AMUSEMENTS.

Press, Volume LVI, Issue 16932, 6 September 1920, Page 2

AMUSEMENTS.

"THE GEISHA/' •STJOCEiSSFITL SEASON CONCLUDED. That the Christchurch Amateur Opcratio Society is an organisation with a future has been amply proved by tho company's initial production, "The Gci3ha," during the past week. At the final performance on Saturday- nicht there was anotheT packed house, and alf the items were enthusiastically encored. , ' Speaking during the interval, Mr O. T. J. Aipens, one of the vico-presidents of tho Socictv, taid that in tho 'eighties and 'nineties it* L-roat deal was thought of the amateur theatrical companies, but they never d>l anything as good as the present production of "The Geisha." Had a stranger oorae into the thoatro during tho week, without n . programme. and knowing notliing of the performers, he would never have guessed that a professional touring company was not on i/he stage. Mr Alpprs said that during the war he had made many appeals for men, and he made anotlier appeal now, this time for men for the choir.e. Ho paid a tribute to tho greit work dene by Mr Edward Brans- : combe, the vccal director, Mr Alfred J. Buna, the musical director, Mrs Guthrie Blakely, the wardrobe mistress, Mr Bock, ihe scone pain-tor, Mr F. C. Raphael, chairman of the committee, Mr R. A. Hnrnc, a member of the committee, Mr G. L. Donaldson, sec.rcta.rv, and every member of tho cast. He called on Mr Tom Pollard, tic {.Tesidir.g genius of tho production, and "the only man in New Zealand who rover grows old]" to appear* Mr Pol!a>rd was an old favourite and though now retired from the theatrical world, he still dhaclie»i amateur ■companies throughout New Zealand without remuneration. On tho call of Mr Alpers three deafening cheers were given for tho Company and Mr Pollard. "I have never had to do with a beiirter amateur company in my life," enid Mr Pollard; 'Ha had anticipated during the rehearsals that the performance would be good, but he had not foreseen that' it would be Mich a brilliant one. He ony hoped that the av.rlionce felt as proud of the company as ho did. At tho conclusion of the performance, an unusually large number of bouquets and t boxes of chocolitea were handed up to tho artists. On betfwlf of the vcrformers Mr Frank McDonald presented Mr Pollard_ with a solid leather suit case as an appreciation of the great work he'had done for them. Three- dheers, followed by the f in?iTi*j of a Jolly Good Fellow," and tho National Anthem, brought a memorable performance to a close. "TIGER ROSE." The bos plan for tho J. and N. Tait production of "Tiger Rose" will be opened at The Bristol this morning. The ®2«son is for aix nights, nn\l in view of tho interest taken in the production big advance booking is anticipated. It is possible that not in a decade is eecn so original and striking a play as "Tiger" Rose," written by Willard Mack, a famous American playwright. "Tiger Rose" will be presented by J. and N. Tait at tho Theatre Royal on Wednesday next, interpreted by a company, most of tho members of which have been specially engaged for thoiT several roles in America and England, It will introduce here an actress who is> at the zonitli of hor fam-e—Miss Marie Ilka. Miss lika is styled in America os the modern "Elien Terry." Tho Sydney "Sun" writes of tiho play as follows:—'"TigeT Rose' is a vivid, grasping, realistic etory, staged by a mlister-hand with a passion for detail. Indeed, tho stage illusion is so good -that it carries tho audienoo far away, and Sydney comes as a strange country after the curtain falls. The thunderstorm is reality itself. Tho window curtains flap, tho der Tolls, the lightning flashes utrtil the eyes ache, and beyond everything else, the deafening rain rattles and patters and poura down . . . breaks'fresh ground in many places. Tho acting . . . ia excellent throughout, and Messrs J. and N. Tait are to be congratulated. .In lieT finely sustained emotional scenes Miss Ilba rieos to heights seldom attained here. Additional _ inrtcrest is lent by all tho ai'tists being specially imported for the play.'.' OPERA. HOUSE. Heading the new bill to-night is another of the Fuller's latest English importations, Hall and Menzies. They are earJ to _precent a veiy amusing comedy act, entitled "Photo Bits," in whicdi Mies Marie Hall im- • personates three distinct characters. The laet five nights aro .announced of Miss Helen ; Charles, who3e brilliant ■ characterisations have been the iseaisation of the lafit two weeks. Miss Charles will be seen in a new monologue, which is typical of a Piccadilly Circus flower girl, as well as some new stoma. Ernest Brirtkman and the Steele ■ Sisters will be seen in their amusing musical comedi«t)ta, "Threo of <i Kind," and a clever ventriloquial act will be offered by Carlton ' Max. Fresh itcans are promised from Ward i and Sherman, comedians; Ella Airlio, entertainer; Eileen O'Neill, instrumentalist; Louis London, character 'vocalist; Curly Sherwood, comedienne, and Herbert; Joy, tramp musician. To-morrow the firrit appaaranco is announced of Champion's Dogs.Seats may now bo booked at The Bristol. LIBERTY THEATRE. The picturisation of James Oliver Curwood's book, "Wapi, the Walrus," under the title of "Back to God's Country," achieved a big success at the Liberty Theatre on Satur3ay, when it was presented to crowded audiences at each session. The etory, which i 3 set in the Canadian wilds 'and the Arctic circle, unfolds the adventures of Dolores, the beautiful and daring swimming girl, whose friends ore the wild beasts of the snowfields, and Wapi, the "killer." The picture was filmed, under the personal supervision of the , author, in the Arctic icefields north of 56, { nearer the Pole than' any other picture, whero ! the temperatnro reached 60 degrees belovrt zoro. Nell Shipmah, an actress of rare talent and engaging personality, is splendid in her interpretation of the difficult role of Dolores, and she is adequately 'supported by Wheelep Oakman, Wellington Playter,-Ralph Laidlow, and Wapj himself. Sixteen different kinds of wild animals comprise a unique and delightful feature of the cast, and the Gcenery is beautiful. Charles Chaplin scored a tremendous success in "Sunnyside," hi 3 now First National three-reel comedy, in which ho is eeen as tho full staff of "help" at a country hotel. One of the many highly amusing incident® is where he is seen driving a herd of cows home and loeos them at the fork of the road, and another is his burlesquo on classic dancing. Charlie is in love with the bello of the village, and he eees a dangerous rival in the person of a city man who spills himself out of his automobile iri front of the hotel. The picture is crammed with laughable situations. Another inteiesting feature of "the programme is tho Topical Budget, in which Mr and Mrs Douglas _ Fairbanks aw) eeen in many incidents of their visit to England. The same programme will bo repeated daily until Friday. STRAND THEATRE. The new programme screened at tho Strand Theatre cm Saturday had for it-3 principal attraction the, great Fox production "The Honour System," a play which takes its place among the finest sorcen classics of the world. "The Honour System" has for its theme tho system in vogue in eoms of the big American prisons, that of putting convicts upon their honour. In the ®iay there aro telling pictures contracting tho old prison regime of terror and punishment with the new, under which the prisoners aie made to realise that they are none tho less citizens for being convicts. The hero, while in a prison, into which the honour system has lately been introduced, perfects an exceedingly clover invention. He is allowed u> leave the prison to arrange for tho_ patenting, etc., of his invention, having given hia ' ~~ PARALYSIS. WE can aasnro a Permanent Cure in the worst forms of Paralysis, Looo-motor Ataxy, etc. Do not play with these eerioas conditions, consult us To-day. SPECIALIST NATUKAL THERAPEUTIC, 246 Hereford street, City. Hours, 2-6. 'Phone 4990. Consultation Free. L 5135-2412 FACIAL BLEMISHES, Superfluous Hair, Moles," BirthuiaiKs, effectually removed by Electrolysis. Twenty years the largest practioo in the Dominion. AH work guaranteed perfect. 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' word to return at a certain hour on a given ! day. How h? accomplishes this, in opitc of the machinations of those who are against the "honour system" is told in ruanv ihril- ; ling incidents." Ho arrives back at the gaol I in time, and saves tho honour Gvetem for his fellow prisoners. Tho play is a". vivid or?, convincing- in its realism, and a powerful love theme running through it 10 its attraction. Milton Sills. Mi'.iam Cooper, George Walsh, and Gladys Blockwell, all wellknown stars, appear' in the leading parts. Thon» is a etron? supporting programme, including the usual budget o£ topical, cartcon, and comedy subjects. CRYSTAL PALACE. ATay Allison, in "The Walk •.vhich heads the programme at the Crystal iNl,vc this Treo!;. lias tho appealing rolo if tlaihlcen Rutherford, a young society woman v.'hose family fortunes have reached a very low ebb. ILer brother urges her lo marry a v.-calthy but dissolute Xew Yorker, but the de&=ts the man. Into her life conies a vexing Kcntuckian, Wealthy, but with what to ier are strange notions about women. He believes that women should bo useful--few du;t, cook, and lake- care of a family—things repugnant to Kathleen's scheme of life. But , Kentucky sets out to tame her, and the struggle which enfuea is one of :;;(x-t entrancing romances that the stage has produced in many a cay. A ?troTi« sn;verting cast, including Claire Du Bray and Joseph Kilgour, support this popular r-tar. Another Fuper-foature on this program.ne i* the I.'aramount-Artcraft con. :dy-d nun a, "Three Men and a Girl," in which Marguerite dark and Richard Barthelmcss are tho stars. It doals with love, disappointment, • rid final | victory, and is directed by the 1-omov.a producer Marshall Keilan. Commencing to-ciay, there will bo two sessions, cnlv. "2.15 tnd 7.15. At tho evening cession an augmented orchestra, conducted bv Hr Kobt T. 1 irk, will play appropriate selections. Bookings r.iay bo. made at The Bristol or at the 'iheatre. QUEEN'S THEATRE. A delightful mystery melodrama, entitled "The Bandbox," holds principal place in tho new bill presented at tho Queen's Theatre on Saturday, and which will be repeated throughout this week. "Tho Bandbor' is picturiscd' from Louis Joseph Vance's novel of that name. The -tary d?als with a young man who enters his cabin on ocean liner to find there a bandbox containing a woman's hat, and of a young woman, aico trr.vellirig by the same &hip, who possesses a bandbox which is the mate of the in the hero's cabin. How the boxes oecome mixed and how the smuggling into America of a diamond necklace enters into the p.ot are detailed through many vivid and exciting scene 3as the story progresses. JNoedlei-s to say t lie re is a strong hcart-anterost lti "The Bandbox." The lcad:n L >- part is taken by charming Doris Kenyon, who makes an altogether fajscinating heroine. The sut.-port-insr programme includes chapter ii of "Liberty," the breathless serian in wbxii Eddie Polo and Hario WaJcamp are etArred, aleo a hilarious two-rosl comedy entitled "Daraos and Dentists," and a new Gaumont graphic and scenic. Appropriate music is rendered by the Queen's Professional Orchestra. EVERYBODY'S THEATRE An extended screening of the preat niovnlity play "Kverywoman," htus been arranged by tho management of Everybody's Tho a tie, and owing the unprecedented success of this production and in response to the finest of many hundreds of patrons who we-ro unable to gain admission last wook, ' Evoty-w-omnn" will be eoiecncd twice daily throughout this week. It is a picture that aboaids in gorgeous gown© and marvellous scenery and must rank as one of the Jilrnfl of the year. An entirely new music.u programme will be given by Everybody s "Select" Orchestra,, consisting, of twelve firetclasj performers, under the direction of Air W. J. Beilingham, F.S.M. The box plan is at The Bristol, and reservcr scats may be efther booked there or by ringing Fhaae 4925. GRAND THEATRE, To-day another excellent two-star feature programme will bo presented. "Greater than Fame," featuring Misa Elaine- Hammers:<»in is tho first Selznick production staTrmg this clever actress and screen artist, 't is a film adaptation of Jay Kaufman s play, and carries a. deep human appeal, besides convcyin* T a wholesome lesson. Miss Hcmmorsttjin assumes the rolo of Margaret Broke, who goes to New York to study for a career, tut eventually finds that a happy heart is e roatar than fame, for which she worked &o i:aurincrW and against such odds. The other feature "The Lincoln Highwayman, features William Russell, tho popular screen athletic 1 6 tar The plot rune through many exciting incidents, before it reaches a happy ending in a six-cylinder romance. Some sensimmidi auto-driving will be seen, in Ahe lancoln Highwayman." The supporting films will i~ a comedy and topioa.l. Tho box pan is at The Bristol, or seats may be -eserved at the theatre, 'phono 293 d. The Amy Eyans-Fraeer Gauge conoeit party propoee to give a return teaaon in Chrietohurch providing that a suitable theatre con be obtained.