AMUSEMENTS.

Auckland Star, Volume L, Issue 201, 25 August 1919, Page 8

AMUSEMENTS.

"THE MIDNIGHT WEDDING." It was a very satisfied audience that tripped out from" His Majesty's Theatre on Saturday night, after having seen that breathless and very fascinating tuory "The Midnight Welding." worked out into a romantic melodrama by the happy artistry of the Allan W-ilkle Company. Mr. WQkie held the role of .the hero Yalnrar. the man who loves t-h-e Princess Astrca Sitaclshu-ry, but kills hex brother, and In hLs hasty flight ha-s to take refuge in a chapel where the Princess is also In hiding. I_ Is m-ld-ii-girt, and neither is known to the waller, bt-t at the Instigation of the priest Valmtir's chivalry is aroused and he jiarreesto j.rnt. ci the unknown lady by marrying her. Accordingly the romantic union Recurs. That Ls the key of the whole j rirainy, and with -it comes the oommenee- . ment of an exciting chain of circumstances that carry tho emotions of the audience right up almost to -the bordr-cTn_dn of hysteria. Miss Frr-dls-wyd-e Hunter-Watts was the Pmlncpiss, and it charming study die ma.le of the parr, putting even Mr. Wllkle at his be.at to sustain the spirft'of ht_- acting. Another rather clever piece of oharacterfeation was that, of Mr. Guy Hastings, who made a very impressive vlllnln with hist gay nnd garniv uniform and dashing attributes. Nor was the comedy of the [rlay _, lees callable h.-indst. for *Mr. Henri Dore led the trilie of fun-makers, wi'li Fred Paitey and Fdirnrd Lnndor wi'h M|s-s Mildred Ca.rlton a-" l_.s able assistantta. Miss Lorna Fncbes was ac«->thcr of The best, but unfortunately her part wt.i rather rvs-fri.-ted. Altog-eth-or "The Midnight Wedding" win be found' to he thoroughly RBttefatrhory. It is melodrama, true, but It is ijireirpretfd with hkrh skill nnd .trnn.seendis tjmut of the romantic, dramatic mystery r ,] ara thie pl ,TWif of AuckHnd h-ivo hern in -the habit of seeing. It will be repeated for 'three more nizhits. TIIE NATIONAL THEATRE Excellent audiences greeted all the ""ft' «* **• vlgorouS Fo_ ___' ..IS. High, featuring Tom Mix. The star is more dramatically placed than usual, but his popularity will lose nothing by his new departure. The story of Alaskan goldflelds stu-s his at.li,otic prowess admirably, and the becoming uniform of the Canadian mounted police renders him distinctly attractive. The story of Jean RUvnTde boyish j Infatuation for a little girl he has rescued from the snow, his (subsequent champion lug of her. and the eventual happy ending, keeps the audience keyed to concert pitch throughout the picture. A topical Gazet.'e . and a comedy. "Money Talks," completes the-programme. In which the well known N'auoual Orchestra has a large share. ' THE TIVOLI THEATRE. A bucolic comedy-rlrnina. "String Beans."' brings two young and charming .screen stars before the eyes of Tivoli patrons this week. I hey are ( harles Kay and Jane Novak, aud their present vehicle suits tliej'n adniirablv. Kay nils the part of Toby Watkins. a' farm hand who cannot agree with his hard-beau-tcl uncle. lie eveiitua'llv breaks away, ami starts to carve out a career for himself in jrlurnalisni. He is not. however, permitted to give much time to this arduous and unrewarded career, and he is promptly plunged Into matters of high finance* and eventually saves the Mayor of the town from rtiiu, and the Mayor's daughter for himself. THE OPERA HOUSE. :o two performances at the Opera House on Saturday were well attended, and the programme was to the taste of patrons, 10-ulght a new programme is promised, presented Messrs. Bert La Blanc s Revue tompany in a new fantasy, entitled "Then They Woke I p. ' This would seem to promise a store of the irresponsibilities so dear to Opera House audiences. In the vaudeville half of the programme unpear the Delevantes trapeze artists of excellent reputation, and a juggler, Edgar Benvon who is said to do admirable work. The 1 Harrington Reynolds Dramatic Company will present another of their dramatic tabloids, -The Divorce Question." which certainly suggests a large field of endeavour.; A .comedy dno. Wendy mid Alphouse and the "coon" comedian .lolly John Larklu complete what promises to he an excellent programme. THE STRAND THEATRE. The Strand management deserve congratulation on their new picture, "The Brand " which is drawing crowded houses to the theatre. These Rex Beach features attain the pinnacle of picture production In every respect. Ue does not subordinate a picture to a star—iv fact, the leads of his picture nre uot particularly well known names. They are chosen to suit the parts which they have lo portray. I v "The Brand." Kay Laurell. as the erring woman. Russell Simpson as the injured husband, and Robert Mi-Kirn. the -other man" are all admirably suited 10 the types that they are called upon to portray. The scenery oi' this 1 dramatic picture adds to its tensity, as it appears iv Alaska, tiie frozen bind that Bench knows and loves so well. One of the features of lite production is an Arctic blizzard a veritable tour de force of the cinematographer's art. EVERYBODY'S THEATRE. The charm of Miss Mary Pickford was shown by her performance in "Hulda from Holland" at Everybody's Theatre on Satur-. day. Apart fromthe vast charm of person! and personality that she possesses, she is constantly demonstrating her wonderful comedy and dramatic abilities. The present j picture is a mere airy trifle in comparison with her dual performance in "Stella Maris," yet it serves to show her wonderful versatility. As a stolid little Dutch' emigrant she displays wonderful naivete and lutelllgenve and enhances the pathos of her role. THiC PRINCESS THEATRE. Another of the quietly charming films of which the Princess management is presenting appeared at that theatre on Saturday. "The Hope Chest" features the comedienne Dorothy (iish, In a part suited to her special talents. She Is most charming ns the daughter of a not very prosperous vaudeville actor, and 0110 ls "not surprised that she captures tho heart of iter employer's son. A chocolate, shop always seems so fitting a locale for romance. The ! chocolate ln-oprlotore forget their raurkv uprising, and refuse to allow th e daughter of the arts into the family. She gets into the Kaccharlue circle, however, and her troubles then begin. This delightful comedy is supported by one of a more boisterous kind, "The Tillage Chestnut," and a topical gazette. THK EMT-HESS THEATRK. i Newton p.-Mrotis have The opportunity of peeing a doable programme to-night and i to-morrow at the Krupress Tbeata-e wheu 1 "Her Own 'W_y," featuring Miss Florence I Reed, and "Shoes That Danced," -with MLss J , P__liae Starke in the iced, >wHI __ shown. I There- are._e.lso. suppe-itrag jiictures.

THE L.YRIC THEATRE. The powerful tales of, the gold-fever and the Alaskan snows by Rex Beach have always bad a strong drawing power and "The Brand," at the Lyric Theatre, is proving no exception. The tal e is one of the miner enamoured of a lax dancing 2__ ,and his subsequent sorrow when he finds that his Idol has feet of clay. The scene in Which he turns her and her lover out of 1 doors into a blizzard is melodrama of the .strongest, aud a great fight in a dance-hall forms a thrilling climax. The programme Is well supported. THE GRAND THEATRE. "The Hayseeds Come to Town" is th* .title of 'the leading film ait the Grand Theatre this week, and the adventures of these rural people In -the city cause ths bla.se urbanites much arnusemenit. The r_> son for the Hayseeds' trip to town is the dissipating of v large recently-won looter? prize, aud the spending of it causes them much perturbation. The picture ls Bell supported. THE QCEEN'S THEATRE. "The Hidden Ctuldreu," from Robei* Chambers' novel of the same name has grcait drawing power at the Queen's Theatre. TiiLs picture has an excellent and a reasonable plot, and its setting in tha Canadian woods is exceptionally beautiful Harold Lock wood, as the young traveller and May Allison as .the daughter of an English officer, have the leading roles, ___ make the greatest use of their opjiortunltles. The pictures of ,the Indians and the early settlers are wonderfully realistic THE GLOBE THEATRE. Handsome Arthur Maude gives an admirable rendering of nhe role of the povertystricken peer in "Lord Love-la nd Discovers America" at the Globe Theatre. The picture, taken from the well-known novel by A. N. and A. >L Williamson, has, ot necea. slty, a good deal of motor about it, hut It also possesses plot, comedy, and charm. The picture is excellently- supported. THE WEST END THEATRE The programme at the West End Theatre to-night will consist of a performance by Mls-s Ocraldine Farrar, in the picture of South America, "The Hell Cat," and some excellent supports. -BRITANNIA THEATRE. The programme for to-night end to-moTs row at the Biitannia Theatre consists ot "The Babes In the Wood." featuring Virginia Lee Cor' Din and Francis Carpenter, the wonderful Fox k&rfdlfs. Also, episode one of The -'Wolves of Kuittir" series will be filmed. THE PALAGE THEATRE. "On Trial," that dramatic thunderbolt, featuring Miss Barbara Cas*ls>Ton, will be shown at the I'al-ice Theatre to-night, Other Dims are also screened. ALEXANDRA THEATRE. . Boy_ah Jack Pickford in "Mlie-a-ilinruhl Kendall" gives a splendid performance as the hig-h-flylng youth of New York society at the Alexandra Theatre this week. Tin scar film in well supported. THE VICTOB.IA THEAT-RE. "A Modern Lorelei," featuring _yi«M_l Power and Frances Burnham, will appropriately l>e shown in .the marine subui_ this, evening. It is said -to contain Borne beairnlfiii sea views, which will probabl/ rival those provided at Cheltenham, BENEFIT CONCERT. An excellent programme was submitted te those attendant at a Benefit concert given to Mr. 1-". Christmas at the Town Hall Cot* cert Chamber on Saturday evening. The Auckland City Band, of whom Mr. Christ- - mas used to be a member, was mainly concerned with the performance, and several l.x-al artists contributed. Items of much interest were contributed by Mr. Walter .Smith's "Dusky Dandies," a troupe of Hawaiian performers, who made an interesting appearance- in Island dress, with flowers festooned about them. The plaintlvo call of ukuleles was the order of the evenlug. Highland dance* were given by the pupils of Miss r". McDouga.ll, and songs were rendered by Misses George, Bain, I hilderhouse, and Brewer, and by Messrs. W. Atkinson, Forte, McMinn. Cook. Lloyd, and humorous selections by Mr. Alan, McElwain. TOWN HALL ORGAN EECITAXu Bach's Toccata, and Fugue in C major, and Alfred IloHias" Concert Overture in G minor, were the leading works performed by the city organist at the inunicil-ai recital on Saiturduy evenlu'g. Baeh'-s work is unique among the authors of organ music, Uubs'iiiucti at. the imttt-mediate Adagio has, no count..-ryai-t in any of 'the great master's works for tube instrument. The Prelude, with its bravura pastsages for the swell' manual, followed with a long solo for pedal, received a brilliant readiing. whilst the subsequent thematic matexia!, with its I trio motives, was rendered in a style which. ' clearly displayed ttlie melodic and ornate character of the music. The Adagio In A minor, consisting of a lovely solo, with a delightful homorshonic accompaniment, was carefully- presented; the (responsive phrases of the solo were sustained in soft registers accompanied -by a -light combination of eighth's on the swell, v, th sLxneen and eight feet tone on pedal. The Battery-" Inig and full harbonies of thfe Grave wetra played w-lrh w-eighit and dignity, which was followed by a masterly peirfxyrrnance ot the Fugue. Holltns' fine overture received .1,-JvrHllant reading. whiLsit the soft combinations were used to advantage during ■the performance of Dubois' "In Paxadisum." and Schubert's "Serenade," the recital closing with a selection of airs from Gounod's "Faust." Mrs. Patrick Cole sans Lohr'-s "It Is Not Because," and Thomasf Polonaise from "Mignon," Mr. .WihittaieT a ccom pan yin g.