AMUSEMENTS.

Auckland Star, Volume XLIX, Issue 185, 5 August 1918, Page 2

AMUSEMENTS.

j THE NATIONAL THEATRE. I Though not of East and West, in tbe I sense that Kipling meant it, nevertheless "Jack and Jill," Paramount story at the National, Is a tale of East and West, and I its two stars, Jack Plckford and - Miss j Louise Huff, supply all tbe sensation and j the fun that is necessary. First in the city | the story starte, and the nero, Jack Ramney, ls a youthful would-be pugilist. He tights, and loves, and his sweetheart says she will marry him when his bank account jis large enough. So the boy sets out to 1 make It bigger. He fights again, and thinks he has killed his man. But he hasn't, although he runs away out West, aud brags about being called "Jack the Killer." He has all sorts of adventures to keep his interest in life well alive, and has to submit to a good deal, of ragging before he gets a chance to prove bis courage is not all wind. "Jack and Jill" is a fascinating story, light and whimsical mostly, but with here and there the deeps of other things, and In an almost continuous stream happenings that make one gasp. The tale is daintily set, and its backgrounds give a great deal of realism to its action. "Jack and Jill" has a pretty romance, too, which goes to show that true love and young love is one of the best powers of life. "It Pays to Exercise" is a Mack Bennett comedy, and is supported by the usual topical .. pictures, and by a well selected programme of good music.

THE TIVOLI THEATRE. ' Miss Pauline Frederick plays for Famous Players in the film that is now current at the Tlvoll Theatre, "The Hungry Heart." This is rather a moving story, one with a good deal of dramatic power. Its strength comes from a realistic situation between a newly-married husband and his bride. They drift apart- and in her heart there is a hunger for the love her husband seems to have no time to express. So she yields to another man as a sort of substitute, and the husband divorces her. But they both seem to love one another deep down in tbeir hearts, and it ls the train of circumstances to bring them together again that makes far the most interesting part of the tale. Miss Frederick's emotional playing in "The Hungry Heart" is really strong, and all the vital scenes of the drama are most skilfully staged. But the whole of the Tivoli bill may be considered this week as being a two-feature one, for the other film is one of the famous Fatty Arbuckle comedies. This ls called "A Country Hero," and in It the fat tumman plays as a mighty blacksmith. The supports and music are first-rate. ENGLISH PIERROTS. ■ According to the dimensions of the audience which greeted Saturday evening's change of programme by the Englisfi Pierrots In the Concert Chamber of the Town Hall, the amusement palate of local patrons Is more. than satisfied with the repertoire staged by the Pierrots, whose work, grave and gay, was extolled in no unmeasured terms from the cheery opening chorus, "Pierrotland." to the final humorous travesty, "Taking a Picture for the Movies.™ An item that went well was •'Old King Cole," and the male members were similarly successful In "When You Go to -Rome." A feature of the solos given was "Harlequinade," sung with fine temperamental interpretation and vigour by Mr David Lyle, who also scored in the more sentimental "Love Lily," a number In which the quality of tbe singer's- voice was expressed to considerable advantage. Mr Leslie Austin won plaudits -for his breezy "You've Got to Put Up With It," and tne encore number, "Caravan -Holiday," a tuneful exaggeration not withont merit. Tlie chorus song, "South Sea Isle," Miss Bllne Wilson rendering t*e solo part sweetly, was vociferously received. Miss Wilson, in response to a demand for more, gave hearers a good Idea of her ability as a child mimic In "I Don't Want to be Washed," and another juvenile ditty, "Six Times Nine"My Ships." sung by the ' soprano. Miss Elsie Rosslyn, as the audience recognised, was one of the gems of the evening, the vocalist, on being ' recalled, giving a Japanese love eong, the quaint richness of which was ably expounded. An impressive monologue in costume, "Not Old," was a clever character study by Mr • Lonis I Mitchell, who for an encore gave "O, l Memory-" Miss .Elsa Langley - contributed her favourite "Kissed Oi Once,"— splendidly snng and acted number. For repetition she equally pleased "in the jungle song, 'Elephant;"'the antics of the "double-jointed" animal amusingly enhancing a dainty turn. • Mr W. P. Turner was at his best in his patter song, "Magazine for Men," and the -encore "Little Novels." The Pierrots also enacted their vlvaclons sketch. "The Corner of a London Street," and the quartet medley, "Not Exactly Original" made a hit. "Farewell in the Desert," a heavy and ambitious song, was selected by Mr Roy Cooke, who also sang "When You Come -Home" as an encore. Two homely ducttists are Meesrs Austin and C. Lawrence, and their lively numbers "Paderewski" and "Can't Do Without a Bit of Love" were loudly applauded.

ALLEN DOONE SEASON. On Saturday evening His Majesty's Theatre was packed to witness Allen Doonc and his popular company give the third performance of "Lucky O'Shea." Many were | unable to obtain admission. The last two nights of this play are annonnced. and on Wednesday the first change of bill will be given. This will be "Tom Moore." a play by the same author as "O'Shea" Burt Sayre. The story of the Irish national poet is well told in play form by the Doone company, and has proved- a great draw with them when produced in Australia. Mr Doone will appear In the name part and sing several new songs, among which will be "Are You Half the Man Yon're Mother Thought You'd Be." Miss Edna Keeley will appear as Tom Moore's sweetheart. Bessie Dykes. The box plan is at Wildman and Arey's.

THE STRAND THEATRE. "Nearly Married," the Goldwyn picture at the Strand now, is a comedy-drama of I the same type as, Its forerunner, "Baby Mine," but, if anything, its romance and Its comedy hits are better. Madge Kennedy is the heroine here, and her part in the play gives her opportunities for good work that she has taken to the full, with the result that all patrons will be better pleased with "Nearly Married" than they were with the other. For It has this difference, that whereas Its fnn and its interest are not dependent on a couple of fnnny situations as the key, there is new action, new motives, all the time. The comedy-romance deals principally with Miss Kennedy as a prospective bride, bnt she cannot quite make up her mind definitely -that she wants to be married, and all the time some new excitement makes her change her mind- again -• As a j-onsequence. "Nearly Married" is an excellent pictured idea of the eternal feminine, and of the old saw to the effect that her mind is ever changing as the wind. Miss Kennedy wears gowns of many lovei, shapes and shades in this film, and the ever-changing scenes, like the ever-varying mind of the charming heroine, makes* for beauty in the picture that hacks up the fun very nicely. "Newly Married" is well supported. | EVERYBODY'S THEATRE. ' Alma Rubens, for Triangle, has played 'The Firefly of Tough Luck." which Is : drawing attention to the screen at Everybody's just as markedly as its twin-play j "The Flame of the Yukon" made business ' for the btrand. "The Firefly" is. of course a lady who has had the misfortnne to marry a man- whose character does not come up to specifications, and therefore the lady has thought it best for all parties concerned that she should leave him. So she finds her way up to the gold gronnds, and there, in combination with a gauut otu -miner who has founded a town, which h_ has called "Tough Luck," after his own experiences, she sets out to be queen ot the place. Endowed with grace and charm, and with a happy way of amusing people, the rough miners arc very soon at her heels. There is another romance that comes Into her life and so relieves the narrative from too much monotony, and the film Itself is made Interesting by the contrasting effects of the dainty lady and her rough surroundings. "The Firefly oi Tough Luck" has with it other pictures of some interest. THE PRINCESS. The Princess headliuer is "The Claim " a Metro -feature wherein Miss Edith Storey is the most interesting, the most winsome "and the most human of the characters. It is a picture well supported by other various films, and is very interesting in itself. THE QUEEN'S. At the Queen's Theatre all this week the feature picture study. "The Woman Between Friends," is a visualisation of a story by Robert W. Chambers. It covers a narrative of two friends, one of whom proves false to the other, through the beauty of a woman. ~* THE ARCADIA. Tlie Arcadia Tneatrc has for its bright I particular star this week Miss Fanniel Ward, of fame as an emotional actress for Paramount. Miss Ward is featured in the film drama "On The Level." which is , backed bj- a varied selection of other items.,

"THE DEEMSTER." i "The Deemster," a picture verain,, '_*-'.'- Hall Calne's novel, is in season now a?.?' l '' Lyric Theatre, where it commence. »„ Saturday afternoon and evenine _____ „ capacity houses. Indeed, dnring t_eV._T' ing .a tall -hour before th. Urn s! screened, many people were turned >«, "s•■••■ "The Deemster" is being presented hel. ■ now under direction or E. J. Carroll r whom Mr Leo D. Chateau is agent "'it,. remarkable.in many ways, for ita prev__t__ : l sense is drama—drama vividly anil .X. B ■'•' - fully shown. The plot S EfflcfiS. II known, for it has been a widely-read __r/ and in this picture study there if ev_£ - - thing and nothing. By this ls meant tw ■ all the passion, all the force of the wZ is there translated Into visual thlnra «__■'■ can scarcely fall to appeal, while th. weighty argument of his written word t. absent. That is why 'The Deemster" . a film will surely catch, because, to ns. . l slangy expression, perhaps, all the "unit* is. there, and good "meat" it Is too. fi. the plot Is always on the move, aid th. ■ prevailing idea is always steadily consistently being progressed. The author'-* own son,. Derwent, who has achieved « considerable reputation as a passional, actor, has the leading role as Dan th.son of the Bishop. The scene is laid i' th. Isle of Man, and its picturesque people it, 1 quaint customs and severe laws, are' set l clearly. The Deemster himself 1b the head' of the island, and there is only one ____n '• with power behind him. That "v the Bishop, whose son Dan is In love wlt_ | Mona, as played by Marion Swayne th. daughter of the Deemster. Dan fe in. - cllned to resist the Idea of the Church as a profession, and to spend his leisure ' frivolously at the tavern. His attachment to Mona is reciprocated, but Kwan, her ' brother, and the Deemster are opposed to it. When eventually the Deemster sees Dan climbing down from his sweetheart's window at break of day he draws his own' ; conclusions, wrongly, and sends out Kwan to punish Dan. Tbey have a terrible , struggle, and Ewan falls from the cliffi edge. Dan is accused of murder, and the- | angry Deemster is about, to pass sentence - in the quaint open court when tbe Bishop - takes power, and sentences his own- son to ostracism. "Let no man speak to him," be says; "alone let blm live, alone let him die." So Dan has to go forth alone, andlives his punishment for seven long yean, I till a plague strikes the people, and by fate. Dan Is sent in the robes of a priest to heal it. With one powder left, he hears the confession of the Deemster, who shows himself a coward. Dan and he are both stricken. The choice is made; and then— the end. There is much wonderful photo- ' graphy in thij picture, for the seascapes from the old-fashioned isle are fine. They are reproduced as settings to poignant scenes In the narrative. The season is for one week, afternoons and evenings. • ?-., THE GRAND THEATRE. ' " A ' Though not .quite new to the picture public In Auckland, "Polly of the Circus," aa shown now at the head of the bill at th« ' Grand Theatre, is of enough interest ia story and settings to make good. Miss Mac Marsh, the dainty heroine of this tale ot • the sawdust'frring, is winsome enough to lend a certain very definite charm to the. picture, and Its narrative,- working up . from Jnst interest to real thrills, is good enough for the best. "Polly of the Circus" ! possesses a great attraction for both youth and age. and its romantic touch is very pretty, while the element of pathos that is combined with It is still an added attrac- . tion. On the same progranjme "The Mystery of the .Double Cross," the current serial, is now in its twelfth chapter?- and ' gets more and more interesting as it goes ' along." OPERA HOUSE. ■'.' The farces of the Haverly -Irish Players' hate been revived for another week, this time to be "The Man In Black." On the; same new bill that Is coming to Puller's Opera House to-night Bertram and'Kay-' 1 lr.ond will present their "Coeky's Courtship." and another turn direct from Europe, | so 'tis Bald, will feature a balancing act and a head slide. This turn seems to be staged by "Jack Coco, She and It." Maude Courtney and Mr. '. are In their last. week, - and Ca'lton Max, ventriloquist, and 1 Ward Lear, comedian, are also to make amusement. ...1; ' THE KING'S THEATRE. .- •W& The feature of the present entertainment as supplied to patrons of the Merrymakers at the-. King's. Theatre is, ."Life In. : Bohemia," a comedy-play that has sent many patrons away pleasantly amused. It Is well filled with. witty dialogue and. catchy music, and Its full supporting programme, of " vaudeville Is concluded by the screaming farce "The Lunatic Asylum.'*' There is much pleasant diversion to .be had at .the King's this week. _ ?••; THE GLOBE THEATRE. vVjr.v; ! "The Combat" and "The Sealed Valley" are the co-features being presented at the '■■ Globe picture house this week. .'"The., Combat" is a drama, witn Anita Stew-art as , the heroine. It depicts a struggle between;, a lady with a heart and a man with a . brain. Of course, the heart wins. The' other. "Tbe Sealed Valley," is a Metro film, with Dorothy Donnelly as. the first of the characters. There is a good topical programme besides. ..-.?'". THE PALACE. ; - Quite a pretty little film is. "The Strong "-■ Way," a World creation, that make6-more-chances for the popular actress. Miss June - Klvldge. It is a picture that does not belie j its title, and it has behind it'an interesting? bndget of news and comedy creations. I.■'.;■ THE EMPRESS. • "A Woman's Way" Has first place on the new bill to-night at the Empress Thea'trc, where Ethel Clayton 'la exalted' above, the other stars. It is a dramatic theme'; with a touch of humour," and plenty of romance. THE VICTORIA PICTURES. ~, . A description . of. "Tbe Guardian." in which Montague Love and June Elvidge': have played for World, sets It down as a? compelling tale of a man who has known > the seamy side of life. ''Tlie .'Great. Secret" serial is the best of the supports;'- ?