THE THEATRES.

Sun (Christchurch), Volume I, Issue 140, 20 July 1914, Page 9

THE THEATRES.

"ANTONY AND CLEOPATRA." To-night, at His Majesty's Theatre, will see the first screening here of Cines' great presentation of Shakespeare's immortal classic tragedy "Antony and Cleopatra," in pictures which, shown in conjunction with specially arranged music to be rendered an augmented orchestra ender the direction of Signori Martinelli, should certainly bid fair to mark an epoch in picture amusements in this city. It is claimed for the film that it is without a doubt the' best achievement' in the iilmic art ever produced. In praising its merits the Auckland Star" said: —"This Shakespearean picture seems to. mark the limit in kinematography, and nothing short of the actual play, with the lines spoken by these talented performers, could conceivably compare with it." An outstanding feature is said to be admirable acting of a very lengthy cast. Amongst these, standing prominently in the foreground as Mark Antony SignW Novelli, the Vinitiug of ' 'Quo Vadiss>■'■ The representation ©f the part Hagar is said to be one of themosi 'telling' characters thrown on the sereen. This character, a slave

girl, is interpolated into the production from the version of the story of the famous Italian writer Signor Cossat The reproduction of the death of Hagar, when .she is thrown in the waters to the waiting alligators by Cleopatra's orders, is said to reach the very apex of realism? The management state that "Antony and Cleopatra" closed its season at Wellington on Saturday night amid a scene of enthusiasm, many patrons being unable to gain admission to the theatre. The season will be limited to six nights, and seats may be reserved ,at the ©resden without booking fee. OPERA HOUSE. There were large and enthusiastic audiences both at the matinee and evening performances at the Opera House on Saturday. To-»ig!ht the management will present what rs claimed to be the finest vaudeville bill for many months past, headed by the exclusive and most expensive starring engagement, direct from Hammerstein's Theatre, New York City, of Edward Blondell, styled "America's greatest comedian," who will appear in his original absurdity in one aet, "The Lost Boy," assisted by Miss Katheryne Caine, a well-known American actress. The

Edward Blondell season is strictly limited to six nights, and one special matinefi on Saturday. There will be a strong supporting compan/ of vaudeville artists, including the starring engagement, direct from America, of Leslie and Sol Bern, an American character comedy duo, presenting their amusing motoring sketch described as "one long laugh from start to finish"; the first appearance direct from America of the Eary Comedy Trio of acrobats; the special engagement of Croiten and Skremka, in their beautiful athletic and posing act; supported by Miss Jessie Millar, the well-known musical artist, assisted by Miss Dolly Millar, Millie Doris, the popular Eng lish character Vernon and Sinclair, eomedy sketch- artists, .Tames Opie, descriptive vocalist, and Lavima Tyson, contralto. The box plans are at Milnev and Thompson's music warehouse and seats can also be booked by theatre telephone after 6 p.m. COLOSSEUM. Both afternoon and evening sessions at the Colosseum on Saturday were largely attended by appreciative patrons. The customary-change of programme is announced for to-night, and is reputed to be quite up to standard.

The feature of the series is an adaptation of the Scottish story of ' 1 Black Roderick, the Poacher." The story lias been enacted among the picturesque lakes, mountains, moors, and glens of the Western Highlands of Scotland, wlrfere the events ate alleged: to have happened. The kinematography is vouched for as being superb. Otherpictures are: —■'' Gaumont Graphic,'' with the very latest topical events in picture; 'jA Romance ot the North West," drama; "Rice Culture in Java," educational; "A Leap for Life," railroad drama; "Polidor and the Lions," comedy; "Spanish Morocco," civic; and another of those poplar Keystone farce-comedies, "His Favourite Pastime." The orchestra will provide new overtures and incidental music, which promises to be a feature of the entertainment. SYDENHAM PICTURES. For this evening's entertainment the management of the Sydenham Picture Theatre announces the great C'ines imasterpiece, "Antony and Cleopatra," a stupendous production said to be one succession of gorgeous scenes. A series of special preliminary pictures will ulso be screened, and the opening scenes of "Antony and Cleopatra" should be on the screen shortly before 9 0 'clock. GLOBE THEATRE: The Globe Theatre was liberally patronised on Saturday night, when the current programme was screened finally. The new series showing to-day is proving quite as attractive, with 4 ' When Brothers Go To War'' as the star film. This is a powerful Mexican drama which grips the audience from start to finish, the story told being full of exciting incident. The supporting films comprise "Redwing's Protector," drama; "Warwick Chronicle," topieal; "Revenue and the Girl," drama; "Scenes Around Smyrna," scenic; "Hubby's Night Off" and "Rudolfi and the Lady Advocate," comedies. The supporting films are all of even value, the series as a whole going to ensure excellent entertainment. The programme will be screened again this evening, and throughout to-morrow. OLYMPIA RINK. The excessively cold weather we are experiencing has made the Olympia Rink even more popular than hitherto, and all day Saturday the floor space was severely taxed. The floor continues to keep in excellent condition, the skates provided are" of tile best, while altogether every facility is at hand for healthy enjoyment. ' The same hours will be observed this evening and to-morrow. THE SMART SET. The above well-known comedy costume organisation, under the direction of Mr Edward Branscombe, will commence a season at the Theatre Royal on Thursday next. Playgoers will remember the Smart Set on their Jast visit here, but since that time the organisation has been taken over by Mr Branscombe, who has augmented it with several of the most prominent artists selected from his Bandies companies, and now presents the Smart Set with the utmost confidence that the successful tour last year through the Dominion will be eclipsed by the present one. Patrons would be well advised to secure their seats ahead, as there is bound to be a big demand for seats. The Smart Set is run upon the lines of the Dandies shows, but at the same time there is distinctive individuality about them, which it is hard to define, but which is most apparent. Mr Branscombe is desirous of preserving this "atmosphere," which enables them to be set off against the Dandies, and vice versa. Mr Walter George and Miss Georgie Martin, whose excellent duets and sketches charmed local patrons on their last visit are again amongst the artists of this company,»in addition to which may be mentioned the following: —Mr Harry De Robeck, character comedian; Miss Gwennyth Evans, contralto; Mr Edgar Hulland, pianist; Miss Lalla Kuight, soprano; Mr Ernest Parkcs, baritone; and Mr Maurice Jones, tenor; Mr Gavin Wood, basso comedian. The corset and pegged skirt parades, introduced, in the Tango dances and burlesques, are stated to be exceptionally interesting features, and have met with great success in other towns.

AN AFRICAN MISSIONARY. ME CRAWFORD'S ADDRESSES. Mr Dan Crawford, the missionary explorer, gave an atl*lress before a large audienee in the Choral Hall on Saturday evening, his subject being "Central Africa and the Africans." Mr Crawford is an energetic speaker, and as he lias spent 23 years in Central Africa he naturally knows his subject. His tales of adventure and stories concerning the 'natives kept the audience interested and amused, while he took the opportunity frequently of pointing otft that civilisation does not necessarily mean a better life, either spiritually or physically. He spoke of the long distances of Africa, the huge size of the continent, which could take in India, China, - and Australia, and still have room left to take in Europe. His work in improving the dwellings of the natives and giving them good roads through the long grass instead of tracks, was also touched on, and he told several amusing anecdotes illustrative of the conservatism of the savage mind. Long distances had to be travelled without the aid of horses, for there were nc horses in Central Africa —the tsetse fly killed them —and journeys had to be made through the jungle over tracks less than eighteen inches wide. His nearest store was 1000 miles away, and lie was rarely in touch with civilisation. The speaker also dealt in passing with the manner and customs of the natives whom he had come to know thoroughly, and described them as a people of considerable mental development and ceremoniously polite manners. He told many stories in illustration, all of which held the audience strongly interested throughout. Mr Crawford also gave an address to men at the Choral Hall yesterday afternoon. It was well attended, and, besides the chairman (Mr J. I. Royds) there were present: Messrs J. Fountain, E. C. Brownell, and the Rev. F. Rule. Mr Royds announced that to-night (Monday) a men's meeting would be .held at. 8 o'clock in the Hall, while a business men's luncheon would be addressed by Mr Crawford 011 Tuesday. On Tuesday afternoon at 3 p.m. a meeting for women would be held, and in the evening a lantern lecture would be given. Mr Crawford's address was on the lines of the others he had given. After dealing with missionary enterprise the lecturer said that the further he penetrated into Central Africa the more he was impressed with the kinship of humanity, and all things created. In impressing this on a native chief the chief had said he knew it all before, and pointing to a crocodile and a bird ho said they were all one, they both came from an egg. In speaking of the life of the natives as compared to the civilised races the lecturer again used the remark of the native, that '' to be better off is not to be better." The natives might be cannibals, but they were not brutes; they had a precise code of manners, and in studying [their languages he had found some remarkable vocabularies and extraordinarily rteh grammatical constructions 'which had surprised the grammarians of Oxford when he had brought his philological discoveries to that seat of learning. He also spoke of Johannesburg, where gambling and gin are ruining the natives, and referred to their ethical and. spiritual conceptions, which he said were higher than those of the average civilised man, though the native always s-ought to reduce the abstract to the concrete. In concluding his address, Mr Crawford appealed for help in building schools. It did not cost more than £IOO to build a native school —America had promised him 30, Wellington and Auckland had each contributed the cost of three, and he was in hope that C'hristchv.rch would provide at least two. At 0.30 o'clock last evening Mr Crawford preached in the Trinity Congregational Church, on the text from St. Paul, "Rejoice in the Lord." He said that often when buried in Central Africa he had been upheld by the apostle's words, and from the first he had found what he needed Was stedfastncss of purpose. His sermon was illustrated with many parables drawn from his experiences amongst the natives. Later in the evening lie Again addressed a large meeting at the Choral Hall, when his Worship the Mayor (Mr H. Holland) presided. Speaking ot' foreign missions, Mr Crawford said they were all a matter of altitude, since liie higher one went the wider was the outlook. The mission stations were called by the blacks "cities of refuge," and if" was there they came when in trouble, lie gave an illustration of an old I African chieftainess who had heard that j Cod "had written the missionaries .1 letter," meaning thereby the Bible, and ; she determined that she would read that litter, though it meant, an eight days' journey. She heard a service ami accepted the faith, and later there came kcws that the chief had died and that

the Old chief tainess, saying that Christ hat! died for many and that she could do the same, had taken the place of twelve women of the tribe who had been seleeted for sacrifice, according to African eustom. The address ' was similar, to the others, containing much interesting information <and anecdote concerning the Central African peoples and the work done by the missions, -and the attention of the large audience was gripped throughout.