AMUSEMENTS.

Press, Volume LIV, Issue 16207, 9 May 1918, Page 5

AMUSEMENTS.

THEATRE ROYAL,

Mr Sydney James's clever company deijyliiod another large audiwiw fit tw Thefltro Royal last night, when the enrrent prov." as played for-tiie last time. "POTTED PANTOMIME." To-r.iplu an entirely now programme will be prosenlod, in tho form of a "Potted Pantomime"—"Aladdin." "Potted pantomime is now very popuhvv with amusement patrons throu>rho\<i Orrnt Britain.' All tho tour:::** oxtume comedy companies feature this class of entertainment in their best programmes. Mr J:iinas explains that the boon of his iiowllv foaturo luis been built .to ensure provision for tlio talents of tlio artists under his Strollers banner being Utilise.! to the fall. "Aladdin," he adds, will embrace eliits. seenns, bits of burlesque, comedy travesties, dosh-ss of vaudeville, nnd soupcon oi vcvue nor.ocnse, the whole combiniiifr to complete a show wholly dissimilar to :tny stxu.'led "potted pantomime" previously presented in Christchuicli. Mr James himself is to p!av the Darno in the piece, Um Widow Twjinl'or, and the known versatility of tho comedian is suffi- ; cicnt asnurance that tho character will be j revelled in by that artist. He played the i role in London tor more than one season, and one of the English critics remarked concerning his performance: "Hero at last is a Dame working upon lines refreshing, new, and novel." Mechanical changes, ballets, and an airship novelty are a:non;> tho features which "Aladdin" will embrace. Tho Royal Strollers will,, in tho same bill, to open tho show, present their "StroUorLand" form of entertainment, which will include a variety of novelty numbers in tho ekit, travesty, and burlesque lino not previously presented to Christchurch audicnccs. OPERA HOUSE. The vaudeville and musical farce entertainment was repeated at the Opera House last evening, in tho presence of a largo and appreciative audicnce. Hamlyn and Mack, American comedy and dance couple, mode a great hit with their clever turn, nnd Manaeno's porforming dogs evoked expressions of admiration on all Bides for their highly intelligent performance. Bouita and Lee, tho Five Lewies, and the Jack Martin Company also appeared with success. Mr Tom Haveriey'a talented company repeated "Muldoon's Picnic" to tho ontiro satisfaction of all. The samo programme will be given this evening. THE LYDIA CARNE MATINEE. Yesterday's benefit matinee at tho Opera House to Miw Lydia Carne,the popular danseuse of tho Walter Johnson Revue Company, was in every way an entire success. The programme was one of tho beet .that ever been presented on a local vaudeville Btage. Every item on the lengthy bill was vociferously encored, and tho generosity of Mr Sydney James's Royal Strollors Company, in giving their ecrvioea, was readily appreciated by the largo audience. The members of Mr James's company to appear were: Mr .Sydney James and '.'Billy,'' Messrs Goo. Graystone and G. W.' Desmond, Misses Ira Bissett, Joeio Jackson, and Madeline Rossiter. The artists appearing under Measra Fuller's regime, were: _ The 0 ack . Martin. . Company, tho Five Lewins, Mr Billy Maloney, Hamlyn and Mack, Mandeno's l3og», tho Ken-pie Kids,. and Bonita and Lee. The following members of the orchestra generously gave their services free:—Messrs A. Bidgood (conductor), A Bunz, F. Taylor, A. Jacobs (Opera House), H. Tankard and E. Jamieeon (Everybody's), and F. Woledge (Crystal Palace), *tjho selections played by this combination, in addition to the accompaniinents, being much enjoyed. Thanks arc also due to Mr Kiddey, the members of the Stag© Hands Union na<l tho Opera House staff for their Bervices willingly offered. Mr Sydney James and "Hilly" were responsible for the auctioning of an enlarged, framed photo-graph of Miss Lydia Oarne, presented by Mrs Heuvua (Saxony), the bid being £5, that ,of Mr T. Hart, of the Canterbury Club, and also a box of chocolates, embossed with Miss Game's likeness, presented by Mrs T. Blakeley, the purchaser being Mrs D. Collins, of the Federal Hotel, at a figure of £2 sb. During the interval the Kowpia Kids sold photograph postcards .of Miss • Came, the proceeds being £3 10s. At a suitablo opportunity Mr Walter Hekdon, local manager for Messrs Fuller and Sons, returned : thnnkß to Mr Jcmcs and his company, and to the Opera House artists l , also reading telegrams from Mr Scott Colville, touring manager for the Royal Strollers, enclosing a donation of £G 5s from .Dunedin friends, and from the members of the Walter Johnson Revue Company, who havo been 7uu ill P ul '°^ a3ors of tickets for tho matinee. ut T.? 1516 final figures are not yet available, Mr Helsdon expects that tie amount which will bo handed to Miss Came will be | in the vicinity of £100.

THE ALLAN WILKIE SEASON. . In a chat about Soven Days' Leave" (to ba staged at til© Theatre Royal last Tuesday ovening), Mr Allan • Wilkie mentioned the' play as another instance of the . extraordinary iwaks of theatrical enterprise. The play was tned out" for'a week itt one of the outlying theatre® of New York by the ITrohinan man, agomenfc, and • promptly turned down as unsuitable to American audiences. It was then hawked round to various theatrical entrepreneurs, who 'shook their heads and do thanks. Eventually it felt into the handa of ■ the enterprising William A.' Brady, on American; who localised various' econea, with the consequence that the piece is now the outstanding success of Now York, iouohmg upon the ups -and downs of theatfinul ccu^at j on > Mr Wilkie mentions that W-.I'LTP'' °L th f ?°? ary '.'! from of Walter Howard (which will also be played during the Christchurch season), was produced at the Theatre Boyal, Melbourne, by the firm of J. C. Williamson, Ltd., when it ran for ten nights only. On Mr Wilkie'* representation to Messrs. Bon and John FulJCW y wV igh A 8 ° £ play from J.C.W., and Mr WiJkio then reproduced the drama on behalf of the Fuller firm, with f ra i a for weeks .in Sydney and ten weeks in Melbourne, whore it had previously run only as muny nights.. As the titlo indicates, "Seven Days' Leave" deals with seven days' leave of severalsoldiers, who return to their native village A cooks son has attained rank as an officer and a nobleman ie a ranker, and fetches and carucs for liun. The villagers on tho Fmii Coast and the folk® there,-Jed by Lady Mary Heather, enacted, by Miss Mario Ney, are kindly and ample, and have extended miich to two JJeJgian refugees, a wounded ofheer and Ins aisler. Captain Tercnce wfe Pl»yed by Mr Allan Wilkie, who has been a wounded prisoner of war in Ge»many, but managed to escape, - them as two brutal Germans.^'He' teES superior officer, and they immediately take action to circumvent them and foif ihcir plans. Captain Terry i s persecuted by the epiea, who try to obtain knowledge of a new and wonderful gun. ° plans will bo open at Tlia i Piano Company to-morww Bmtol

A TALE OF TWO CITIES. _ Tho £N>at pictorial drama, "Tho Talo of Two Citiw, continues to attract overflowing house, at the Crystal Palaco and the Starland rheatro, and deoervedly 80 , f or mere than thl" 11 a , n<!T couco Ption shown ZP° ch making picturisatiou 0 f Onarles Dickens e famous novel. The powerful yet restrained acting of Wm. Furnum, in the dual iole of the refined aristocrat, Charles Darnay and the dissolute a.nd abandoned Sidney Carton, is only equalled by the remarkablo characterisation of the part of Lucio Mar-ctte by Jewel Carmen. Tho terrible scenes of tho "Terror" when blood was shed like water by tho revolutionary sans-culotfe<i" and when Madame La Guillotine was seldom idle, aro depicted' with wonderful realism on the screen. Not only have the historical scenes boon reproduced with the roost painstaking faithfulnts?, but tho greatest care has teen taken by the Mr "VYni. Fox, (o exclude anachronisms which so often creep in to a picture of this child and mar itß artistry 'i'hc picture is one that should not bo missed on' any account. "POLLY OF THE CIRCUS." The big Goldwyn production "Polly of the Cue us, which will be the star attraction at Everybody S Theatro all i-.oxt week comw here with a brilliant reputation. Mae Marsh who gamed her laurels as the Little Sister in inc Birth of a Nation" and the girl in tho modern episode of "Intolerance," piays tho lcadicg part of l'olly. It is said she has never dono anything better. The nlay is a charming romance of tho sawdust /in;?. Tho story deais with a litt'.o orphan girl who is reared by a clown. Sho meets with an accident, and Btayo behind in a small town, being sheltered by the minister, whose action causes great scandal. She rejoins the ciicus, and then, following on the big fire, the little circus-rider finds happiness. The circumstanccs of tho picture give opportunity for some excellent photography, and of these tho producers are said to have availed themselves to tho full: The picture is filled with realistic scenes cf circus life, the most thrilling of which is a fins' in the big tent and tho stamped? of the audience. It is by the representation of eccnes of this kind that the fum_ eclipses the atajre, on which thoy cannot bo presented. To grin this realism a fully equipped circus wan r.eceseary, and those v.jio i-vo the film :ir? "riven a complete performs eiy«, with the arrival o: the shov; at daybreak, the parade and preparation for the performance, and tho departure at night. Another thrilling •incident of the picture is a horso race, clsiimed to be the most cKciting example of a race ever shown on tho screen. LIBEKTY THEATRE. "Enlighten Thy Daughter," the photo-play which has caused so much comment in Christchurch as tho most powerful indictment. of prudery ever screened, continues to meet witu

the support of tho public, who are nightly turned awav in f»cores from tho crowded theatre. Tho story of tb© play is beautifully acted amid scenes of remarkable realism, and the lesson taught by tho film is one that is of such great importance -from- a social and national point of view that it. cannot afford to bo missed by anyone. Thfl facts of lifo are presented unmistakably, but delicately, and tho acting of Rubyo-de Remer and Zcena Keefe, with their support, is entirely adequate. -it the evening sessions a specially augmented orchestra plays a well-selected programme of music. EVERYBODY'S THEATRE. Dainty and charming Olivo Thomas delights od tho large audience at Everybody's yesterday in tho star film "Betty Takes a Hand." Another picture to meet with a good reception was "Auckland from Aloft," giving scenes of the Kohimarama Flying School. GRAND THEATRE. "Alios Mrs Jeesop," the powerful drama in which' Emily Steven's'is seen at Her best, met with a great reception at tho Grand Theatre yesterday. Tho. supporting pictures _wor» 'excellent, and Profesor Martin's singing was highly appreciated. STRAND THEATRE. - Tho highly picturesque oad original'story, "The Long -Trail,"-which' features-Lou Tellegen and Mary Fuller, was again tho star picture at the Strand yesterday, meeting with the approval of ihe largo.audiences.- - It will be screened again to-day with a strong support. • QUEEN'S THEATRE."Southern Pride".; is ono of the- beet films that has been screened at tho Qneen's Theatre for some time. The story is one of absorbing interest, and the scene of it is in the pictureequo southern : Statea of America, among the Creoles. Miss Gail Kane, an actress of rare ability and charm, has caught the spirit of the author's ideas, and, backed up by a clever cast, the atmosphere of the efory is splendidly given. The setting and dressing of the piece are exceptionally realistic. Tho supporting films are "Curley Coilen»,'' a cowboy drama, and "Matty's Love Affair," a juvenile comedv, both good pictures. A strong attraction for next week will be "The Loss of the Lumberlands," a sensational and spectacular photoplay in 15 chapters. The story is laid in the great timber regions of Canada. On the same programme Margarita. Fischer will appear in "Mias Jackie of the Army." SKATING RINK. Roller' skating, the sport which is good both for mind and body, again attracted its patrons by the - hundred yesterday. Soorea of learners and school children took advantage of the early and learners'.sessions to disport themselves, and later, when the ordinary session began, there was the usual large crowd, who enjoyed themselves till closing time to the sprightly mueio supplied by Mr C. Dunn's band.