AMUSEMENTS.

Auckland Star, Volume XLVIII, Issue 179, 28 July 1917, Page 6

AMUSEMENTS.

•■BAKV MINE." Tbe members of the J. C. ■Williamson Coiuedy Company, who :i fen" weeks apo presented us with "Seven Keys to Baldpatc" ;ind other highly successful comedies, will pay ,i return visit 10 His Majesty's Theatre, opening to-nigbt, and. will present "Baby Mine." Mr. .Robert Urelg and Miss i Beatrice Holloway are said to have scored I what is considered to be the greatest or their surceases in Uiis> latest addition to their repertoire. Uhristchurch papers eulogise both, the comedy and the players. The box plan of reserved seats for the local season is oyeu at Wildiunii and Arey's. nud early door tickets are on sale at Coleman's, ilia Majesty's Arcade. PRINCESS THEATRE. The photo-drama "Idle Wives," which is introduced to Auckland picture enthusiasts at the Princess. Theatre to-day, has been created by the Universal producers as n sequel to tbe (Treat social picture "Where Arc My Children?" "Idle Wives" is a great and cut icing drama of most absorbing popular interest. There is a youth who spends his substance in riotous living, and ing hand, and together these two tread the llrst Btup downward. Then there is a poor, hardworking family, whose troubles l.llnil them lo the better side of life, and last, but perhaps lirst in Importance, there is a husband and wife drifting apart. They all assemble at a picture house, where the story they see, "The Mirror of Life," has its plot based on the tale of a husband and wife. Each of these people see their exact counterparts on Ihe Him, and brought vividly before their eyes ore the natural persist In their folly. In a big house, surrounded by all manner of luxuries, dwells a woman. She has been poor and has married a snob, one of a prldeful family. They disagree and the wife poes. The girl and the youth of the story come to grief: ho leaves her in dire distress, and the work of the wife to relieve her aching heart la to befriend the girl. There are two other actors in the drama, one a wife with a child and unfortunate past, and the other her hushand, and through folly and perhaps intolerance all these lives get tangled up In a tragic way. Hut the skill of. the dramatist straightens the snare. The forj snken wife meets and is reunited to her I life partner to the phrase "The old times ; are the best," and the girl sees her folly, as does the youth. Hut. they do not part. I I'oini rather all the more closely welded I liy what they have seen, in the paths of right than oC wrong. Then there Is the hard-working family, who let the sunshine of content into their burdened lives and find an Lmazlug difference. In scenic effect "Idle Wives" will more than hold its own with almost any picture, while by the intensity of its action, the clarity of its perception, .and the great moral lessou over all it will appeal as will none other. It is a fine clean masterpiece. QUEEN'S THEATRE. A powerful Metro photo-drama, 'The Threads of Kate," occupies pride of place on the new ijueen's programme to-day. The plot is remarkable for the .strength and clarity that in rßiracteristlc of the Metro productions. wlrrie the cast, -with prety Miss Viola Dana at tiie head, follows out In a vivid and compelling way the manifest turns of the story In action, as in settings, 'The Threads o"f Fate" is above reproach, and the tale of destiny and the incalculable part it plays In several human lives is fraught with a compelling and fascinating intereMt through every scene. The grand finale of the picture brings the Story to a titting conclusion, and there is not the slightest doubt but that the (film will be eagerly sought after by the Auckland picture people. The supporting subjects represent a very high degree of perfection, while the musical setting of the programme completes the last detail of a particularly pleasing presentation. TIVOLI THEATRE. The new picture showing under the Tivoll banner to-day has the name "Snow White," and is a splendid screen story culled from that well-known most charming of Grimm's fairy tales. It is titting indeed that to the lot of Miss Marguerite Clark, known should fall the pretty part of "Snow White." This Mm, by the Famous Players Company, will undoubtedly have an astonishing vogue, and will appeal to the sense of the beautiful in older patrons fully as much as in the little folk. In the same programme there will be found several other nlius of the highest interest, and many a flue musical number. STRAND THEATRE. "The Whip," a fascinating drama that comes here from the South with a great reputation, commences a season at the Strand to-day. "The Whip" literally abounds with incidents of the greatest excitement, it has been staged on a lavish scale, and its scenes are superb. For sheer merit this film has been eulogised by legions of picture fans. It is described as having all the appeal of a stirring spectacle and all the fire of a splendid romance. There are some very flue supports. " BIRTH OF A NATION." One of the biggest picture successes on record has been scored hy "The Birth of a Nation," the picture at the Lyric Theatre, which presents such a galaxy of stirring All through the week, every afternoon and night, the theatre has been tilled to overflowing by the public desirous of seeing the Him, and now that it is ou the eve. of its departure from this city, the crowds are as great as at its tlrst screening. This evening, for the last time, "The Birth of a -Nation" may be seen in Auckland. THE .PIEItROTS. The varied programme presented by the English I'ierrois at the Town Hall Concert Chamber again attracted a large audience last evening. The Pierrots have established a reputation for a clean and wholesojne entertainment, and the numerous items submitted were well applauded. LVitIC THEATRE. With the new Lyric entertainment, which is due to open ou Monday next. Miss .lune Caprice, a bright and winsome little lady. pIaVH the big role in "The Mischief Majier." a charming tale, in which romance and drama arc admirably mingled. OPERA HOUSE. The last presentations o{ the popular vaudeville entertainment current at Fuller's Opera House will occur this afternoon and to-night. Ou 'Monday the programme will be renewed. GRAND THEATRE. " The Captain of the C.rey Horse Troop." a really splendid tale, with Edith .Storey in the lead, is supported at the Urand to-niglit by another chapter of " The Iron Claw '' serial. EVERYBODY'S THEATRE. The best of the new films at Everybody's to-day is " Wibl WLnship's Widow," a most interesting tale portraying Miss Dorothy Haltou. KING'S THEATRE. The first Bnindon-Cremer Dramatic Compauy will re-commence in Auckland at Hie King's Theatre this afternoon and evening. Their re-opening production is " The Sbauphraun." ARCADIA THEATRE. " The Cowboy and the Lady." a lively romance, is the foremost attraction at the Arcadia Theatre this evening. WEST END. " Happiness " runs to-night at the West End. GLOBE. Robert Warwick appears at the Globe in " The Stolen Voice." PALACE. " Maternity " is the feature commencing at the Palace to-day. ALEXANDRA. Diary Mills Minter, at the .Alexandra tonight, plays in " A Dream or Two Ago." ; ."PYGMALION AND GALATEA." At the Leys Institute. Three Lamps. , Ponsonby. on Thursday evening next the Graf ton Shakespeare Club -will stage W. : a. Gilbert's well known, drama "Pygmalion and 'Galatea." Several successful amateurs will appear. ORGAN RECITAL- TO-NIGHT. The municipal organ recital -will he given ' in the Town Hall to-night, when Mrs. John- • pton Toplls, a dramatic soprano, will make . lier first- n ppen-r.i nee in Auckland. Her songs will include works by >Salnt-Snens and •Soring Tliotruie. The city organist, in addition ' to standard organ compositions, will p.lay I tie Prelude to "Cavalleria Rustlcana."

BATTLE OF THE ANCRE. The work of tbe V.M.C.A. in the presen war ,-ould scarcely be overestimated. It Red Triangle has penetrated everywhere, o) every battle "line, and it is therefore rittiu; thnt through the National Council of th V.M.C.A. '-The Battle of the Ancre" wi] te presented in Aucklajid. "The Battle v the Ancre," a Heries of actual war picture which form part of the Imperial Govern ment war records, will be shown in Auel; land at His Majesty's Theatre, and th date ot their llrst appearance here ha been JL'xed at Monday. August 0. Of thi film Mr. Lloyd George, Itritain's Premiei has said: "if. the exhibition of these pic tures all over the world does not end wat God help civilisation." Shown clearly am graphically, there is the trajittport o stores, the deadly bombardments, men machine guns, batteries of giant howitzer in action, and beyond all, the vivid per oopUon of the operations of the "tanks, , those modern monsters round which th> poptrar mind has enwrapped a mist of. ro nianee. Through the southern portion of thes blessed isles, the picture han aroused atten tion from all sides, and the seal of It authenticity is shown in a hundred ways The entire net proceeds of the exhibi tiojis throughout New Zealand arc beim bande.d over in aid of tho V.M.C.A., Ilei Cross, and Invalid Returned Soldiers' Fund The box plan opens on Monday next, Jul ;:o, at. Wlldmau am! Arey's. THEATRE ROYAL. The Theatre Koyal head liner this after noon ajid evening Is "Eitravaganoe," : fascinating -Metro release, featuring Olgi i'etrova. AUCKLAND CHORAL SOCTH/TY. O* special Interest to the musical publl js lh<' fortiicomlug performance of th cantata " Iliuemoa." by the above Society This <!h»ruiini; work is from Uie pen o two Ne«- Zealandcrs, the libretto being writ ten by Mr. Arthur Adams, at one time i Wellington journalist, and the music by Mr Alfred Jlill. v distinguished conductor am musician, of the same city. The choru and orchestra of the Society have beei giving a very great, deal of attention to th. •rehearsing of the cantata, and the per formauco at the Town Hall on August 0 under Mr. Colin Muston, promises to be i memorable, one.