AMUSEMENTS.

Lyttelton Times, Volume CXV, Issue 16569, 5 June 1914, Page 9

AMUSEMENTS.

THEATRE ROYAL. “Uncle Tom’s Cabin,” evidently, 7 s still a warm favourite with the public. There was evidcnco of this at the Theatre Royal last evening when a largo audience assembled to see tho production of the piece by the Willoughby Dramatic Company. The drama was very well received, and the most thrilling situations were applauded. 11 Uncle Tom’s Cabin ” will he repeated tonight. To-morrow night it will give place to “The Bad Girl of the Family.” Tho varying fortune of Bess Moore, tile Bad Girl, is ably delineated by Miss Nellie Fergusson, and is followed with interest and sympathy. Mr Cyril M.acluiy is cast for Lieutenant Richard Marsh, R:N., and the supporting artists are well placed. The scenic portion is said to be on an elaborate scale. CHRISTCHURCH GLEE AND MADRIGAL SOCIETY. Tbo Christchurch Glee and Madrigal Society last night gave tho first concert of its third season in the Choral Hall and had the pleasure of singing to a largo audience, and ono that was not only appreciative but enthusiastically demonstrative in its appreciation. The Society has a very largo chorus and tho work done showed how perfect had been the training given tho singers by their conductor, Mr Sidney Williamson. Tho programme was made up almost wholly of part songs, and these were given with due regard to balance in tone and light and shade in rendering. Mr Williamson had his singers under perfect control, and their loyaltv to the baton was something good to see. In compiling the programme groat care had been exercised to choose only pieces of real merit, and such composers as Mendelssohn, Bartholdy, Sir Frederick Bridge, C. V. Stanford, Challinor, Giro Pin uti, C. H. Lloyd and Wagner were drawn upon for the best they could give. As a result, and coupled with excellent work on the part of both conductor and singers, the audience en-

joyed a part-song concert of very great merit indeed. The applause was hearty and encores were frequent. In response to an encore of Sir F. Bridge’s . “The Goslings,” in which a humm.- | big chorus was charmingly given, the I Scots song, “Ye Banks and Braes” set for four parts, was sweetly render- i cd. In Stanford’s “ Pence, Como j Away,” from Tennyson’s “In Memoriain,” the tolling effect of tho bolls was successfully achieved. Miss Marjorie Harris and Mr John Hall tooktho solos in the “Pilgrims’ Chorus” from “ Tannhnuser,” and received wellmerited applause. In the, ladies’ part song “ Ave Maria” from McndclssohnBnrtholdy’s “ Lorelcy,” a pleasing soloist was Miss Beatrice Partridge. Mrs MacWhirter was the chief lady soloist of the programme and her interpretation of “ When the Heart is Y’oung” was heartily encored, as wero: also her selections from Schumann. Mr ••'idney Willinnvo”’s solos, from “ Acis and Galatea” and from Strau s and nugo Wolf wero well received. ns was also his duet “A Summer Night ” with Mrs MacWhirter. The programme compilers had been very liberal, and to keen it within ' bounds as to time a duct by Mr Wil- | liamson and Mrs MacWhirter, “ A Night in Venice,” had to be excised. ' Not tho least important feature of tho j concert was the piano work of bliss Audrey Gibson, who played all the ae-1 companimonts. Programmes as a rule ! closo with the National Anthem, but on this occasion it was made the opening item, and as a four-part song was very effective indeed. TANGO COMPETITIONS. The tango competitions, which wero ' introduced into Christchurch at tho Opera House on Tuesday, were concluded last night, when eight couples competed in the second round. A | combined display of the tango was i given first of all by tho competitors, - and then the individual couples gave exhibitions. Tho judging of the competitors was left to the audience, and every effort was treated to a liberal : amount of applause. By a process of i elimination tho final selection of tho 1 round was made, and then tho winners ' of Tuesday night’s round competed against the winners of the second r. und < for the final. The six couples gave an- < other exhibition, and tho final sclee- * tion, in which the audience had some < difficulty in placing the first and second couples, resulted as follows:—Miss 1 Sellars and Mr Neil, 1; Miss Clairo f Brown and Mr A. Russell, 2; M ss P. Gallop and Mr B. Anderson, 5. Tho prizes were then presented by Mr H. Chadwick, manager of the Op°ra i House. Tho lady partner of tho winning 1 couple was presented with a lady’s 1 dressing-case, and the gentleman with 1 a gold medal. Tho other winners wero 1 also presented with gold medals. The J ordinary vaudeville programme was ’ presented in addition, and Josephino Gassman and her piccaninnies wero giv o n an enthusiastic reception. Tonight the vaudeville programme will bo repeated, and to-morrow afternoon there will bo a special matinee perform-

ance. GR AND THEATRE. Tho Grand Theatre quite upheld its reputation yesterday as one of tho city’s most popular places of amusement, when largo audiences assembled at all sessions to witness the new programme of moving pictures. The “star” item was a film entitled “From Out the Past,” a drama that was su- ■ perbly mounted and presented with ex-j co.lent acting and photography. The

J plot evolved tho story of how a young | nian, in order to provide the necesj saries of life for his motnor, coined a very important document, an act which an adventuress used for the purposes of blacinnaii. Many years afterwards tho young man became prosperous aiul wished' to enter the political arena. Having done so, ho considered it his duty 10 expose tho methods of a mining company in which the adventuress and her associates wero largo shareholders. In order to prevent the exposure she threatened the politician with tho publication of his crime of many years before. However, the adventuress was unmasked, the exposure of the company was made, and the politician became eventually the public’s favourite. Another fine drama was “By his Father’s Orders,” in which a merchant’s son was shot by .a lady cleric whilst he was in the act of robbing the safe. It was full of tense situat.one, and was enthusiastically received by the audiences. Other good supporting films were “ Buster’s Little Game” and “The City Feller.” “Tha | Wild Id a n from Borneo” was an exceedingly funny picture which sent the spectators into roars of laughter. A very lino picture showing scenes and industries in New South TV ales completed a good programme, which will be screened again at all sessions to-day.

GLOBE THEATRE.' As far as plot and story are concerned, “ His Solemn Oath,” shown at the Globe Theatre yesterday, is somewhat weak, but from an artistic point of view it meets tho demands of the most exacting patron of moving picture shows. Tho photography has the stamp of a skilled and experienced hand. Every detail of tho pictures came out with tho greatest clearness, and as tho setting had been carefully selected, the pictures could not fail to give pleasuro to those who saw them. The story was that of a young man who promised his mother on her death-bed that he would not take part in duels. Later on ho quarrelled with an acquaintance, gave a blow, and received a challenge. Remembering his promise, ho refused to fight- Branded as a coward, his sweetheart rejected linn and his club expelled him. Ho left the town and went out to Africa. There he with several Imperial officers got into trouble with hostile Arabs. His friends were killed, but ho behaved nobly. Through a littlo girl whom ho had adopted, his. action was made known, and he was reinstated, his club electing him a life member. : The other' drama on the programme ! was “ For His Loved One.” There I were two humorous pieces and a “ Gazette.” The programme will be repeated to-day. HIS MAJESTY’S THEATRE. “ The Forest Dwollers ' still is the principal item at His Majesty's Theatre, and was received last night with much approval. Tho programme will l)c repeated to-night. fuller^pFctures. This week’s programme, headed by the dramatic film “Threads of Destiny,was repeated at the Colosseum ■ last night. ' It will bo given again tonight. QUEEN’S THEATRE. There will be a complete change of programme at the Queen’s Theatro today. Thero will be three dramas—- | “ Little Knintnck,” “The Thwarted | Plot” and “Tho Compact”—two humorous pieces—“ Tiny Tim’s Practical I Juke” and “Tho White Rose”—a ; “Pa tho Gazette,” and a travel piece, j dealing with Moiocco, past and present. The special items for Saturday’s I mntineo are a children’s comedy entitled “Buster in Nod uand,” and a | Western drama, “ Red Saunders’s 1 Sacrifice.” SYDENHAM PICTURES. The large and varied programme shown at the Sydenham Theatro last i night was received with great approval by. the audience present. One of tho chief items was entitled “Threads of Destiny,” a romance of life in a great circus. The many exciting episodes | wore of a novel and thrilling character ' and hold tho attention of beholders. 1 “ Tho Big Camp at Hautapu ” depicted the work at the Territorial camp from tho culinary operations to the grand march past and sham fight, and in addition was shown tho bombardment of tho hull of tho Devon by the Wellington Territorials. “The Gnumont Graphic” (topical). “How Flowers Awaken ” (Pithe-colour). “ A Stagedoor Flirtation” and “ The Tale of a Cat” (comedies'!. _ “Picturesque Greece,” “Tho Elusive Diamond” (drama) and “ Scenes of the Mam Trunk Railway Disaster” completed a very interesting programme. _ Tho same pictures will be shown to-night. OLYMPIA RINK. The Olympia Rink continues to attract large numbers of patrons. It will bo open as usual to-day and tonight. A fancy dress and poster carnival will be held on Monday next, when there will be racing and two-step competitions, and also a fancy dress hockey match.