THE THEATRES.

Sun (Christchurch), Volume I, Issue 149, 30 July 1914, Page 9

THE THEATRES.

THE SMART SET. Another large audience was successfully entertained at the Theatre jßoyal by the Smart' Set last evening, when all members of the company were well received. The final performance by these clever entertainers will be given this evening, when an entirely new programme will be presented. Anyone desirous of having an evening's profitable entertainment could not do better than pass the time in the company of the Smart Set. OPERA HOUSE. Another large and appreciative audience attended the Opera House last evening, when Gordon and Day, trick cyclists, the New York Comedy Four, and Irve Hayman and Co., presented the most popular turns. The company this week is of fairly even excellence, there being no weak items on the programme whatever. On Saturday the usual matinee performance will be given, while the management also announces that Miss Daisy Jerome, the

popular comedienne, will appear for a brief season shortty. HIS MAJESTY'S. The programme showing at His Majesty's this week is proving most attractive, and large audiences attend nightly. "Marvels of Nature" is the star film, showing various beasts of the Indian jungle in their native haunts. A Keystone comedy also finds a place on the programme in '' When Hazel met the Villain,'' a most amusing tion. Other films shown are "The Black Mask," and "The Master of the Mine," dramas; "The Gauinont Graphic," topical; and "Training Italian Cavalry," educational. The same programme will be repeated this evening. COLOSSEUM. "Protea the Second," the chief attraction at the Colosseum this week, is an intensely interesting criminal investigation drama, well photographed and capably acted. Exciting episodes abound, and the production throughout grips the attention of the audience. The best of the supporting pictures is '' The Chicken Chaser,'' a Keystone comedy which amuses the great part

of the audience almost to the extent of giving them a mild form of convulsions. Several other films go to make up a programme of no mean order, which will be screened again this evening. SYDENHAM PICTURES. There was a large and appreciative audience at the Sydenham Picture Theatre last evening, when the current programme was screened finally. The new series to be presented this evening will contain as a star feature '.'Protea the Second," a very fine criminal investigation drama. A Keystone comedy, "The Chicken Chaser," will also be screened, while the other pictures of the series are: —"The Pafsic Gazette," topical; "How God Came to Sonny," drama; and "Dynamite as an aid to Agriculture,'' industrial. GLOBE PICTURES. The current programme at the Globe Theatre was screened finally before a large and appreciative audience last evening, and the new series showing today has maintained that liberal patronage. In the forefront is a Vitagraph drama, "The Way to Happiness." The story shows how a society girl discovered* that it is only through personal

service and usefulness that true happiness comes, not through living the life of a. butterfly of society. A Keystone comedy also finds a place on the programme in "The Speed Kings," a highly entertaining production 1000 feet in length. Other films going to make up a most enjoyable programme are "The Price," Lubin drama; "The Bear Hunter," A.K. drama; "What a Lark! 5 ' and "He and She," comedies; and a most interesting number of the " Gaumont. Graphic." The programme will be repeated this evening and throughout to-morrow. OLYMPIA RINK. The Olvmpia Rink continues to maintain liberal patronage, and each and every session sees skaters and spectators present in large numbers. The usual hours are being observed. FORTY THIEVES' PANTOMIME. The box plans for the seven nights' season of "The Forty Thieves Pantomime" were opened at Milner and Thompson's this morning, and judging by the spirited advance booking the success of the season should be fairly assured.

There are many ballots in "The Forty Thieves," which reach the climax in the finale of the two acts. In the first of these two finales, a ballet representative of the products of Australia, the brilliantly lighted stage is crowded with dancing spirits bearing trophies of wool, gold, silver, fruit, and coal, and there is ultimately a brilliant tableau, where two crowned figures, emblematic of mining and agriculture, sit enthroned in the midst of the throng, while an idealised Federal city appears in the background. At the end of the pantomime, an army of saucy drummers, with the regimental colours of all the nations, march in beating a lively tattoo, and make a glittering show which leads to a novel effect when strings of Hags are released all over the house. . . . The critic o|f the Sydney "Referee" writes thus on the "Forty Thieves Pantomime": —"A brilliantly produced and sparkling entertainment is the Panto-Extravaganza 'The Forty Thieves.' An enticing theatrical dish, the ingredients of which—comedy, catchy music, humorous situations, pretty girls, gorgeous dresses, anil scenic splendour—are all blended with rare skill. The plot sticks close to the original Arabian Nights story, and the audience are plunged at once into that wonderland of fantastic beauty, which is the atmosphere of the fine old fairy tale. It would be useless to set forth all the good things to be seen in a pantomime. Perhaps the most praiseworthy of the entire performance is the magnificent finale to the first act, marked 011 the programme as 'the Vision of Australia.' The colouring in this instance was exquisite, particularly in the case of the section of the ballet representing grapes. So delicate was the shading of costumes worn, with the excellence of the lighting, that the picture which this item presented defies description. Not alone were the grapes remarkable for their sensitive tonality, but so in smaller measure were the different articles and products which this allegorical ensemble displayed." The opening performance will be given at the Theatre Royal 011 Saturday evening next. There will be matinees 011 Wednesday next and Saturday week.