AMUSEMENTS.

Auckland Star, Volume XLVIII, Issue 300, 17 December 1917, Page 2

AMUSEMENTS.

" GRUMPY." TLe production of "Grumpy" at His Majesty's Theatre by Mr Cyril Maude and Company afl'ords a theatrical treat that ie not often offered t o Aueklanders. Mr. Maude Is unquestionably one ot England's Kvetitest character actors, and in "Grumpy" he is fitted with a part that fully realises his woudcrful ability. The theatre was filled on Saturday night, when the piny was staged for the second time, and at the conclusion of the performance Mr Maude was called upon to make a speech. "General John Ttegan" will be staged on Friday evening next, and on 'Saturday night the season will conclude with "L'uste." OP Bit A HOUSE. Auothcr lirst-rate vaudeville programme has been secured by the Fuller management for to-night's change of fare at the Opera House. Among the attractions olVcrcd is another revue staged by the Les Bates Company, under the title "A Night In Bohemia." TIVOLI THEATRE. As usual the change of programme at the Theatre on Saturday night drew a crowded house, and the "house full" cards made an early appearance, with the result that many people were turned away. The programme deserves its popularity, for it bas evidently been chosen with great discretion, resulting In a very attractive and well-balanced assortment of first-class pictures. Another big element contributing to the .success of tnis house la the excellence of the music played by the capable Tlvoll orchestra, while the eomfoita'blo seating accommodation and adequate ventilation nre other factors in promoting the general comfort and enjoyment of the- 'Jivoli following. The big picture on the liet is called "At First Sight," lv which that brightest member of the La&ky constellation, Mac Murray, Is the pivot of the story. The them? of the Him is highly romantic, but thoroughly life-like, and there is a leavening of the tragic In the development of the plot. Tile heroine Is a young society jflrl, who Is forced Into an engagement "with a young man whose only recommendation In his -liaiik-book. tier idea of a lover has 'been gathered from tho books of mi author, and when later she meets the author himself under curious circumstances, all the elements for a highly dramatic and interesting story are realised. The Lasky production makes the most of all the chances, with the result that the Him is us Qnlshed uud attractive as anytiling yet shown to discriminating Auck- ' lander*. The running of the Melbourne Cup, the subject of another head-liner on the bill, also claims a very large share of popular favour. Thin classic event has : never been so perfectly reproduced in Him las It was on the occasloii ot this year's ■ race, and next to seeing the actual event ! itself the picture affords the best method of. Ruining nil adequate idea of the Importance of the big race. Eight cameras were need In photographing the event, so ' that every part of the contest Is shown. Other good Uilugs on the programme are. Che lav-si • Ali.i-.ii.au News , aud a hlghlydlvertlng comedy. EVEKVBODrS THEATBE. A lilui that made its tirst appearance with a new piugiuwuic buiucuou iv oive«jri»uuy« i heuue on Saturday bus Uceu uwiiU«u »>»*u lac iueu wi leuUiui; a leoaou Lo &ufcptelous husbands. Tue piciuie, which guea uj tue title 61 "The Y>ou>uu ueueuui, ' in a brlUiauCly-coiiCelve*! domestic uraiua Wlthuut uuj oi mc backuejeu attributes ot tms ciuas. ot play, lhe.e is, ot couiee, aiiotiier man iv tue case, but he la sutißj couiiuuu sense. TUe real wioug-dper ot mc 1 piece is the husbauu, who uus ue\oled most of His tiiie aim euerglea 10 accumulating up immense loituiie, tvnlic his girl Wile leuinlncii negieoteii. \\ hen trouble comes upou the couple, the developments are wnolly unexpected, und leiAl up to an cuiiuilv uniooKcii-ror conclusion. The "tiuiiU" piuuiiifis ure respousmie for the staging ot the Him, and ilicy have cariicit it out In au eailucuuy pleasing uiuuuer. fcthci Clayton is tne brightest gicu.ui In tue Luusteiliniou tuat comprises the east. There la a full list of attractive supports. PRINCESS THEATRE. The Metro rUm-niukei s mc always to be rclleu upon iv the matter of. adequate prouuctioii aud aiirucli>e «ioiles, but uiey uaie- done nothing better tuan •The Luted Veil,' , wiiicu was presented at tue friucess Thcutro. on naiuiUay witn a uew set oi nliue. Thlß five-act dra.ua seciM to impress people with the irue values oi some of t«ie tmugs tuat most eouut upou lor their happiness, but the lesauu is a very pleasaui one, and the suenluluu of a moral uoes lioihiug but help one's eujoyuieut. i.thel bwryuipre. wuu.e lepuiauou as a picture pinyi-r is alone enough to obtulucurrency tor the lllui, tanes tlic lending part, aud uoes It with all uer aetmstouieu grace and artistry. A uellgntfiil Oiristie comedy called "Out for tne Coin" provides the tunuy clemeut of tne bill, wutle the nrst of the remarkable cowboy eeiles called "The Great I'eudieton Hound-up, is another attractive item. KING'S THEATRE. At the big Klug'B Theatre the customary new selection of pictures shown on Saturday tetcUcU %t»ry big houses. AHe I item ou tue lust responsible for most o£ 1 cap," which exteuds over cisht reels of 1U..1 without having a patch of dullness. "he stoiy is of tue best "Wild West" type, with Harold LocKwood lv the most iui--1 noriant Halt Ther« mc a number of other 1 good thlnia ou the bill, incluulng couiic und tojilcui subjects. STRAND Tl-U3ATBH. Probably there could bo no more interesting subject for a picture at the present time thau eeeucu snowlu({ just lvuat Js going on in Itufcsia. One hae a. very vague ideu of the actual buppemuss leaulng up to and cuuslnif the overthrow ot the lliissiuii moiiurchy. aud It Is of tlio hlchest moro C!, taportant a eventually brought about the abdication. A nIU) actually Khovvliig: nuiiiy of these things ivat* introtluecU at the Strunu Tneatre on Saturday, and will continue showing throughout the week. The picture mi taken alter permission had been obtained from M. Kereneky, aud the operators cxponed themselves to considerable personal risk lv tilmlng some of the more dramatic developments. It was therefore only to be expected that the Strand Theatre, .big as It Is, would not prove big enough to house all the people ■•ho wltshcd to see this remarkable Mm, and all the sessions on ■Saturday were so well atteuded that the "house full" notice came Into use. It Ik claimed that the picture is the sole record of oue of the £reatest evcnU in the workl'tt history, and It certainly must 1)0 admitted that the tilui is a unique and remarkable achievement. Another important item ou the bill ie a fllm called "Oriental Love," which Is sprung upon the house as something In the nature of a surprise packet. Thp ninth episode of "The Secret Kingdom" anil the latest Pathc Gazette help to increase the popularity of the j.nie. GRAND THEATRE. A rollicking and romantic war story Is the best ot the combination of good things that were shown for the first time ou Saturday at the Grand Theatre. The 'Mm, which goes.by the Inspiring title of "For France" concerns the doings of a certain German oQlcer who gets a young French girl into his power. lie meets his punishment In a speedy and adequate manner, but before the tlual sceue is «hown there are many developments of a highly sensational and dramatic sort, Including many actual scenes of the battlefield. Some particularly realistic and exciting events happen when the flying machines are brought Into action, and throughout the total length of the film thero is never a dull period. There Is a worthy supporting list, Including auothcr Instalment of that fascinating serial "The Secret of the Submarine." The latest chapter contains some thrills of a rare sort, and followers of this highly interesting story will advance another step toward the eoliitlon of the baffling problem about which the plot is woven. . QUEEN'S THEATRE. ; , Uussia Is a kind of happy hunting ground just now Tor tile lllm-pioducors, and It has furnished the camera meu with miuch "good copy," but nothing of this type has ibeeu shown that bas a greater claim on popularity than "Anton, the Terrible," which .heads the new programme introduced" at the Queen's Theatre on .Saturday. The picture portrays in an original and powerful manner some notable happenings In the higher social circles of Petrograd, and introduces certalu police methods lv an unfavourable light. The "third degree" system of obtaining evidence Is exposed In the course of a sensational and thrilling plot. TJie leading players in the fllm are those well liked people .Anita King and Theodore ItobertH. who are supported by an exceptionally large and competent cast. The other attractive itcina on a long and varied bill Include the latest Amerlcnu Gazette and a very diverting comic.

"THE BARRIER." "The Barrier,' winch was shown at the Lyric Theatre lor ilie Urst Uuie ou Saturday, attracted orowaed nouses. Adapted iruiii tue well-known novel of thut name, wrlLteu. by Hex Ueacn, the stoi-y, Iroin start 10 mush, Is one of tuniliug iuterest. a'ne spectators are taken iuio the wilds of Aiubhti—Hie place where gold him been ueauy as pieiiUlul as the sands of tue soa, aim wuerc u'uurau nature is seen at>,jts worst and Uest. tlere, m this luuo ot virile wen, though iv .many cases (.-rude In melr ways, hare ueveithele»e> a serine of i»«ut aim Wious tuat Is not infrequently loreign to the people of ttie more illicitly populated placfca 01 the world. The story, u» loid uy lies lleucn, is too well kuown to used recapitulation, and the picturigtiuou of it has not deprived it of any of Us turulwg inteiest. The acting'throughout la realistic, uii'i ti*e picture, iruuj start to flulsli, iMPIuH tUe Bpeetutoi speli-uouiia by tno inteusity of mc incidents and the stirring scenes that ure euueted. The umln incidents of the boon are reproduced with v uuelity that leaves nothing to be desired. .lonii Gale, loieon Doret, Hen StarK, uunmoii, ".No Creek" Lee, Lieut. Aieade liui'leil, Nocla, and the otuer characters are depicted with all the realism and the eharac-leiistlc-s with which they have been m\csted l>y the author of the book. ' They are people of action, strong In their priniiU\l! pulsions, Bi.uiile ana direct in tlielr uu-ibou.s, and equally quick to resent a wrong as they are to defend a woman when threatened by the machinations of evil men. There Is not a dull moment In the story as shown in this splendid picturlsatlon. Poleou Doret stands out as a typical example of the rugged men of the cold northlauds, with a heart of gold and the courage of a Hon. He lovee Necla with a love that proves equal to every demand thut is put upon it, and because ho loves her he rescues her from the dutches of lluunton after n desperatestruggle, and returns her in safety to, the arms of her lover Lieut. Meade Burroll. The whole picture la one of exceptional interest, and without doubt one of the finest of its kind thut have yet been produced in Auckland, and should eonlnue to attract crowded houses ihiilng the week. It la to be shown both during the afternoons nnd evenings. GLOBE THKATKE. The new order of things at the Globe Theatre presents two big dramiitiu pictures the Night," which 1« done by the Triangle producers In their very best style, while productions called "The 'VVTieel* of Destiny." Both pictures arc notable productions, each being worthy of holding a first place oil any programme. In addition to these star attractions there are a number of supporting fllme of outstanding merit. WEST END THEATRE. Rellnement and restraint are two very pleasing qualities of the star film shown i with the fresh combination of Him at the West Knd Theatre. The Him Is an adaptaI tlou of that delightful book. "The Old i Homestead," written by Denman Thompson, .uul all ot tile whimsical humour ami tender uppnul or the original story are re- , tallied In the fllni. As Kuth, Ix>ui«; Holt I lias an eminently suitable pnrt, while ''rank Lossee, in the role or Joshua WhitcomUe, Is responsible for some striking worthy lot. AItCADIA 'HHEATRE. An entirely new assortment of film of a high standard Is to be given an Initial showing ut the Arcadia Theatre to-nlKlu. L'lrst place on the list U, given to a special "lUueblrd" feature, called "The Little Tcror.' which. l>esldes being a decidedly unusual type ot picture, a ver.v striking and dramatic »tory. Auother nun that m likely to make a strong bid for popular favour Iβ the fourth epl«ode of that exceedingly Interesting and mysterious serial story. 'The l'urple Domino." Besides these two features there arc several comic aud topical subjects. OTHER -PICTURE EXTBRTAIN'MJiXTS. At the Victoria Theatre, Devouport, the big drama, "Jim Itludso," will bo shown Dually to-night. "iMlster 44" Is announced for to-morrow. A clever "Trlaugle" drama, called "The Crab." Is running as the feature at the Kmpresß Theatre. The accompanying pictures arc an interesting collection of up-to-date subjects. Uood business is bclug attracted to the Foresters" Theatre, OneliunKa, by the cuireut programme, which is headed by "Wiierc Are Aly Chlld.#.." RED CROSS CONCERT. 'A highly enjoyable and very successful eoucert Wius given In the Towu Hall concert chamber ou Saturday night In uid or the Red Crose Kuni The :Srd Auckland Rudiment's orchestra, under Llrut. 1-clgh-ton, provided a number of selections, while the pupils of Ml*.» Uecll Hall put on a number of excellent dances, the most appreciated of which wae the amusing "taxi trot" ballet, while the "Hallet de >l'arls," Including several specialties, was aleo v feature of the programme. Other dances were the sailor's hornpipe, by Mlssea Dorothy .Spencer and Ailai Uonayne; an acrobatic dance by >ll«i Ethel Turner, and «n Egyptian slave dance, by Miss BetUua Edwards; while Ml<»sc3 A. Jones and M. Phllcox wore responsible for a pretty sceua, entitled The Spectre of the .Rose." 'Song solos by Madame Obnmbers nnd Mr F. G. Bourke, and a monologue by Mr. 11. M. Card/.n rounded ort an entertainment which earned the hearty approbation of the large audience and for the euccees of which uo little credit was due to the able accompanist work of Miss M. Altken and Mr. B. Armlger. During the evening Mr Louis Lewis conducted an auction sale ot goods, for which excellent prices were obtained for tue beucllt of the fund. MB. BABRY CONEY'S HECITAL. To-morrow night Miss Allen's fine contralto voice will be beard in Auckland foi the last time, at any rate tor some years. Mr. Coney will appear In comedy with the costume cycle "flora's Holiday." Altogether a most inte-reetlnß and unusual programme will be presented.