AMUSEMENTS.

Auckland Star, Volume XLIX, Issue 71, 23 March 1918, Page 10

AMUSEMENTS.

HIS MAJESTY'S THEATRE. "SEVEN DAYS' LEAVE." . Ben J. and John Fuller, jun.. announce the coming of' Allan Wilkie. the famous English leading m.-in. supported by a strong cast in Walter Howard's latest play of submarine and spy menace, entitled "Seven Days Leave." This play is at present having a successful run at the Lyceum Theatre, London, having already been played for over one year, for nine weeks at "The Grand Opera Ilouse, Sydney, and twelve weeks at The Princess Theatre, Melbourne. The play deals thrilling]}- with the adventures of a British officer on seven days' leave: it shows with exciting detail how a treacherous U-boat was lured to its destruction by a brave girl. The sinking of the submarine is described as a wonderful piece of stage mechanism, while the art of the scenic artist is said to be seen in many picturesque settings, which include the interior of a German military hospital and the telli_g episode of the dedication of a shrine to fallen heroes. The spy menace is dealt with in masterly manner, and never falls to Impose an irresistible grip on an audience. The author has struck the notes which are sure of an echo tn the hearts of the people. 3lessrs. Fuller have decided to charge low rates of admission, notwithstanding the great expense of this high-class attraction. The box plan for the season is to be opened at Wildman and Arey's at 9 a.m. on Tuesday. No extra charge is being made for booking. OPERA HOUSE. A first-rate programme of revue and vaudeville is running at the Opera House. The current bill will be put on for the last : time to-night, and the usual change will be ' . presented on Monday. TIVOLI THEATRE. Another programme of altogether exceptional merit was shown at the Tlvoli Thea- ; Tre to-day, when the customary change of liill was made. Most people will be at a loss to decide which of the two big pictures on the bill merits the title of "star," lor vach possesses the highest qualities as a feature-film, and would grace any programme in the honoured position on the list. One of these features is "The Waxen Model." in which Vivienne Martin plays" the leading part, that of Julie Davenport, ' an heiress. The picture is decidedly novel as far as the plot goes, and holds .it big ■ sujprise in each act. The play, was prof ß dnced in the very latest studio in America, » that of the Payyas Oorportion, which... .udgJ ing from the remarkably line qualities of its >. initial productions ranks with the first 5 picture-making concerns of America. The ', other big attraction is a film showing the - inimitable Fatty Arbue-le enjoying a holi- - day at Coney Island. With the combinaTiou of Patty's irresistibly funny antics and the great opportunities for doing the t most astonishing things provided by the * "Joy machines" at Coney Island, the picture ; Is probably the funniest effort yet made by i Fatty in his mission of cheering the lnulti- * Ti'.de. The management announces that on f. Monday pictures of the great bush fires iv the King Country, specially taken for the . Tivoli Theatre, will be shown, in addition - to the ordinary programme. PRINCESS THEATRE. » The immensely popular actress, Ethel _ Barrymore, with a special company of well- ■= known players, appears in "The Eternal | Mother," which has been adapted by Metro. » from the novel "Red Horse Hill." by Sidney * Mc'Call. The picture will appeal irresistibly - to all the patrons of the Princess, where » it was shown for the first time to-day. as ; well as to the special following of Ethel « Barrymore. During the production of the " piece the entire equipment of a woolleni knitting .factory was transferred to the ; Metro, studios. Children are shown at work in these scenes operating the knitting j machines, looms, and bobbins, while a , brutal overseer keeps them steadily at their ■work. Maris, the heroine of the piece, re- ; ceives news of the death of her husband and child in a railway accident, and she . marries again. Later she learns that the report of the death of her child was wrong, and that the little girl is employed in the woollen mills owned by her present husband. Even before she knew that her own child was working in the mill she had urged her husband to better the conditions of life for these young people working in the mill- . When she finds her own daughter labouriag among :he other little workers she leaves lier husband and takes the child -with her. This brings the mill-owner to his senses, and the result is happiness for himself and his wife, and the betterment of the conditions of the children working at the mill. 'The rest of the new programme at the Princess is thoroughly .enjoyable, and includes ibe nsual variety of funny and topical films. QUEEN'S THEATRE. ■ ."> A •well-filled progra mine made its first appearance at the Queen!s -, to-day. when among the good things offered was "The Grell Mystery."-wlilch has been culled from the famous Sherlock Holmes' novel written by Conan Doyle. The film is such an excellent production that it makes one wonder why the fascinating stories of the great detective do no. appear on the screen more often. "The GreU Mystery" specialises in revealing the Inmost secrets of the great underworld of New York, where "crooks" of the most desperate kind thrive. The Tjrntal methods of Bowery "gunmen" and the elaborate systems of blackmailing, robbing, and even murder, are involved in the plot of the piece. The producers have - gone to great lengths to get Llocalteolodr;-Land, lave penetrated into New York's most ■doubtful quarters in order to present the picture accurately. Another instalment of *'The Neglected Wife" serial is also shown. THE GLOBE. _'■■•■■ A rousing story of romantic adventure called "Pidgin- Island." *lth- Haiold Lockwood in a thoroughly 'congenial port; is proving a great draw at the Globe Theatre, ■where It was shown for the ; first time to-day. Earle Williams appears : in' an extremely weird mystery story called "Apartment _f>" on the same programme. SACRED CONCERT. At the Globe Theatre to-morrow (Sunday) night, the picture "Christ Among Men" will be shown at a special enter- j I tainment. The film is a kinemaeolour j production, and mouths of arduous labour ' ; "were spent in its production. The views '■ of the noly Land are particularly interestL ing. Several well-known Auckland am- ■' leurs wiU render suitable vocal numbers. : i ' EVERYBODY'S; At Everybody's, the best of the new programme put on to-day is "Sally In Our AUey." which shows how a girl born in the slums made good and became a power In soclefcy-

I THE STRAND. 1 LJThat very popular actor, - Charles Ray, undoubtedly accomplishes his most power- •■ ful character portrayal in "Sudden Jim," i which commenced with a new assortment of pictures at the Strand to-day. Barry LMarscheH's poem "The Kid from Timaru," 'Is alio shown in pieturised form. THE GRAND. I A splendid story of love and adventure. , "The Feast of Life," was the chief asset on to-day's fresh collection of film at the' Grand. Clara Kimball Young takes the ; leading part. THE LYRIC. | "Sodden .Tim," with Charles Ray in the name-part, is the most important of the films shown at the.'Lyric Theatre for thefirst time to-day. -. There is an excellent supporting programme. ■• i . WEST END THEATRE. . At the West End Theatre to-night "Broadway Jones," a screen version of the stage success of that name, was put on to-day. ARCADIA THEATRE. The society drama "Playing Fair," will be shown at the Arcadia Theatre for the last time to-night. On Monday "According to Code" will make an appearance. BRANDON-CKEXIER COMPANY. ! . Mr. Brandou-Creiner has returned to Auckland, aud is making arrangements to re-open at the King's Theatre a new season of stock drama, commencing at the matinee next Saturday afternoon. During Mr. Cremer's absence in Australia he secured the playing rights of all of Mr. I William Andersou and Air Philip Lytton's i plays. The opening bill will be Charles | DarreH's famous play "When Loudon ! Sleeps." The following are some of the | members of Mr. Cremer's company:— Misses Kathleen Arnold, Loris Bingham, Lilian Coleuso, and Alice Rede; Messrs. Kenneth Carlisle, William Ewart, Edgar KennaL W. J. Coulter, Geo. MeDermott, Fred. Coventry, Albert Ross, and Jack C. Deene. ORGAN" RECITAL TO-NIGHT. An attractive programme arranged for the organ recital iv the Town Hall to-night will include organ works by Wesley, Vierne. AYidor and Petrali. Neviu's "Goodnight." and an English folk song, "This Old Man." arranged for carillons -'and _irgan. .Mr'j Ernest Drake will be the vocalist. V