THE THEATRES.

Sun (Christchurch), Volume I, Issue 153, 4 August 1914, Page 9

THE THEATRES.

"THE FORTY THIEVES." Without a doubt, "The Forty Thieves" is the best, brightest, and most lavishly mounted pantomime that has been produced in New Zealand for many years. It is a most entertaining mixture of side-splitting comedy, graceful ballets, gorgeous colouring, and catchy music—jumbled up in true modern panto style and poured out with lavish hand. In the very jumble itself is a good deal of the delight of a meritorious pantomime of these days —you don't know what to expect next, and you are more delighted than ever when you find it something well worth having. In "The Forty Thieves" you are sure to get something good each time the scene is changed. So many pantomimes ill late years have been but mediocre that it is really refreshing to see a pantomime as worthy of praise as that which is now holding the stage at the Theatre Boyal. One very strong feature of the present production is the quality of the humour —and there are "big chunks of it. Barry Lupino is a real comedian. He does not depend on broad farce for' his efforts—far from it. His humour can be boisterous enough when necessary. But he can get more fun out of half-a-dozen words than other comedians get out of any amount of buffoonery. He is a " character'' in every sense of the word. The quiet restraint of his fooling makes the humour all i the clearer, and you simply have to laugh, whether you want to or not. But Barry Lupino is not by any means the'.only comedian. There is that excellent 11 dame,'' Edwin Brett. There are, too, W. A. Hassan, inimitable impersonator of animals, and Dolly Tlarman, a most diverting "slavey." Then there are the "Three Bubes," whose acrobatic comedy is remarkably clever. But to treat of all the excellencies of this production would need much space. "The Forty 'Thievesis certainly the brightest panto seen in Christchurcli for many a day. - OPERA HOUSE. One of the best items in Fuller's new programme last night was the - athletic turn by Grotten and '■ Kremka, whose posing was particularly effective, their acrobatic items-being-equally'as good. The humour of Mr Fred Swift, described on the programme as "The Musical Nut," was really genuine,and his ability to coax tunes from such mundane articles as ordinary motor hornsrwas quite remarkable. With the aid of squeakers loeated in every pocket, and in each of the ten.fingers of his gloves, this artist played tune after tune, which he interspersed with humorous anecdotes. The New York Comedy Four again appear this week. Their new turns included a nautical quartet, in which they appeared as four officers of s.s. Vaudeville. Their «ncore number, in accordance with their promise, was certainly topical, and it «annot be denied that they were intensely patriotic—from the enemy's point of view, the item chosen being the "StXldier's Chorus" from . Faust. Their patriotism, - if somewhat misf laced, was, at anyrate, very sincere, rve Hayman and Co. were seen in a new slcetch entitled '' The -Eternal "Triangle," the geometrical figure, of eourse, comprising the - wife, the husband, and the inevitable serpent in the shape of the husband's man friend. The Vwo-latter are seen conversing together.

The husband, having partaken of numerous whiskies, is in a somewhat'pessimistic mood, and gives vent to his gloomy feelings by denoxmcing womankind, none of whom, he says, are to be trusted. He appeals to his friend to verify his somewhat sweeping statement. His friend replies by advising him to take an asperine powder, and offers to make a special trip to his apartments to get one. While his friend is on this errand, the husband throws himself on the settee and goes* to sleep. Presently he awakens, to find that he is alone, lie rises, and picks up a note from the floor. The handwriting on the envelope is that of his friend, and the letter, .which is addressed to'his wife, asks her to meet' him that night. When his wife returns, he tolls her he is going to bed/ wishes her good night, and slips behind a screen to await events. By and by his friend comes baek, and promises the woman, who begs him to talve her away from her husband, that he will do so if she can manage to'procure £SOO. While the woman is begging to be taken away, her husband rushes out from his hiding place, and shoots his friend dead. He then turns in a fury of resentment on his wife, whom he proceeds to choke. The curtain falls on this climax. But the anti climax; comes when the rising curtain shows the husband, who is evidently having a bad dream, wrestling furiously with the sofa cushion. Then he wakes to find his wife quietly reading, and his friend just returned with the asperine powders. Other sketch artists were Vernou and Sinclair, Dale? Winter and i May Field, and Davis Gledhill. The vocalists were Miss Ray De Vere, Miss La T -inia Tyson, and Mr James Opie. HIS MAJESTY'S. An excellent new programme was presented at. His Majesty ?s Theatre;, last evening before a large and appreciative audience, when a romantic _ picture drama of present-day life, entitled "The Lure of London," was the star attraction. The story sets forth how | Daisy, the three-year-old daughter of Dr Westbury, strays in. the streets of London and "is taken care of by Charlie Brooks, a young street urchin who takes her to his slum honve. The lad's parents adopt the little girl and later send her out into the streets to sell matches. At the age of eighteen she is shown as a vendor of flowers. Her beauty attracts Wm. Anderson, an artist, who engages her as his model. As the result of a family quarrel Charlie Brooks accidentally kills his father, and is arrested on a charge of manslaughter. Daisy unconsciously falls in love with the young artist, making his fiancee) who strangely enough is Olga. Westbury, Daisy's sister, extremely jealous. Jealousy also takes possession of Daisy's heart, and she leaves Anderson's house, and securing an engagement as a dancer, makes a successful tour of Australia. On her return to England she becomes the idol of the Empire Music Hall and is recognised by the artist, who pleads his love and is accepted. The girl's foster brother has-in the meantime become a successful commercial man, and complications arise out of her being seen with him which I cause the artist to break off his engagement. The girl subsequently is injured in a street accident, and at the hospital to whih she is taken she is recognised by her father, Dr Westbury, A happy reunion follows-for all'parties concerned. Miss Ivy Close gives a most pleasing portrayal of the role of Daisy. The supporting pictures are: —" Gaumont

Graphic,'' topical; <<Studies of- Bird Life " special Pathecolour Nature study- "Visions of Rome," travel; • * His 'First Love, '.' drama; and " The JovßiaV comedy. The music supplied by Hayward's-Orchestra is quite up to standard, and the programme will be repeated this evening. COLOSSEUM. \. highly sensational Anglo-Indian drama, ''The Golden Beetle,'.' was the star attraction of a very fine programme presented for the first time at

the Colosseum last evening. The-action! covers two hemispheres, the opening scene being in the heart of India, where a young Englishman named Surrey, on a liig game hunting-expedition, is captured by,a,tride of fanatical worshippers of the Goddess Kaly, and consigned to* a dungeon. At length, by ; means of an eagle which flies into iiis: cell, he sends a message to the outer world. The bird is subsequently shot by Murrel, another Englishman on a ; hunting expedition, who, discovering the messagey goes to the rescue, which is accomplished by the help.of the Golden Beetle marauders. These wily people on seeing,the striking resemblance between one of their gang and Surrey, imprison the two Englishmen and . send their confederate to England, where he poses as the rightful heir to a wealthy magnater After a great many thrilling adventures the two captive Englishmen effect an escape and return to England. The impostor hears of their arrival and by means of stratagem they are again captured and subjected to further brutality. One of the many startling episodes depicted is where Surrey is bound to the railway lines. In the nick of time he manages to wriggle into a position parallel with the rails and the express train thunders over him. Eventually, through'the assistance of friends, he arrives safely home in time to upset the scheme of the villain, who was on the following day to marry his fiancee. A very fine series of supporting pictures goes to make up an excellent programme. The films are "A Real English Winter," which should prove of special interest f,o young colonials who have not been Home; "Pathe English' Gazette,'' which sets forth an interesting budget of topical-news; "The Nurse and the Counterfeiter," drama; "Construction of a Lifeboat,'' a film combining to give instruction^aud amusement; ami two splendid comedies, "Simple Simon and the Dromedary," and "The Whirlwind Kids." The .incidental music supplied by Fullers' Premier Orchestra is of the best, aud the programme will be repeated this evening. A special feature of the "Gazette" shown in the programme is a series of ! pictures setting forth various man- ! oeuvr.es of the French fleet, a series [which is specially interesting, in view of 'the present crisis abroad. GLOBE PICTURES. The current programme at the Globe Theatre is proving most attractive, and large audiences attend at each session. The star drama is set in the far northwest of Canada, and is entitled An Alaskan Interlude." This production besides telling a highly interesting story, is also of value in that it gives one an excellent idea of the nature of the far-away regions, towards the Arctic The storv is of an American and his wife, whoj living in this desolate country, wish to return to the States, but have not the necessary money to make the journey. husband* has in keeping a quantity of Government money, and he devises a plan bv which he can appropriate it to his own use. Leaving the money in his wife's possession he quits the house, returning later as a thief to obtain possession of the money, and still let his wife think that it was a common robber who had made the theft. In his absence, however, his wife had given shelter from the storm to "Klondike Smith," a veteran of those regious,.and when the husband came in the guise of a robber the two wereprepared and the wife fired two shots at the intruder. Luckily for him the wounds were not serious. The unfortunate man confessed that he was about to commit the crime in order that they might return to the States, and Klondike Smith was so touched bv the kindness which had been shown him that he bought their house from them at much more than its value, and with the money they were able to carry out the wish of their hearts. The supporting films are an excellent series, comprising '' The Flirt,'' drama; '' The Australian Gazette," topical; "The Streets of Naples," scenic; and "When Dreams Come True," Keystone comedy. The programme will be repeated this evening and throughout to-morrow. SYDENHAM PICTURES. The Svdenham Picture Theatre was 'well filled last evening, when a new

series of pictures was screened with conspicuous success. "The Lure of London" was the -chief : attraction, a film which,sets forth the story of Daisy W r estbury, a three-year-old girl, who becomes lost in the maze of London's, streets, and her chequered life until; she is.restored to her father, an eminent physician, some sixteen years later. " The film is well photographed and capably acted, Miss Ivy. Close giving a most pleasing rendering of the role of Daisy. The supporting' pictures are a fine series, comprising "The Gaumont Graphic," topical; "Studies of Bird Life," Pathe colour Nature study; "Visions of Bome, V scenic; "His First Love," drama; and "The Joy Ride," comedy. The series will be repeated this evening. OLYMPIA RINK. The Olympia Kink was largely patronised again last evening, and the sessions to-day have also been well attended, both by skaters aud spectators. A fancy and poster carnival is announced for August 13, which should prove most attractive. The usual hours continue to befobserved.