AMUSEMENTS

Evening Star, Issue 16852, 30 September 1918, Page 6

AMUSEMENTS

MR ALEXANDER WATSON. I The powerful Forum scene from .'Julius I Ctesar,' with the wonderful presentation j of tha Roman crowd and the famous orai tiaras of Brutus and Mark Antony, wiU be | one of the features of Mr Alexander Wat- [ son's opening recital at tha Burns Hall I next Thursday evening. In addition, ho j will give new selections from Dickens, Sir : A. Oonan Doyle, Captain Hopwood, R.N., J. M. Barrie, Hiiaire Belloo, Robert Service, and Mark Twain. During Mr Watson's Dunedm season the popular artist will relate bis experiences in France, where ho was for some time official entertainer to tho British forces- The plans for tho season are now open. Owing to the heavy demand for seats the management announce that the balcony will be open for reserve to-morrow morning at The Bristol. 'THE TirRTEENTH _ OHAIR,' It is claimed that 'The Thirteenth CShair,' to be staged by J. 0. Williamson, Ltd , at His Majesty's Theatre for three nights, commencing on Thursday nex., is the most interesting drama with mysterious crime as a motive presented to a Dunedin audience within recent years, and tihat it is more striking in oharacI terisation and stronger in plot than the ! author's first success ' Within the Law. ' Tho storv is of a double assassination committee! by the same unsaan hand, the motive in each oass being self-preserva-tion. In the true manner of mystery, it moves throughout many thrilling situations to a climax as extraordinary as it is unexpected, and on these material lines is stated to be clever awl fascinating enough to hold the interest of any audion.ee. The first act opens at the home of Roscoe Crosby, who has arranged a spiritualistic g«a,noe. The medium engaged, is Rosalie la. Grange. Among the party is Edward Wales, who avows his intention of seeking from her the name of his friend's murderer. Now is learnt the reason for the drama's odd name. Seven women -and six men take seats in a circle. • The thirteenth chair is occupied bv "Wales. Rosalie being tied hand and foo'fc to her chair. The lights are dimmed, tho stage being enveloped m darkness. There is the muttering of the medium—then silence. Next the weird voice of "Laughing Eyes," the medium's ghostly child messenger from places behind the veil. Suddenly a voice arises in mortal agony, and when tho lights are turned up from the thirteenth chair there topples into the middle of the circle tho lifeless form of Edward Wales. On the point of discovering the ■ namo of Lee's assassin he. too has met his death by a knife stab in, the back. Who killed him ? The murderer must be among the remaining 12. Thus is mystery added to mystery, a-nd such is the climax to a series of breathless, nerve-straining situations. Fake trail succeeds false trail, and by the time the crime is sheeted home to the' right person the excitement is at a tremendous pitch, the audience following with feverish eagerness tha unravelling of the tangled skein. Miss Margaret Wycherlv will be seen in her original role of Rosalie la Grange (tho mediumK played by her for over two years in New York. Another newcomer is Mr Brinsley Fhaw, who also will bo seen in his original character—-Tim Donohue, the brusque, alert detective. The production will bo presented with exactly the same cast of characters as appeared in Sydney and Melbourne, including Lizetto Parkos, Ethel Morrison. 'Fein Hoguc. Gaston Mervale, Sydney Stirling, Leslie Victor, and lan Maclarcn. The box plans will open at Tho Bristol to-morrow morning at 9 o'clock. •MOON PRINCESS.' | A delightful fairy play entitled the 'Moon Princesß' will be presented at His Majesty's Theatre on Monday and Tuesday, October 21 and 22. This play was dramatised by Miss Ngio Marsh, Christchurch, and will be produced under the direction of Mrs J. L. ■ Mortimer. Over 150 performers are taking : part. The play opens with a prologue—a throne room in the palace from which the Prince escapes. The first scene is a forest ; glade, where the Prince is cursed by the ' forest witch to dance to tho moon for hav- . ing escaped from the palace. The next scone depicts the various stages of the moon. Scene 5 depicts the moon gone, and the witches haunting the forest glade; and scene 6 depicts the sunrise, wliich brenks the spell the witches have cast over the Prince. ; The name part will be taken by Mrs J. L. ; Mortimer, who is supported by _ a strong j cast, including several of Dunedhrs clever juvenile performers. The box plan will be : open at The Bristol on the 15th inst. Tn- , tending patrons should book early. j