AMUSEMENTS.

Press, Volume LIV, Issue 16314, 11 September 1918, Page 9

AMUSEMENTS.

KATHLENE MACDONELL IN "ROMANCE."

The box plans for the Kathlene MacDonell season will b« opened at MHoer Thompson'® to-morroir morning. An Australian critio writes of "Romano#," the play in which Misa Kathlene MacDonell will make her reappearance at the Theatre Royal em Saturday, under the J. C. Williamson management, in association with Mr Charles Waldron:—"Your American dramatist is nothing if not thorough. If he is after emotion he lava it on oitilensly and to the bitter end. Mr Edward Sheldon, in '.Romance/ happens to aim at sentiment. His play is one solid slab of it, consistent and compelling throughout. No sooner had the curtain risen_ on the dear old scholar, in his dainty dressinggown, than the faint sweet perfume of violets was wafted on the air. Two young people want?*! their consent to -merry. Certainly, but" first they must hear his romance. Going to the worm-eaten old brochure, he takes out an oaken casket in which so many tender memories lay hidden. From the open box it came—that slight familiar perfume—lt was 40 years ago, my dears,' he began, and the ourtain fell— to rise etartlingly, on the .ballroom of _ 50 years ago. There he was the young, virile curat® of 26. In these days he lived for his parish, and it hurt him that gossip should couple the name of his friend Van Tuyl and that of the famous singor Cavallini. He remonstrated with his benefactor on the advisability of having a singer of songs under his roof tree. Five minutes later he comes upon the Cavallini herself —lissome and_ alluring. Another five, and he is gazing into the eyes of the glorious nightingale. The golden voice was 6inging throujrh his very veins. After many days of torture and anguish, he asked her to marry him. Almost she consented. Easily her sins were forgiven, but there was an unlucky reference to Van Tnyl. She lied bravely. He left her, and the romance was over for ever. Such in little is the story of 'Romance,' a play remarkable in diction, clever in construction, and possessing in a superlative degree that certain something that holds a willing imagination from the rise of th® first to the fall of the final curtain. Eulogistic have been the criticisms showered upon Miss MacDonell for her portrayal of tho irresistible diva Cavallini, while Mr Charles Waldron has been equally well spoken of in the part of the Rev. Thomas Armstrong. The play will be mounted and caparisoned in the beet J. C. Williaqison manner. A novelty in the music may be expected in the playing of a number of old-time airs during the overture. During the seven-nights*" season, will also be presented "The Rainbow," "The Cinderella Man," and "Outcast." OPEIRA HOUSE. The new programme was repeated at the Opera House last evening' before a very large audience. Jones and Raines, patter comedian and vocalist, were popular favourites amongst the vaudeville artists, and were insistently roca lied. Wallace Brownlow, operatic baritone. Burns and lye Clerc, danoing and singing duo, and Bessie ~ Lester, American comedienne, were all very successful with their respective offerings. ""War Down in Arizona" was repeated by Mr Walter George's Sunshine Players, and the production was accorded an enthusiastic reception. In tho absence of Miss Georgie Martin, who, under tho doctor's orders, in taking a week's rest, Miss Eileen D&lgleish filled one of.-the leading roles most capably. A popular feature of tho musioal comedy was the singing of the quartet, Messrs Holly Leslie, Barry Hitchings, Frank Haining, and Walter George. The programme will be repeated to. night. CRYSTAL PALACE. The screenings yesterday at tho Crystal Palace of the motion picture grand opera,' "Joan, the Woman," dealing with the main incident in the life of Joan of' Arc, attracted large audiences, which were highly appreciative of this magnificent and artisticallyproduced film. Geraldine Farrar, who plays the port of the Maid of France, aroused much enthusiasm by truly poetic and spiritual interpretation of a great character. The photo- I graphy of the production easily out-distances j anything previously seen here. In addition to clearness of outline, there is a high uniform standard maintained, and some of the scenes reach the acme of artistio portraiture. Excellent and appropriate and specially composed music was played by the Crystal J Palace orchestra, under the conductorship of Mr W. H. Corrigan. To-day at 2.30 p.m. ond at 8 p.m. "Joan the will be again screened. _ I QUEEN'S THEATRE. j The attractive and varied programme at j the Queen's Theatre, headed by' the mining and sooiety drama, "A Kentucky Cinderella," | featuring Ruth Clifford and Rupert Julian, drew large audiences yesterday. The supports are the Mustang drama "Wild Joe 'Reformer,'" and the comedy "Kicked in the Fracas." The same films will be shown at all sessions to-day. STRAND THEATRE. "The Hidden Pearls," featuring Sessue Hayakawa, attraoted large audiences to the Strand Theatre yesterday. Tho same programme will bo shown at all sessions to-day. EVERYBODY'S THEATRE. "Under False Colours," a drama of the Russian revolution, featuring Jeanne Eagels, Frederick Wards, and Robert Vaughan, attracted largo audiences to Everybody's Theatre yesterday. At all sessions to-day the same programme will be screened. GRAND THEATRE. The great spectacular drama, "A Modern Lorelei," and the attractive supporting films, attraoted large audiences to the Grand Theatre yesterday. At the evening session vocal items were pleasingly given by Mrs F. C. Cothor. To-day at all sessions the same films will be shown. LIBERTY THEATRE. J The Triangle society drama, "An Heiress for a Day," featuring Olive Thomas, proved a great attraction at Liberty Theatre yesterday. With tho supporting films it will be j screened at all eesaions to-day. j ELLWOOD-EMPSON RECITAL. I In these days of stress, music is truly a j welcome relief from the cares that are so j much with us, especially when the music that is offered is of the high standard that is assured through tho association of Messrs Harry Ellwood, Ernest Empson, and George Ellwood. Trios by Brahms, Schumann, and Beethoven have boen selected, and Madame Gower-Bums's singing will be an additional attraction. The box plan opens to-morrow at Eobt. Francis, Ltd., and the recital is nt the Choral Holl on Thursday, 19th inet. ORCHESTRAL SOCIETY'S CONCERT. The Christohurch Orchestral Society's conoert takes place in the King's Theatre Tonight. The soloists are Mrs Vere Livingstone and Mr Charles Clarkson. The proceeds *ill bo devoted to the Lady Liverpool Trench Comforts Fund.