ENTERTAINMENTS.

New Zealand Herald, Volume LVI, Issue 17097, 28 February 1919, Page 3

ENTERTAINMENTS.

OPERA HOUSE.

A high standard of vaudeville is maintained at the Opera House this week. The Fayns, the Togos, Romaine, Ray and Gray, and Ethel Vaugn, aro all excellent in their several specialities. Considerable merriment is caused nightly by Al. Bruco and his company in the musical burlesquo " Lulu."

"PRINCESS CHIT

The socond performance of the Japanese operetta, " Princess Chrysanthemum," at the Town Hall concert chamber last evening by the company of children and young ladies under the direction of Miss Turner was a pronounced success. In tho principal roles, Misses Engel (Princess), 0. Jones (Prince So-tru), R. Engel (Prince Sosli)), Amber Jones (Fairy), and Rua Butler (the wizard cat), and Mrs. Somcrville (the Emperor), sang and acted brightly and were warmly applauded. Miss Rosa Sachs, principal danseuse, was also a popular member of tho company. The highly-successful entertainment, with its large chorus of vivacious children, is to bo repeated at tho Holy Trinity schoolroom, Devonport, to-morrow evening, and at All Saints' schoolroom, Ponsouby, on Monday evening. Tho proceed* will be devoted to the funds of tho Epiphany Church, Nowton. | TIVOLI THEATRE.

" Tho Kaiser's Shadow," the excellent mystery drama screened at the Tivoli Theatre, will bo shown for tho last timo this evening. The story tells of the adventures of a man who has invented a rifle, the secret of which is desired by Wilhelni Kiemlin, ono of the German secret service spies. A dramatic ending is reached. A good comedy is also screened. To-morrow the dainty screen star, Marguerito Clark, will be seen in her latest photo-play production, " Prunella." The story, in brief, is as follows :Happy as the day is long, Prunella knows nothing of the world outside her pretty little garden and its air of eternal joy. Nothing—till, one day, into her life comes Pierrot. Together they wander away—marry— live happily till Pierrot tires of his love. Later, full of remorse, ho seeks her out again, and in that garden, where youth, joyousness and purity went hand in hand, ho found Prunella, dainty, tired, but ever-loving. A good supporting programme- will bo submitted.

NATIONAL THEATRE. The current programme at the National Theatro will be presonted for the last time- to-day. Two pictures, "A Heart's Revenge," and " Six-Shooter Andy," will be shown to-morrow. In the former the action commences in Washington, where Vera Saßouroff (Madame Markova), daughter of Count Alexis Sabouroff, attache of the Russian Government, is in love with Jim Harding (David Herblin), an aviator. To win her away from Jim, Baron Eugene Prako (Eric Mayne) conspires with a Chinese dodtor, who uses an old Chinese chemical that causes Jim to lose his initiative, IJiai is then put on a schooner bound for China. The baron sends a letter signed with Jim's name telling Vera Jim cannot marry her because he loves another. Vera's method of unravelling the mystery is said to entail some daring and exciting work. In " Six-Shooter Andy " Tom Mix will be seen in the title role. He takes the part of a trapper, who plays a conspicuous part in the life of a wild mining town in a remote part of America. Mis will bo supported by Enid Markey and Sam de Grosse. PRINCESS THEATRE. The last sessions of the present attractive programme at the Princess Theatre are announced to-day. The surrender of the Germany navy, the unprecedented scenes of enthusiasm following the armistice, and the appearanco of Alice Brady, the dramatic actress in "The Whirlpool," together with the educational trout-fishing film, have attracted large audiences throughout the week. This programme will. be withdrawn this evening to make room [ to-morrow for the weekly change. The principal film will be a drama in six parts, in which Montague Love is said to bo . given ample scope for the exercise of his talents. Additional films will be [he latest j topical review and one of the popular , Christie comedies, entitled " Betty's Big I Adventure." The Princess Orchestra, by its variety of well-played selections, com- ; mends itself to the many patrons of this theatre. STRAND THEATRE. "You Can't Believe Everything," a' diverting comedy film, is attracting large _ attendances to the Strand Theatre. Tho action of tho tale takes place at a fashionable American seaside resort. All the characters in the story are guests at a summer hotel. The heroine is a decidedly unconventional young woman, and as a result of appearing in some daring swimming suits, gives the guests, most of whom aro notorious gossips, food for much discussion. She has occasion to save her lover from drowning, and an enemy succeeds in compromising her name. Gloria Swanson is excellent as the I principal figure in the play. The attrac-1 tion fUr to-morrow will bo " The House I of Glass," a cinematographic version of' the sensational stage play. Clara Kimball Young is said to give a clever characterisation in the exacting role of the woman criminal.

GLOBE THEATRE. "The Eagle's Eye," a story of the Imperial _ German Government's spies and I plots in America, will be shown at the Globe Theatro to-morrow. The author of the play, William J. Flynn, a retired chief of the United States Secret Service,: speaks of the picture in the following terms:— The entry of the United States into the world war leads me to make the disclosures of facts embraced in this serial photo-drama The early events of the conflict brought official recognition of the motion picture as a powerful moulder of public opinion. I therefore felt that the screen would provo the most convincing and broadest medium through which to present the perils we have gone through, as striking indications of what may happen at any time through enemy spy activities." In addition to " The Eagle's Eye" will be presented "The Spurs of Sybil," with Alice Brady as the heroine, and The Beloved Traitor," a play in which Mae Marsh is said to bo well cast. LYRIC THEATRE. " You Can't Believe Everything" will be screened for the ladt time at the Lyric Theatre to-day. To-morrow Miss Clara Kimball Young will appear in " The Houso lof Glass." A critic says of the play :— j As Margaret Case, Miss Young portrays brilliantly the role of an innocent girl { 1 whom circumstantial evidence convicts of I complicity in a theft of jewellery. After i IS months in prison she gains her parole, j and disappears from New York. In the ■ West she meets and marries a man named Harvey Lake, and his appointment aa manager of a large Eastern railroad brings j them to New York, where she is recog-1 r.ised by a detective. Many exciting incidents are said lo occur. QUEEN'S THEATRE. Those who appreciate a demonstration of the art of ice skating should not fail to see " The Frozen Warning," an original tale screened at the Queen's Theatre. ; Charlotte, who heads the cast, is said to be the finest living exponent, of the art. In addition are shown views of the armistice celebrations in | London, Glasgow, and Dublin, and the ignominious surrender of the German I Fleet. To-morrow Francis X. Bushman and Beverley Bayno will appear in their | latest Metro piece, " Under Suspicion." EVERYBODY'S THEATRE. Earle Williams and Grace Darmond are happily cast in " The Girl fa His House," a powerful drama screened at Everybody's Theatre. A number of topical and comedy films are screened in support. To-morrow ' "Sherlock Holmes" is to be given its first screening.

KINDERGARTEN WORK.

NEED FOR EXTENSION.

POSITION OP ASSOCIATION.

The necessity for an extension of tho kindergarten system of training among tho children of Auckland was urged by the chairman of the Auckland Kindergarten Association, Mr. E. K. Mulgan, at tho eleventh annual meeting of the association, held yesterday. Mr. Mulgan said that although the population of Auckland was about 120,000, there wero only four kindergarten schools in tho city. " This is not a creditablo position," h.i said. " Most people realise the necessity of commencing the education of a child before the age of five, when the child'*) name may be inserted on tho roll of a primary school. In all progressive countries the valuo of kindergarten education i is realised."

The annual report stated that during the year the Government had increased the capitation paid to the association, which, until tlie new rata began to operate, had been at tho rato of £2 ICi per child in average attendance. Tlui Government, wishing to encourage voluntary effurt. was now paying £1 53 on each £1 collected and expended, provided that such sum did not escoed a total amount represented by £2 10s per child on tho total average attendance. It. was pleasing to note that the efforts or I the association wero receiving increased 1 recognition, but it was to be regretted. ! in view of the importance of tho work, that the authorities were unable to realign the necessity for-moro liberal aid. It the movement was to satisfy the need; of local conditions and the demands of progressive educational thought and experience, it was necessary that the association's resources be very materially increased. At present its teachers were underpaid, its schemes for training students were suffering from lack of adequate equipment and teaching power, and, rrosi; serious of all, its ability to extend facilities for kindergarten training in regard to the children themselves was gravely hampered, if not altogether prohibited. The report was adopted.