AMUSEMENTS.

Press, Volume LIV, Issue 16215, 18 May 1918, Page 10

AMUSEMENTS.

ALLAN "VVILKIE SEASON. A largo audience nt the Theatre Royal last night witnessed Allan Wiikie unci his dramatic company .in the stirring military piay, "Seven Jjays' Leave." The piece was admirably given and was appreciatively received. Tnere will be a special matinee performance this ulleinoon and the linal presentation will bo given this evening. On Aft>uday night tho company will stage "The Story of tho Rosary," written by Walter Howard, tho author of "Seven Days' Leave." "The Story ot the Rosary" is based on a military theme and is described as qui to as thrillingly interesting as "Seven Days' Leave." . It is a story ot devotion and steadfast sense of duty, and throughout there is a vein of humour, without whien no melodrama would be complete. There aro glimpses of battles in the iialkans, including the realistic shelling of buildings, and in addition to the main plot the piay contains many stirring episodes in the lives of courageous soldiers. The management wish it to bo known that the play is in no way connected with the play known as ' -Lhe Rosary." j OPERA HOUSE. j Despite tho numerous counter-attractions, thero was a large audienco nt the Opera House last evening, when the current weeks programme v.-ae repeated. Iu the vaudeville section o! the bill Hamlyn and Mack appeared for the last time prior to their departure for America, where extensive engagements await them. They wore accorded ft most enthusiastic hearing, and it was with , that the audience allowed them to leave the stage. The Haverley Musical Farce Company also staged Murphy utthe Cabaret" for the last time. At this after-, noons matinee the company will present for the first time the last production of their reperoire. This farce, which is « on Robinson Crusoe, is entitled. "Murphy 41a. i-ooned." Tho vaudeville portion of the pro...Tii i )e e iven by Mandenos Doors, Frank Lank, and AIU (cIU jugfflers), Upside Down Wright, and Raleigh and Mc/alack wire performer and come£SS£ to* Pi*" -«" « M "°«: and Thompson's. , QUEUE'S THEATRE. j '•Miss Jackie of the Army" and the. sup- ' porting films were screened to large audiences at the Queen's Theatre yesterday, and will be finally shown to-day and this evening. For Monday's nev; programme a big double attraction is announced. In "Tho Calendar Girl," an American-Mutual production, Julietto Day will be featured. Miss Day ia . described as one of the prettiest and cleverest j girls on tho stage. In "Tho Calendar Girl" Miss Day wears several expensive creations, I her ballroom gown aloue costing over £100. The costumes worn by the star in lladamo Lizette's fashionable gown shop are said to be tho last word in beauty and costliness. "The Calendar Girl" is a delightfully bright comedy drama, and, as indicated, Mise Day takes the part of a modiste's model, Mildred (Middy) Manning. One afternoon sho tries on a" rejected bathing costume, and by u touch here and there makes it a creation. Madame sends her to the bathing beach to carry out a clever advertising scheme. . She is pursued by a reporter and an advertising solicitor, the latter of whom has a commission from Madamo to photograph tho girl for calendar advertising. In her flight the girl takes refuge in a motor-car. Philip : Gordon, a western lawyer, enjoying a vacation in the cast, gets into the car and drives off. Middy, fearing exposure, tells him she lives in a fashionable residence, and makes her escape by the servants' gate. Gordon gets tho address, and when a reporter writes a story about a mysterious heiress at the beach, the young lawyer makes an appointment, only to find out that he is calling on an aged spinster. Middy is sent to the epinster'3 home and complications ensue. Middy objects to the use of her picture on a calendar, and quits Madame Lizette. Sho raises money "to sue to prevent the use of her photograph for advertising purposes, when Gordon, tracing her through the calendar, takes the case for her. The complications into which she has become involved at ".hespinster's- home were easily explained, and Middy went west as the young lawyer's bride. Tho other attraction is the second instalment of the powerfully dramatic serial, "A Lass of tho Lumberlands," which resumes the story at a critical point and carries it on through many sensational incidents. "Dollar"' Holmes's daughter, whom he thinks dead, has grown to young womanhood, and id tho means of rescuing her brother from a wreck. She is, of course, unaware of their relationship. Another exciting incident is a race between a motor-car and a locomotive* which culminates ia the

I car crashing through a condemned bridge. Tho supporting films will be "Tho Stinger j Slung" (Beauty comedy), and "Pierre Brisi sac, the Brazen" (dramutic burlesque).

. » "THE BABES IN THE WOOD." ' Nest week's attraction at Crystal Palace and Starland will bo the magniliccnt William [ Fox pboto-phantnay. "The Babes in tho . Wood,"' which is described as fully equal . to anything previously constructed at the . Fox etudios. Whet, shown in .New York "The Babes in tho Wood" had an excep- , tionally flattering reception, and an excep- ' tionally long run. It proved not only highly ■ popular with children but also with "children of a larger growth"—grown men and | women finding tho modern eetting of the world famous old 6tory absorbingly interesting. Gorgeous 6cenery and a email army , of juvenile performers go to mako "Tho Babes in tho Wood" a truly wonderful pro- , duction. Tho stars are Virginia Lee Corbia, who is four years and a hulf old, and Francis Carpenter, who is a year older than Virginia. Tho 014 story of tho wicked undo who acted so cruelly with his nephew and nicce is somewhat softened in this modern version, and i 3 introduced as a drama within a drama. Not tho least important feature of "The Babes in the Wood" is tho excellent j moral it conveys, and it is a film that should I bo witnessed by all children and every lover I of children. Tho box plan for tho night sessions is open at The Bristol, and intending patrons who wish to avoid disappointment are advised to book early. The management have arranged a special, eession for each, afternoon to give school children an opportunity of eeeing "The Babes in tho Wood cither at tho Crystal Palace or at Starland. ; CRYSTAL PALACE. Excellent business was recorded at the Crystal Palace at all sessions yesterday, when tho big triple bill was again screened and wa3 received with marked appreciation. Many old playgoers were glad of tho opportunity afiorded to renew acquaintance ' with Nanco O'Neill, especially in a part so well suited to her genius as tho character she represents in tho pulsating drama of southern Italy, "Tho Final Payment. Roscoe Arbuckle, in "Fatty at Coney Island, provided much occasion for mirth, and the multifarious contraption® on Coney Island, do- • ni rr ncd to afford plG&surc to th 6 tuousnnds I nf°holidav makers from New York, were witf nessed with great interest. In The Uneven ■ Road" Littlo Mary McAlister is featured, ' and gavo pleasure with her winsome personality and clever acting. Tho instalment of the mystery serial, "Who is Number One?" and the American Gazette completed a most attractive programme, which will bo finally screened to-day and this evening. At tho evening Eession vocal items will bo given by Miss iiiillicent Jennings. "THE GARDEN OF ALLAH." The new programme at Everybody's on Monday will be headed by the magnificent Selig version of Robert Hichens'a thrilling romance of the Sahara desert, "The Garden of Allah." "In this great production Helen Ware is starred as "Domini Eufilden," and Thomas Santschi as Boris, and they give a powerful presentation of Hichens's story, jiarly in life Domini was embittered against love, but in after years sho meets Boris Androvsky, a tragic figure, who endeavours to avoid "her. Circumstances throw them together a good deal and at last he declares his lovo for her. They marry, but eventually the man's remorse overcomes him and ho confesses to his wifo that he is a monk who had. been false to his oath and had fled from the monastery. The final scenes aro described as gripping in their interest,

EVERYBODY'S THEATRE. "Polly of the Circus," the big Goldwyn feature drama, attracted large audicnces to Everybody's Theatre yesterday. To-day will be the last opportunity of witnessing this magnificent film. . LIBERTY THEATRE.

Excellent attendances were recorded at tho Liberty Theatre yesterday, when "Flames of Chance" and the supporting films were again screened. The same programme will be shown, for the last time tonday.

For Monday's change of programme, "The Adventurer," in which the ever-popular Charlie Chaplin is starred, will head the bill. "The Adventurer" demonstrates that Charlie Chaplin has an Inexhaustible supply of new and comical ideas. appears iiret as tho escaped convict and, eluding his pursuers, he rescues a varied assortment of humanity, including one fascinating epecimen, uom drowning. Then ho becomes Commodore Slick, the hero of the minute, and he disposes of an ice-cream in an unselfish manner. That i 3, he passes it on, but he does it in a most unexpected way. Other films to be screened aro the Triangle drama "Until They Get Me," and a further instalment of tho serial "The Neglected Wife."

"THE ETERNAL CITY." . tho Theatre Royal next Saturday evening will be screened tho Paramount adaptation of Hail Game's great novel "Ino Eternal City." It is claimed that in ihe cinematograph version tho blending of the speotacuiar with the dramatic is tho best that has ever been accomplished in the history of motion picture production. Pauline Frederick, America's greatest tragedienne, takes tho rolo o£ tho beautilul Donna Korna, and is ably supported by such well-known actors as Thomas Ho.ding, Fuller Mellish, Frank Losee, and George Alajcroni. For the production of "Tho eternal. City" inside scenes of the Coliseum, the gardens of the Vatican, and of other well-known features of Home have been secured. The story is one that enchains the attention and vividly portrays the struggle of twef souls against u seemingly fate. STRAND THEATRE. "Countess Charming," starring that elegant impersonator of femalo characters, Julian Eltingo, drew large audiences to tho Strand Theatre yesterday. To-day and this evening tho now programme to be submitted will be headed by tho Jesse L. Lasky production, "freckles,'' in which Jack Pickford and Louise Hull are featured. Freckles is one-armed and is the butt of all tho jokes and taunts of the orphanage. He runs away ■ from hi - tormentors and finds employment amongst the lumbermen. The story is concerned with stirring incidents in tho lumber camp/ and through it ia woven an interesting love thome. Somo of the scenic settings aro highly picturesque and tho story is ono of gripping human interest. STARLAND. Large audiences at Starland yesterday witnessed tho screening of tho interesting drama, "The Return of Eve," which, with supporting subjects, will bo finally shown to-day. On Monday "The Babes in tho Wood" will be screened, at this popular theatre. GRAND THEATRE. To-day there will be the, usual matinees at the Grand Theatre when Viola Dana, in "Blue Jeans," will be shown again with an interesting supporting programme. To-uigui will be last opportunity oi seeing this programme. Harold Lockwood will be seen in his latest Metro, wonder-play to be shown at the Grand Theatre on Monday. This is entitled "The Avenging Trail," and it is stated that Mr Lockwood enacts the most vigorous role he has had in his eight years' experienco before the camera. EMPSON-ELLWOOD RECITAL. What promises to bo one of . the most enjoyable concerts that local music lovers have been privileged to attend, is announced for next Thursday evening at tho Choral Hall, when tho Messrs Harry Ellwood, Ernest Empson, and George Ellwood will be associated in a trio recital. The enaemblo playing of these well-known musicians is said to be exceptionally happy, and the special study which each one has given to his art is an assurance of a musical treat that • should long be remembered by those attending tho recital, at which Miss Millicent Jennings will be the vocalist. SKATING RINK. The Colosseum Skating Rink drew largo numbers of amusement seekers at all sessions yesterday, the floor in the evening presenting an animated scene, tho music suppiied by Mr C. Dunn's band considerably enlivening proceedings. In anticipation of a repetition this evening of the big business done on the last two Saturday nights the management announce that they have secured an extra supply of skates, so that patrons may rest assured that their wants will be well attended to. The rink will be open at the usual hours to-day.