AMUSEMENTS.

Auckland Star, Volume L, Issue 69, 21 March 1919, Page 6

AMUSEMENTS.

'•TEE THREE TWINS." Another crowded house greeted the third piece of the Williamson Musical Comedy Company's repertoire, at Ills Majesty's Theatre last evening. "The Three Twins" Is a play In which burlesque of the oldlashloned, knockabout and somewhat noisy style shares tbe time with some attractive and on occasion distinctly charming musical passages. Brlniul of movement and coiour. it is just one long bustle of gay racket hitched to a string of rolli-cklng absurdities —a fun storm tkac keeps the barometer at high pressure without respite. A dyspeptic and choleric old. general, an irrtsponsible but love-smitten son, who fastens on the Idea of impersonating the subject of a chance photograph to circumvent the matrimo-lal commands of his undutlful parent, the original of the photogiaph and a twin brother, the keeper of a sanatorium, and three fair women, are tne dramatis personae in chief who square the giddy circle of this hlde-and-go-seek invention. The opening act Ls origin and pleasing to the eye, with pretty groupings and seaside chorus effects, while the second act lilts less but develops an eien more uproarious turn of comedy. About the moment or So that one begins to wish the three twins would meet iv deadly combat and settle the question cf identity a outran, c. ""he finaie bursts into a headlong and wholesale contretemps, bat, after the approved method of musical farce, nothing happens save all-round smiles and a good, rattling .-horus. Interpolated in the serond act is a very gracefully-executed tango of a novel order by Miss Madge Elliott and Mr. Jack Hooker, which delijhts the House hugely, while an eccentric duet dauee 'by- Mr. Jack Hooker and Mr. Tom I'reston is another diversion a little later which ineeti with high favour. In the role ct Kate Armitage. the girl who is not the General's choice as a daughter-in-law. Miss Cecil Bradley was afforded good -H-ope for her flexible and well controlled voice, the tripping and tuneful "Carloine. Can't You Hear Mc, Caroline?" early in the nryt a.-t immediately capturing :he fancy of the audience and setting It a-hunger for more, which came Iv generous measure. Miss Bradley sustained the major part of the solo work in a succession of alluring numbers which suited her voice admirably, while in several instances she was assisted by some excellently-arranged and filing chorus background. Her general performance as the ladylove of the bogus twin was sprightly aud engaging. Mr. William Greene made a happy and dashing lover or the Nay-Me-Xever type, and swung hie puppet along with a fine and noble abandon. He was also on good terms with hLs vocal allotments, scoring an e-peclai hit in the roysterlng song and chorus "Bachelor Days." The General was aate in the capable hands of Mr. Field fisher, who upheld the main comedy role in a manner that fitted him like second nature or a bad habit. The audience loved him. and was always laughing for more. As Dr. Sa-wyer t'tunnling, the keeper of the sanatorium, Mr. Alfred Frith extracted tbe most trom his business as a fun maker, his diagnosis of his patients' troubles being drolly diverting. Miss '.-racie I* .a. vers presented a ~—ucin_t~lngl~*~~* dainty picture of the little lady who ls all smiles, and won well-merited plaudits for her rendering of thp solo In the pretty song and ensemble "Wattle Day tn Australia." and Mis* Maude Beatty gave an amusing study of the tearful -"""ponse of one

of the real twins. In the course of which shy added to the merriment with the song "Wonderful Men." The remaining characters were played with the proper rollicking spirit to help towards the success of tbe piece. The popular mnsical comedy "You're In Love' - will be revived to-night, while next week 'Oh, Roy!" will be played on Monday. "The Three Twins" on Tuesday, and "Yon're In Love" on Wednesday, the final night of the season. THE NATIONAL THEATRE.

. J The few who hare not had the pleasure of witnessing that famous actor, William ! Farnutn. ln "The Heart of a Lion" at the • National Theatre will be afforded a last . opportunity to-night, for to-morrow the pro- ' gramme changes and Jewel Carmen will be the reigning queen. The title of this new production l_ "The Gin with the Cham- : pagne Eyes." It gi._s Miss Carmen a splendid opportunity to exhibit not only her beauty but also her talent. She begins as a pickpocket. Then love comes and raises her into the sunshine of nobler things. Francis Carpenter, the Jack ot "Jack and the Beanstalk" and Aladdin of "Aladdin and the Wonderful Lamp," is a big aid.to the girl daring her many trials. EVERYBODY'S THEATRE. The leading picture In tbe change bill of I fare that took place at Everybody's Theatre | to-day is "The Woman God Forgot." The j story is b.sed on Rider Haggard's book, i "Montezuma's Daughter." The part of j Tecza. Montezuma's daughter, is played by i Miss Geraldlne Farrar, the famous prima i donna, and Wallace Reid impersonates ! Alvardo, the young lieutenant of Cortez. • The adventures of Alvardo in the Aztec . city, and hl_ love for Tecza. form the prini cipal theme, and the strange magnificence of the monarch —dresses of cloth of gold, • leopard skins, and feathers, piles of ' treasure, and Innumerable slaves —are continually before the eye. The final combats between the Spaniards and the Aztecs I upon the temple scmmlt. and the killing of tbe Emperor and his people, are most realistically carried out. THE PRINCESS THEATRE.

I With two snclr* prominent stars as | ' Charlie Chaplin and Madame Olga Petrova ' at the Princess Theatre this house ls having | a popular run. Tbe first picture Ls "Tern- , pered Steel." and the task ot fulfilling tbe leading role is very capably carried out by Madame Olga Petrova In a story that has j to do with life In and about a Tenderloin Theatre iv New York. The other produc- j tion is Charlie Chaplin's masterpiece. "A Dog's Life." In this the Inimitable Charlie has amused thousands. To-morrow the bill will be changed, and Miss Geraldine ■Parrai- will appear In a tensely dramatic , photo-play, entitled, "The Turn of the . AVUeel." THE STRAND THEATRE. i "Peck's Bad Girl" continues to be shown with great success on the screen at i the Strand Theatre. Miss Mabel N'or--1 mand ln the leading part makes a great . hit, her pranks in the early stages provld- i Ing a fund of amusement, while in tbe | events leading up to a tine ending she is ' seen as a more serious character In a shop ; .assistant. "The Studio Girl" will take! pride of place in the change for -to-morrow. Constance gives the gossips the chance of I their lifetime to say nasty things about I her in this most piquant of all her plays. I 'The Studioi Girl" makes a delightful [ comedy drama. THE QUEEN'S THEATRE. j | A drama with a good human Interest, I I "The Cast-ofif." at the Queen's Theaire. > . has drawn crowds during the week. The ! 'star feature. Miss Bessie Barriscale, will! appear for the last time to-night, the usual . change taking place to-morrow. The story ; concerns the ambitions and rise to fame of a poor girl. She starts first as a shop assistant, hut later takes to thi stage, and after passing through the druwgery or an actress' life, emerges a famous actress. I OPERA lIOCSE. The vaudeville programme that has drawn crowds to tbe Opera House during ! the week will l )e finally submitted to-mor-row right. The Al Bruce Company, which have had a popular run. will terminate their senson with "The King of Patagonia " wnile in the vaudeville section snch popular entertainers as Komalne, Mnrfayne, Bessie Lester aud others will appear. I THE TIVOLI. i Miss Vivian Martin, whose appearance on tanri-d-^h-t 1 , the Tl , voli in " Moll --- E ntangled has been the occasion of lar*r*» attendances will give way to-morrow night to Miss Enid Bennett in "The Biggest Show- I on Earth." "Molly Entangled," scenicall? ' historically, and in every way. presents a true picture of the laud of the shamrock , There are thatched houses, the smithy and the old Irish flddler-__d ther, is ; _ little bit of real Irish fighting. j THE ARCADIA. j Jack Pickford scores a snccess in "tr \r : a comic, appears on the same programme I BRITANNIA THEVTRE ln B "N-n-SL- E v*. B - nßett **• ln *** element \ in Naughty, Naughty.-' which will remain SS,. ,\% S X en V the Brirannlk Tbeat-e I Place. - V> '" hen the USUaI change S_« , j THE WEST END THEATRE I "The Iron Ring" an d "The Cast-off" will be ecreened a S a double feature offering *>e:st _______ Theatre to-nl«hf /*_._ Ttiesda Ch:irll e CbapUn. Xt ""A Do ?* n a Lhe. will come on as the headline. ** THE BROADWAY THEATRE Mola Dana In "Breaker* -.h_-,i" • ,

AUCKLAND 3IALE I , „? c *_ >n ? crt by the Auckland __,i_ -_ arranged, for tbe final perform c Cll »lJ , 19M season, and which l\f\ £?&« 5 lowing to the epidemic, was •STafh-. tB 2«S and was largely attended. f__S _* at ""tti, .0 executants in the choir. __a song was given by them i_ a „~T Wrtsryle. Rotable features ot the cSf? W,l *>' ' were the preservation of the »_W. * Wo «. rhythm of the time signature Tl"' *• of the accents by way of and swells, thus obtaining c o _-£^ ,n a tween dynamic and emotional^?* 8 !* attacking resolutely all lrreS XT* clear singing of reiterated _<Yt e . articulation, soul-stirrmg rous fortlsslmos. ever-growinTf™ '• intensity In the «SiS W ?y5S5« & cll__ la the diminuendos. d^__SS t *__ staccato notes in the emotion,? f s **} cleverly managed Interchange <_?Dan. asa - capable singing of sustainef-...na* 1 * 3 ' «« ; second-basses, who nicely contrail,, 01 *« legato and staccato decrees? w___- *» .other sections of the chorus gave wto,r°* 1 dom and clearness the flowing _,__S_** .the music. The first tenors werelfeh? _ crisp in their singing of the Voln t"' 114 admirably-given -roll" by the In."* | whilst tastefully sung £_Ttt. _____S__S of the s(.^ed^ n l n W^_ Lar_ .Now -Leaves" was effective __! _,£* tog was the part-singing In ■•Awak.. £ 2," .Morn will Xever Rial." 8 !£_, £"**> tastefully sang the solo part. Dr' Th____ devotionally written and effectively S? nised setting of Dickens' •■___, r UUI S" Prayer" received an expressive _______? and was 3 o much liked that a __o__3* was demanded. The singing of_3S ".March of the Mountaineer"* «£ example of the choir's Intercb-sTgiL* 1 !; parts, management of sustained notes j-i detached degrees, good chording, and 'toncolour. Storch's -Flow-ret and Bird" -Z, delicately given; the voices moved in . flowing manner, phrased with, grace s.i charm, and suggested the sense ot t__ charming words and music admlrahlT Specially well managed were the nressum" and pianissimos. whilst the second bassS I were heard to advantage in their tastefnl ! rendering of the concluding "Yes Thk I Heart." Katto's '-Midnight" was pu___l__v delivered, and the solo was expressivSi j performed by Mr. Macdonald. The choir j concluded an enjoyabie entertainment tuts i a light and attractive performance of I Hic-hter's "Lightly Foot It."

Gounod's '"Far Greater In Bis Low'r State." and Campbell-Upton's "A Spirit Flower" were effectively sung by _{_, Mary MacCormick. Mr. Duncan Clark sa__ expressively Dixs "The Trumpeter," _M pleasingly Anderson's "Friend o' ___,"* whilst .Mr. Sydney Butler wa3 lie_r_ la acceptable performances of Liza Lehmamt-a "Ah. Moon of My Delight" an. Eiars • -Pipes of Pan." Dr. "VV. E. Thomas abb conducted. Mr. Whittnker was the accompanist, and Mr. Sydney J. Haxbutt managed the details of the performance. Thong!, the programme was a lengthy one, tie management saw that the performance-«_i not u___ly prolonged, which was hi-rilr appreciated by the subscribers.

; " CHAUTAUQUA." j The opening programmes in connect—, with "_l_a_—iu<i_a Week" In Auck—ad .attracted a lairiy large number ot peopk |to the big tent on the old dock site la ynay Street yesterday afternoon and cvea- | ing. A formal welcome was extended I the visitors by Mr. W. J. Napier, and | was acknowledged by Mr. N. Trimble, ■ manager of the company. The sessions ! during the aftern.ion consisted of eatertaia- ] ment.s by the Apollo Concert Company, headed by Mr. Arthur Wells, tlie pro* i grammes consisting of mnsical and __<_> tionary items by artists cf very mack man than ordinary ability. The music, ran* -4 —-. from operatic selections to the latest ragtime hits, catered to all tastes, a feature being made of saxophone quartets, which [were highly popuiar with the I and. Incidentally. Indicated the very high | development of thLs particular Instrnmat lin America. Another feature of the performances was the "apollophone." a com--1 posite Ins-rument resembling a glorified xylophone, giving a depth of tone and range of effects which placed Its music far beyond the ordinary conception of xylophone sounds. The artistic Interpretation given on the apollophone of the celebrated "Anvil Chorus " -was an achierament which In Itself would have made the reputation of any concert company. Selections on the viola, the clarlphone. and the banjo, and song and monologue Items Sled In a programme of exceptional merit. marked by refinement. and the Apollo Company left everybody In high, good humour. After the afternoon concert, i lady trained in the art of teaching chiMien by story-telling and of supervising organised play, got amongst the children, and prepared them for arranging to give i Mother Goc-se pageant at the end of thf week. To-day's programme consists of Instrumental Items by the Artists' Trio Ithe only local talent of this visit), lectern by Dr Andrew Johnson, and further talks to the children. Dr. Johnson will lectore ln his peculiarly characteristic fashion both a-fternoon and evening. THE DANDIES.

Tbe innovation of miming a musical entertainment alon. with a picture proCTamme has prov?d a treat at the Lyric Theatre, wherp large audiences have been the order at the dual performances. Tie first half of the evening Is given over to the screening of "Peck's" Bad Girl" n su» production, in which the nopnla- llshel Normand makes merry. "The Dandiesmake their appearance at*hine o'clock eacfr nl_ht. and the various mnsical nnmhei-s receive well-earned nnplanse. An entiielT new programme will be submitted tomorrow. - •/ THE GLOBE. The "Eagle's Eye" and "Playing Fair" jre meeting the popular taste at Everybodj'3 Theatre. The former fe a serial '.hat It being closely followed by a large section ot the public, so engrossing are the Incidents. It ia now In its third stage, the present episode having to do with _n attempt to hottle no the Great Atlantic "Fleet In >"■>» York Harbour. In "Playing Fair" WlHimn Farnum is the star featured. Several comics appear on the same prom-am Dime. Tier have made a strong apneal to the younger section of the community. THE GRAND THEATRE. Charlie Chaplin.; reputation as a comedian of outstanding ability has not sot* fered as the result of his most recent elort in "A Dog's Life," at the head of the programme that has made such a wide appeal, and brought full houses to the Grand dnrlsg the week. His last performance, however, will take place to-night, the usual change taking place to-morrow. TIIE ROYAL THEATRE. The management of the Eoyal Tii___*e» Kingsland. will Introduce to their patron* to-morrow night that fine productloa "A •Soldier*. Oata," featuring William FaWW.