AMUSEMENTS.

North Otago Times, Volume CVI, Issue 13968, 27 August 1917, Page 1

AMUSEMENTS.

"VERY GOOD EDDIE."

i. The coming of Messrs-J. ami N.Tait's new. musical comedy company of over sixty artists, is arousing cari-. sidcrablc interest among playgoer«', and the one-night season at the Opm House on Wednesday will -serve to inj'troduce artistsj in. addition to renewing acquaintances of two wellestablished favourites in Barry Lupino,, who is principal comedian with the company, and Andrew Higginson, whose delightful performance as Dajiile in "The Merry Widow" still remains a pleasant memory.' All principals .of the company were engaged in America by Mr E.'J. Tait, and he it was who induced Barry Lupino to cancel ' his American contracts and return to Australasia. Miss Fayette Perry comes with a splendid reputation, and is said io occupy a very high position on the American stage, while Miss Lilian fucker, in addition to her ability, as a' musical comedy artist, is acknowledged • o be one of the most handsome women' on the United States stage. ■ Mr John Dock lias been styled I lie best importation Australia has had for many years, and he has earned unstinted praise from the Australian press. The Oamaru season is limited to one night, and the piece will be "Very Good Eddie," written by Philip Eartholoniae and Guy Bolton, whose work is described as the smartest of all musical comedies. With a foundation of a story bright and clever "Yery Good Eddie" is full of "nod, clean comedy, tuneful .numbers, sinking and original ballets,- gorgeous scenery, anil the dresses are said to be magnificent. A fen I lire of the production is the full orchestral band which ■.vas specially selected for this tour, iml under the musical direction of Mr Uo'i'f.-! Keers enhances the musical at'raclivmess of the proiluc ion, The box plan opens at the Bristol this morning.

"THE BIRTH OP A NATION." David \Y, Griffith's most oxtra•ordinary achinvemnit with his ' great spectacle "The Birth of a Nation," which is being specially produced at Ihp Opera House to-day (Monday) is fhat of making history live, lie lias tonidiod the high peaks of Americar history—slavery, Ihp war of secession, the surrender of Appomattox, the death of Lincoln, the miseries of reconstruction, and the reconciliation of the North am] South. These' things, if would have seemed a year ago, were beyond the scope of the motion pic tnre camera, but the master producer has successfully combined, in 12,000 feet of celluloid, a thrilling consecutive presentation of national greatness with a vital and human love story. According to experts who have viewed the work, Griffith has not only surpassed in many ways the art of 'lie "indoor" theatre, but he has also developed a new art-form far superior to the old-fashioned history or historical novel. A very eminent public man has nick-named it "history by.lightning." Eighteen thousand people were' em-, ployed in taking the historical pictures. One sees Lincoln among his counsellors issuing the call for troops, the battles of the conflict, Sherman';' vmreli, Grant and Lee shaking hands ;■' Appu.;::' V. the, shot that John Wilkes Booth fired, the .South in the throes of change, the carpet-bagger's excesses, and the famous rides of the K.K.K. parties of war veterans and sons of veterans are coming in great numbers to the Tremoiit, It is difficult for many of them to refrain from shouting the old war cries or from shullling the feet to the rhythm of the martial music, Scenes in the latter half of the picture are. so 'skilfully managed, the interest is so tensely maintained, that often the applause is practically continuous for half or three-quarters of an hour. The tfholc production of the film promises fo be a revolution to Oatnaru plcturegoers,