EVERYBODY'S THEATRE.

Press, Volume LIX, Issue 17769, 22 May 1923, Page 13

EVERYBODY'S THEATRE.

"THE MAN WHO SAW TO-MORROW." "EVERYTHING FOB. SALE." With a regularity, which, whan only casually considered, seems little short of niiraculoub, tha management of Everybody's Theatre continues-to submit from week to week programmes of a -uniformly high standard. The programme for the present week, is, perhaps, a little above the ordinary, which is presented at the theatre, but then it is in itself super excellence, both from a muaical and a motion picture standpoint. Indeed, the ordinary run ol the pictures i 3 not ordinary. Take, for example, last week's but, headed by '•li.onsin.ughter." Careful consideration ot the matter Dungs upon one the realisation that the management is indelatigaoie in its endeavours to Miumit to us puuiic :i niuuicuni oi amusement, which, in itself excellent, at the same time drives away from Uie patrons oi the theatre tho care of their every-day lives. Many aitleioii classes ul tastes Jiaye perforce, to be catered for, and in this manor, no small amount ol expertness lias been demonstrated since Everybody's came into its own, as one of the premier places of amusement in the whole of the .Dominion. So much can be said for the pictures, but the musical side of the programmes is also of a unifoiTniy high standard. The orchestra, under the conductorship of Mr W. J. Bulhngham, is a large one and comprised of musicians, each and every one oi whom is an artist in the true sense of the word. In the orchestral productions the real art of music is personiiied. The renditions are not stilted, and neither do they run to the ugly extremes, which under so ( me oircumstanoes are inaptly termed music The soul of melody is the chief objective and without doubt it is attained in no unoertain manner. During this week, the musical renditions are of a character which rival the pictures themselves in perfection, and it is difficult, at the conclusion of the performance, to say which has proved the more enjoyable. The principal picture in the present bill is "The Man Who Saw To-morrow," a film in which an all-star cast is headed by Thomas Meighan and Leatrics Joy. There are also included in the cast Theodore Roberts, Albert Eoscoe, Alee Francis, Juno Elvidge, Eva Novak and Robert Browcr. The iftory is one quite out of the ordinary, and to bring out its full effect it requires an extraordinarily able cast. Meighan is seen in the role of an easy-going British scientist, who is stranded on a South Sea island. Here amid the picturesque beauties of the southern seas he meets the daughtor of an old British sea-dog, captain of a sailing ship plying to an fro amongst the islands. They become enamoured of each other, but the scientist visits the neighbouring yacht, where he is detained and is given a free passage to New York, where a splendid position awaits him. On board the yacht he meets the niece of a political magnate and here he beoomes undecided as to which lady he shall marry. A scientific friend intervenes and with the aid of the mysticism of the East shows him what will .happen in the future. This gives the scientist the clue as to which girl to marry, and it also adds an interest to' the picture, which is seldom .attained, even in "moviedoou" The supports inolude "Everything For Sale," a Reajart productipn, featuring Kathlyn Williams and May McAvoy. , This is a picture of society life in which money plays an important part. It dhows how a girl is »t«kej'i front, aohool to be sold to the highest bidder on the auction block of marriage. Fdte, in the shape of the uncle of the girl and a young architect, intervenes and the girl is saved from the terrible mistake of a loveless marriage for the sake of riches. The supports include a splendid Burton Holmes Travelogue and one of the latest American news gazettes. The orchestral selections this week are quite exception, and comparatively speaking for a small orchestra, the suite music of which there is a surprising quantity, is produced in a manner which wou»d compare more than favourably with the productions of many a larger body. The overture last evening was the Grand March from "Tannhauser,'' that inspiring military selection by one of the world's greatest composers, Wagner. This was followed by .selections from Ambrose Thomas's "Midsummer'sNight's Dream," and "Aubade" (Massenet). Eigar's "Carissima" was faultlessly played, as was Massenet's beautiful and fantastic fairy suite "Cinderella Suite." The second movement of this beautiful composition was well brought out in the flute and 'cello, which played admirable music. "Les Mandies," the fifth movement, proved, perhaps, the most effective of «Jl. The strings traced the melody, accentuating it with a combined pizzioato, which carried to the back of the theatre and won for the orchestra a round of well-earned approbation. "Le Eoi D'ys," G. E. LsJo, one of the greatest composers of the day, was followed by ••"standchin" (A. Czibulka) Op. 264, tho first movement of which was magnificently played by the woodwind, the united strings bringing out a striking and pleasing contrast in the second movement. Beethoven's "Menuet," which simple, but beautiful melody was specially arranged for orchestration for the orchestra by Mr Bellingham, was played as the entr'acte, and as far as musical attainment was concerned, it certainly ■ deserved the. hearty applause which greeted its rendition, and the not to be denied demand for an encore. The special arrangement gave to each section of the orchestra an opportunity to exploit the melody to its full. The themo, throughout the greater part of the piece, was picked out by the violinß, a delicate bells accompaniment giving the production an effect which demonstrated to the full its wonderful beauty; Amongst the other pieces were "Impressions Exotir'iios" (Mbuton), a colourful suite, "Le Fete Cheg Therese," a ballet suite in eight movements, of which were the famous "Scene de Essayage," "Danse Triste," Due Mime" and Menuet Pompeux."

QUEEN'S THEATRE. Yeßterday the big Paramount picture, "Manslaughter" was transferred to the Queen's Theatre, where it was witnessed by large attendances at all sessions. This feature was made by Cecil B. de Mille, and jn his most spectacular and costly picture. Hundreds of players take part, especially in the Koman scenes. There is a powerful cast, headed by Thomas Moighan, Leatrioo Joy, Lois Wilson and George i'awcett. Miss Joy gives a wonderlul periormauoe in this production, and is seen as an arrogant, society 'beauty who kills a motor cycie policeman in her mad cjuest for more and more speed, and going to prison for her act, comes out a ohanged woman. In this picture a new standard is set for spectacular splendour, the scenes of the early ltomuns 'liufl episode, which is used to point a pow erful moral, shows Home just before the faii, pagan .Rome with all of its licentiousness and debauched beauty. the he.ght of the revel, while the guests, the dancer 3 and the guards, slumber in drunken stupor, the barbarian hordes storm the gates and pillage, burn and destroy everything in their path. The story Lydia Thome, a proud, beautiful young society girl, and leader of hei fast Long Island set, who hag always had more money and adulation than were good fox her. While driving her raoing car in hex usually reckless fashion she crashes into a motor policeman and kills him. The prosecuting attorney is her lover, but he does his duty and sends her to prison. While there a new outlook downs upon her and she comes out a ohanged woman. Meanwhile the man who sent her to prison gets into difficulties and it is liydia's power to either help him or otherwise. At first she determines upon revenge. But in a strongly dramatic scene, love proves too strong for her. A splendid supporting programme has been selected. Seats should be reserved at Webley's.