AMUSEMENTS.

Press, Volume LIV, Issue 16360, 4 November 1918, Page 10

AMUSEMENTS.

THE SCARLET TROUBADOURS. On Saturday night "The Scarlet Troubadours" afld Trcubadouresscs auspickraslv opened their season a t tho Theatre Royal, ar.d wer» well patronised. They entertain*.-! lavishly and well with the usual mixture of musical and comic iiM)its on orthodox lines. Familiar at one© is tho face of Mr Kennedy Black the musical director, who satisfactorily' officiates at the piano and ako lends a fair voice on oocasions to a pleasing ensemble. .■.•it All the concerted musical nmuaors go well together « n( ' without a hitch, but, in the duets, Mr Millar's bass is too heavy {or Mr Harrison's li.U'ht tenor voice, as also happens later on in tho case of tho two ladies. Miss Knight predominating. The first part of tho programme brings an ensemble production, ••Dreamboat," then a male trio, and "Summertime Mom," and Miss Hilda McMurtry introduces herself gracefully in a "Cherry" episode. Messrs Hawthorne and Livingstone act humorously together, but Mr Hawthorne is at his best* in his adaptation of nursery rhymes, and Mr Livingstone, decorously feminine, in his definitions on "Love and Marriage." Mr Renn Millar's bass songs disclose a good voic-e and temperament, fairly equally displayed in "Plymouth Hoe," "Tho Two Grenadiers," and "Wo Sailed Av.-av." With aoubrette parts, Miss Lenore Graham, charming in appearance air.l vivacious in style, established lieisolf :i favourite at once. If alio need her voice le«=s strenuously it would gain in effect. The burlesque glee "Ye Zephyrs" proved very funny in action and attire without undue exaggeration. Miss Lalla "Ward sang her soli pleasingly, and the operatic selection, including "Softly Awakes My Heart," attractively given by Mias Madeline Knight, was a good feature. Sections of tho second part of the programme havo already been commented upon. It started wil-h a lively "Irish Sccna," inclndr ing an 'Irish jig smartly done. Tastefully with his agreeable light tenor voice sang Mr "William Harrison "Lorraine," "Kind and Gentle is She," and "0* Life is .1 Fine Thing." Mr Kinsley Chapman joined Mis 3 Graham mirthfully in the comedy eketch of married life, and tho male quartet counted that classic "Fishing on Sunday" as their foremost contribution. Gifted with a very good voice, Mies Madeline Knight sang "Brother o' Mine," a "Maori War Song," and "In My Garden" in a manner fully justifying the warm applauso she earned. "Down by the Ferry," and, as the grand finale, a riot of ragtime, concluded the pleasantly successful entertainment that kept the audience busy with, their hands for nearly three hours. To-night tho programme will be repeatod. OPERA HOUSE. For Carnival week a brilliant programme is promisod at the Opera House. The Al. Bruce Revue Company will stage their fourth production, "The Candy Ship." As will be surmised by the title, this is of a nautical nature, and some exceptionally bright comedy is promised. Good parts are provided for all tho principals, the musical interpolations are described as being good, catchy numbers, and special scenery has been painted. A strong vaudeville programme will bo offered in support, the principal newcomers being Gale and Sadie, two clever ladies in a vocal and dancing scena. New chorus songs aro promised by Nellie Kollo, who is more popular than ever; the Gilberts will bo heard in new patter, and others to appear are Boy Bonham, • tho clever juvenile contortionist, * and the Homaz Trio of athlete?. Seats may be reserved at Milner and Thompson's up till noon, and after that at the Opera House, without extra fee. FISK JUBILEE SINGERS. The Flak Jubilee Singers gave their fourth ooncert in the King's Theatro on Saturday evening, in the presence of a largo audience. Tho program mo was similar to that of the preceding nights, except that Mia3 Clave Solly sang "My Dear Soul" instead of "Coming Home," for which her name was on the programme. All the performers were heartily received, ar,U it would be difficult to say which were tho more popular, the soli, or the glee 3 and choruses. The company will give another concert in the King's Theatre to-night, and an entirely now programme will be provided. COMPLIMENTARY CONCERT TO-NIGHT. The complimentary concert arranged by Mesdames Gowcr Burns and W. "Wilson in aid of the funds of the Musical Society, will take place to-night at tho Choral Hall, The programme will comprise an unusual combina/tion of local musical talent. The Male Voico Choir, assisted by the Cathedral choristers, will give some of their choicest numbers. The Christohurch Savage Club Orchestra (conductor, Mr A. F. Bunz) will contribute items. The Song Cyclo Company—Mndamo Gowev "Burns, Miss 'Woodliouse, Messrs A. E. Petty and Rex Harrison, with Mrs F. I'. Osmond Smith aa accompanist—-will present the song cycle "Flora's Holiday," and contribute gem 3 of eong in addition. - Mr Vero Buchanan (violinist) and Mr Ernest Jamieoon (flautist) will also take part. Tho stage dressing will be in keeping with tho subject of tho song cycle, which is reminiscent of May Day in Old England. Tickets, 1 3s' (reserved) and is, may . be obtained at Milner and Thompson's. CRYSTAL PALACE. "Miss U.S.A." is the alluring title, of tho feature drama at the Crystal Palace thia week. The play is a Fox production, which assures its quality and the leading part is taken by the charming June Caprice. It is a thrilling spy. story and deals with a young girl of mysterious antecedents, named Oapitoia. On the outbreak Of war military camps j aro established, and Capitola is a welcomed 1 visitor there. Soon the discovery is made that a German spy system is at work in the 1 neighbourhood. Wireless messages in a, strange code are picked up, and Grayson, in love with Capitola, is one of tho mon detailed to ierret out the men involved. The first clue Grayson gets to the leader oj the spies is when he sees Black a. mountaineering henchman of Gabriel Lenoir©, Capitol&'s villainous uncle, at cache in the • woods where wireless fittings have been 'hidden. Ho. is overcome in tho struggle, and Black Diamond is preparing to knife him when Capitola appears and knocks tho knife ' from, the desperado's hand. Black Diamond ' escapes and tells Lenoir, who determines to ' put both. Gray son and Capitola out of tho • way. The nest day Capitoia, fired with a desire .to serve her country, et-eaAa from her home and comes upon Lenoir and Black Diamond together. She feels sure Lenoir _ is chief oi tho spies. She gets into Lenoir's house, sees the wireless outfit, and finds memoranda proving; that Lenoir is a traitor. She is discovered, by Lenoir. Soon Grayson comes in and eaves her from death. Lenoir is taken to camp. Major Warfield, Gapitola's guardian goes there and tells all ho knows about Lenoir. Later Black Diamond,is. aJso trapped, and: the story ends happily. Tho supporting programme will include a new Roscoo Arbuckle comcdy entitled "Moonshine," and one of Marguerite Clayton's tworeel comedy-dramas, "The Wifeless Husband."' A specially attractive programme of music is announced for th 0 cvewng sessions do luxe. The two'popular vocalists, Miss Millicent Jennings and Mr James Cox, .will sing the duets "Still' as the Night" and "Land of the Long Ago," and the . Crystal Palace Orchestra will play suitable incidental music. QUEEN'S THEATRE. Tho. star' film at the Queen's this week will be a thrilling Western mining drama called "Rimrock .Jones." The play tells of the (fortunes, good "and bad,, of Mr Henry Jones, better" known as "Rimrock." He has located a rich mino in Arizona, around which has sprung up the flourishing town of Gunsight, of which "Rimrock" is practically tho owner and chief citizen. This prosperity dots not last long, however, for Andrew Mcßain, a crooked' lawyer, before tho opening of the story, has unearthed an ancient law, which provides tho holder of' the top, or apex, of a vein can claim the entire mine. By this'trick he succeeded in taking possession of "Rimrock's" property. -' The -latter becomes a penniless hanger-on at tho ■ town, until, pulling himself together, he mysteriously disappears. Returning after several months, "Rimrock" announces that he has found another and still richer mine but needs about 20,000 dollars to develop it. His one-tinio friends, sneer at him, and he is about to give up m despair, .when he overhears Meßain's voico dictating to Mary Fortune, a public stenographer, and a newoomer in . the toivn. Jones resolves that Mcßain, who stole his mine, shall' staio him to the new. one, and drives into the office, demanding money. Mcßain runs for his life, and J ones finds himself left with Mary, to whom he tolls the whole story. Mary has come to Gunsight for two reasons, tho first to regain her health, which lia« impaired her hearing, making necessary the use of an e«ir trumpet, and second to recoup fortune lost in the East. It is tho thought of this that makes her offer her entire savings, about 2000 dollars to Jones, as sho eavs she has always wanted to invest in a mine. After some argument, Jones does accept her money, and rides back across the desert to his mine. Jones's mine becomes a success but he has to fight hard with the rascally Mcßain, who trios hard to 6teal it as ho stole the otherP.'entv of exciting and thrilling situations arise," but the end is satisfactory to all— except Mcßain. Tho support includes an Arbucklo comedy, "Fatty in Coney Island," : and two good Gazettes. 1 EVERYBODY'S THEATRE. : Norma Talmadge, who is in the front rank j of screen . artists, wlay3 the lead in . "Tho Moth," which is the feature film at Everybody's this week. The heroine of the story is a young girl, who, having read tho story of Cleopatra, dccides to emulate, that historical character. Before she knows lier- own < miru! she "weds a ne'er-do-well club' man j named- Spencer,. whose only aim . in . life ia <

pleasure. Soon after the marriage Spencer negk<ts his 'young wife for tho eocietv of another woman, and the wife on her part, as » vould-bo Cleopatra, surrounds herself with a group of young societv men and entertains th«m iu royal "style, then one night the wife meets an English nobleman named , Anchester, who is travelling incognito, and an attachment springs up between them. The husband learns of this, and threatens divorce • prooeeding-3-and a public scandal unless the \ wife hands over a substantial portion of her ! fortune to liim. This she declines to do, and just as the husband is about to put his t threat into execution an unexpected event occurs that changes the whole current of the story. In the end things turn out happily. [ the story being skilfully handled so that , the climax appears quite natural. As a spe- . cial attraction at the day sessions there will ( be screened a revival of the film, "Rupert 1 of Hentznti.'' The other iteni3 on the pro- , gramme will be the latest Patho "Gazette,'' a travel study picture showing scenes round ! Strat ford-on-Avon, including the birth-place . of Shakespeare, and a Boirnsfather cartoon ■ iilru. i STRAND THEATRE. The works of tho immortal Mark Twain have only lately—apparently—been drawn - upon for tho movie stage, and tho first oi a > series dealing with tho adventures of Huek'.e- ---■ berry Finn and Tom Sawyer was recently > shown to appreciative and largo audiences at l tho Strand Theatre. Tho second picture, headed the new progrartme at tho Strand on . Saturday, and it was even' whit as popular . as tho first. It is entitled "line:; and Tom," and tho story tells, in delightful muii--1 ner, of further adventures of tho two inseparables. Jack Pickford plays the part [ of Tom Sawyer, and Robert Gordon acts . Huck Finn with great success. Edytho r Chapman makes an excellent Aunt Polly, and dara Horlon a charming Beck Thatcher, Tom's sweetheart. Tho story keeps fairly . closely to the book, and opens with the mid'•night journey of tho two boys to the village cemetery, where tlioy are going to try and [ banish wartß by means of some weird and wonderful charm they have been told of, the | witchcraft including the use of an exceed- . ingly dead cat. while engaged in tUeir in- ; cantations they so© Muff Potter, a human derelict of the town, Injun Joe and a "body snatcher," about to dig open a grave. As ' the boya watch spellbound tho men quarrel, and Joe stabs the "body snatcher.'' ImI mediately Joe thrusts the knife into Potter's hand, and convinces him that ho liaa done the deed. The' boys swear to each other to ' observe the deepest secrecy concerning the affair, and then beat a "hasty retreat home. , Next day Tom has to stay in bed, tho ad--5 venture of the previous night having proved too much for "him. His Aunt Polly dosos liim with painkiller, which Tom, in his turn, ' tries on the cat, with surprising Tesults. Of course, all the town is agog over tho discovery of the body in tho graveyard. Muff i Potter is accused of tho murder, but at tho , trial Tom i 3 called to give evidence, and tells all ho saw at the cemetery. Injun ' Joe, however, is on the alert, and makes good his escape. After this Tom and Huclc have many other adventures, jn tho course of which they find some hidden treasure. Beck Thatcher, Tom's littlo sweetheart, also • figures largely in the story, and tho romance ' between her and Tom is quite a delightful 1 littlo affair. This excellent film is backed , up with- a good comedy and an interesting [ Gazette, making the new programme a very attractive one. ! GRAND THEATRE. r The story of Barbara Frietcliie has been , called upon to furnish the chief attraction r at tho. Grand Theatre this week, and tho [ play is one of the most' delightful ever screened. Miss Mary Miles Minter takes ' tho chief role, and ns Barabara she has one of the best parts of her successful career. To turn from romping, rollicking, and girlish roles to those which call for supreme 1 dramatic power.is something of an achieve- ' ment.- • Yet this ia exactly what Miss Minter • has succceded in accomplishing. Mora she > has done bo without losing a whit of the J radiant charm which has endeared lier so • greatly to the public. "Five feet of tray s gedy" ■ one critio wittily called her in eome • of the intense scones in "Barbara Frietcliie." 1 Certainly the dainty littlo star displayed dra--1 niatic • powers previously suspected by but ■ few of her most ardont admirers. In re-' , 'sponse-to the request of a largo number of - patrons a revival of tho humorous Arbucklo comedy, "Fatty and Mabel Adrift," will be screened. This is stated to be the funniest comedy the famous "Fatty" and the versatile ' and clover Mabel Normand have ever pro- : duced. "The. Great Secret" will be conL tinued, and. should provide enough thrills and • suspense to meet the most exacting patron. ■ All interesting and clever _ local production, "The Efficiency Plough Lift," will also be > screened. The mupic will again bo a fea- , ture of tho evening session, special and api propriate music having been arranged by • Mr-A. L. Sutton. . . LIBERTY THEATRE. A film that ia a strong indictment of the • alleged modern tendency to race euicido is " tlio; powerful play, "I. Want .My Children," 1 which will be screened at Liberty Theatre thii} week. In the play a delicate subject is fearlessly handled, but handled without offence. Mr' William Desmond takes the part of a, stalwart, true-hearted Californian minor, half-oWner of the Ready Bullion goldmine, who marries for love, only to find, as ho thipks, that his wife had married, not him, but the goldmine. Tho rolo of tho beautiful and charming, wife, pursued by a worthless millionaire rogue and distracted by the mother's insistence that she shall not make lier a grandmother, is very admirably sustained by the talented and popular actress, Misß Alma. Rubens. The play abounds in tensely dramatic situations, and with its ultimate happy ending n-akca a fine story. Tho other star feature of the programme is "The Interloper," in which Kitty Gordon has place of honour. Tho them© is that of avoung widower who re-marries, and who foolishly persists in holding up his first wife as a model of all goodness. It comes to the knowledge of the second wife that the first one had been the very reverse of what her husband had thought her, and the man who had led this first wife into the paths of unfaithfulness was tho husband's beat friend to all outward appearance. The situations aro very dramatic, and reach a high state of intensity when tho second wife goes to the apartments of "the other man' to obtain proof of tho real life which the model first wife had led. It is. undoubtedly the best •picturo in which Kitty Gordon has so f,ur appeared, and will greatly enhance her reputation as an actress of strong emotional calipr The settingß arc luxurious, and tho dresses were specially designed to do justice to the famous figure of the star. An additional attraction this week wiU bo tho special re-engagement-of the: "Mysterious Singer, wHo will make her final appearances. Sho will bo heard in a fresh selection of ballads, including Gounod's "Ave Maria. Sho will also sing "My; Treasure" as an accompaniment to one of the mos? touching scenes in "i Want My Children." PROFESSOR BARRADEN. Professor Barraden's eccond Christchurch. season was opened at. the Colosseum on Saturday night. The building, which had ■ been very considerably improved for tho occasion, might certainly havo accommodated many more poisons without undue crowding, but those who were present were appreciative. At the commencement of the performance the Professor called for subjects * from ■ his audience, who came in driblets to. the stage, till at the end of about ten minutes he had collected about a dozen. These ho subjected to a, "hypnotic test.' Treating them individually, he commanded them to look- him "straight in the pupil, of the right eye, and dismiss all other thoughts from the mind," and then suggested that they would find themselves irresistibly falling forward. Most of them assumed a curious rigidity, and gradually- overswayed the.point of equilibrium, but two or. three proved not "susceptible," and had to :be dismissed. Among the volunteer subjects wa6 a young lady. The . Professor put them all into a "hypnotic slumber," and made them imagine that they wero great singers. On© by one they came forward, gracefully bowed, offered such classic masterpieces as "My Mother wae Born in Killarney" and "Goodbye, "Virginia." Soon afterwards they were rolling on tho stage in the throes of excruciating toothache, and howling most pitifully. Later thov were playing in sand at the seaside, until 'it turned to treacle, and they made frantic efforts to free themselves from the unpleaeant substance, incidentally divesting themselves of garments at an alarming rate, so that the Professor wa» kept very busy "bringing them to" before they shed t-00 many. Yet again they wero made to imagine that they were in, a ballroom, dancing with ladies in tho form of chairs, and .that the caretaker had suddenly plunged the building into darkness. This episode contained an unfortunate element of vulgarity. On another occasion the subjects all imagined *hey _were selling'newspapers to the audience, and did so in a' most realistic manner —indeed, so jealous of patronage were some that strenuous and somewhat alarming physical f.neounteto actually took place, and again the Professor had to work quickly to release Ins subjects' from the "spoil." Perhaps the most successful of all tho features was the or.en which each "subject" was given an instrument and ordered to play, and laughable and at times quite good, "mueic was ♦he result, some of the subjects seating that they ' had never attempted to play before' The performance c;ave fool' for 'the sceptical, the credulous, and the curious,, and its. mirth-provoking propensities wero undeniable. To-night_ Processor Barraden intends to have the Zealand Cup raced by his hypnotio subjects, and later in the' week will, if he can obtain a volunteer, draw a tooth from him while under his influence, in order to demonstrate wnat he terms the "scientific possibilities of hypnotism." National efficiency is weakened By coughs and colds. Prevent this by taking IS'AZOL. One dose a day. keeps t colds away. Sold everywhere, Is 6d. 2 J