AMUSEMENTS.

Press, Volume LIV, Issue 16213, 16 May 1918, Page 5

AMUSEMENTS.

"SEVEN DAYS' LEAVE."

A large audienoe assembled at the Theatro Koyal last night to witness the per-; formanco by the Allun Wilkio Company of the stirring wai-play "Seven Days' Leave." As Captain Terence Fielding, Mr Wiikio epeedily succecds in ingratiating himself with his audiences, while Mas Marie Ney i 3 excellent as Lady Mary Heather, "the girl who 6ank a German submarine." A character particularly well sustained was that of "Lieutenant Keys," taken by Honri Doze. The scenery and effcct3 are particularly good, the scene showing the submarine under water being a fine one. "Seven Days' Leave" was thoroughly enjoyed by the audi- ' ence, and very hearty applause was frequent throughout the evening. 'ihe piece will be Tepeated to-night. A special matineo is announced for Saturday, at 2.30 p.m., when matinee prices will be charged. Tho box p.an for the matinee will be opened at the Bristol at 10 a.m. today. OPERA HOUSE. Another very large audieac© attended the Opera House last ©vening, when the current programme was successfully repeated. Amongst the vaudeville artists Hamlyn and Mack were prime favourites, their pleasant song, patter, and dance specialties, combined with attractive stage settings, ibakinsr their turn very popular. 'This couple will appear for two more nights only. Frank, Hank, and Alice (clever jugglers), the Kaleighs (slack-wire performers and comedienne;, (Jpside Do.wn Wright, and Mandeno's" Dogs all' appealed with much success. _ The Haverley Farce Company, who provided the sccond half of the bill, sent the audienco home in good humour, and well satisfied with the excellent fare submitted. The samo programme will be given to-night. "THE GARDEN OF ALLAH." The setting and the of a picture drama havo seldom been, in Buch harmony as in the Selig masterpiece, "The Garden of Allah," to be shown at. Everybody s Theatre all next woek. This is e pictunsation of Robert Hichens'e powerful novel of the same name, and tho screen contrives to reproduco the mysterious glamour of tho feanara, Desert even more successfully than the booK itself does. The austere charm and the fiery fervour of Algerian days and nights have their counterpart in this passionate story of love that was forbidden, and of the sacrifice which atoned for it. Helen Waro as, Domini meets a strange man at Bcni-Hara. At first/he flees at tho mero sight or a woman, but there comes a time when his uncontrollable desire throws him into her arms. He begs her not to listen to what he says, but she replies, must say itfor I must bear it." . A terrific sandstorm occurs as they are being married. It is almost as though an angry fate were ?ivinU, them a last warning. Ihe e Everybody's anticipates that "The Garden of Allah" will be as powerful a draw as Polly | of tho Circus" is proving this week. i CRYSTAL PALACE. j Nance O'Neill in "The Final Payment" ia the big attraction at Crystal Palac© tms week. "The Final Payment, which is a tensely dramatic William Fox production, gives the fullest possible scope for Nanco O'Neill's genius as a tragedienne, and is one of the best films of its kind ever screened :n this city. Tho scene is laid m Southern ! Italy and tho producer has been highly suci ceseful in imparting the peculiar atmosphere of tho warm South. Some of the scenes are marvels of photography. Also on the bill '3 a little play, "Do Children Count?" featuring winsome Mary MacAlister. A hilarious comedy "Fatty at Coney Island," with Roscoe Arb'uckle in the lead, is provocativo of much mirth and the fourth instalment of the Anna 'Katherine Green serial shows another development in this mysterious story. An American "Gazette" completes the programme. At' the evening sessions Mies Millicent Jennings's solos are very much enjoyed. "THE BABES IN THE WOODS." It is said to have been the experience of theatre managers that if there be man, woman, or child who has never been in their theatre, he- or she will come to see 'The Bilbes in the Woods,' " the big photofantasy which will be shown at both Crystal Palace and Starland Theatro all next week. This is tho first of the world-famous William Fox "kiddies' pictures" to bo shown in Christchurch, and it appeals with equal force to all ages of picture-goers. Hundreds of juvenile performers tako part in tho many gorgeous soencs, while the stars themselves aro Virginia Leo Corbin, four and a half years old, and Francis Carpenter, who is only one year oldet than Virginia. story of "ihe"Babes in the Woods" as told in title picturo is framed in a modern setting. John Hamilton has two children. He ma: 'ries a second time, and his wife does not like the children. She does, however, IiKO Mason Hamilton, her husband's brother. John Hamilton goes away on a trip, -ostensibly. Ho draws up a will before ho goes, leaving the major portion of his money "f> his two children; but in the event of their death tho money is to go to hia brother. The father £>-ta a man-servant to watch th<s pair. Soon after he causes to be circula + vid the report of his death. In a short time tho man-servant comes to him at a near-by hotel -with the report that his second \"f«* and his brother are plotting to destroy the children, so that thoy can get the monev immediately. Suddenly the husband returns. Tho wife and brother ar* The brother leaves the house. The father gathers around him his wife and the two children and asks the children as thoy su on hij knee if they would like to hear the story of "The Babes in tho Woods. n 'hay dance in glee, their eyes sparkle—of courso thoy want to hear it. So with his wife li- - toning suspiciously he begins the recital. Instantly the picture fades from that pleasantroom and tho fairy story is shown on tho screen. Francis Carpenter and Virginia Lee Corbin play the roles of Hansel and Grethel. They are the children also of John Hamil*un in tho prologue. Ao in tho fairy story, Hansel and Grethel are given into the hands of ruffians by their cruel stepmother. They aro to be killed in the forest. Tho beauty and innoconce of the two children softens somewhat tho hearts of the murderers, who decide they cannot kill the children, 60 they leave them in the forest to die. The children wander in the wood ior some time, and they lie down by a big tree and fall asleep. Tho Good Fairy, who watches over the children in the wooi, brings forth her fairies to danco around the lost ones to make their dreams pleasant. The next morning ths children are found by the iiad Prince, but Hansel and Grethel flee and are assisted hy the Good Fairy, who, when the children xcach a stream in their flight, calls two swans, and on the backs of these Hansel and Grethel escape across the Tb° Prinoe then goes Jo an old Witch, promises her wealth if she captures Hansel : and Grethel for him. The Witch sends h-r J raven into the wood to guide tho children

her houso, a wonderful structure built of gingerbread. The children see the raven. They marvel at it, and as the Witch intended, follow it to her home. While tho children are nibbling at the gingerbread house, the Witch comes out and invites them inside. She makes prisoners of both, intending to fatten Hansel 60 that ehe can eat him. When the roasting day comes, the Witch tells Grethel to crawl into the oven to see if it is hot enough. Grethel, guided by the Good Fairy, declares the oven is not largo, enough. Whereupon the Witch, to show the. children it is, crawls in herself. Grethel immediately alama the oven door and ehe and Hanoel escape. Then follow many adventures, in which tho children get into the hands of the Bad Prinoe, but tho Good Fairy still aids them and they e3cape. They finally return homo, tell their story, and tho entire village turns out and visits deserved punishment on the bad stepmother and the uncle. The picture then returns t6 John Hamilton's home. Tho children are etill on his kneoe. Tho littlo girl is crying softly and the boy looks angTy. For a time the wife and stepmother looks suspiciously at. her husband, then as the full effect of the story sinks into her heart, she bows her head, then smiles and takes the children to k«r bosom. She loves the ohildren now, and by her act regains the affection of her husband. The box plan for the night session is now open at The Bristol, and the management have arranged a special session for each afternoon to give school children an opportunity of attending at either theatro after school hours. STRAND THEATRE. In his student days Jnlian Eltingo appeared in a college entertainment as a woman, and ho mad© such a successful and convincing' one, that later he took up the stage as a profession and became tho world's most noted female impersonator. Now he has gone into picture plays, and is appearing on the screen at the Strand in a big feature entitled "Countess Charming." The picture is a diverting and interesting one. Also on tho Strand bill aro a Mack-Sennett comedy, a | "Gazette," and a travelogue picture. I EVERYBODY'S THEATRE. It has been Beldom of late that Christchurch audienccs have been favoured with an opportunity of seeing the wonderful littlo tragedienne discovered by D. W. Griffith, who was speedily hailed by the public as the finest emotional actress of the screen. Mae Marsh has more than fulfilled her early (promise of "The Birth of a Nation" days. Goldwyn is now starring her, and she is appearing at Everybody's this week in a magnificently produced feature, "Polly of the Circus," written from the book by Margaret Mayo. "Polly" is a picture to see not once but many The part of th<> pretty circus queen is an exacting one, but Mae Marsh never disappoints. An entire circus enters into the "props." used in setting off the. plot, which will give som 0 idea of the magnitude of the production. A specially augmented orchestra, under Mr W. J. Bellingham, supplies the music. i STARLAND THEATRE. Largo and appreciative audiences are the daily and nightly rule at Starland, where a splendid Essanay production, "The Return of Eve," featuring Edna Mayo and Eugeno O'Brien, is being shown. The story is a very interesting ope. On the supporting 1 programme are a number of attractive features, an interesting chapter of the serial "The Voice on tho Wire" being among these. QUEEN'S THEATRE. At the Queen's the big double bill is headed by "MiS3 Jackie of tho Army," in which fascinating Margharita Fischer is given ample opportunity to make use of her fine dark eyes and her undoubted talent as a screen actress. Tho story of the wilful "Jackie," who cnliats with the United States Army, is a thoroughly entertaining one, and kept yesterday's audiences at all sessions thoroughly amused. The feature is "a worthy succssoar to Margharita Fischer's former triumph, "Miss Jackie of the Navy." The supporting programme includes the first chapter of a thrilling and realistic serial, "A Laee of tho Lumberlands," which ie a story of the great northern forests. Tho playing of the orchestra, with a violin solo by Miss Cadenhead, is an enjoyable feature of tho evening session. GRAND THEATRE. Viola Dana, the little girl with the pathetic j dark eyes, who is a bright particular star in the Metro constellation, appears in "Blue Jeans" at the Grand. "Blue Jeans" is a big seven-reel feature, throbbing with realism and emotion, and is said by the Metro heads to be Viola Dana's "best picture to date. The supporting programme is a diversified one. LIBERTY THEATRE. "Tho Flames of Chance," a delightful romance of the war, featuring Margery Wilson, is the principal attraction at the | Liberty Theatre this week. Margery Wilson was one of the stars of "Intolerance," which makes it needless to discuss tho question of i her histrionic talent. The piot centres round I lier befriending of threo soldiers in a prison camp, and is a human and touching one. A fine chapter of "The Neglected Wife," a bright comedy, and a gazette lend lustre to the programme. EJIPSON-ELLWOOD RECITAL. There are many people in Christchurch to whom tho violoncello is an instrument of groat beauty, , and one all too rarely heard played by a musician capable of doing justice to its exquisite tone nuances. The an- ] hounceinent therefore that Mr Georjre Elli wood will interpret the 'cello part in trios by . Beethoven, Mendelssohn, and Arensky, in asj sociation with Mr Harry Ellwood, violinist, and with Mr Ernest Empson at the piano, is ' especially welcome, for in this artist's hands I the 'cello will lend in full measure its rich- . nes3 of tone to an • interpretation that will | be marked by the highest musical feelinff. The recital takes place at tho Choral Hall on Thursday next, 23rd insf., and Miss MilHcent Jennings will contribute songs. SKATING RINK. All sessions at the Colosseum Skating Rink yesterday were well patronised, while during the hours at which the link was closed tho instructors were kept exceptionally busy giving private lessons in waltzing, etc. Tho learners' session continues to show increased patronage, while the band music forms an added attraction for the accomplished skaters in the evening. To-day and to-night the rink«will bo open at the ueual hours.