THE THEATRES.

Sun (Christchurch), Volume I, Issue 16, 24 February 1914, Page 9

THE THEATRES.

THE OPERA HOUSE. If last night's reception be any criterion, the current week's programme at the Opera House is in for a good run. Several well-knownjfavourites are still appearing, while others made their first bow last night. Of all the turns given, the audience seemed to bestow their most generous approval on those of Leonard Nelson, and Dixie Southern, the latter's impersonation of a suffragette orator taking especially well. Her humorous quips in this piece were extremely good, and she raised a general laugh round the house by effectually silencing an interrupter in the audience. Mr Nelson's songs had been given before, but they had lost none of their savour because of that, as witness the merriment caused by his shy allusion to our Town Hall. Clayton and Groan, two dainty dancers, pirouetted in the Opera House for the .first time, and they should be in for a lengthy stay. Evidently Christehurch would like to see more of them. Other newcomers were II Trovatore Trio, three burlesque singers, with a good stock of wit and humour in their repertoire. Of a similar nature was the turn provided by the Kimball Bros, two of them, who are under engagement for three nights only, prior to their departure for America. Miss Beryl Gilman made a welcome reappearance, and her songs evoked appreciative applause, though at times' her voice failed to rise over the music of the orchestra. Largay and Snee, fresh from triumphs in New York, gave a very breezy entertainment, including one or two catchy songs, and they were recalled several times. > The other performers, the Rondas Trio, with their daring feats and skill on cycles, the Great Guzmani Trio, who perform some wonderful tricks while maintaining a balance on a huge sphere as easily as if they were on terra firma, and Delmar and Cassandra, slack wire walkers, are all in this week's bill, which should attract extensive patronage. Mr Leonard Nelson's novel competitions, giyen with a view of discovering local talent, should not be lost sight of.

QUEEN'S THEATRE. Your big Indian drama can no longer be enacted somewhere in the suburbs, if" has to be set in a country where it might have happened. So the Kalem Co. had its latest film, '' The Big Horn Massacre," photographed amongst the Big Horn ranges, in the State of Wyoming. The tale sets out the wooing ofWillowbud, a Sioux maiden, by two braves of the tribe. It shows the death of one of them beneath the scalping knife of the other after they have fought a fierce duel in Indian fashion, first on horseback and then dismounted. Unfortunately for poor Willowbud, it ia her favoujrite, Fleetfoot, who has gone •down, and by the ruling of the chief she is to be the bride of the victor Hawkeye. Such a scheme holds no prospect of pleasure for her. She leaps on to a

nearby horse and is off, with the disappointed Hawkeye in hot pursuit. She is caught within sight of a military patrol by whom she is rescued, Hawkeye escaping, wounded. The patrol take her to the fort, where she is hospitably received by all. The game goes further, for back in the Sioux camp Hawkeye raises the racial instinct and leads an attack upon the fort. There follows much hard riding and fierce fighting, but, of course, it is all quite well in end. This film in itself takes some thirty-five minutes to unreel, but it has strong support nevertheless. Perhaps the best film is the beautiful Pathe colour educational series, showing the growing of apples in the State of Washington. '' The Ward of the Senior Class" and "Riley and Schulz" supply the comic element. The programme will be repeated to-night and to-morrow.

COLOSSEUM. The exceptional heat may have had something to do with the rather small attendance at the Colosseum yesterday evening, but it was certainly not the fault of the new programme of films screened. A stirring spectacular military drama, "The Plot of India's Hillmen," held the audience from the start and applause was loud and frequent. Count Savanoff, a Russian spy, and allied to a tribe of Indian hillmen, becomes the guest of General Melbourne, commandant of a British army post. The spy learns that Lieut. Maxam has invented a new explosive, and plans to steal the formula. He seeks the co-operation of Messiah, the General's servant, who is one of the hillmen's spies, but while the two are searching the lieutenant's room he enters and discovers them. A tussle ensues, but Masam is overpowered and taken as a prisoner to the hills, the spies having also discovered his formula for the explosive. Zurah, Maxam's servant, who had been befriended by his master, sees them leave, follows, and later brings word of the lieutenant 's predicament to the General, who with his army prepares to attack the hillmen. Savanoff and the tribesmen plan to entice the troops to death, and a large' quantity of the explosive is prepared and placed along the route where it is intended to allure the troops. A sharp conflict takes place, the tribesmen are routed, and, forgetting the trap they have prepared, cross the place where the explosive is planted and are wiped out in the terrible upheaval Avhich occurs. The faithful Zurah leads the troops to the ruins of Maxam's prison, when he is found injured, but not seriously, and the film closes with the triumphant backward march of the British troops. This film is supported by another, "The Tiger," which is a powerful tragic and dramatic play of love and revenge, and is almost as good. A choice number of the "Pathe English Gazette," along with '>The Beauties of Venice," delight those who enjoy witnessing topical news pictured, and who are fond of scenic films. ' ' Anniversary Day in Wellington"- contains subject matter nearer home, and is a most enjoyable film. Those who appreciate

comical films seemed more than ordinarily satisfied with "Wifflcs and the African Potentate," featuring the famous French comedian, M. Prince, and "The Autocrat of Flap-Jack Junction," with John Bunny in the title role. ~

GRAND THEATRE. The new programme at the Grand Theatre, Cathedral Square, drew well at all sessions yesterday. It is starred by the Nordisk drama, "Unjustly Accused, '' 4000 ft of love, jealousy, and general melodrama. A leading dancer is made love to by a Count, who, having extracted a promise that she will never grace the stage again, marries her. She has many struggles against the lure of the spotlight, and the glamour of the old life; and is victorious until the hour comes when she is called upon to aid a friend. He is a theatrical manager, whose leading lady has failed to keep her contract, and is at his wits end for a substitute. The Countess goes back, plays with marked success, and naturally is seen by her husband. Equally naturally his suspicions are by no means allayed by his seeing the grateful farewell of the manager to his wife.- He leaves her and seeks satisfaction from the manager, who chooses as his weapons two pills, one -poison, and the other harmless. The Count loses, and a deep sleep falls upon him.\ He wakes to find the manager has gone, leaving behind him a written account of the whole affair. The Count's jealousy is dead, and the wife cured of her nostalgia of the stage. All live happy ever after. IA fine educational film of "The Industries of Java,'' and a liberal allowance of comics, complete the bill. The programme will be repeated to-night and i to-morrow.

SYDENHAM PICTUEES. The new programme at the Sydenham pictures was well received last night, the chief film, '' God' Eemembers when the World Forgets" or "Under the Daisies," being conspicuous for its success. It tells the tale of a rather worthless young journalist, who goes to the country for his health's sake. He has recently inherited a considerable fortune from a relative, who has made it a condition that he shall not marry for five years. A country girl loves him, and under promise of eventual marriage, follows him to the city to await the expiration of the period. When the time is up she realises that her dream is over, and returns to the field of daisies, where it began. She writes a poem and dies with it in her hands. He is sent to criticise a dramatised version of the poem, and is stricken by remorse, goes to the same field, and there commits suicide. An industrial film, showing the dairy industry in New Zealand, is very interesting. Topical, scenic, and dramatic series complete an interesting programme that will be repeated to-night. GLOBE THEATRE. "In the Dark," the star picture in this week's programme at the Globe,

has both the comic and dramatic qualities. A new maid is engaged on her OAvn statement that she is unmarried. In reality she has a lamplighter for her husband, a man who uses a rope ladder as an aid to love-making, and comes in the dark to his wife. The family notice this suspicious circumstance, but form a weird explanation in their own minds. They decide that the maid must be an heiress in hiding, and set their son on to marry her, despite the fact that his ideas run in quite another direction. Once the father is mistaken by the maid for her lamplighting husband, and is considerably kissed. Finally outsiders watch the lamplighter climbing his ladder and raise the alarm. All

are brought face to face, and the game is over. Industrial, comic, and topical films complete a good series, which is to be repeated to-night and to-morrow. HIS MAJESTY'S. The excellent programme shown at His Majesty's for the first time last evening opened with an exceptionally fine overture, '' The Return of the Scouts." The music sets forth the story of how at dead of night a slumbering camp is disturbed by the bugle calls of a-scouting detail returning at a mad gallop. The call to arms is given, the charge sounded, and a short sharp fight ensues. Then gradually the conflict ends, the recall is given, and the steady tramp of the soldiers is once more heard, while in a short time the camp is again a place of peace. The stirring music puts the audience at once.into a state of expectancy, and the quality of the films screened is such as to leave a- sense of satisfaction at having seen the programme. An interesting number of the Gaumont Graphic makes a good initial opening, while interest is still maintained by the second film "What Shall it Profit a Man!" where the tale is told of, a business partnership in which one partner obtains a fortune through swindling the other, his guilt being shown up by his wife just as he hasc been chosen by his townsmen-'to seek municipal honours. Fierce anger at first overcomes him as the result of the exposure, but eventually remorse for his illdeeds overtakes him, and the story ends happily. Two New Zealand-made films follow next, in the "N.Z. Animated News" and "The Dairying Industry of New Zealand." The latter film is especially acceptable, in that it completely covers the industry, and one sees pictures right from the initial stages where the herds are shown, to where the butter is shipped for export. A Vitagraph comedy, '' When Glasses are not Glasses,'' is then shown, which is up to the usual standard of excellence of films put out by that company. The second half of the programme opens with an educational film, '' A Day in a Sailor 's Life," which depicts routine work in the Italian navy. "Under the Daisies," which follows next, is the "star" film of the programme; the chief character in which is a young journalist who inherits a legacy on condition that he does not marry until .he is 35 years of age. He accepts the conditions, inherits the money and goes to stay in the country. While there, he becomes enamoured of a- rustic maid who, after hearing the conditions of his fortune, agrees to accompany him to the city and wait the five years until they can marry. She finds out his worthlessness, and, leaving him, returns to the country, where she dies. F>efore dying, she writes a poem setting forth her bitter experience. The poem is later on dramatised, and the journalist, who is sent to criticise the play, is so struck by its similarity to his own story, that, the victim of remorse, he returns to the country, there to die by his own hand. Any feeling of sadness that may have been aroused by this film is dispelled by the laughable comedy, "Heinze's Eesurrection," which concludes a most enjoyable programme.