AMUSEMENTS.

Press, Volume LV, Issue 16472, 15 March 1919, Page 11

AMUSEMENTS.

THEATRE ROYAL. "NOTHING BUT THE TRUTH/' The smart and amusing comedy, "Nothing But the Truth," was played again with great success at the They're Royal last night, una a large audience evinced hearty appreciation of the efforts of the clever cast, led by Mr M. B. Figman and Jiiiss Lolita Robertson. Among those who were present were her Excellency the Countess of Liverpool and parly. The comedy will be staged lor the last time' this evining.

OPERA HOUSE. The public of Christcliurch will be afforded, at the Opera House matinee this .afternoon and this evening, an opportunity of witnessing r. farewell by Tom -xaverley and his famous Kewpie Kids. The occasion is one which will doubtless attract a large audience, for the?e clever entertainers have gained a firm footing in local favour. The current vaiideville programme ■is also a very attractive one. SURRENDER OF GERMAN FLEET. .IT QUEEN'S THEATRE. The great war is said to be over, and it is a!eo aaid that had it not been for the British Navy, the Germans could have done very much as they pleased. A great feature of the Allies' victory must- have been the surrender of the German Fleet, anil a very fine picture, touching on this subject, was shown a!, the Queen's Theatre yesterday. The scenes included views of life on board some of England'.? mojster battleships, a"d a very comprehensive idea was given of England's great fleet, including battleships, cruisers, destroyers, and submarines. A. fine idea of the German U-boat campaign is imparted in the film, and the different, expressions" of the sailors, German, and English, are well marked. -The picture concliri eß with a most interesting of the reception of tha news of the armistioo in England, France, and Belgium. The film is •undoubtedly one of the veTy finest- of its kind that has yet been exhibited. _ It is magnificently set—and from life—while it contains j many a eice-line which, in its eventuality, redounds to the credit of the sailor. Leaving the moral of the piece completely out, the picture proves itself iv really , fine one in. every way. Nobody has anything but praise for the Navy, avl this film- upholds this view. Certainly it is well worth going to the Queen's Theatre to see it. The programme will be repeated to-day.

AN HISTORICAL PICTURE. OFFICIAL BRITISH ADMIRALTY FILM AT CRYSTAL PALACE. All of tho staring incidents in the historical dav when Germany really threw u[j tho sponge in the great world_war for supremacy. are showii in the official iiritisii Admiralty iilm of the surrender of the German Navr, which is to bo exhibited, twice dailv, 3t" Crystal Pa.ace all next -week. .Novc-mber 21st, 1918, was the that ended tho war, because that was the day Admiral Sir David Beatty, in command ■ 01 the .British Grand Fleet, went for a littlo trip into tho North iSca, and met upon the high seas tho Gorman Fleet from Kiel, which at once made itself amenable to the orders of* the British . Admiral. Even in naval circles the mere suggestion of such » situation arising was not credited. The thought all was that the German High Seas Fleet would at«last come out and have a final battle, but tho unexpected happened, and an unheard of and unprecedented chapter in history has been written, for, as a noted British Admiral said: '"To think that we've waited all these years to fight them, and now have to go out and meet them by appointment, like meeting a lady—only they'll be punctual." It was a wondrous line of warships which went out under Admiral Sir Charles Madden just before dawn on that memorable morning. One by one the monster vessels passed through the Firth into the open sea.' There was the Queen Elizabeth, Be&t-iyjg flagship, still bearing the Ecars. she so honourably gained at the Dardanelles. There were the- Resolution, Jtamilies, Koyal Oak, Emperor of India, Iron Duke, Canada, and New Zealand, and others of the newest and largest battleships afloat. Near by were the ships of the second Battle Squadron, which led the line at the Battlo of Jutland. .In the open seas the latticed masts and breadth of build of the fivo monster American battleships showed in curious contrast 'to the British Dreadnoughts. As the sun-came up tho marvel of the vast assemblage of warships was manifest. Admiral Sir David Beatty was 'taking "no risks." The' sight of such an imposing array of fighting ships will prooftbly not be seen again for many years. It is but one. of the many impressive fealy®B ,*° b 0 secn exclusively in tho official Bnlish Admiralty picture of the surrender of the German Navy which will be presenteel at Crystal Palaco by Messrs J. and N. Tait all next 'seek. A cony of this historical film has been placed in the British Museum, as an official document, and record of an overwhelmingly important event ln 2\ fi . anna ' s of nations. The box plans are fi.luig rapidly at The Bristol. The management announce that they are unable to guarantee seats unless they are booked.

"DESERT GOLD" AT LIBERTY ;' - THEATRE ON MONDAY. Air E. J. Carroll announces that his latest acquisition will be screened for tho first <"-«re on Monday next at the Liberty Theatre, The opening scenes of • Beauniont Smith's n©w Australian six-reel drama, "Desert Gold," are located in a barren. desert. To the barren, lonely, inhospitable Dacayville Desert, the people who were to interpret the drama were transported. The day selected turned out to be hot and blistering... Arrangements were made for the packhorses with provisions, wafer, and necessary "props" to meet the party at a, certain sandy rise in the early morning. The movio actons and their xetinue arrived, but not so the pack-horses. Hour by hour went by, everyone expecting tho horses would appear any minute. Hotter and hotter grew tho day, and dryer and dryer grew tho actors. Absolute reliance had been placed onthe pack-horses for water, and there was not a drop in sight. Tongues were parched, and some actors began to talk about picture acting not being "all it was cracked up to he." From being serious, things became tragic. Like n. band of Australian pioneers they, staggered through the salt bush and tho sand—collapsing Jiere and there, then tottering on, _ cursing moving pictures and swearing life-iong allegiance to tile "legit." Late in the sweltering afternoon they saw ahad a, building on the edge of the desert. • Was it. real or only a mirage? Leaden heart's beat a trifla faster, blackening tongues tried- to moisten cracking lips. With the last remaining ounce of strength they staggered through the door of the building and collapsed in a body on tho counter. The buildinsr was the Dacoyvili© Hotel nnd 111© Dacoyviile Desert was really the sandhills behind the garden suburb. When the scenes were taken a few days later, the actors took no chance of a drought.

TRIPLE "STATI" ATTRACTION AT , EVERYBODY'S. There are to bo tlires star attractions screened next we-sl* -at Everybody'e Theatre. _The_ first is f select comedy, entitled "Mis Leffingwell's Boots," starring thai dainty little actress, Constance Talmadge. This five-part picture is adapted' from Augustus Thomas's clever corr.cly that had such a successful stage career. Picture-lovers will find much to entertain them in the neat plot and light-hearted fun. of the piece. It is described as a charming picture, .which keeps the interest at t'lill pitch right through. The second '"star".' item on the programme will be the_ Patho drantii, "The Hi!!crest Mystery," which lia3 Mrs Vernon Caatle in the leading role. It is a photc-pl.-.y of groa*' dramatic intensity and evening incidents. Mrs Casf'.o is seen at her best. Of this most distinguished figure of (he screen Mr Arthur Brisbane, \lramatic critic, has said: "Why waste time describing Mrs Vernon Castle? "When you mention her name you tell the whole story." In r.dviiiion to ' these attractions, the second episode of "Tile House o£ Hate" will be screened. It is <-aua!!v as crcitiug and mystifying as the firs I. chapter. Everybody's Select Orch'stia will play sp:ci&ll7 chosen orchestral items.

GJiAXD THEATRE. To-n:giit will ace {ho last screening of o!ga Petrova in "A Daughter cf Dcs'inv," and Emiiv Steven? in "A Mans "World!" On Jlonday "Tiie Frozen Warning" will be shown, featuring the lady champion ice skater of -the v.*orld—Chariot'.?—who has eleotrififJ crowds at the Hiopodrome, Xew York, in her wonderful skating stirots. A story lifts been spsc.'aiir built round this famous exponent of the skating art. and the result is stated to be- quite a. sensation-in motion pictures. The piay ii in sis parts, or equal to 6000 feet, "ar.d quile five hundred feet are taken up with Charlotte' 3 marvellous skating 1 acts._ All the rage of two Continents, Char" lotte's name has become a household word in the Xorthern Hemisphere, and in "The Frozen 'Warning," picture patrons will have the opportunity cf 3*eing this marvel on skates in her'thiiliing acts. In .addition to' a drama, which is intense in every act, there ar* wonderful scenic cffectj which'a'one make the picture, worth s«einsr. Another interesting item will be a eplondid trout fishing- film, entitled "Catching a. E:g 'l"n," which shnuld be of special interest to p:>ortsmen. The eighth episode of''"The Scarlet Runner" will also be shown. stkaicd tiieaTke. A fine n»T programme wiil be scremed at the Strand , Theatro t lc_-diy. .Heading the new, bill is n atrong "dramatic film, -'The

Eagle's Eye," which give« a great insight into tlie German. spy system. Tho. picture contains various episodes,and "not the least exciting of them is the "Sinking of tho Lusitunii." There is a very strong programme in support, among the other films' Weing "l'vrant Fear." featuring Dorothy Dalton, and "The Call of Youth to Youth," a very dramatic etory drawn from Gilbert Parser's well-known novel, "Wild Youth." There is also a fine hilarious film included in the programme, in the form of "Hick Manhattan," in which - Theodore Roberts and Xiouise Huff are starred. , . "

ST. PATRICK'S NIGHT Owing to the uccommodatiQn of the Theatre Royal being limited, resulting in hundreds being disappointed'' last year, tho committer of the St. Patrick's. night concert hss arranged to hold the celebration this year in the Colosseum. In addition to the existiug. seating accommodation, provision is being made for the building to be filled with extra chuirs to cater "for the huge . crowd which, judging by' the large sale of tickets already mude, will li.l the Colosseum on Monday evening. The programme (which appears in this issue) is ono of excsptional merit, being composed of national item? throughout, and, being well-varied, should prove very pojiular. Mr Humiltou Hodges., of "Wellington, an exceptionally line bantone, who is in great request in the Northern citv, has been engaged, also Mr Robert "Lafferty, a reccnt arrival from tho North, who should prove a. great" acquisition local talent. . Among the lady vocalists, without whom no coucert programme would be complete. will be found, several who have delighted audiences in tho past. Unuocompanied part songs by male quartets, vio:in, cornet, and banjo solos by well-known performers, choruses by the school-children, humorous Kings, Irish jig, ct-c., will com. plete ihe programme to be submitted. The hall is being decorated in. a unique manner by A. J. While, Ltd.,' who will also supply the furnishings. Tlie floral decorations arc in the hands of Mr John Joyce, of Papanui. The proceeds or the concert are in aid of Nazareth House, to assist .the - sisters in their work of charity among the childTen and old people. Tickets are at popular prices, and Ss seats may be reserved without further charge at The Bristol. All who intend patronising Monday evening's _ entertainment will do well to secure their seats early. The doors will open at 7 p.m.

ORCHESTRAL SOCIETY'S - CONCERT. ] The Christchurch Orchestral - Society's fourth concert of the 1910 se«son..will.be held, j in the Choral Hall oil ."Wednesday, . 26th inst. The full orchestra will play "Egmont Overture". (Beethoven). ''Graceful Danco | (IX. A. Home). Triumphal March from "Cleopatra" .(itancinello), "Norwegian Dance (Grieg), and March. "Crown of India" (Elgar). Ml- G. C. Wilson will play a horn so!o vith orchestral accompaniment. The Boioists of the evening are: Madame GowerBurne. who will sing (for the first time :'n New Zealand) "Aria- Hciodias" ] (Maaaeiiet), with orchestral accompaniment, also songs "Meeting and Parting' (Schumann), •'The Snowdrop" (Grelohaninofl), "The Bird" (Dwiglit Fiske), and "Bid Me Discourse 1 ' ((Bishop). Miss Leila Denby -will play tho Pianoforte Concerto "Konzcrstuck" (Weber), ■with orchestral accompaniment. The Christchurch Lyric Four will giro, one of their popular items. The accompanist will bo Mrs Yct6 Livingstone.