THE THEATRES.

Sun (Christchurch), Volume 1, Issue 7, 13 February 1914, Page 9

THE THEATRES.

/■, r . . • ./ AUTUMN manoeuvres. A NIGHT OE CLEAN FUN. " Autumn Manoeuvres'' should be «ry popular in XJhristchurch, which is said to be so English, for in this comedy there is nothing that is colonial at all, nothing applicable to our circumstances. It tells the tale of the majesty which attaches to broad acres and immemorial elms; and its fun depends largely on the fact that a man who was born and bred a grocer desires to be a soldier. In the face of our so-successful scheme of universal training this is an insult; in the face of the footlights and the applause of a thousand audiences, it is desperately funny. Done in. German it was Anglicised, so that it could apply only to England, and that part of England which is incorrigibly allied to the latter-day Liberals. This musical comedy may be regarded as a possible, though false, key to the popularity of Larkin and Mr Lloyd George. 'Who would be an amateur soldier if things were as this comedy sets out? Captain Withers had to fall back on his grandmama as his sole excuse. Ambermere is the home of the Falconers, a family as decently English as it is impecunious, but has passed by breach of deed of mortgage to persons called Luttrell, whs have a daughter who was once betrothed to the heir of the Falconers. That game appeared to have ended, but the autumn manj&p.vres send Captain Falcouer, with his regiment, the Hussars, to camp in his own grounds. Naturally, he refuses "the hospitality of his ex-fiancee. The big house entertains the regiment, but Captain Falconer will tiot be the guest beneath his family roof. As an insult to his would-be hostess, he sends the impossible captain of

territorials in his place. Ha, ha! the ; plot thickens! Captain Falconer turns the lady down brutally and declares that he will do several things when he crosses her threshold. A night alarm is arranged, and Captain Falconer, all signals being disregarded, rushes to the big house, crosses the threshold, and fulfils his silly promises. He is there to be placed under arrest when General Pomeroy arrives to call the officers the names they have earned. It all looks bad for Captain Falconer until June Pomeroy wheedles her father into a desire to help him, and Captain Withers comes forward to show that' a grocer-soldier can be a man. Then everybody marries everybody else, and " Autumn Manoeuvres'' are forgotten, their bugle-calls drowned by the noise of kisses. _ - The tale is banal enough, but it is helped by great work; and much of that w T ork is done by the producer. One sees Ambermere, with its sloping lawn and its river ahead —and it Is a memory of a big house outside Southampton, such a house as wakes the' memories of an immigrant to God's Own Country. The twilight falls, and the windows light. It is great work. This is-part of the first scene, which is all excellent. The trees of Ambermere Park wear their autumn foliage, and the dresses of the girls staying at the house party are in keeping, dull tones of brown, yellow ochre, and red—mostly in velvet. Several paths converge where the Hussars and territorials make their camp "for the night. Towards darkness a gipsy troupe comes, to tell fortunes, to dance*~for what it" can get. Miss Vlasta Novotna and Mr Charles Albert do a "Romany" dance that is pleasing as it is tricky, though much hampered by limited space. The second scene, which does for the second and third acts, shows the conservatory, and has a wonderful effect of distance. Three days ago THE SUN asked to see Mr Phil Smith in other roles. He

is a good little man, who can makes ! the cleanest, least-inalicious fun of any 1 comedian we have seen. Last night his i part gave. many opportunities for the I folly of \ T ery low comedy, but he took i none of them. Miss Dorothy Bruiilon ! had a fine part, and earned her place i admirably —the world has much in store i for her if she keeps to this level. Mr . Frank Greene was a good Captain Fal- 1 coner, and Mr Robert Whyte, jun., gave- « a line character study as General Pom- : eroy. As was said before, tliis company : has no tail. 1 The songs are all bright and pleasing, and the music pleasant to listen to. ; During portions of the first act one < could only listen to it, for it drowned everything else, Later it was much more sympathetic, and helped and saved the singers. 1 FULLER'S PICTURES. The Colosseum had a fine audience last night. The picture '' Scrooge,'' an adaptation of Dickens's tale in the "Christmas Carols," with Mr Seymour Hicks in the title role, met with an excellent reception. The whole programme is a capital one, and deserves wide popularity. On Monday next the change will have as its star, "The Air King.'' "KING OF THE AIR." On Monday night, at the Colosseum, the management will introduce for the first time here the 6000 ft picture-play "King of the Air," asserted to be the greatest of all modern photo dramas. Its powerful story deals with high life in Paris at the present period, and skilfully woven in, until they become part and parcel of the plot, are many-up-to-date novelties and spectacular episodes. In the course of a Parisian ball, incidental to the play, the most discussed dance in the world to-day, 11 The Tango," is performed at great length, with strict attention to detail, by '' The

French Tango Kings,'' who are credited with being the original and the ablest exponents of this last ballroom craze. Special music will be used in-this connection, and so realistically is the dance shown that it might be learned from the screen. A striking section pictures the actual aeroplane race for the Aviation Derby, from Paris, to Holland and back, the competitors finishing by twice circling the Eiffel Tower. The country flown over is Reproduced* with wonderful eqect by a camera, carried in one of the planes. So fast do the aeroplanes travel that it is said express trains-are passed as if standing still. The hero contests this race, and- when leading, within 200 yards of the winning post, the apex of sensation is reached when his aeroplane collapses and falls to the earth, to become a complete wreck. "King of the Air" finishes a season at Wellington to-morrow night, and the management states that its popularity there was so great that hundreds were refused admission. Box plans are open at the Dresden, and intending patrons are advised to book early. GRAND THEATRE. The programme at the Grand Theatre is a powerful magnet, drawing good audiences during the day and evening. Each section of film studies is well represented, and altogether there is excellent fare provided. "The Sheriff" is a fine Western drama, and "The Duchess of Follies" and "Landlord's Troubles" are very mirtli-provoking comedies. The programme will be on to-day and to-morrow and in the evenings. To-morrow at 2.30 there will be the usual matinee, at which special pictures will be shown in conjunction with the current programme, the whole comprising what the management term a master programme. SYDENHAM PICTURES. A new programme was presented at

the Sydenham Picture Theatre last evening, and it was greeted with evi dent appreciation by a large audience; The y story of "Scrooge," from Dickens's '' Christmas Carol,'' was well told, and was followed with the deepest interest. "A Window in Washington Park" was a fine dramatic study, telling a powerful story in a capital way. The "New Zealand News" depicted some events of recent occurrence in the Dominion, and these films are bound to be always popular. There were some capital comedy studies, '' Sauce for the Goose'' telling in a diverting way how a clever young wife got even with her rather flighty husband. The "Wellington Athletic Sports" were nicely done, and the '' Gaumont Graphic'' pictures a number of events of which we have been told by cable. "The Black Thirteen," the thrilling detective story, is also on the list, 'and it makes an acceptable addition. On the whole the programme is an interesting and entertaining one, and should have a successful run during itß currency. QUEEN'S THEATRE. The Queen's Theatre offers an attractive fare for the delectation of its, patrons. A new programme was screened to-day, and it was in every respect a satisfying production, from the point of view of the audience, which is the most important. There are some excellent dramatic studies, which include "The Passing of Joe Mary," a story of the frontier life of the Golden West, with plenty of Indians and other excitements. "Jean of the Jail" and "A Simple Maid" are also very interesting studies, each unfolding a story which makes an instant appeal. The "Pathe Gazette" contains r a series of unusual interest, and it features the Indian, troubles in South Africa which caused so much perturbation throughout the Empire. For the ladies, it shows the latest Paris fashions, which seem to be becoming more wonderful than ever as the years go by. The comedy subjects include "Algy's Awful Auto" and "Baby's Elephant," both of which fulfil their mission as laughter makers. A special addition will be made to-morrow afternoon for the matinee, when two pictures with particular interest for the children will be shown. HAYWARD'S PICTURES. The programme at His Theatre, which has a sensational drama, ' ( The Black Thirteen,'' as its star film, was repeated with much success last night. It is supported by a series of very interesting films. \ To-night and to-morrow night will be its last two runs at His Majesty'a, OPERA HOUSE. A big audience at the Opera House last night was loud in its applause of the Franco Midgets, in their darieing and illusion work, and of the veteran tenor, Mr John .Fuller. Le Brun, the skater, Crenier and Arnold, Leslie andLeslie, and the supporting company all went well. The same programme, will be repeated to-night.

GLOBE THEATRE. The programme at the Globe is meeting with the unanimous appreciation of the audiences which patronise this continuous show. It is strong in comedy subjects 6f a most laughable kind, but there are also dramatic and other studies which are nicely entertaining. "The Blue and the Grey" is the stai* film, and it tells prettily and effectively a love story of the American Civil War. The programme is being shown to-day and for the rest of this week.