AMUSEMENTS.

Press, Volume LIV, Issue 16221, 25 May 1918, Page 10

AMUSEMENTS.

QUEEN'S THEATRE

Large and delighted audiences witnessed I "The Calendar Girl," featuring Juliette Day, and the Bupponing subjects at the Queen's Theatre yesterday. The same programme will bo fiially screened to-day and this evening. « "SOULS IN PAWN." The programme for next week ie headed by the unusually timely play, "Souls in Pawn," in which fascinating Gail Kane is starred. It is a story of love ar.d war, but contains none of the battlefield scenes of which moving picture lovers have had about enough. Though pure melodrama, "Souls in Fawn" has the triple charm of a strong plot, a splendid star, and true-!o-th>etory settings. The scenes in the mansion, turned into a hospital, and the Red Cross uniforms of the j nurses, will appeal to all at a time when j all thoughts aro upon the war. The story opens with preparations tor war under way and Prince Markonda, chief of the Foreign i Secret Service, has been ordered to put the I •most beautiful and cleverest woman he can find to secure valuable plans most urgently required by his Government. Liane Dore, the beautiful widow of Sebastian Dore, who was killed mysteriously at the door of his home, is the choice of the Prince, and she executes the plans most successfully, even though she is burning for revenge on tie one that killed her husband. Offering to divu'ge the name of the murderer was the meana the Prince used to win over Madame Dore for his purpose as a spy. Sebastian Dore, unknown to his wife, had previously posed as a bachelor, and during tliut period had destroyed the honour of a young girl, sister of the Prince. When Prir.ce Markona made himself known to his sister's betrayer, a fight ensued, in which the Prince, in selfdefence, accidentally shot Dore. The close association of the Prince and Madame Dore ripens into love, each keeping within their hearts the secret from the other. Madame Dore, to expedite her treason, opens her home to the wounded and dons the uniform of a nurso, while the Prince leaves to further assist his country. Von PoKnttz, a hunchback, seeks to gain diplomatic aid in the absence of his superior, the Prince, by tryin" to win the favour of Madame Dore; but sho coldly turns him down. For revenue, von Pollnitz exposes Madame Dore as a spy. She is arrested and cast into prisoi. Madame Dore is offered reprieve by the police in return for information that will lead to the capture of the Prince. At first she refuses, but when the po-ice tell her thai tho Prince is her husbandls murderer, sho agrees to aid them. The Prince interviews Madame Dore in lier cell, and explains the circumstances leading up to the crime. Madamo Dore understands, and lover, and they escape, and all ends happily. There will be ehown, a'so, the third, of the thrillingly interesting Ferial, A of the Lumberlands. In this instalment there is an exciting race between Holmes and the emissaries of the Lumber Kin" to file the necessary documents in connexion with a valuable area of timber land. This area is ak° valuab! ? Nt thn rights appertaining to it in xespeci. of floating logs the mill. Helen> 110 me. arrives first at the recorder f> office and files, but subsequently the fling is n » ] f c J the fact that she is under age. One of the most thrilling incidents is the race to pt wood, and the juvenile comedy, For faaleA Daddy."

BEANDON-CREMER DRAMATIC CO. A season of melodrama will be commenced at the Theatre Royal on Saturday next, Jun ?st by tho Brandon-Crcnier Dramatic Company, the initial production being 1 known Bland Holt success, My Jack, » nautical drama m four acts. The company como direct from Auckland aftw a of eixty-«even weeks at tho KM-» J-ueawo there The season here will cover a P~ nod of five wteks, during wMch timo tho fonowin? plays will be preeented:— Silence of £)cln Maitland," "The Bad Girl of tho Family," "The Christian," "Woman Against Woman," "Uncle Tom's Cabin," fcnd the ©vor-popular "East Lynne.' The box plan for the first week opens at The Bristol on Wednesday morning.

QPERA ■ HOUSE. The vaudeville and musical farce entertainment was successfully repeated at the Opera House last evening. At this afternoons matinee the Havorloy Farce Company will repeat one of their initial successes,. The Man in Black," the funniest and brightest of their repertoire. Vaudeville turns wil be given by Carlton Max /ventriloquist), Bellora (bird and animal mimic), Upside Down Wright, Frank, liank, and Alice (jugglers), and "Raleigh and McDonald. Tie same programme. will be given this evening, when the three last-named vaudevillo turns will be finally staged. On Monday newcomers on the vaudeville bill will be:—Gregory Ivanoff(violinist, late with tho Jack Waller Co.), Patsy Hill (English soprano, who eings charactei songs in costume), The Maxims (singing and dancing juveniles), and Coco, She and It (s elever head and hand balancing turn). Seat; may be reserved .at Milner and Thompson'* without extra charge'. CRYSTAL PALACE. The wonderful adventur©3 and the mttol loua escapee of "The Babes in the Wood, the surpassingly beautiful Fox production attracted large audiences at all sessions a the Crystal Palace yesterday. The story, ai developed in the cinematograph version, grip: by its intensity and the manner in which on* m-arvelloua adventure follows another. It s brimful of action, and the admirable aw natural acting of the babes—Francis Car penter and Virginia Leo Corbm—is perfectl' delightful. To-day and this evening wi] be the final opportunities of witnessing thi truly poetio interpretation of tho old. fair; Heading the exceptionally attractive pre gramme to be shown, next week, beginnin, on Monday, will be "The Silent Lie," ; drama of the Canadian North-West, produc ed under the direction of R. A. Walsh, wh was responsible for the direction of Williar Fox's fine productions of "Carmen,' _ Th Beast," and "The Honour System." Minar Cooper, who took one of tho star parts i "Intolerance," and also in "The Birth of Nation," is featured in "The Silent Lie, which is a five-reel Fox production based o Harry 'Evans's story, "Conahan." The stor revolves round a young girl who has bee reared in a dance hall by a brutal stei father. She flios from liim in order t escape leading a vicious life, and finds n *fuge with a venerable priest, and in coure of time marries a man whose love she almost loses when ho learns of lier upbringing. Miriam Cooper enacts the part of Lady Lou and her interpretation of the character met with enthusiastic praise from American critics... She is supported by Ralph Lewie, Charleo" Clary, Monroe Salisbury, Henry C. Barrow, Howard Davis, and William Eagle Shirt, the Red Indian. The settings, especially thos© picturing the dance hall, are described as highly realistic, and the whole firm has been produced in accordance with the high standard set by William Fox. The sixth episode of the mystery serial. "Who is Number One?" will be screened, and also tho Mack Senneth comedy' "A Bedroom Blunder," and the Gazette At the evening sessions Miss Millioent Jennings, the wellknown vocalist, will contribute bolo numbers. Tho box plan is at The Bristol. EVERYBODY'S THEATRE. "The Garden of Allah," the cinematograijli presentation of Robert Hichenß's absorbingly interesting story, attracted large audiences to Everybody's Theatre yesterday. It will be finally screened to-day and this evening. "Baby Mine," an amusing Goldwyn comedy, starring Madge Kennedy, who ia a new visitant to Qhristchurch, heads the new programme to be shown next week beginning on Monday. "Baby Mine" is described as an < exception amongst screen versions of stage plays partly because it lends itself to the transformation through bright lines and good original construction, but mainly through skilful scenario arrangement. Its eucoess, like that of most popular Bcreen stories, resuite from a nice harmony of authorship, handling and interpretation. The three nrincipal artistic requirements are present in an attractive blend, wilh the scientific end well taken care of. High lights of merit are tho marvellously "practical and wholly convincing interiors and Madge Kennedy s delightful personality. The characterisation, is claimed to be both delicate and delightful —it would be almost too subtle for the screen under ordinary circumstances, ot it is said r~ t ' brightly and clearly enforced throughout by X Author and by Miss Kennedy. The young star, it is stated, gives a most Evincing interpretation of a girl-wife, matured physically, but twelve mentally, and cheerfully irresponsible, child essly selfish 2nd untruthful, yet so sweet, loyal, and ardent that one's affections are won and her artless lying forgotten. GRAND THEATRE. To-nisht will be the last opportunity patrnna wall have of seeing the present programme a t the Grand lTieatrj. The items have proved most popular and large attendances We been_ recorded all the week. On Monday the principal picture will be "The Eyes of Mystery," a Metro wonderplay, with the popular Edith Storey in the lead. ; This is her first appearance for Metro, and ' that alone should be sufficient to ijtereet her | ma ny admirers. But added to that it is ' stated Storey has one of the best role® of her lengthy career. She possesses great dramatic talent and athletio prowess, which stand her in good stead in her portrayal of • Carma Carmichael, and she revels in the I part, swimming, riding, shooting, as to the I manner bom. In the picture, most of the male characters are rugged, unkempt, fullbearded Virginia mountaineers, and the director insisted that his players grow real | instead of using the usual ton-J

sorial adornment for their roles in this picture "The Eyes of Mystery is stated to be replete with thrills and absorbing interest, with many fine sccnic effects. The eupprogramme includes another of Famous Ditrnar animal studies, Elephants, an excellent comedy, and the favourite Cooperative Weekly Gazette.

"THE ETERNAL CITY." The Paramount cinematograph version of TTol! Ciine'3 great novel, "Tho Eternal Citv " is to be screened at the Theatre Royal this'afternoon and evening, and appreciators of the high artistic standard reached by the Paramount productions are promised an exceedingly fine presentation of the story. One of the most powerful and dramatic scenes is that in which Donnn Roma snvrs the life of David Rossi. "T>avid, a Socialist, calls a meeting of the people at the Coliseum, and Bonolli, his arch enemy, arranges a not in Hiich Pavid is tn b-~ jiccHentnllv kilM. Roma overhears the plans, and. in a frenzy r.t love and anxiety, dashes in amongst the strikers, saves David s life, and together they flee the city. For the taking of the riot scenes Directors Edwin S. PorW and Hurh Ford were fortunate in arriving m Rome during the time of the great tramway stile when riots were frcment and furious. Imagine more than a thousand people, sliontin" waving banners, marching in a solul, s-.va'yin" mass towards the Coliseum, and within the walls of that noble ruin itself, packed close around the rostrum, rows upon i rows of faccs alight with the inspiration of the gathering. All these eccens were actu- , ally real and were photographed, giving to tho picture 'that air of reality and power impossible to obtain by mere acting, however clever. Pauline Frederick, who interprets the part of Donna Roma, has won for herself a foremost place in * the ranks of the dramatic stars of to-day, and in the role of Donna Roma she is enthrallingly convincing conveying, by facial expression, all that the' novelist describes in his portrayal of the character. Paulino Frederick makes the character live and breathe in a manner that has called forth the warmest appreciation from the critics. LIBERTY THEATRE.' Charlie Chaplin in. that feast of laughter, "The Adventurer," drew large attendances I nt all sessions at Liberty Theatre yesterday. "The Adventurer" and its supporting subjects will be finally screened to-day and this evening. Mrs Vernon Castle, one of the most charming actresses on the cinematograph stage, is featured in "Convict 99V' described as a parfect Patho drama, which heads the new programme to be ehown next week, beginning on Monday. In this drama Mrs Castle reaches emotional heights greater than in any previous production in which sho lias appeared. Whether in the character of convict, social star, a girl in love, or a fugitive from blackmailers, Mrs Castle's interpretation is artis'.ically convincing. There will be shown also the 14th episode of the serial, "The Neglected Wife," the Triangle comedy, "The Laundry Clean-up," and the Gaumont Graphio. STRAND THEATRE. • The ohaTming cinematograph presentation of the story "Freckles" was finally screened before large audiences at the Strand yesterday. To-day and this evening the new programme will be headed by the Paramount release of the Lasky feature, "The Crystal Gazer," in which Fannie Ward is starred. The story is described as one of tho moat unusual screened. Fanny Ward appears as three characters—a mother and her twosdaughtera. One of the daughters, Norma, is adopted /by • a neighbour, and is engaged by Calistro.' a ' ohnrlatan hypnotist, to _ act as a hypnotic , subject. Calistro, on discovering that the , two sisters aro the daughters of a murderer, i attempts to blackmail Rose, the other sisi ter, who has been brought up in luxury. The t charlatan's scheme is frustrated and a happy t ending ensues. There aro severa] unusual [ incidents pictured, and the artistio manner . in which Fannie Ward interprets the three T varying characters is most pleasing and I convincing. ) STARLAND THEATRE. At all sessions at Starland yesterday large - audiences were thoroughly delighted with the r beautiful photography, and tho admirable i acting in William Fox'e great production, - "The Babes in the Wood." The final screen- > ings of this magnificent film and its supi porting subjects will take place to-day, and & this evening. l Heading the new programme to be shown l next week is the screen adaptation of George i Ban McCutcheon's great romantic story ' "Granstark," in wliich FrancislX. Bushman J and Beverley Bayue are featured. The story j j 3 one of gripping interest, - full of action i with strong undercurrents of, love and hate. >- There will be screened also tho first of a o new series of dramas entitled "Is Marriage i- Sacred?" in wliich Margaret Clayton is feae tured.

MB SIDNEY WILLIAMSON'S SONG RECITAL. *

For tho first time for several years a Schubert eong recital will bo givra. in Chxistohurch on Monday, June 3rd. With so many son"s from which to chooso, there has been selected a varied and interesting programme, which should give tho audience a clear insight into the many beauties to be found in Schubert's music. Christchuroh musiclovers arc already familiar with Mr Williameon's power of interpretation, and with tne assistance of Miss Ethel Johnson, contralto, and Hre Alma Carey, the well-known pianist, the concert on Monday, June 3rd, promises to be a very attractive one. The box plan and tickets will be available at Milner and Thompson's on Monday next. SKATING RINK. geecions at the Colosseum Skating Rink were well attended yesterday. As Saturday ni»ht invariably brings a crowded house, the management has made extra provision for the accommodation of all patrons, both as regards seating and skates. The Rink will be open at the usual hours to-day, the band being in attendance at the afternoon and evening sessions-.