AMUSEMENTS.

Auckland Star, Volume XLVIII, Issue 121, 22 May 1917, Page 2

AMUSEMENTS.

OI'BRA HOUSE. The change of programme made at the Opera 'House last night was marked by the eitraordlnaSy success that attended the singing of .Mr Antonia liiolinarl, who made 4 first appearance. Mr Molinari possesses a teuor voice of decidedly iiik-mdjuou quaUty, rich in tone, and trained in a manner that enables him to use it with deUghtful toJcßltf. H« sang a popular operatic scerra, "Let Mc USC6 a Soldier Via,- "Lα Uouna c Mobile," -rile Marseillaise," and "Rule Britannia." which were greeted with vii euinusiaeiu very seldom evoked. The audience demanded encores until the singer could not so on for the reason that the orchestra had exhausted its supply of music. The Cavanno Duo succeeded in Introducing a .big element of , originality into their comedy turn, and ' earned second place In popular favour. The male performer does some astonishingly clever tricke on the slack wire, while Did ! lady partner danced <piaJntly ana gracei fnlly to her own accompaniment on a small harji, Arthur Croxon, a comedian, was really fuDny in some witty and original crone Lalk and impersonations, with which lie earn-ed the full favour of the house. Kitty -Checkitt. fi girl with a soprano voice of pleasing quality, was brought hack several time? before the demands fur more were satisfied. The Tutties reappeared in the -cleverest of the sketches Cney have ye' puL on, while Miss Violet Trevenyon again demonstrated her ability to get on the bee!, of terms with the atfdience. 00. dp Alma. Reta Stafford. Tilton and West. Churtfts Kdenbury. Iluutly Spencer, aud Sterling and Love all helped to make up -a programme that is as good as any the Fuller nvanajement have offered for many a long day. To-Etght the clever contortionists l.es Orohs win malte a ilnal appearance. The dress circle of the theatre will be reserved this evening lor a purty organised by the 'Farmers' Uulon Conference. •SKVB?C KEYS TO JiALDPATE." Auckland playgoers are always willing to extend a hearty welcome to J. C Williamson companies, since experience has taught them to exix-vt th* best in their every line of production, and tip to the present there have certainly been no disappointments. On Thursday night next at ■His Majesty** Theatre the Williamson firm •will present tjie two very popular comedy artists Mr Robert Greig and Miss Beatrice Ilolloway. with a company of thirty artists, for the first time here, in George M. Cohan's "Seven Keya to Tsald,pate." which lls said to bo a farcical mystery conspired ■by cateness of the most freakish and Inconsequent description. Its Idea Is snid to be most happily conceived, and .'brilliantly carried out by tlie playwright, and there Is an element of the fantastic about it, whk-h makes it just the very play for these strenuous times. It is said that the play Is every bit as full of thrill as "'Within the lew," or any of the other many sensational plays in the repertoire of the previous WllHaaieon companies. Its ennrac- | ters include gnnincn, grafters, adventuresses, and unscrupulous police officers, and, in spite of all this thrill. It In a farce of the most wfWly hilarious type. But -where the biggest port of the fun comes In is that the audience is able to enjoy all these thrills as thrills, and then finally indulge In the heartiest kind of laugh at its own expense for having been so cleverly deceived an to 'believe anything of the bind. The company will ai-rlve from the South Tjy to-morrow morning's express. The scenery, properties, electrics, etc., have already arrived, so that everything will be in readiness for the opening performance on Thursday evening. The bos plans for the five productions are now on view at Wlldfflan and Arey's. TIVOXiI THEATRE. In eeason at tie Tivoli picture Palace is the Famous Players release "The Quest of Life." This is a particurly fine picture, displaying the charms of Miss Florence Walton and .M. Maurice, the famed dancers. The film embraces a novel and original plot. It Is exclusive to the Tivoli, -aud hu« been received by large numbers of patrons at every session with the utmost enthusiasm. That the story will excite the pleased Interest of everybody who 'witnesses it will admit of no dou-bt. It Is woven round the nffatrs of a young girl who is thought to be suffering from tulicrcnlosis. Her medical adviser tells her that she has. iit the most, tint a very short time to live. Utterly distracted by this knowledge, she decides to get the most possible out of the short period that remains to her. Plunging into the most reckless round of gaiety, she ultimately becomes a professional dancer, ■with death still stalking after. The man, her dancing partner, sees that rhe disease from which she suffers is undermining her abilities. lie is by this time madly in love with her, and Implores her to go Into a sanitorium. Sbe consents, and with every reason to h><pe for life, with the love that is coming to her. she Is cured. Thus the quest of life is ended, and a great aud powerful drama entls lfj the same old manner that has become dear to the hearts of all. Of very great Interest to all nn:] sundry during the course of the production is the veritable maze of fashionable dances, reminiscent (if every possible stage of society, that are Introduced. There are well selected supporting subjects, which are thoroughly in accord with the fllnl which tops the Dill. i-Yitir. Full of surprises is "Carmen." the popular featnre-play no* running at the byric. The story told is one that has ranked for ages as nhe of the most vivid of the wrtrld's , romances, arid It is certainly treated for fllnl purposes in quite a masterly , manlier. There is nothing commonplace a-ooiit the filiii. It deals with the most tender and the most virile of passions in si wholly Interesting way. the settings in themselves .being artistic masterpieces. There are able supports. PRINCESS THEATRE, the 'Metro release "In the Diplomatic Service." -with FYanris X. Bnshman and Beverly Bayne as lenders to a powerful cast. Is in scSisrin rtt the Princess, that theatre where nil the crowds assemble. The supporting items complete an entertainment of the highest class. STKAND THEATRE. the most interesting picture in the Stic current programme at the Strand is "the I'riucess of the Dork," with Miss Enid I Rt-nnett. the pretty Australian urtross I featured. The supportln E films tire headed by another thrilling instalment of "Ulorfii's Romance." starrins liillie Bnrke. GRAND. "Aladdin from Bronflwiy." This rgififirkable photo-drama shows lOdlth Storey in an entirely welcome re-appenniuee. GLOBE. tlip Slur film at llic Globe is "the rtnllrter of Bridges." a tine example of thicinema man's art. There is v vivid and I lively plot contaiucd In this tilm. The suiiporte include Chaplin In "The Floorwalker." BVERYRODVS. "The Foolish Virgin," at Kvervbodv's shows Clara Kimball Young In tin-part i.f n yonng girl who occupies herself with rosy dreams of the future. There are excellent supports. KINCJS THIOATRiE. "Master and Man." the popular niolndrama thnt is heing stage<l e.ic-h evening hy the new Brandcm-Crpiner liriimiillc Coin■pnny. is proving n powerful at traction \ matinee will be held to-morrow afternoon at -'..'id. yPRKN'S THBATRF.. "the Witrthlne Mhlir" is the pierr ilp resisrtnr-c ai the yuecn's this week \ rattling story, tnlcl with vervp nn.i verisitnlUiHlp. thp plot of this romark.iMr nlav Is Intorestin* in the extreme. Tlic other pictures which inako up the programme afe lit the hend of their respective classes. WRST END. The mystery drama. 'The Iced Rullct " is the hea.lllner at the West Knfl. I'AL-ACK. The Palacp feature Is "The Sorlul Lpper." THE CHERNIAVSKt'S. Leo) .Inn. and Mischel Cherniavskv who I are concluding a record tour of this Dominion, have had to <-iit short their \tistrallau t;i\ir owing to their enrii-.-r bookings in America than previously expected. Certain dates were pencilled, and owing (o a temptin B offer from Africa, the Cbprnin'skys cnlilei! endcnvoining to postpone tlieir appearance in Amer.rn, but without success. tills iltslluprUlMiipil niu] iminilhr Irlo arc lionkcd ti|i practi<-;Ul.v fur live years how. They will inftUe the flhnl anpMfalicc ■ here In the Town Hall, on Friday, .Innc 1, when they are sure of a ureat send oil.

BRITANNIA THEATRE. The big William Fox drama "The Princess Romanoff," is tbe head feature at the Britannia Theatre, Ponsonby, this evening. This is one of those great screen nasterpleces that are being released iv New land at the present time. The supports are good. THEATRE ROYAL A Metro photo-play -God's Hair A.-rp, ' is now running at the Tneatre Royal. Kingsland. l's last showin;: will be 'his evening. Thc;i! will be anoth.- excelleut entertainment r"'t on to-morrow. ARCADIA THEATRE. A strongly attractive ftlm bearing ;ne title -Pamela's fast" U the picture worthy o£ most attention at t.ie Arcadia. The secondary lilms are thorjughly tii> to standard. VICTORIA THEATRE. The principal picture at the Victoria Theatre, D«vonport, t<-night, will be "Her Maternal Right ' featuring Kitty Gordon.