AMUSEMENTS.

Lyttelton Times, Volume CXIV, Issue 16358, 30 September 1913, Page 10

AMUSEMENTS.

THEATRE ROYAL

'«THE GIRL WHO TOOK THE WRONG TURNING."

Mr Walter Molville, who wrote «' The Girl Who Took the Wrong Jurninfc was also rcsoonsible for " The Girl \\ ho Lost Her Character," and other plays with titles of an equally alluring nature. The principal virtue enjoyed by these melodramas of vico is that the, are not so terrible as the garish playbills paint them. The modern melodrama seems to masquerade as a plaj with a purpose, but as it depends entirely on the old stock characters and the old stock plot, it is patent that lte chief aim is to attempt to revive the popularity of its former greatness by daubing itself with a little mire and dealing in specially seductive titles. '• The Girl Who Took the Wrong Turning," though in itself. perfectly innocuous and thoroughly tiresome, belongs to that class of melodrama that should be relegated to the dust-bin despite the oft-repeated theory-that "the gods approve." Last night, though the gallery'was well filled, enthusiasm did not appear to bo more than a ghost of.the light of other days. '.' The Girl Who Took the Wrong Turning," presented by the Marlow Dramatic G°mP™y> was nothing more than the old stock melodrama, with a great deal of bald, meaningless foolery and some broad okes Though the acting was weak it was better than the play deserved. Mr | George Dawe looked an heroic Jack Kenton, and Mr Robert Inman made Willie Mason, a bluejacket with unlimited leave who always wore his uniform, as breezy as possible. Miss Elwyn Harvey appeared as Sophie Coventry, the girl who turned the wrong corner and went through a supposedly terrible life, but which in reality seemed a mild sort of business after all. Miss. Harvcv was excellent throughout, especially'in several "drunken' scenes. Miss" Ariel Hotson appeared ns Vesta Lo Clore, an improbable representation of a proemreur. Playing r.long the conventional lines for an adventuress, Miss Hotson was never even interesting. Mr Vivian Edwards was a cold, calculating villain of the correct type, and Mr 1. E Tilton was satisfactory asßill Slater, a man with a past. Mr D Arcy Kelwav as Johnny Walker and Miss Pearl 'Helmrich as Poppy Slater, provided most of the farce m tho nlay. "The Girl Who Took tho Wrong Turning " will lie repeated to-night. Thursdav will bo the company's last appearance, when Mrs Henry .Woods celebrated play "East Lynno". will be played. The box plan is on view at the Dresden. WEST-HAYWARD PICTURES. At His Majesty's Theatre last evening, the West-Hay ward management submitted to a large and appreciative audience ' a new and attractive programme of moving pictures. Ihe 9 star " film of the evening was a dramatic film entitled "Wamba," which dealt with the love of a little brown woman for her white foster-child, and introduced a sensational incident, the child being pursued by a huge lion, lhe photo-play was well acted and cleverly produced. "The Runaways" told the old, old story of a stern parent, a distasteful suitor and a runaway marriage. Tho setting was in old Mexico, and the dressing and scenery extremely picturesque. "The Evil Thereof" preached a moral lesson on the necessity of paying department store girls a living I wace, and " Bunny's Dip into I and " Simple Simon's Disappearance 1 were a pair of amusing and clt jyerly constructed comedy pictures. . . The Uses of Dynamite" showed the high explosive in the hands of military engineers, and demonstrated its varied utility in a verv graphic manner. "The Rao Cobre"'and "Jura" were extremely ! attractive scenic pictures, one taken in tho tropics and the other in rural France. Tho " Pathe Gazette '\ dealt interestingly with recent events in Britain, and included some very fine yachting pictures. The same films will be shown this evening. FULLER'S PICTURES. The new programme which was presented at the Colosseum last night was well up to the standard of its predecessors. Tho principal picture was entitled " Two Spies," and it was very up-to-date, inasmuch as it featured incidents in the recent Balkan War. Ihe battle pageants were extremely fine, and the scenes of Balkan lifo were realistic and interesting. Through it was woven an interesting story of love and war, and it was the working ot a jealous mind that led to the nnal sceno and the sacrifice of a life for nothing. " Scenes of Other Days was another good picture of the American Civil War.- An old Confederate sharpshooter, who was rescued and carried to the northern lines in the battle of Piedmont Heights, showed his gratitude when his former benefactor was stranded penniless in Atalanta, and escorted him to all the principal points of interest in that beautiful city. 1 noLost Combination" was a powerful drama, depicting strong human emotions and full of human interest. Other pictures were " One-Round O linen Comes Back," "ThoGaumont Graphic, " Strange Sea-water Creatures. How Hiram Won Out." and " The Valley ot the Bourne." To-night the earn© programme will bo repeated. OPERA HOUSE. The fresh programme at the Opera House last evening was a varied one and had a good standard of vaudeville entertainment. The best item was the Romas' turn. They are a lady and a gentleman, and both perform some remarkable feats of strength. It would be incorrect and absurd to say that they do this without apparent effort, as the strain placed upon them is obvious, but they certainly perform with much grace. The most important feats, of course, fell to the lot of Mr Roma; who lifted weights far out of the average. Finally a piece of cannon was hoisted on to the back of Ins neck and shoulders, and, while it rested there, was discharged. Next in order of merit camo tho songs supplied by the Lyrical Four, who justified their claim to tho fanciful title have taken. They were best in the old songs, noti ably "Ben Bolt" and " Recked m the I Cradlo of tho Deep." Miss 0 Keefe, one of the four, sang and acted charm- ■ ingly. Corona, with his cornet, i was "more successful than usual. After (being recalled several times, he had to refuso further compliments of that nature and repeatedly bowed bis aoI knowledgments. Mr Forsyth and Miss Boyno appeared in a. comedy sketch, which provided a good deal of fun for the audience. Klitr.o and Klifton gave surprising and amusing gymnastic items; Miss Ruby Wallaco and Miss Alado-o Bcrcsford sang songs; and Bryant and Brvant, with their electrical specialities, made a. welcome reappearance. Tho same items will be given this evening.

QUEEN'S THEATRE. Appreciative audiences attended *he Queen's Theatro at the various sessions of tho continuous pictures ontcrtamn.cnt, and tho pictures comprising tho current programme, shown for tho last time, were heartily applauded- To-day a new programme will ho submitted, including ""The Robbery at tho Inn and "The Mirror" (dramatic), "Venice" (scenic'), "Eclair Journal" (topical) and "Going'to Meet Papa" and "The Pigtail" (comedy films), GRAND PICTURES. A new programmo was presented at the Grand Theatro yesterday, and attracted appreciative audiences at all sessions. " The Shunter's Daughter showed an interesting story of love and adventure. Tho secretary of a banker I was dismissed for not having looked I after his work properly. Being of a nature, he resolved, wi re-

verge. The banker was holding a ball, and tho ox-secretary placed a bomb in position so that it should blow up the banker and his guests. Tho brother-in-law of a signalman, however, saw through the plot, and he was able, by prompt action, to foil it. Just as Ik had accomplished the feat, however, ho was discovered by officers of the law, who, thinking that he was the offender, arrested him. The dismissed secrotarv helped him to escape, and the fugitive went to his sister's house for financial asistance to aid him. m his escape. The signalman, perceiving him, and not recognising him in his disguise, jumped to the conclusion that he was a clandestine lover, and, by manipulation of the points, attempted to bring to grief tho train on which he was travelling to safety. This plot was discovered by the signalman's little daughter, and, explanations clearing the tangle, all ended happily. "A Gamo of Poker," illustrated the story of a gang of sharpers who attempted to rob' an old man by passing cards , under the table. Tho old man was wiser than he looked, and, interrupting the cards under the table, he discomfited his opponents. Other films were "Lieutenant Jones," "Love's Monogram," and "Smothered to Death. The programme will bo repeated to-day. GLOBE PICTURES. A splendid programme of new pictures was screened at the Globe Theatre yesterday, and large audiences were present throughout the day. The principal film was a romance entitled " 'ihe Last j of the Old Mill," and it was of a very high order of merit. It told of the love of a young man for a younger sister, and the jealousy of an older sister, who locked the young couple insido the old mill, whence they made their escape only after great perils. "In the Old Dutch Times" was another romance, with a good deal of quaint Dutch scenery, and a love story botween the village goose-tender and tho orphan of the village. The confession of tho villain i eventually brought wealth and happi- | ness to the young couple. A very good i society comedy, "Fine Feathers Make Fine Birds," introduced some laughable incidents, in which, by a conspiracy, the "aids to beauty" of a certain coquettish person, in the shape of wig, fringes and teeth, were abstracted while she was asleep, and a rather weak husband was saved from a serious love affair. There were other good films on tho programme, including a brickmaking film. The "Warwick Chronicle," a record of world-wide events, was particularly good. One striking picture was the appearance of 10.000 men in their annual pliysicultural display at Loipsig. Tho King at Goodwood, and " Modern Mermaids," a picture of a crowd of Sussex young ladies disporting in tho sea at Brighton, were among the other extremely interesting features of the film. The programme Y.-ill be repeated to-day. SYDENHAM PICTURES. A new programme was presented at the Sydenham Picture Theatre last night.' The star film was "Wamba," an animal jungle drama which told a thrilling story of a mother's love. "The ' Evil Thereof " was a stirring dramatic 1 film, and " The Runaways" was a storv of absorbing interest. Tho "Pathe Gazette" depicted a number ' of interesting events of recent date. "Uses of Dynamite" was an educa--1 tional film of much interest, and : "Jura" ahd "River Cobra" were [ seenio films. "Simple SinWs Dis- ' appearance" and " Bunny's Dip into f Society " were comedies which provoked , muoh "mirth. Tho same pictures will be shown to-night. ' NOR DIG A. To tho student of music, Nordiea's ". singing is soid to be ever an inspiration, while to the casual rmvsic-loyer and general public it is an unfailing . source of delight. During her ChristI church seson Nordica will be eup- - ported bv the following artists:—Paul Dufault, tho Canadian tenor, who won . such success during tho Do Cisneros 3 tour; Franklin Holding, a well-known American violinist; and Romayne Simmons, tho brilliant pianist. The first Nordica concert will be given at the . Theatro Roval on Saturday evening, i October 4. The box plan is open at the • Dresden. r CHRISTCLIURCH MUSICAL SOCIETY. 5 The Christen urch Musical Society's ' fourth subscription concert will be " given in His Majesty's Theatre on Mon- ] day, October 13. , An excellent pro--1 gramme has been arranged, and will in--1 elude 'cello solos by Mrs J. Outline 1 and a clarionet quintette by Mr D. , Sinclair and party. The vocalist will I be Mr Gill, a promising young tenor. The box plan will onen at Messrs Mil--1 nor and Thompson's on Thursday, OcF tober 9, at 3 p.m. 3 WORSLEY-EMPSON RECITAL. On Thursday, October 9, at the f Choral Hall, Messrs Alfred Worsley and » Ernest Empson will givo a recital of 1 original compositions for two piano- - I fortes. Both artists are pupils of disr tinguished pianists (Dayas and Godow- } sky), and an interesting programme will ba submitted. Madame Josephine I Ottlee, who has not appeared in public for some considerable time, will sing " a number of songs, and will be accompanied at the piano by Dr J. C. Bradshaw. The box plan will be open at ihe Dresden on Thursday, where 1 day sale tickets may also bo obtained.