AMUSEMENTS.

Lyttelton Times, Volume CXIV, Issue 16326, 23 August 1913, Page 14

AMUSEMENTS.

THEATRE ROYAL.

“ THE RED DANDIES.”

Tho “ lied Dandies,” Mr Edward Branscombo’s clever and versatile little comedy costume company, won for itself a number of firm friends and warm admirers during its first Christchurch season, some four months ago, and on its reappearance at the Theatre Royal last evening it received an enthusiastic and cordial welcome. If there were any benighted individuals in the largo audience who had not previously come under tho genial sway 'or this band of determined opponents of gloom they did not long remain so. The “Red Dandies” nave the valuable faculty of getting on good terms with an audience with a minimum of delay. They obviously enjoy their own performance, and the performance itself is, of its kind, so excellent, that the most hypercritical of critics, or most hypochondriacal of pessimists, feels that it would be discourteous, not to say churlish, to refuse to share that enjoyment. Thero has been no change in tho personnel of tho organisation since its last visit to this city. Mr Claude Dampier’s comical character studies arc, as of yore, the principal feature of the entertainment, and last evening's audienco was loth to let him leave tho stage when once lie had appeared. In “ Tho Stay-at-Honio Brigade ” anti “ My Word 1” Mr Dumpier gave two distinct little characterisations of military types, while in “ Solomon ” and “ Vot a Game I” he parodied certain Hebrew mannerisms very successfully. Mr Georgo Morgan’s facility for light comedy was given plenty of opportunity in - It’s No Use Taking a Girl There” and “When I Waltz With You,” and his “ Scarecrow '" song and dance was both clever and delightful. Miss Irene Vere scored a great success in “Alexander’s Rag-time Band,” and in her duets with Mr Dampier, “ Semi-Detached ” and “I’ve a Feeling for You,” she took her full share of the honours. Mr Oliver Peacock sang “Thora” and “Where My Caravan Rested” very pleasingly, and took part in the duets “ The Singing Lesson” and “Accordingly” with Mias Evelyn Ward. Miss Ward’s rich contralto voice was well suited in “ My Ain Folk” and “The Rosary,” and she was twice encored. Mr Gavin Wood sang “The Admiral’s Broom” and “.Scots. Wha Hae ” with vigour and dramatic power, and Miss Irene Vero delighted the audience with her singing of theVtuneful waltz song “11 Baoio” (Arditi) and “ A Willow Pattern Plate.” The concerted numbers, of which there wero several, were uniformly enjoyable, and Mr Leonard Griffiths, the pianist of the organisation, played the accompaniments as accompaniments should be played. Tho “Red Dandies” will appear again this evening. QUEEN’S THEATRE. A new programme was shown for the first time at the Queen's Theatre yesterday, and was well up to the standard, set by its predecessors. The “star” picture was “ Out\ of the Storm,” which portrayed the adventures of an outcast who sought shelter in the house of a rich lady. Tho violent rainstorm, whether real or artificial, was exceedingly realistic in tho film. The outcast’s intentions were felonious, but the danger of a child brought his better instincts into play and he abandoned" all thoughts of wrong-doing. Touched by kindness shown to him, lie became an industrious man, and, establishing a prosperous business, he returned and wedded tho mistress of the house in which lie had taken shelter. The acting and staging of the picture were extremely good, and it was filled with sentiment of tho most wholesome kind. “Tho Mystery of t l ”' A.V.G. Gang” wa.s a picture sho,“ how a little boy was kidnapped, through the agency of a bogus registry office, by a- solicitor who wished to possess himself of the fortune, not only of the child, but of the mother, whom he intended to marry. Tlie real lover of the widow, a soldier, traced the little boy, and unmasked the operations of tho villainous gang which had stolen him, and which made a practice of teaching kidnapned children to beg. . The soldier had his reward in winning the love of the child’s mother. Other films were “ The Stolen Bride,” “ Simple Simon Sings in Opera,” “The Acrobats,” and “Fatty’s Busy Day.” To-day the programme wilTbo repeated, and during the afternoon an extra picture, “ Chew Chew Land,” will bo shown.

OPERA HOUSE.

.In addition to the current programme at the Opera House last night a oomic singing competition was hold. Thera were ten entries and the performances put up by the various competitors r. r oused much amusement and at times derision among the audience. It is intended to liaye a similar competition every Friday night. There' -was much that was unpleasantly suggestive at last night’s performance,' not only in the speech of some of the amateur performers, but more especially in the vulgarity of action that some of them displayed. Thero was a strong tendency to approach within a short distance of the limits of bad taste and in one or two cases it seemed to be the aim of the individual to ho as daring as possible. The successful competitors were Messrs Oroft and John Denny. A consolation price was awarded to Mr J. Cox. To-night the usual programme will bo presented. ,

GRAND THEATRE. The Grand Continuous Picture Theatro was well patronised yesterday. The current programme of pictures will be presented again to-day. GLOBE PICTURES. Throughout yesterday there were appreciative audiences at the Globe Continuous Picture Theatro. _ The same pictures will be shown again to-day. FULLER’S PICTURES. At the Colosseum last night the current programme of pictures was repeated. The same pictures. will be shown this afternoon and to-night. “ QUO" VADIS ?’> ' “Quo VadisP” was shown to an appreciative audience again last night. The picture will be shown for the last timo to-day, when a matinee performance will also bo given. OLYMPIA RINK. Skating was indulged in with much enthusiasm at tho Olympia Rink yesterday. The rink will be open to-day for tho usual sessions. SYDENHAM PICTURES. Thero was an appreciative audience at the Sydenham Picture Theatre last night. The same pictures will bo shown again this afternoon and tonight. CONCERT. A concert will be given in the King’s Theatre to-night in aid of the Sydenham Post Office clock fund. .The proceeds of tho concert will bo devoted to tho installation of tho clock. Tho concert will he under the patronage of liia Worship the Mayor and the city councillors. MUSICAL SOCIETY’S CONCERT. On Tuesday the Christchurch Musical, Society will givo its third subscription conoert of the season. Tho programme will include liossini’G Stabflt Mater,” with organ accompaniment, by Dr Bradshaw, the soloists for which are Mrs A. Mead, Miss M. Woodhouso and Messrs J. alvert and S. Hawker-

Part songs, “Songs of tho River” (Cowon), by tho choir; string quartet “Op 18 No. 14” (Beethoven), Missoa I. Morris, A’Court, N. M’lntyre and Mrs J. Guthfio; instrumental quartet Op 38 (Rheinberger) Mrs Russell, Mrs Guthrie, Misses Morris and M’lntyre. The soloists will also contribute vocal numbers. As it has been decided to give this concert for one night only, arrangements have been made to allow a limited number of seats for tho public. These may be reserved at Messrs Milner and Thompson’s, wliero tho box plan is open.