AMUSEMENTS.

Auckland Star, Volume XLVIII, Issue 251, 20 October 1917, Page 9

AMUSEMENTS.

OPERA HOCSB. This afternoon the usual matinee at Fuller's Opera House brought a large crowd, and the various vaudeville numbers were enthusiasticxlly received. The sketch "The ManJiss Isle" and the clever turns of the md lidual artists were right up to standard. The last staging of thia entertainment vill occur to-night. THE QUEEN'S. There are two leading pictures at the Queen's to-day, and the quality of each could uot be bettered. The one is a Paramount, "Heleue of the North," and the other, "Prison Without Walls," is a Paramount too. In "llelene of the North " dainty Miss Marguerite Clark takes the big role, and the uctors and actresses who support her each and all add sometbin" to the success of the film, for it has beeu astonishingly successful, and there seems no doubt whatever that its many exquisitely beautiful scenes, the powerful run o' human emotions that are disclosed by tho story, and the cleverly co-ordinated incidents that lead up to the Onls, will go straight to the hearts of the multitude Miss Clark is at her best in the role o' llelene. "Prison Without Walls" is scarcely more thrilling, though perhaps a little less majestic i n Its theme than tho other. There Is a young prison reformer who poses as a criminal to catch a gang of scoundrels. He meets the tlancee of a rogue with a high position, and she makes him her private secretary. He arouses the suspicions of the rogue, one Morris, and there come about troublous times. Morris tries to dispose of the secretary, but in his attempts he discloses his true character. His fiancee turns him down, and the last scenes of the play centre round the unsuccessful efforts of Morris to get his revenge. As a production "Prison Without Walls" Is most attractive. THE KING'S THEATRE. "After Dark" is the new drama staged for the flm time at the King's this afternoon. Though the Brandon-Cremer Company has lost its star. Miss Kathleen Arnold ior a few weeks, yet the cast for this play is strong, and the work convincing. The play Is to be repeated to-night. THE STRAND. The second of a much-boomed series or seven films comes to the Strand to-day Its title Is "Pride. , and it pictures the shame and humility that is said to follow in the footsteps of pride, one of the seven most deadly sins. The supporting films are worthy ones. THE GRAND. Chapter seventeen of 'The Iron Claw " the serial that has drawn so much noDUlar attention. Is billed at the Grand tcAday There is also another serial story, "Tbe Secret of the Submarine." commencing toTHE GLOBE. The Globe has a big attraction In Olga l etrova, the famous emotional actress. She appears in "The Scarlet Woman," a aim that has a long list of successes to Its credit. THE ARCADIA. Miss Virginia Pearson In the Fox photoplay "Th e Bitter Truth," is the leading liRUt at the Arcadia Theatre again tonight. Her role is that of the heroine in a story of a great plan of revenge that is upset by love. THE WEST END. The very beautiful Paramount fairy picUner to-day. Miss Marguerite Clark takes the title role. The supports are beyond reproach. EVERYBODY'S. "The Weto of Desire," a fine World film story In almost perfect settings, takes pride of place to-day at Everybody's. The star is Miss Ethel Clayton. The other pictures EMPRESS. The picture version, or tne widely-read Rider Haggard novel "She" is the first ■Empress attraction to-night. THE LYRIC. The Lyric feature to-day is "Pride. ,, the story of one of the ancient biblical sins. The plot, fraught with a wide measure oi human Interest, is helped by fine photography. ORGAN KECITAL TO-NIGHT. The programme for the organ recital tonight in the Town Hall will include Wolstenbolme's "Sonata Iv D,' , Hollins' "Intermezzo," and the popular "Andantino" by Qltss Laura Stone will be the vocaHst. PARNELL. "Notorious Gallagher" is the neadllner at the Parnell Palace to-night and Monday. "MARITANA." The Auckland Choral Society's performance of Wallnee's popular opera "Maritana" takes place in the Town Hall on Thursday next, the 2otn Inst. The soloists will be Madam Choules (soprano). Miss Madeline Knight (contralto*. Mr. Ernest Drake (tenon. Mr. Barry Coney (baritone), and Mr. J. P. Lonergan (bass). Tbe bos plan opens to the public on Tuesday at Wlldman and Arey's. at 8 a.m. A limited number of seats is available for nonsubscribers.

THE PRINCESS. "In every man there is a hidden spring. By whatever hand, by whatever love, by whatever hate, the spring is pressed, it releases within the man the driving, forcing, onward-urging power of the will; and a new man is born to accomplish good or evil. This is the foreword to the Metro picture play, "The Hidden Spring," a very struggles of an ambitious young fellow along the road to right. Clean and wholesome, the whole picture breathes an atmosphere of sanity and health, and though there are one or two rather regrettable characters taking their share in the weaving of the story, yet every motive, every action, every scene, breathes this' divine lire of youth, of sanity and health Anl to whoever believes—as all surely must - ! that the days of the miracles are not yet ! past, "The Hidden Spring" will unfold ; another fountain «f interest. The story i centres on Donald Keith and his girl-love ' Thora. Donald, a young lawyer, goes to a . small city to make his fortune. He finds , that the town is in the grip of Quartus Hembly. Donald does not like Hembly, but he does not feel that it is bis place to interfere. Then Hembly kicks his dog and maltreats a poor, old man. and the hidden spring is touched. Donald decides to kick Hembly out of town. Alone and unaided— except for the advice and trust of Thora hrikson—he goes into the tight. He follows up elup* Bhe gives him, only to lind that they lead directly to the door of her own home. Her father apparently Is ,%■■ guilty as Hembly. He cannot break the heart of the girl he loves, and he must rid the town of the menace. "The Hidden Spring" tells the miraculous way in which the problem Is solved. Harold Ixickwood is an ideal Donald Keith. A supporting programme of high merit and interest helps "The Hidden Spring," while the Peerless Princess Orchestra supplies a delightful musical setting. THE TIYOLI. The dainty fare dished np at the Tlvoli this afternoon is "The Voice in the Fog," a li'aramonnt drama of considerable power. The story was ti.med in the Lasky studios, with Donald Brian and Ada GleesJn leading the cast. The story has quite a number of very exciting turns, ami a pretty romance is cleverly worked through the scenes of adveuture and villainy. Thomas Webb is the name o£ the hero in the story. By the death of an uncle he has been left a famous pendant, a title and cash. He has a friend named Mason. Mason is a scoundrel, and in Webb'a celebrations of his fortune Mason joins. He makes him drunk, and robs him. of his money, while by other means he gets the right to use Webb's title for three months. Miss Kitty KlUlgrew is an American heiress, and Webb meets her. They fall In love. Later at a fashionable ball Kitty .has a replica of the famous pendant in Webbs possession. Webb anil Mason meet outside, and arc talking when Kitty in a cab dashes by oil her way home. Mason sees a chance, and snatches the necklace from her shoulders. She has heard Webb's voice. This, with the momentary flash of a scarred wrist, is aU the clue she has. but she blames Webb. Howevtr, there comes a real tangle when Webb is found by a detective in possession of the necklace. Really it is bis own, the real one, and not the replica. There is a big scene in a society house, and the story ends with Kitty's sudden remembrance of the scarred wrist. Then Mason is caught and taken away for his punishment, and the curtain drops'past the two lovers alone. The story is worked out on an old style, with a plot but little different from hundreds that have gone before, but the film is nicely balanced, and the acting part is strong enough to make i'eal living likenesses of the characters they represent. This goes a very long way in a film. The high tone and artistic finish of the settings for "The Voice in the Fog" deserves praise. The supporting themes are excellent. "TURN TO THE RIGHT." After what are described as record seasons of ten weeks in Sydney and Melbourne, Messrs. J. ana N. Talt announce that their New Comedy Co. will commence a brief season in Auckland at His Majesty's Theatre on Saturday next. October l>7. when "Turn to the Right." a new comedy, by Winchell Smith and John 1.. Hazzard. will Ue presented. Winchell Smith is the author of many successful , plays, including "The Boomerang." "The Fortune Hunter," "Brewster's Millions." etc. It Is said that "Turn to the Right" has proved the most successful play in eighteen months in New York, and sixteen months in Chicago, and still drawing full houses in both cities, go to prove that it must have a very strong appeal. It is described as a play of pathos and hnmour, with a very human story, that Is bound to appeal to everyone, clean and wholesome in its sentiment and humour. For the production of "Turn to the Right" Mr. K. J. Tait while in America made several engagements of notable artists, including Mr. Walter P. Richardson, Mr. John Junior. Mr. Stapleton Kent. Mr. Vincent Dennis, and Miss Margaret Calvert. whilst Mr. Gaston Mervale. the well-known actor, was engaged as producer, and also to appear in the play. The other members of the company are all old favourites here, and amongst* those who have prominent Sparks, Miss Florence Anderson. Miss Marie Collier. Mr. Maurice Dudley. Mr. j George Chalmers, and Mr. Carlton Stuart. The box plan opens at Wildman and Arey's lon Thursday morning next, October 25.