's popular "Scandal** Company, headed byMaude Hansford. The box plans _ for the season are now open at ihe Bristol. PARAMOUNT AND ARTCRAFT. "BREAK THE NEWS TO MOTHER." "Break the News to Mother,** the sen--eational drama which has been appealing so strongly to patrons at the Paramount and Artoraft theatres this week, is founded on G. E. Harris's immortal song of the same name. It is a story of a mother’s love for her eon, who, no matter what he does or where he goes, is always perfect in the eyes of his mother. The production is a powerful one in every way, and while the name of the picture has been left the same as in the song, it deals with an entirely different phase of life. The second feature, "Remorseless Love,” is a story of the mountains, where loves and hates are strong. Commencing on Friday next, there will be shown the Ralph Inoe de luxe production, "A Man’s Home." This picture, it is claimed, is entitled to a place among the exceptional features of the year on account of the many tense drkmatic incidents, and it is said to be a triumph for the producer. The story deals with a man, who, through sheer pluck and determination, has climbed to the top of '.the business tree. He makes the mistake of neglecting his wife, who turns to undesirable friends to provide her -with amusement. On the same programme there will be shown a sensational drama, "Who am IP” featuring Claire Anderson and Miles Weloh. , EVERYBODY’S THEATRE. "WAY DOWN EAST." To those who were unfortunate enough to miss the opportunity of seeing the magnificent picture, "Way Down East,” last week it should afford some interest to know that the picture has been secured by the management of Everybody’s Theatre. This picture (one of the products of the famous D. W. Griffith) is the most lavishly spectacualr production that Griffith has ever made. Tt is more than a picture—it is a play that comes with a warming and a lesson. Tt is . based 1 on one of the great sins of modern society and the one woman for one man, one man for one woman, theme. Some of the big scenes—the great storm, tbe icebreak, the rescue from a terrible death in the swollen ice-bound river, the lavish ballroom scenes—are the most striking ever filmed. The production is a masterpiece in theme and setting. In addition, there is being shown "Stranger Than Fiction.” starring Katherine MacDonald and Wesley Barry.