AMUSEMENTS.

Lyttelton Times, Volume CXXIII, Issue 15922, 7 May 1912, Page 8

AMUSEMENTS.

THEATRE ROYAL. " PASSERS-BY." By common consent tho stage holds nothing more delicate than the modern English comedy, nothing that requires bo much from tho actors that have to place it before the public. Its beauty is fragile, but can nover fade \ into nothingness. In this aristocracy of tho drama Haddon Chambers's " Pas-sera-By" rightly moves, making its demands upon tho best that the actors can give for its interpretation, but secure in its exquisite loveliness for an oxcuso to pardon its exacting requirements. " Passers-By "is not closely ) woven. It is a simple love story, very ■ •'like that told in "The Hypocrites,"! stretched to its utmost, extended as far as it is possible, but never becom-. ing attenuated, and never appearing thin because of the mastery with which it has been made. It tells of the lover who loved the woman he had wronged in his youth, and loved her with his man's heart when six years later he found her driven to his doorstep by a London fog and admitted to his rooms with other passers-by, called in by a fantastical curiosity. Intermingled with tho story is a second. This timo of a woman capable of perfect selfsacrifice, and interlaced the story or an attempted salvation of an inveterate alms-seeker. Tlie play is full of gaiety. There is witty wisdom to chuclde over, ludicrous but natural situations to break tlie generous smile into full laughter. Tlie play is serious. It has its moments when the smile, the chuckle and the laughter are drowned in sighs. But it is never long in one mood or the other,; in the laughter there is a sob; in the tears thor© is a smile. " Passors-By "is full of charming surprises that are absolutely consequential. In that to a largo extent lies the proof of the mastery of the author wbo is responsible for this perfect workmanship. The play is set in London, for there is to be found the type of which Peter Wa.verton is thoroughly representative. There and there alono can bo seen and heard Nighty, the cabman ; and William Pine, the only . perfect valet known to the world. For | this reason tho characterisation is im- ' portant. Last night at the Theatre Royal it was regrettable that Mr William Desmond could not make Peter Wavertou anything but a brisk American businoss man. There was nothing to suggest the English man-about-town, perfect in attire, perfect in decorum, and abhorrent of anything that could be justly termed a scene. Mr Desmond thoroughly enjoyed his aggressiveness. He wore American clothes, which no matter how pleasing to colonial audiences would inspire horror in an English city gentleman. Ho permitted his anger to overcomo his •sense of humonr, and he became irritable to his valet, whom ho had discovered drinking his whisky and smoking liis cigars. If Waverton had been an Amorican his interpretation would have been enjoyable, but all the delicate comedy was lost. Miss Hilda Spong was never sufficiently natural to fully realise th» depths of the part of Margaret Summers. Mr Robert Wliyte was responsible for the best work of tbe evening. His Samuel Burns was full of life. He pictured the sympathy-seeker flawlessly. Mr A. J. Patrick as William Pine had to attempt a role that was difficult, and his performance was highly creditable. Nighty, a London cabman, was perhaps a bit too much of a " dear old gentleman." but Mr George Miller infused a great deal cf natural humour into the character. The three parts were wonderfully invicr.rating. Miss Emma Temple and . Miss Elsie Clnrens wero fairly.satisfactory as Lady Hurley and Boatrica Dainton respectively. 'As Little Peter Summers, Miss Norino Mills was thoroughly unaffected and natural. " T'r.ssers-By " will be remembered in Christchurch as a thorough atonement for " Every worn an." Tlie play will be repeated to-night. WEST-PIAYWARD PICTURES. Moving picture enterprise was exemplified last evening in the change of programme at His Majesty's Theatre, whero a. splendid series of Titanic pictures was screened, from the laying of the keel, viewed from a- traveiling crane, to the launch of the vessel, photographed from three different positions. It was a magnificent film of great interest, apart from its tragic associations. Views of the Manchester ship canal were also very interesting, and the large audience applauded them unstintedly. Tlie Amorican dramas were quite equal to the best produced bv the Bioscope Company, and were full of hard riding and shooting and romance, .judiciously blended. A pret-tily-staged child drama was shown, principally as an advertisement of tho National Kindergarten Association, and it was entirely successful in every respect. The 'Australian Gazette, a Pathe coloured Elizabethan romance, and a number of comic films added largely to the merit of the programmo. The pict urcs w 'ti De shown again this evening.

OPERA HOUSE. The new programme of varioty items presented bv the Brennan-Fuller Vaudeville organisation at the Opera House last evening attracted a yery large audience, and frequent and hearty applause testified to tho popularity of the entertainment provided. Amongst the most attractive of the new items was that of Athos, a clever trick skater, appearing in an admirably dressed stage sotting entitled "A Carnival on the Ice " Tlie Driscoll Boys, who wore favourites with' New Zealand audiences in the early days of Fullers' Vaudeville, reappeared in a number of songs, dances and patter specialties, and wero well received. Miss Stella Ranger, balladist, and Miss Florrie comedienne, submitted new songs with much success, and new turns wore given by Roy Reno, Joe Gilbert and other members of tho company. The programme will be repeated this evening. FULLER 7 S PICTURES. Comedy, tragedy and sentiment were all in evidence in the now pictures shown at the Colosseum last evening, and the .programme well deserved the excellent' reception accorded it by a largo audience. One of the films, "Nature in its Winter Clothes," was a series of magnificent winter scones, executed with more than usual clearness and finish. The inevitable dramatic study was well represented by " Black ' Chasm " and "Destiny is Changeless," Indian dramas, in which the elemental passions played an important part, and by "The Mender of Nets," a study of hsher-lifc m which' tho characters were powerfully drawn, lending themselves admirably to- pictorial representation. A series of pictures of the "National Hunt Steeplechase" were also well portrayed and met with deserved aproval from the audience. The " Australian Gazette. No. 75." was as usual full of interest, and a number of humorous films, of which the best were probably " Stage-struck Lizzie" and "■ Captain Jenk s Dilemma," helped to make up'an interesting and welldiversified programme. A feature of tho entertainment was an excellent interpretation by the orchestra of Dr C Villiers-Stanford's overture to "Shamus

O'Brien," a WO rk new to Christchurob audiences. The same programme wilk to given this'evening.

SYDENHAM PICTURES.

! Patrons are being well entered for at the Sydenham Picture Palace, and the attendance last night was again highly satisfactory. Tho numerous pleasing features of the programme were recoived with hoartv approval. Tho Italian drama "The Rose Range" and the film depicting the whaling industry of JNatal were the most popular numbers. The same programme will be shown tonight. olympia rink. _ Skating at the Olympia Rink continues to draw large attendances at morning, afternoon and evening sessions. Yesterday the floor was occupied by a large number at each session. Tho rink will be open as usual to-day. THE GREAT JANSEN.

On Saturday next Messrs Porfcus and Talbot will introduce to Giristchurch Jansen, who h said to be one of tho greatest conjurers at present before tho public. He has just completed a tour of those Asiatic countries where conjuring is a very fine art indeed, and succeeded in astonishing the natives. In India lie was called the " Devil Sahib," and in China the "Magio Man." In Sydney he had. a phenomenally successful season, and the same thing has been experienced i in the North Island. Jansen is an American, and claims to present feats which are unique. He will be supported by a Vaudeville Company including: De Hoilis and Valara, eccentric comedians ; Nelson Story, a rag-time pianist; We, Him' and I, a novelty turn; Edna Herr, an "escape" expert; and Alvin, the " straw man." The box plan will open at the Dresden to-morrow morning. CHRISTCHUROH ORCHESTRAL SOCIETY. At the first concert of the 1912 season which is to be given by the Christchurch Orchestral Society in the Theatre Royal on Friday next, two artists, now to Ohristohurch, will be introduced. Miss Rita Lyons is a soprano who has done excellent work in both Auckland and Wellington and will be heard here in the jewel song from "Faust." Mr Frank Hutchens. A.R.A.M., who comes direct from the Royal Academy of Music. London, will play with the orchestra for the first tinio hero Grieg's concerto in A. minor, opus 16. The' gallery seats will be available to the general public and the box plan is at tho Dresden.