AMUSEMENTS

Evening Star, Issue 15540, 9 July 1914, Page 5

AMUSEMENTS

FULLERS' PICTURES. Xbn big film in the current series of pictures at the King's Theatre is a Vitagraph feature drama entitled 'Love's Sunset, which unfolds a pathetic story of a woman's love. In addition there are other capital pictures, including a splendid Keystone comic.

HAYWAEDS' PICTURES. 'The Curse of War' is the principal film in the current series at the Octagon Hall. Other pictures include * Panama Canal,' 'Guilty or Not Guilty,' "Lawyer Quince,' and 'The Spider.'

PRINCESS THEATRE. The Princess Theatre was asrain crowded last evening. Tho four C ailing Lam ye, who furnish inr big turn, again scored a big success with their daring aerial performance. The Now York Comedy Four—La France, Carton Max, Ray and Ray—and other contributors to an attractive programme all havo admirers.

THE SMART SF.T-A CHOICE PROGRAMME. The Smart Set are still with up—snorter, brighter, better thn-i 0.-er. Last night an entirely new programme was submitted, and it may be said at once that the management apjear to have ieii the best Wishes for the List meal, so to speak, for the latest ch.nr.ge includes jnany of what aw undoubtedly the choicest mor=*!s in the company's repertoire. Tho audience were not slo v to appreciate- this fart, either, and evinced a co.* diality which resulted in double encores being of frequent occurrence. Fun and frolic, humor and dainty wit mingled wit"i just a sufficient .imocnt of gr..ver materia! to make a well-balanced programme. What could be funi'ier, for instance, than tho songs and " business" cf Mr Harry De Robeck? This genuine comedian sang a couple of n»w songs which suited him admirably, and the audience were very loth to part wiih him. Mr Maurice Jones was in good voice, and was recalled after singing ' The Last Watch,' Mr Ernest Paikes. too, received a double encore, one of his extra songs being 'lnvictus,' splendidly rendered. Miss La.Ua Knight's fine soprano voice was beard to the greatest advantage m her firei song, ' Dear Heart,' into which she imparted a "depth of feeling, and which called forth a storm of applause ; nor was Mis 9 Gwenyth. Eva:is, in ' The Arrow and the Song,' on-3 whit behind in public favor. " Miss Georgie Martin sings," was the bald statement appearing on the programme, Hut the KttiJe lady did more than that: she icted her character songs in a styla that vas delightfully amusiifc. It is worth ■"bile to hear Miss Martin telling of her trochlea as a boarding-house " skivery." Another announcement was '' Mr Gavin Wood sings," but ho didn't sing. He did something quite as pood, however, when he recited Kipling's 'Gunga Hhin,' and, for an encore ovmber, the same author's 'Fuzzy Wuszy.' Mr Walter George was a shade more eubd-ced than usual, bub his work in the duet with Mx De Robeck, and in the ensemble 'Let's Listen to the Band,' was thoroughly good, especially so in the latter item, where his impersonation of the Cockney bloke Bill was to the life. Quite i. treat was a graceful exposition of the tango by Miss Martin and Mr George. The steps were executed with a neatness and precision which were pleasing to a degree, and the turn was on© of the best in the long list of rood things. This was followed by a burlesque on a tango tea, in which some fearful and wonderful "' creations" were displayed by the ladies of the company; only to be outdone, however, by the "-cogrset parade " by two of the male members. The whole thing was screamingly funny. It is scarcely necessary to mention that Mr Holland was "at the •piano," nor that he acquitted himself with his customary skill. The final curtain brought a feeling of regret—regret that the time for departure had come, and that an evening's entertainment which would be difficult to improve upon was at an end. The programme will be repeated to-night.

PLAZA PICTURES. The star attraction at the Plaaa Pictures In the new series shown to-day is a. type ally Irish drama entitled ' The Harp of Tara.* According to legend, the harp is to be the means 01 saving and freeing Ireland, and the pictorial version is interesting. Nora Egan 13 m love with Rory O'Connor. Jim Hacy, the bailiff, who has also fallen a. victim to th«s charms of Nora., vows that .tmlesa the taj.es are paid the girl and her widowed mother will ds evicted from their home. Father Daly attempts to quieten the mob which gather around the notice of sviction, but the bailiff, with some English troops, staxte evvrling the Irish, and a free fight takes place Among other things Rory thrashes Macv. Father Daly succeeds tn stopping the fight in order to gain time to arbitrate. In the evening he dreams that tho English axe attempting to evict the: Irish, and Eery, being pursued, escapes into a cave, where he finds the Harp of Tara, wbkrh he takes to the church. Macy, unknown to Rory. has entered the church, and while Nora is making love to Rory, eeizes the harp and threatens to Bmaeh_ it unless Nora promises to become hit -wife. Father Daly begs her for the sake of Ireland to marry Jim, but Rory takes Nora, in his arms, whereupon Macy smashes the harp. Father Daly awakens to find a message from the mayor promising an extension of time. The supporting films include * Love and Dynamite/ ' Jollyboy's Drtom,* 'Warwick Chronicle,' 'Scenes in Sunny Spain." and the Hepworth moral play "Toon Shalt Sot Steal.'

NEW QUEEN'S THEATRE. A pretty drama giving happy expression to an unchallengeable moral constitutes the prime attraction of the new show presented at the Queen's Theatre (continuous) this Tneraing. This »_the story of 'The Golden Pathway," in which the intrigue that usually surrounds the death-bed of a wealthy man whose will is unmade is defeated b\ a, genuine roirantic attachment, in winch a man and woman prepared to tacriSca every hope of advancement for sheer love. This drama bis splendid support, particularly ia the clever adaption of one of O. Henry's stories into the picture dram* entitled 'The Mexican's Gratitude.' Here the long arm of coincidence rescues a happy couple from the vengeance of a "bad man." When PtCsita chooses Madison Lone in preference to himself the "Trio Kid" shoots up the town consider ably and then rides away. After a perfervid career of brutality he learns of th> presence of his rival and wife handy to his gun, but unfortunately confides his intentions to Mexican Frank, a man who quicHv recognises Rosita a* a woman who once did him a great kindness. The Trio Kid's attempt to make a rough house fails, for the Mesican distributes ■•* few ounces oi kad so judiciously over his carcase that he ceases thereafter to take any interest in the lovers' affairs. Amonrst Bther good subjects on a bill of more than nsmal merit are 'The Confiscated Count,' 'Her. Cbtisin from England' (a great Thanhauser comedy), the "'Warwick Chronicle,' ind 'Typical Russian Dances.' The theatre is open day and night.

'THE ROSARY.' In 'The Rosary,' to be staged at His Majesty's Theatre next Wednesday for six nights by Georsre WiUoujjhby. Ltd., and E. J. Carroll, Mr Refolds will piay the part of Father Kelly—a nait which he originally created, and for which he is in many respects admirably suited. He ■will b* supported by a company consisting entirely of the member 3 c: the company which pluyed the- piece whan it was produced in New York for tjrt first time. On that occasion it ran for nearly a year in the same theatre, ,ind in accomplished a run of nearly thft &me length. Sir Reynold* describes 'Th<J JCoaary' as "* play "with a purpose." It ffl, said he, right awsiy from toe sort of pieces to which the. public in times gond fry hare beer, accustomed: in fact, it might almost be said .to mark the beginning of a new dramatic ■ era, as well as being a study in ethics. In tho United Etates at the present time, and the same in Australia, the demand is not for plays of the blood-and-thunder variety, but "of the sort which leave behind them an impression. Thi3 is almost nn infallible indication v that the great mass of the people are beginning to take a different view of thing?! in genera!. The box plans «r>«r* at M** JjJ.-c*chia en Saturday- morning.

SKATING RINK. The three sessions lipid daily at the \lrydone Roller Skating Rink continue to be well patronised. The hockey tournament will be continued to-morrow night, and a "Black-<and-White" evening has been arranged for July 24.

MISCHA ELM AX. To music-lovers of Dunedin the visit of Mischa Eiman is one fraught with more than ordinary interest, for this young virtuoso is universally acknowledged as without an equal in the world in the art of violin playing, consequently his advent here in His Majesty's Theatre on Monday and Tuesday next should occasion more than ordinary interest, tor, apart fromthe unusual chance of hearing a world-famed artist in the zenith of his success, there is something of special educational value also in the visit of this artist here. Misoha Eiman is a name to be conjured with in London, on the Continent, and through America; so much so that, according to the Old World and American papers, Elman draws larger and more enthusiastic audiences than any other artist in the world, even in America eclipsing Caruso. Tiiis is a remarkable record lor an instrumentalist, but it is no less remarkable than the- wonderful powers of this violinist. ■ Tho -Musical Tunes,' England, writes of 1 Eiman that "he sets one's mind in a whirl with his startling feats of virtuosity, which embrace every school of writing, every style, and every period. ' Tho ' Musical Courier/ of New York, America's authority on matters musical, wrote: ■ " Mischa Eiman is a natural bora violin player, by the grace of God, such as the world has seen only rarely. Wo consider him one of the most" colossal violin geniuses the world has ever seen." Then the Paris paper, 'Le Matin,' wrote- of him: "The uoy is a genius. This is no exaggerated statement when considering in the past sufh players as Tartini, Viotib, Rode, Spohr, down to Ernst Vieuxtemps, Paganini, etc." Then from Germany comes the opinion of the ' Frankfurter Zeitimg,' which wrote of him : " Mischa Eiman now stands head and shoulders above the other violinists ot the day." These are only a few of the universal criticisms which are everywhere written of Eiman. Mischa Eiman has played before ail the crowned heads of Europe, and one of his most cherished possessions is a scarf-pin with the Prince of Wales three feathers, set in diamonds, presented him by the present ■ King, before whom Eiman frequently plays i when in England. Madame Melba is an- | other admirer of Eiman, and at his opening concert in Melbourne she had sent to him through her Australian representative a laurel wreath and a letter written by her in Paris, regretting she could not be with him in her own country, where she could witness " the triumphs that were sure to be his." Melba's opinion was endorsed in Melbourne and Sydney, where Eiman created and is this week creating a furore by his marvellous playing. Associated with the virtnoso are Mile Eva Gauthier, a ; French-Canadian mezzo soprano, and Mr Percy Kahn, pianist, the latter having been with him for over six years now. Mr George Musgrove is directing the Australasian tour. The pTa-n for reserved seats is now open at the Dresden Piano Company.