AMUSEMENTS.

Auckland Star, Volume XLVIII, Issue 120, 21 May 1917, Page 2

AMUSEMENTS.

OPERA HOUSE. The new vauueviile season at Fuller's Open House commences tins evening wita an array of uuent. The o[ieratic tenor, --uttouio Mounari, is to appeal' wioi several vocal items, and .diss cnecaut, lyrical soprano, is aiso to sing. .Arthur truiuu, an i_ii_i_suuian, ana 'leu 'I'uity, are oom nuiuurists of mule; wtiile 'iiuun aud West, vie eccentric coweuiaus, will aiso contribute lv Che success oi mc evening. Among urn ocher heauuuers are I'ne tavauna Duo, George ue Aiwa, nuntly Spencer, Charles naienoury, and Violet Treveuyou. KING'S THEATRE. "Master aud Man," the ucw melodrama at tue ±viu_ s Tueutre, was opeiieu oeiore an excepuiwujally large house 011 Tueie was no lack or eilect about Uie play a* peilotnied by the iiranuion-i_j'e«iiuf UTaiiuiLn: company, anu every uietuoer or thy, crowd Uiut uued Uie big tiuditoriuau retspouued In lull measure to the gamut oi umj unman emotions as tniey passed in review ou vie stage, iibe plot is arranged ou vie old lines 01 dupueity, uinoceuw and lalse accncmuun, winch nave never failed to absorb und interest vie people trow vie opening elements to Lhe excitingly uielouraniauc linale. The story opens in the realms of business. A uartner is dishonest lowards this tedow, causing his rum. Act 11. concerns; itseif wiuh an awsassmutlon, mc niuruer beiug carried out with a ftliill that Iwivts but the one clue. Tuere is no oue who can bnug mc crime to lue man who couuiiltted Uie deed, save one person. From this position Uie plot becoints most absorbing, aud it is with the greatest interest mat tne gradual coming of Nemesis, through every liuk ol' a chain of circuujsuances, is watched. The hnule is highly seusauonul, and a clever close to a uii'iiiuig |uay. ju' Ronald itiiey us the married hero and .Miss Clarice \V amer as his wife deserve lite utmost praise. Tiie part of Waiter FouUeioy, unjustly accused of the murder of bis lather, wna taken wjUi fine effect by Ernest luuuell, and K-eoneta Carlisle as C'.-aiistou, the daring desperado, carried out his portion to the general satisfuctioil. Tiie comedy cliaraeljers were Si liolittie iMr Fred Coupe) and Kitty Doliule (Mr Mabel Guwerj. These two artists wcj'e responsible far the major porUirii of the wholesome humour which relieved so well Uie tragedy of the mam plot. Harold liiil as a blind Italian played v capable part, and the oth-exs of the company, uot forgetting .Mr * rant Ke-is, are also to be commended. ' THE DANDIES." Mr tkl-ward Branseombe's popular entertainers "The Dandles" have arrived for their annual Dominion tour. The compauv appearing this season is announced as the ■New Orange Company, which Includes a number of artists new to this country. The .personnel of the company comprises Miss Linda Bradford, Miss Dorothy ■Manning, Miss Ivy Davis. Mr Audrew I'ace. Mr .John Welt-by, Mr Harry Graham, Mr Courtney Ford, aud Mr Philip ilardmau. "The iMudies" are to appear in Hamilton on W'eduesday aud Thursday evenings of this week; also at Cambridge, Rotorua, Te Ai-oha, Whangarel. and Dargnville ou two succeeding evenings. The dates :tre given in our advertising columns. The Auckland season will commence ou W'eduesday, June ti. TlVOl.l THEATRE. Exclusive to the Tivoli is- the Famous Players photoplay "The Quest of Life." High scones of enthusiasm obtained amid the crowd present on Saturday evening, the manner in which this startllngly origin.il dim was received being a great testimonial to Its surpassing excellence. The varying scenes through which the plot runs are natural to a degree scarcely to be imagined, the characters are all ca"m*o-cut, the production us a whole being of the most profound excellence. PRINCESS THEATRE. Francis X. Bushman and Beverly Bayne star at the Princess this week in the popular Metro play "In the Diplomatic Service." Here is a picture that is far apart-frani the ordinary. The settings are even ""More beautiful than usual, the action is fast and exciting, there is a big element of comedy and a sweet romance. What more could the people desire? QLEENS T'iEATRE. "The Witching Hour," a Frohtnan masterpiece current at the Queen's, attracts the big proportion of patrons of this theatre. It is v story told with darectne_.s and power, giving It an intense reality. and is at the top of a bill that has merit aud originality. STRAND THEATRE. Miss Enid Bennett, the lovely Australian girl who has joined the ranks of screen stars, makes her initial appearance in NewZealand picture houses in the film "The, Princess of the Dark." which is now running at the Strand Theatre. The film is a Thomas H. luce production with more than a Mule originality of conception and much power. The plot Is enthralling, and the wholesome vein of a ehariuiug romance that ruus throughout the film draws mc sustained attention of every member of the audience. There Is noUUng to be lost by sechig this new screen beauty, and, if the popular taste may be to any extent relied upon, her histrionic ability is much greater thun many of those movie stars who have already appeared in several big films. "Gloria's Romance." the Billy Burke feature, Is at the head of the supports. EVERYBODY'S THEATRE. The famous motion picture actress Clara Kimball Youug makes a welcome reappearance at Everybody's this week The film in which she is playing such a powerful leading part carries the title 'The Foolish Virgin." a tale wlrich has for its foundation the fantastically-coloured romances woven during girlhood and the wide variations between these dreams aud uheir realities. There Is a thrilliug element of true drama in the plot as set forth by "The Foolish Virgin," of especial interest being the scenes wherein ttie heroine discovers that the man s>bo has married is a thief and keeps ber in luxury on the pro-dJM-ts of bis thieving. The closing scenes of the play are to the popular taste. GRAND THEATRE. The film "Aladdin from Broadway." featuring Edith Storey and Antonio Moreno, unfolds a hie story of romance and mystery, dealing with the travels of a young American in the Orient in search of n twide. There are mauy beautiful scenic effects in the production, which Is followed by a good assortment of other pictures. BRITANNIA THEATRE. At the Britannia Theatre, Ponsonby, the Fox Company present this week the drama "Princess Romanoff," a beautiful subject of the highest class. The supporting films are scarcely inferior to this magnificent story. ARCADIA THEATRE. The Arcadia bill for this evening has as its headliner the absorbing tale "Pamela's Past." featuring Maude Kealy. The tilnis that go towards the completion of the entertainment are in themselves well worth seeing. VICTORIA THEATRE. The feature at the Victoria Theatre, Devonport. liil Wednesday next, is "Her Maternal Right." a beautifully presented World film, with Miss Kitty Gordon in the lead. The supports are excellent. THEATRE ROYAL. The beautiful Metro, photo, play, "God's Half A.re," featuring Mabel Taliaferro, is evening Tit the Theatre Royal. The other items on the pnmrnmine make up an entirely Interesting entertainment. GLOBE THEATRE. A moving drama, hearing the title "The Builder of P.ildges." is at the top of the ciinetii Globe programme. This diverting eniertainii t also includes the amusing ('burin Chaplin Him. "The Floorwalker." Other pictures, well-selected and interesting, complete a meritorious programme. WEST EN II THE AT UK. "Tiie Led Hull"!." [hat line mysiery taie thai lias made iis name and fame iii the cify. appears al the West End Theatre during the week. The play opens with a murder, and the lie; hinges on the entire absence of cine, coupled with (he ultimate discovery of the assassin by means of the I same science used by him. I PALACE THEATRE. Tha Palace bill now lv seasou runs till ! Wednesday. The headliner is "The Social Leper." a thrilling story of a fascinatingly beautiful, but entirely heartless woman, who ultimately meets with ber deserts, and by Destiny is paid in kind. The supporting i subjects are very good. " ' J

I CARMEN. I I'he introduction of the big nlm "Carmen 1 i ar, the Lyric Theatre on Saturday night i urotsed a great deal of interest among Auckland picture-goers. Long before the [ entertainment began the "house rull" cards I appeared on the entrances, and omuy l-eople who had not reserved seats wer; turnei away. The film stands as one of toe Bupreme achievements of the "William Fox" Company, whose productions have done so much to promote the education ot Ancklanders In matters relating to the ! cinema. The picture does not adhere very ! strictly to the text of the well known story, ; but the essentials are faithfully and cleverly presented. Theda Bara, who taies the name part, has found her ideal role In that of the passionate and fickle Carmen, and her peculiarly vivid manner of presenting emotional parts constituted one of the distinguishing merits of the production. There is great range for originality and elaboration in the staging and setting of the story, and the resources of the Fox studios have been lavishly turned out to make the picture worthy of being included amongst the few films that have been classed by the "trade" as "cinema classics." Besides Theda Bara, the caste includes a number of the most capable of the many popular players attached to the "Ton" Company. A special orchestra of about a d. Zen musicians has been engaged b. the Lyric managemeut for the week that "Carmen" la to be shown, and people whose taste runs to good things musical will Und that in increasing the number of the orchestra, the management have paid due. regard to the quality of the players. MliS Dorothy Nlcol, the musical directress, has Slofien an admirable programme, Including many of the most popular passages, from the operatic score. The pictures shown include the latest "Pathe Gazette," which contains a great many interesting war items, while a riotous comedy provides a pleasing element of fun. The crowded condition of the house on Saturday night Indicates that Intending patrons might do well to book their ■ seats. CHILDREN'S ENTERTAINMENT. An andience that was nothing if not appreciative occupied the Concert Chamber of the Town Hall on Saturday evening at an entertainment which took the form of a children's musical dance carnival, for, adding to the funds for naval relief. The Bongs and choruses, which were on a most artistic scale, were arranged by Mrs. C. E. I Maguire, while Mrs. Burmesier and Miss Vera Burmester produced a number of original costume dances given by a bevy of, pupils, who displayed talent. The lengthy j ' programme, which by request was free from | encores, was a credit to the promoters. Chief details are as follow:—Dances: •• New York Shuffle," "Le Pa pillion," and , " Eastern," Miss Gladys Moore: " Poppies." | Miss Mollle Rayner: Sailor's Hornpipe. ! Master Collier Ttuen: " Joy of Spring " and : "Country Girls." Misses Yolande Orhell ; and Ruth Dennv; "The Narcissus" and ; " The Butterfly," Miss Rnth Denny and. Dooie Shrewshurv. Songs: " Knitting." ! Ronnie Mnstln and chorus: "Back In Dixie j ! Land." Jack Davey and chorus; " My Little i Dream Girl." Misses Ellie Maguire and ' Dooie Shrewsbury and chorus: " Gipsy." Miss Jarman: " The Aviator." Master Blllie I Maguire and chorus (the model 'plane being kindly lent hy Mr. W. .r. " The Balloon Song." Miss Ellie Maguire and chorus: •• Good Night My Little Daffodil." Master Ronnie Mustln and Mis Gladys Moore; " Be My Little Baby. Bumble Bee." Misses Mollie Rayner and Gladys Moore: " My Trecious Teddy Bear." little Marct. Hutton fwho delighted all); "Our Night I i Out " and "Darkies Lead a Hnppv Life." choruses; " Rwlnc Sonir." Misses Kllie Maguire. Ethelwynne Ward, and Dorrie Kretsohmar. Recitations: Miss Ellie ! Maguire and Master McNair. Other fea- : tures were a grand toy ballet, containing dolls, golliwogs and Teddy Bears, spectacular morning tableaux " Cinderella." and a concluding camp concert, where nurses and soldiers were seen seated enjoying national songs and dances. The promoters -were specially thanked for their work. Captain Thomas mentioned, in the course of a few propriate remarks. that £23.000 was recently raised in Auckland by a bis effort for the Sailors' and Dependents' Fund, and j the Navy League's Ladles' Eraer-' gency Commfttee was constantly working ] to contribute to those funds. j