THE THEATRES.

Sun (Christchurch), Volume I, Issue 64, 22 April 1914, Page 9

THE THEATRES.

THEATRE ROYAL. There was.another large audience at the Theatre Royal last night to enjoy the triumph of virtue over villainy, as shown in "The Beggar Girl's Wedding." There are plenty, of thrilling episodes and situations in the play, enough to satisfy 'the most exacting lover of the purple intensity of melodrama. This type of drama has its conventions, and is to be judged by them, and so judging it can be said that this play is good melodrama —the comic relief plays . broadest comedy that achieves its object of causing laughter, and so relieving the intensity of emotion caused by the tribulations of the heroine. The adventuress and the villain are so unscrupulously wicked that they inspire a detestation of evil; and liero and heroine are so good, though a trifle foolish at times, that one cannot help yearning to reach their high altitudes of honour; and it is with genuine relief that one/ greets the. end, with wickedness in handcuffs and virtue restored to its own. Next Friday and Saturday "The Beggar Girl's Wedding" will be replaced by the drama "No Mother to Guide Her," which is said to be even more poignant than the first.

GRAND THEATRE, I j The splendid drama, "Fedora," is ; proving an immense attraction at the Grand Theatre, and large houses have been present at the varidus sessions so far throughout the week. The last opportunity of witnessing the production will be at this evening's sessions, as a new programme is promised for tomorrow. The story told is a most engrossing one, and the acting and staging throughout is of a high order. Successful supporting pkitares included in the programme are "Wine," industrial; "Two Adventurous Girls," and "Sammy and Dupin in a Side Car," laughable comediesj. SYDENHAM PICTURES. As on Monday night, the current programme drew a crowded house at the Sydenham Theatre on its second screening. A great deal of the popularity •achieved must redound to the credit of the star film, "Napoleon," which occupies all the second half of the programme. All the life of the famous general is not shown, only the period from his coronation to his death at St. Helena, which ' covers the most eventful part of his career. There is no lack of variety in the picture, which includes views of both Napoleon's triumphs and defeats, and some brilliant scenes of the court life of the period. The closing scenes disclose the last moments of the deposed Emperor, his mighty genius, which enabled him to tumble kingdoms about like ninepins, inert and paralysed " by the dread disease which had already dulled his intellect at Waterloo. The supporting films are also good, though somewhat dimmed by the "star." "The Message of the Sun Dial," for instance, is an .exceedingly pretty drama, while '' The Elusive Kiss'' has equal claims to encomium as a comedy. "The Pathe Gazette," "Medicine Show at Stone Gulch," and "Garden Flowers" complete the programme, which may be witnessed again to-night.

GLOBE THEATRE. The current programme at'the Globe Theatre continues to receive much welldeserved attention. The star item is a well-staged drama entitled "The Peril of the White Lights." A girl of the stage a notorious scoundrel, being subsequently tried and acquitted. She was then rjrged. by a theatrical manager to, return to the stage and use to advantage the notoriety she had gained as a result of the incident. The girl refuses and goes to live in the country at the home of a distant relative and her son. Later, the theatrical manager discovers her and. employs more,threats, with the result that the girl returns to the city. The son who is in love with the girl follows her, in the end being successful in finding her and taking her back to a life of happiness. The supporting pictures are "The Warning Hand," In French New Guinea," "His Hoodoo," "The Ranch's New Barber," and "The Warwick Chronicle." The programme will be repeated at the various sessions this evening.

I OPERA HOUSE. The current programme at the Opera House is proving an excellent attraction, another very large audience being present last evening, when the various artists were all more or less successful in their performances. A good turn is put on by Lee Chandlers, with their singing anj. the dancing of the "Devil's Tango" and the "Original Texas Tommy Dance." Brent Hayes is ; undoubtedly the star performer, howi ever, and continues to amaze the audience with his wonderful performances !on the banjo. This evening Louis W. | Bloy's Banjo Band will play various selections under his direction. Montell's Marionette Theatre is also a very excellent turn, which cannot fail to please. ! Other performers are Carlton and Suti ton, Kingaley and Graham, Knowles and I Lee, Winifred Stewart, the Three Luxi ors, and Sherratt and Lang. HIS MAJESTY'S. The chequered career of . the famous Corsican, Napoleon, as pictured at His Majesty's Theatre in the current programme, continues to attract large I audiences. The acting throughout is i of a high standard, and the film is enjhanced in value from the fact that 1 many of the scenes were photographed |on the actual historic spots. Excellent | supporting pictures also add to the gen- ' eral enjoyment. Yachting views obtained on picturesque Wellington Har- ; hour go to make up a most pleasing i film of local interest, and. a F-'a,the-colour I flower study as shown in "Some Garj den Flowers" is also most pleasing. A child study of no mean order is shown in "His Majesty the Baby,'.' showing a very small male playing in perfect, harmony with various animals, including a cheetah. For those who lik<* > comedies the recipe for laughter \s screened to perfection in "The Elusive jKiss," picturing the minor troubles of a newly-married couple, and " Medicino ' Show at Stone Gulch," a burlesque picj turing the great success of a quack ; doctor. "The Message of the Sun j Dial" and "The Pathe Gazette" are ; also successfully screened. The proJ gramme will be repeated this evening.

COLOSSEUM. The general excellence of the current programme showing at the Colosseum is responsible for attracting much favourable attention. The "star" attrac-

tion is a drama based on stirring happenings of the American Civil War, being entitled ''Brothers at War." The story told is how a Northerner married a Southern girl, so that when war .was declared the brothers were fighting, on opposite sides.- During the course of the war they were both wounded; fate had it that they were removed to a hospital where the wif6 and sister was a nurse, and a reconciliation took place. "His Majesty the Baby" was a child study of the first order, and contained much genuine humour. "He would aHunting Go" was a Keystone farce provoking mirth continuously, the acting being well up to the standard raised by Keystone favourites - . Other supporting pictures shown successfully are "Tar Burning in Westerbotten," "The Half-breed's Crime," "The Manicure Girl/" "Gaumont Graphic," and "A Corner in Popularity. "The programme will be repeated .this evening.