AMUSEMENTS.

Press, Volume LVI, Issue 16813, 20 April 1920, Page 2

AMUSEMENTS.

j £ THEATER ROYAL. "A TEMPORARY GF.KTI.EMAN." IT. F. Maltby's r.r.c dran-.a "A Temporary Gentleman" was repeated hist r.ight b- tho | Allan Wilkie Comoany to s very fine house jat tie Theatre Royal. The play v-iil bo ! staged till the end of the wc-ek. The bos j plans are at Tl'.e Biis'ol. j OPERA HOUSE. j At tlie Ooera House Inst night Bert Lo Blanc and his 1920 Travesty Stars entered upon tlie ninth and final week cf their highly successful season. There was a big audience, which readily demonstrated it = appreciation of the gcod thing's provided. The revue kept for farewell staging was Jt Nov:." "a hilarious trifle, ciTordinsr many opportunities for fun-making. Rert ,Le 8!,~,r.c (Ike Cohen) and Jake Mack (Morris Levi; apposr ns two would-be speculators on the Stock Exchange, and p. 3 such fall an easy prey to Will C'qciUhh (Mike Connors), then* pathetic innocence in | the hands of Cheatcm being responsible for i Riucli mirth. Qi;ccnie Paul "takes the part of | Cassia Hot,-land, a California!! fnngbird, and | her untimely appearance when hsi- one-time-I lover (Cheatem) has seined ihc opportunity j to secretly tr.nrrv another lady, brings about [ soma complicatfjl situations. " The rovuo is rich in tuneful musical numbers. "That Dear Old Home of Mine," sung bv Mis-a I'aul and chorus, meeting with especial favour. Miss Paul also sang 'Mv New Zealand Rose" very attractively, and Mike Connors pave acceptably "Good-bye, Dunedjn Town." Mo-srs Le Blanc and Ma-ck arotteed hearty laughter with their duet "New Found Yiddisher Flag." Vivacious Maggie Buckley's number, "Salvation Lassie of Mine,'' was well sung pj-.d was well applauded, while Oln I?av.-a? hoard to advantage in "Promise Me that You'll Come Back to Alabau:." A pretty duet, "I'll be Happy when the Fre*ichc~r Makes You Mine." was contributed by Mike Connors and Queenie Paul. Tho scenery was good, and tho dress:n o pretty. As usual, the chorus played <£ not unimportant part in the success of the revue. Of the vaudeville items that of Jark and Cora, Williams found much favour with the I audience. They varied their programme of last week, and presented a course of entirely new ideas in the vaudeville line. Their <ict is a top-liner nil through. A first appearance' waa made by "Webber and Shaw, who provided a pleasant pot pourri of instrumental and 'vocal items. After introducing themselves with a specially written song, the male member of the duo plnved a ccrnot rolo, whil? the lady proved herself an accomplished sifßeuse. Their turn concluded with a duet, "I've Got Everything I Want but You." The cct proved a very popular one. Frank and Theresa Matana, the brilliant vocalists, sang two duets, "The Rosary" and "Rose of my Heart," and Frank Matana sang "Ben Bolt" very pleasingly. Novelty patter and singing comprised tho turn of Pagden and Stanley, who entered upon tho last nights of their season. As tho present week i 3 the last for some time in which a combined vaudeville 2nd_ revue bill will be presented, it may '09 anticipated that there will be bumper houses at the Opera House throughout the week. "DADDIES." '

Messrs J. and N. Tait promise theatregoers I a very fine comedy performance of "Dad--1 dies," a four-act play, that is being- presented at pre6ent to rccord houses in Wellington, and opens at the Theatre Royal next Tuesday for a season of six nights' only. "Daddies" has met with exceptional success in Loiufon and New York and in Australia, and as the management are presenting- the play with a very strong- cast the success of a short season here should ba nasul-ed. It is a clever comcdy, and: the manner in which the downfall and "bursting up" of a confirmed bachelors' club is brought about by the diplomacy of Mrs Audrey, who is ably assist-ed by several war orphans, is most laughable, Miss E'rnita Losoellce will make her debut in Ciiristchurch a? Ruth Atkins, and Mr Herbert Ranson will be seen as one of the bachelors, Robert Mr Geo. Bryant lakes the part of a crusty old bachelor, but his charge, "Lorry," gradually gets the best of things. Little Elva Powie is said to be excellent as Lorry. The box plans '.vill be opened at The Bristo lon Friday morning. EVERYBODY'S THEATRE. A notable film made by the wizard of the pictures, .David .Wark Griffith, occupies prido . of place on the new programme which was ! screened . for the first , time at Everybody's Theatre yesterday. This is "The Romance of Happy Valley," a eimplo story of simple pcop'e in which appear many of the favourite Griffith stars. "The Romance of . Happy A"alley" is human all through, and Griffith's masterly handling of the theme has made the picture '& genuine work of art, and it will be ranked as one of the all-too-few scTeen classics of the period. There is ai dramatic and sensational climax, as thrilling as it is unexpected, in "The Romanco o£ Happy Valley." Aloa on the programme is Thos. H. Ince's latest comedy-drama, "Bill Henry," starring the popular actor Charles Ray. "Bill Henry is a diverting story of how an awkward country boy succeeds, in getting the bettor of a slick city crook. The usual topical and scenic numbers are also screened. Everybody's Select Orchestra contributes delightful music at the evening session. CRYSTAL PALACE. A big- Metro feature entitled "Faith," with Bert Lytell in tho principal part, heads the new programme at tho Crystal Palace this week. The picture depicts a beautiful story of tho faith that can move mountains, and deals with the limitles-s confidenco of two women who reecue a man who has drifted from tho good influences of life. They bring him into new world of reality and achievomont. Bert Lytell has seldom hud a part more suited to hi® abilities than that of the hero of "Faith." The rest of the cast .is well chosen, and the picture is altogether n notable one. A hilarious xiomedy entitled "The Sleuths" a!so figures on the bill, in addition t-o a Topical Budget ond a beautiful number of the New Zealand educational Eeries. Appropriate music is supplied by tfco Crystal Palace orchestra, and Mr and Mr-> Farquha.r Young appear in songs. ntsr.ologues, and recitation.-. They were accorded" an enthusiastic reception lsst night. Tim popular couple will contribute to tho programmme throughout tho we-k. GRAND THEATRE. An excellent programme waa -rescni:d at the "Grand Theatre- yesterday. TL~io were three features, the principal being "Over tho Garden V\ T ali," wiiii Beojie i.o.u in tco leading role. It depicts love, cdventure, and romance, besides intense drama. It -is a picturesque and charming- story, founded v n the old song, "Over the Garden Wall." There are quaint bits - of humour ar.d _nrett;'_ 'ov®. scenes. The settings are exquisite. "Black Britta," a production from the famous .\ut-

* I disk studio?, is an intensely dramtic ulm, [j which is welcome if only for its rarity. The , I hsrht coniedv drama, "'When My Lad> ; Sniiles." is very pleasing. featuring r.s it does Miss Peggy Sweeney, luith Stonohouse, and a capable cast ot Lssar-ay piayers. An interesting and instructive* Co-ope.ati.o ■ Weekly completes ?. very good ; which is further pnhanced by ihe tuneful ana ■ appropriate musi? played the Grand » Orchestra. The same nvciramm? «:!! be re- ' pcated at all sessions to-d:(~. j LIBERTY THEATRE. ' | Ar. excontionailv ?cod programme. headed ' by "The- Lesson." featuring- Constance Ta!M mad<v. was repeated at tiie Lbvrty Theatre ■ to -/v-ell-iilied* house last nisi-:. Constance 1 Talmadsre is rrh'y supported ; -y Tcjn Mooro and a special)" selected cast. Tiie- Patnc | Gazette includes several new pictures of H.M.5. Renown. and there aro_ also a ooitf'v entitled in Siberia. a ' ter scenic, and "A Tour Through WcUland.'' Mr A. Cade was- well received in his songs. "Drake Goes W-st" and "Old Barty." STRAND THEATRE. Bill Hart, in the exciting drama "Breed of Men," is featured this wee!; at the Strand Theatre. Tho star Iras a part well suited to his abilities. The programme also includes a PietogTanh Gasette. a comedy, "Con in Economy." and pictures of a wood-chopping competition an*, a doer hunt in Now Zealand. QUEEN'S THEATRE. "Woman ard Wife," tho pir.uriied version of Charlotte Bronte's widely-read book "Jane Eyre," was again shown to a large number of patrons at the Queen's Theatre yesterday. Alice Brady has the leading rr.'.e, ami the story affords her several on-oittiniths to show her histrionic ability. Th? prngramm? includes chapter seven of the serial "The Man of Might," a Pa tho News, and Tom J Moore in a Gcldwyn production entitled j "Thirty Dollars n Week." MISS VERA MITCHELL'S RECITAL. To-night, in th? Choral Hall. Miss Vera Mitchsll will give a farewell recital before returning to London. -Sneaking of Mifs Mitch.-*;! a well-known Chrislclmrch critic said: —"Miss Mitchell's tone is good and j true, her technique excellent. She plav.-s with 1 artistic sense and taste, and enters fully into j the manifold styles of her chosen task." Mija ; Mitchell will psrisled l>v Madam-? Gowcrf Burns and Mis? Ethel Mitchell. The bos plan is at The Bristo'.