AMUSEMENTS.

Press, Volume LIV, Issue 16408, 31 December 1918, Page 8

AMUSEMENTS.

' :— : —♦ —. • THEATRE ROYAL. David Wark Griffiths is ui'.'icubtediy the mammoth of ih© moving picture .world, arid his latest masterpiece. "Hearta of tne World." is , unqu€st;onnlV"_ths> fi!:;: tnat Iras ever been seen on rt New Zealand screen. Thf» Griffiths pictures sr~ tor their conception, setting and photography, and in all those features "Hearts cf the World excels. There is no doubt about the_ fact that in. this picture Griffiths .lias outgriffitned Griffith," and "Tho Birth of -a Nation" and "Intolerance" are really small things before this latest amazing feature-film. Some of the scenes in "Hearts of the "World are really wonderful in their naturalness, and particularly so is the one depicting a trench in a rainstorm, thpugh all the glimpses of warfare shown are remarkable in. their accuracy and vividness. Conceived in a French village: the story naturally savours very strongly c.f war, but. running ihrouph it aj*e a. couple of exquisite lovo romances, which lend the touch just necessary to make th« whole picture a lrsting success. Hearte of the World" wis shown to two large, audiences yesterday, and it will be screened again this aiternoon and evening. ' OPERA HOUSE. Ever since the embargo on houses of entertainment was lifted, large audiences have been the order of the day, or lather cf evening, at the Opera House, but last night s attendance eclipsed all previous records. When the orchestra filed into the well, every seat in tho theatre was occupied, the boxes were both filled, and even the emergency chairs beside the stage were taken. The good fare which Messrs Fuller have been offering of late, the holiday season, and more than anything else, probably, the first appearance of the "Miracle "Woman," Sa-Hera, were no doubt responsible for the big house, and for the numbers who arrived a little too late for scats and "had to postpone seeing the show until another night. The bill presented waa totally different from that of last week, and though several of the same artists again appeared, all provided quite new offerings. SaHera was, of course, the "star" turn of the evening, and she certainly gave a r.ioet. finished exposition of mental telepathy and second sight, which not only veigcU on, but stepped over the border lino into the "uncanny, \eiled and .blindfolded, she sat close to the edge of the stage, and answered every question put to her ■ with lightning quickness and every assurance, so much so inat many of the questioners, who wished for light on purely personal subjects, must have felt not a little embarrassed at the replies they received. -Sa-Hera first of all commenced by telling everything that one wished to know about three blackboards, on which were lines of figures, names of months,-, and men's Christian names respectively, and the rapidity and accuracy with which oho gave her answers were uncanny. Next she answered questions not put to her, but merely thought of by members of the audience, and in this respect she gavo quite the most wonderful;.' display of second sight ever seen in Christchurch. Not only did she give accurate answers to what lier questioners, wished' to know, but she also anticipated them when they meant to ask her on© question, and finally decided on another. A very strong combination supported SaHera,. and as "usual the clever character comedian, Leonard Nelson, waa very high up in the thermometer of popularity. He had several new to offer, and amongst the most popular was "Take Me Back to Blighty," which, with the aid of a screened clionis, eoon had the audience singing lustily. "The Funeral," ono of Lawrence Campbell's inimitable war poems, was given in Mr Nelson's very best style, and the old favourite, "Oh, it's a Lovely War," evoked, rounds of applause. Romaine, the violinist,' added to his popularity considerably with a number of artistically-given selections, ranging ,from the "Poet and Peasant . Overture" to the latest . popular choruses, and Miss MAd Courtney and Mr C. touched the popular fancy with many new local hita, cleverly converted into song, Mr C. in addition treating the audience to more of his apparently inexhaustible . supply of stories. ~ Doyen and Dura, a pair of par ticularly clever Manohurian ... hand-balancers and acrobats, who Have been ; seen here before, completed the vaudeville section of the bill. • "

TUe' fiTSt half was again in charge of the "Mammoth Minstrelfl," who, although now in their third week, show no signs of waning in popularity. Miss Harjorio Alwyn, who lias been seriously indisposed, was again able to sing, and her sweet contralto voice was- heard to advantage in a couple of bers, though one of them the lilting "Joan of Aro," is far more suited to a eerio or a sonbrette than to a baJladist of Miss Alwyn s calibre; . Misses -Gwen Haeto and "Winifred Liimloy each contributed- catchy songa, and wound up witli clever ballet dances, of. which high kicking formed a feature, and Miss Lily Vockler submitted a number of new eonga with swinging choruses. Gale and Sadte, in a singing ■ and. dancing, opeciafty, in •Sadie figured to advantage, were very popular. Of the male members..of the troupe; "Walter Emerson was again to the fore iwith a couple of songs,' which .few but him could eing siJcoesafully, while Charlie Delavale'e ec'centric dancing left the audience clamouring for: more. This artist is a very poor singer, but he is really remarkably clever on his feet. Ward Lear contributed one of his famous "laughing" songs, and indulged in much humofous cross-talk and witty conundrums with tho interlocuteur, Ern Delavale, who sang V'a song' and. recited" pleasingly, though ■if he sang more parts of his songs instead of speaking-them "descriptively" to the audience tho latter wouM be' much- more impressed. .Warwicklmmley sang two acceptable comic eonps, and the whole company worked very well together, the work in tho corner especially being very entertaining. Mr Albert Bidgocd's orchestra, was again in (rood form, and did all its work irreproachably, •Mr Clarenre Crawford b"ing especially successful in his • trap drummer's ; effect t-o Mr Chailie -Delavale's dance. The sorao programme will bo repeated this evening. FISK JUBILEE SINGERS. The Fiak Jubilee Singers, tiiough they have undergone many changes einco tlieir inception, have 7levor failed to impreas the public with their sweet harmony and th<"ir quaint folk songs. Be it plantation melodies, coon "rags,"- or lush-class harmony; they {Lie always worth hearing, and the latest combination, iwhich is under the direction of Mr Marshall Palmer and Mr C. A. White, one of the original "Fisks," is perhaps the moat 'tuneful aim clever that has yet visited New Zealand. The company is making its farewell appearance in Christohuroh to-morrow night, and from bos-office indications, the Choral Hall will be well filled on the occasion. *•

CRYSTAL PALACE. Tho new programme screened at Crystal Palace yesterday afternoon and evening to large audiences proved an ideal holiday one, and appealed irresistibly to children of all ages. Tli© William Fox pantomime,. "Jack and the Beanstalk," is produced _ on a magnificent scale, and dazzles with it-s brilliant fairy scene® and effects. Those old favourites, Francis Carpenter and Virginia Lee Corbin, have appropriate parts in the production, and there is also a real giant, nearly nine feet in height. A Sunshine comedy, brimful of fun,-is also screened. This after-' noon and evening the same films will be shown. EVERYBODY'S THEATRE. The headliner of" the new programme screened at Everybody's Theatre _ yesterday was the cinema version, of Louis Joseph Vance's thrilling etory, "The Lone Wolf." There is a rapid succession, of sensational incidents, the centre of which is a elever criminal, who, after many escapades, turns over a new leaf. In the film version, which is splendidly produced, Bert Lytell and Hazel Dawn take the principal roles. "The Rise of Susan," featuring Clara Kimball Young, is amongst the supporting films. The same programme will be screened this afternoon and evening. QUEEN'S THEATRE. Holiday audiences yesterday gave an appreciative reception to the new programme screened at the Queen's Theatre. "His Wedding Night," starring "Fatty" Arbuckle, proved just the right sort of feature for the holiday season, and kept yesterday's audiences in a continuous state ■ of merriment. In "Bunker' Bean," a Paramount special, featuring Jack Pickford. a story of absorbing interest was unfolded. The fourth chapter of the serial, "The Railroad Raiders," woe lull of stirring incidents. Other films screened included a Bray „ cartoon, and the educational film, "Experiments in Physics." This afternoon, and evening the samo films will bo screened. STRAND THEATRE. Pauline Frederick, who is known as the Cleopatra of the-picture world, La th© etellar attraction in "Madame Jealousy," a story of deep human interest, which has chief place on the splendid programme submitted, at the Strand Theatre this week. Second in public favour i 9 a big Mack Sennett cpmedy, entitled "Her Blighted Love," in which the humour is of tho true Senmett type, broad and riotous. On© of the popular Burton Holmes Travelogues . is on the supporting bill, and there is also an interesting gazette. LIBERTY THEATRE. One of tho most unique marriage proposals ever devised takes place in "The Wasp," the main film on the programme at the Liberty Theatre this week. Kitty Gordon pliers tiio leading role. She makes.a charming heroine, and is perfectly fitted x to thopart she plays. "Madam Sphinx" features Alma Bubena *nd Wallace Ifttdbiwld, two the

most handsome lovers of the screen. Episode ten of "The Fatal Ring" entitled Tho Perilous Plunge," is quite as exciting as ita predecessors. A Patho Gazette completes the" programme. GRAND THEATRE. Dainty Viola Dana, one of the most captivating actresses oi the screen, is featured in a romance entitled "Breakers Ahead," which heads the bill at the Grand Theatre this week. Charlie Chaplin is even more hilariously funny than of yore in "Tho Vagabond." A scenic film entitled "Picturesque Christchurch" had a good reception. The photography is splendid, and many of our prettiest spots have-been selected. The supporting programme includes another chapter of the Bayne-Busliman serial.