AMUSEMENTS.

Press, Volume LI, Issue 15449, 30 November 1915, Page 10

AMUSEMENTS.

STUDENTS' RECITAL. Largely patronised, the concert given by Mr Ernest Empson's students ) at the Choral Hall last night was in r every way a noteworthy event. An [ artist of refined taste, he provided a programme freo from the hackneyed types of music so common in our con- . cert rooms. The joint performances of J 'Mendelssohn's overture to "Ruy Bias" by the Misses Haslett, Ford, Gwen > Sealy, and Carter, and of the "Andante" from Beethoven's C minor sym- [ phony, proved most satisfactory in their completed effect. Dvorak's "EleI gie" beautiful, though not well-writ- • ten in a pianistic sense, as is the case > with so many modern pianoforte works, 1 wa9 thoughtfully and confidently play- [ cd by Mrs W. H. Montgomery. in striking contrast stood Arcnsky's "Suite" for two pianos, splendidly ela- , boratcd by the, brilliant Russian mast ter. Miss Alison Jennings distinguish--1 ed herself in its presentation, by the r liquid elegance and finish of her exoj cution, but Miss Jean Burrowes at the t second piano hardly realised that in its l backward position more force -was re- , quired, when leading principal themes. In her soli, Miss Burrowos played Mac- > dowell's "To a Water Lily" with admir- ' able taste, and Liszt's "Forest Rustling" very skilfully. In tho "Shiva" duet oy } Rachmaninoff, a somewhat weird proi duetion, the sistere Gwen and Phyllis > Sealy, played like one, each wholly in - sympathy with her partner. To Mr ; Ernest Cordery's credit stands the fact I'that in the so-called "Raindrop" pre- : lude by Chopin, he produced the best ■, tono-quality, although his interprets ' tion suffered somewhat from a lack of " floir. The interesting, scholarly, if . less easily absorbed "Fantasia" for two pianos by Max Bruch, found very [ smart and able executants in the Misses , Richardson and Denby. Mendelssohn's , "Cupriccio," with orchestral accompani- | rncnt, almost forgotten, and perhaps 1 the least entitled to a revival on ac>t count of its rather shallow, though sparkling nature, was brilliantly performed by Miss Alice Carter, seconded , by Mr Empson. Tho whole exhibition of the outstanding merits of Mr Empson's school was as gratifying as it is : rare to find and so little influenced bv 1 the terrors of* the concert stage so fatal for most novices. Since her last appearance. Miss Alberta Teasdale, a pupil of Mrs Gower- , Burns, has much improved, essentially ;in breath-control and in the liner colouring of her delineations. She scored her greatest success with Liza Lehmann's "Ix>vers in a Lane" and WiUeby's "Coming Home." Mr Empson s accompaniments were a most enjoyablo feature of the evening. "DAMON AND PYTHIAS." Greece is much to the front at the present time. so the production of, the great war photo-drama, ""Damon and Pythias," which will be given to-night at the Theatre Royal, is of more than ordinary interest. The scene is laid in the Greek city of Syracuse, where Damon is a famous Senator, and Pythias, a noble soldier, and the idol of the people. One of the great scenes shows Pythias and his army, led bv war chariots, hastening to the relief of Agrigentnm. which is being destroyed by the Carthaginians. Another scene shows the triumphal procession when Pythias returns to Syracuse, and the sports held in his honour. It is stated that over two thousand people were Tequired for this production. The box plan i s at The Bristol. " SYDENHAM PICTURES.. Tho screening of the well-known story, The Heart of a Child." bv 1' rank Danby was sufficient in itself to draw the large audience that was present last night in the Sydenham Theatre. The book is well written, and the picture faithfully represents the book. Sally Snape, a girl of tender years, thrown on her own resources in London, always retains the heart of a child, and her innocence is never smirched by evil. She rises from obscurity into fame as a successful varietv artist. A young scion of nobility falls in loye with her, and finally offers her marriage. Her unconscious puritv cari ries all before it. The storv has* been very successfully filmed, and* should atj tract good business. A tine scenic showing the historic Cathedral at Rheims, the interior and surroundings, was most interesting, and the good pictures included a humorous cartoon, "Relentless Dalton." and a drama! "A Woman of Nerve." The bill will be repeated to-night. Y.W.C.A. ENTERTAINMENT. The Young Women's Christian Association has consented, after many re- | quests, to give a repetition on Tuesday. December 7th. of the successful ! entertainment held last Thursdav i n aid |of the Lady Liverpool Fund. The proj gramme, which was full of interesting i and unusual items, from the march of girls in national costume throughout the hall, to the ciose of the "Story of the War." is to be given in full. This time the proceeds are to go to the local Associations, the Y.W.C.A. and the Y.M.C.A.

POTASH AND PERLMUTTER."

AtMilner and Thompson's the box plans will bo opened on" Friday morning at 8 o'clock for the five nighte' season of "Potash, and Perlmutter," which is to bo staged by J. C. Williamson's specially organised company of forty English and American artists at the "Theatre Royal on Monday evening next. "Playwrights have given it? endless portraits and caricatures of Jews, mostly unpleasing and sometimes tragic. It is only of recent years that any attempt has been made to bring home to tho pnWic at large the possibilities for comedy, conscious or unconscious, which are to bo found in the life of the modern Jew," says a critic. The author, Mr Glass, shows the Jew as a hustler, yet at every turn governed by the abiding characteristics of the race. "Potash and Perlmuttcr.'' it is stated, is one of those genuinely fnnny productions which make one laugh and laugh heartily, no matter in what moot! the onlooker may be. Messrs Paul Burns and Bam Bert, the two New York exponents of the parts of Abe Potash and Mawruss Perlmutter. are said to be among the cleverest comedians who have yet visited Australasia, and in their serious moments they show xare ability. Miss Margaret Vinton has won her way into the hearts of New Zealand playgoers by her portrayal of Hutli Goldman, and Mr Samuel Howard and Miss Liazie Wilson, who weny also in the New York production, have also established themselves with colonial audiences. Mr Lewis Willonghby, late of the Nellie ■Stewart Company, Miss RosalindiSmeaton, 'Messrs E. L. Delanev, Carleton Stuart, all of the late Fred Niblo Co.. and Miss Sylvia Bremer, of the Muriel Starr organisation, are included in the cast of "Potash and Perlmutter." Owing to previous arrangements, five performances only can be given. OPERA HOUSE. Herbert Brooks, "the king of mvstifiers," provided the star attraction'at the Opera House last night. The principal item in hi* turn was the trunk trick, originated some years ago bv Maskelyne and Cooke, of the Egyptian Hall, London, and which Mr Brooks unravelled for himself. The trick is certainly a very fine piece of work. A metal trunk, to all outward apnearance impregnable, is produced, ami in this the performer is locked. The trunk containing tho man is then placed in a canvas bag, which is laced up and knotted. The whole affair is then surrounded with a screen, and in the course of a lew seconds the performer appears, while the canvas bug and the trunk itself are shown to be uuite intact although quite empty. There is ho deception as to the performer entering the trunk and being locked in and laced up. What takes "place afterwards is shrouded in mystery, but the result achieved indicates the outlay of considerable ingenuity and skill in the construction of'the box and in the method of emergence. Mr Brooks also performed ->ome remarkably skilful card tricks, these being accompanied bv a running How of humour which made this ejection of his turn most enjoyable. Another good turn wa s that put on by Bellora, who imitated very accurately the calls of various Australian birds and animals. Hi* imitations of the laughing jackass and the Australian dingo were especially good. Vernon fnd Sinclair, new arrivals, presented a little comedy sketch, which went well, and Morris and Meeker. American patter artists, who also appeared for the first time, were accorded a very hearty reception. Successful turns were also contributed by Rowlev and Toiii ton, specialty dancers, Ward Lear, comedian. Balancing Stevens, and Mr Ted Russell. Swiss comedian. The programme will be repeated to-night. GLOBE PICTURES. The new episode in "The Million Dollar Mystery" presented at the Globe Theatre yesterday wavS entitled "Shanghaied." In this episode tho conspirators believe Florence drowned. Their next move is to dispose of Norton.] Lacking his usual kcenne&s, through i misery, lie ib ennningly lured to an old tenement, is hammered into insensibility, robbed, and bound and beaten. | He awakes far out at sea on an old i tramp freighter and finds himself shanghaied. Florence daringly rescues a man drowning in tho surf. He proves to bo one of the conspirators. The girl is recaptured and carried on board a palatial yacht. There is a fire at sea, and , the yacht's survivors are rescued by a tramp freighter. Florence and Norton are brought together, and they plan to eseapo from their enemies. The "'Australian Gazette"' contained of Mr Andrew Fisher, the new High Commissioner for Australia, a' route march of Australian troops, a i tram ambulance built to convey wound- I ed soldiers from the transports to the ' military hospital, the finish of the Melbourne Cup, and topical cartoons by Harry Julius. Other pictures shown wore "Nearly a Prize Fighter" (Lubin comedy), and "An Intercepted Vengeance" (drama). The programme will be repeated to-day. QUEEN'S THEATRE. "The Girl From the East" (Broncho), a two-reel Western drama, is the principal picture in the. programme shown yesterday for the first time at the Queen's Theatre. It is a sensational story of very rough life in tho early , days in the Western States, and is noteworthy for good photography and some daring feats of horsemanship. An animal study, "Napoleon the Chimpanzee," is one of the best of its kind that has been, shown here. The introduction shows a very realistic picture i of jungle life, including the capture of an elephant, and also how "Napoleon" is trapped with the aid of a gramophone reproducing chimpanzee chatter—and then we are shown the

training of Napoleon, and some very clever acts.on the vaudeville stage, viz., tho elephant and the chimpanzee doing a stunt together, and then Napoleon on a bicycle, on skates, and having lunch with his trainer and the elephant.

'The Professor's PainTess Cure" (Vitagraph) is a clever comedy in which Mr and Mrs Sidney Drew take the principal parts. "Picturesque China" is an interesting picture of street life and scenes in China, and a gooa number of the "Topical Budget" completes the programme. The same pictures will be shown at all sessions to-day. HIS MAJESTY'S THEATRE. The new programme at His Majesty's Theatre last night attracted a large attendance. The principal film was a drama, "The Heart of a Child." The plot concerns Sally Snape. a typical coster girl, who whilo not quite out of childhood is thrown on her own resources iu Ijondnn. Actual scenes are shown in the coster district, and there are views of a bank holiday at 'Ampstead 'Eath where the man with the barrow and the girl with the erstrich i feathers make merry. Thrr.ugh young I/ord Kidderminster's motor-car colliding with a dogcart in which Sally is being driven, the girl is severely injured. The young aristocrat visits Sallv in the hospital, and takes a kindly interest in her. When Sally recovers Lord Kidderminster realises that she is gifted, and he pays a theatrical agent , to obtain a start at a music hall for her. Sallv makes rapid progress, until liord Kidderminster finances a musical comedy company with Sally in tho leading part. Sally achieves fame, and eventually accepts Lord Kidderminster's proposal of marriage. Other pictures on the programme were views of the Cathedral of Rheims, a drama ; 'A Woman of Nerve," the latest Pathe War Gazette, and a comedy cartoon. •Hclentless Dalton." The incidental music was played by the Ell wood Trio. The same pictures will bo screened this evening. EVERYBODY'S THEATRE. Splendid patronage was accorded Everybody's Theatre yesterday, when a new programme was presented. Tho -star feature was a drama entitled j I "From Headquarters,'' in which tho I two popular picture artists, Anita | Stewart and Earlc Williams take the leading parts. Miss Stewart is seen as a pretty and innocent girl who is engaged a* a stenographer by an unscrupulous employer. The man proceeds to capture the girl's affections, and she, believing his intentions to be honourable, accepts his offer of marriage. Months pass, and she is staggered when one day he brutally disclaims any intention of keeping his word. In desperation she seizes a knifo and stabs him. Her father, a noted detective, is sent from headquarters, to find out the culprit. In hospital, the employer recovers, stops the case, and makes amends by marrying the girl. Supporting pictures were:—"Father Love" (comedy), "An African Hunt" (cartoon), "An Hour of Freedom" (drama), and tho latest "Topical Gazette." A first-class programme of music was played by the orchestra, under the condnc.torship of Mr Bidgood. The same pictures will be shown at the usual hours to-day. GRAND THEATRE. 'Hie Grand Theatre was crowded early last night with enthusiastic audiences bent on seeing the final chapter of the interesting serial, "The Master Key." Apparently tho public want serials judging by the interest taken in tho three serials recently shown at the Grand Theatre. "The Master Key" has proved to be one of tho best, if not tho best, of picture serials. The picture right through has been an immense success, the staging being on a most magnificent scale, wnile the acting of the principals was of a high order. The ending of the story is a happy one, and the closing of the gates at the finish of the picture has a very fine effect. Another attraction was the drama. •The Faith of a Child." which showed incidentally som© views of Indian troops from the front. "The Warwick Chronicle" was an excellent number, and showed amongst a variety of interesting items, French soldiers gathering the harvest in France, modern agricultural implements, inspection of 500 naval men by the Lord Mayor of London, and Sir George Reid presenting the King's Medal to wounded Australian heroes. A laughable comedy, "After a Hard Day's Work," completed the programme, which will be shown again to-day and to-night.