AMUSEMENTS.

Press, Volume LII, Issue 15501, 31 January 1916, Page 4

AMUSEMENTS.

ROYAL COMIC OPERA COMPANY. Commencing at tho Theatre ( Royal on Monday evening next, J. C. Williamson, Ltd., -will inaugurate a season of comic opera and musical plays. During a season of eight nights no _ fewer than 5 comic operas and musical ,' comedies will be presented. "Gipsy f Love," which comes with tho reputation ( of being another "Merry Widow," will bo j the initial attraction, and will bo given lor tno- in-si tw o nights, to bo followed ■ hv "Our Miss Gibbs" for two nights, J "The Quaker Girl" one night, "Ma Mio I Rosette" one night, and "Tho Dancing Mistress" two nights, in tho order <■ named. Tho company comprises such well-known artists as Messrs Leslio Hoi- 1 land, Reginald Roberts, Phil Smith, j Ciauclo Bantock, Charles Albert, John Ralston, Dick Shortland, Alfred An- 1 drew, and Misses Minnio Love. Ethel Benctto. Mrs George Lauri, -Maggie ■ ."Moore and Florenco Young. Miss Ethel J , Cad man. a distinguished English soprano, and Mr Derek Hudson, a new English baritone, will make first ap- j pca'rances here. Tho box plans for tho , season will be opened at Milner and , Thompson's on Friday morning next. GRAXD THEATRE. 1 An attractive .programme will be shown at tho Grand Theatre to-day. ( The principal picture will bo tho 3 Kssanay photoplay in three reels, entitled ''A* Family Divided," featuring j the woil-kiiown American emotional : actress Miss Edna Mayo, and the bril- j liant Essanay star, Bryant Washburn. , The supporting cast is a strong one. Another good picture will bo "The French Victory in the Champagne District." In this film tho French are shown preparing to a.ttack, also tho terrific, bombardment, the Huns driven out of their trenches, occupation of tho German positions, and the havoc wrought by tho famous French 7o's. Supporting pictures will include a laughable comedv entitled "The Tale of a Tire. - ' 9 "Tho Evolution of Kaiser Bill," a humorous satire on the Kaiser, and thov latest number of tho "Warwick Chronicle." HIS MAJESTY'S THEATREAt His Majesty's Theatre a feature film by tho Loudon Ideal Company, entitk'd*''My Old Dutch," will be screened for the first time to-night in Christchurch. Tho picturc has been specially written by Arthur Shirley around Albert Chevalier's coster song, and Chevalier himself, whoso wonderful acting in "Tho Middleman," will bo remembered, will play the coster. Florence Turner will bo seen as "Sal, My Old Dutch." Thoro are many incidents of tense drama, quaint and delicate pathos, interwoven in the telling of the story. Mr Barnes will sing "My Old Dutch" during the screening of tho piece, and special musical selections will bo played by the Ellwood Trio. Supporting pictures include a laughable comedy, and the latest "Patho Gazette.'-' The bux plan is at The Bristol. EVERYBODY'S. "The Valley of lx>st Hope" is the title, of the Lubin l'our-rccl production which heads the new programme at Fvervbodv's Theatre to-day. Tho star role is played by that well-known American actor Romainc Fcilding. Tho drama is filmed from tho story of Shannon Fife, and is described as a striking and realistic, story of adventure iii the, early Californian mining days. One of the sensational incidents is the meeting of two trains in a headon collision. The film is said to be a high-class product-ion, not unlike in many of its situations, that great picture "Tho Spoilers." There will t>o a varied supporting programme. SYDENHAM PICTURES. To-night will be presented at Sydenham Theatre tho picture that has been, such a. success in Australia, "My Old Dutch," a 0000 ft picture, dealing with costcr life in London. The leading character is taken by Albert Chevalier, England's greatest composer of costcr music. In the present picture ho was specially engaged by the London Film Company to suncrviso and produco a film dealing with coster lifo, and it is said to be a."very realistie production. Miss Florenco Turner is the supporting artist. QUEE.X' S~THEATRE. To-day's new programme at the Queen's' Theatre has for its feature film a Vita graph special feature in two parts, called "Elsa's Brother,'' in 'which Van Dyke Brooke, Norma Talniadge, and S. Rankin Drew play the ■.principal parts. The supporting pictures arc x "The Honcymooners" (Beauty film); a comedy-drama, '"Think of the Money" (Lubin oomedy), "An Oasis in tho Sahara" (Patho scenic), and the latest Topical budget! GLOBE THEATRE. ' At the Globe Theatre to-day the new programme will bo headed by tho 19th episode in the "Million Dollar Mystery." Tho title of this episode is "The Underground River," and it contains a number of exciting incidents. Supporting pictures will be: "When Conscience Sleeps" (Edison drama), "Boots, Not Art" (comedy), "Tho Australian Gazette" (war topical), and "Housekeeping under Cover" (comedy).