ENTERTAINMENTS.

New Zealand Herald, Volume LVI, Issue 17179, 5 June 1919, Page 9

ENTERTAINMENTS.

OPERA HOUSE. ' The vaudeville programme presented at the Opera House last evening attracted a large and appreciative audience. Tho Togos again appeared, and their daring acrobatic feats and juggling were loudly applauded. Brighlio and Carlyon, Mr. Lew James, Brull and Hemsley, Mr. Will Rayner, and Mire Rose Brennan also provided entertaining turns, The same programme will be repeated this evening. ORCHESTRAL CONCERT. An orchestral concert, under the auspices of the Returned Soldiers' Association, was given by tho Albert Symphony Orchestra at the Town Hall last evening. Thcro was a (rood attendance and an excellent programme was provided. In addition to tho orchestral items songs wero contributed by Miss Kathleen lllakcy and Mr. R. H. Dellow, and Mr. T. T. Garland cave a humorous sketch, which was heartily appreciated. FAREWELL CONCERT. A farewell concert will be given to Mr. Ernest Drake at the Town Hall this evening, and there is every indication that thero will bo a very' large attendance. Mr. Drake is a popular tenor, and ho intends visiting America and England to continue his musical studies. TIVOLI THEATRE. Tho principal picture at the Tivoli Theatre this week is entitled Reaching for the Moon," and it was screened before large and appreciative audionces yesterday. Alexis, a clerk in a button factory, is obsessed with the idea that he has, royal blood in his veins, and aspires to an imaginary throne. He attains his desire, but is 60on disillusioned, and returns to earth a much wiser man. Douglas Fairbanks, who takes the leading part, is a fine acrobatic comedian, and his adventures prove interesting and amusing. The programme includes a number of other excellent dramatic and comic items, which > were heartily applauded. The same programme will bo repeated to-day.

"THE WHISPERING CHORUS." Another line dramatic film is to be presented at the Tivoli Theatre on Saturday, entitled " The Whispering Chorus." It is a photoplay of tremendous vitality, tind is the tirst of a series of excellent dramas that Cecil B. de Mille is producing for Artcraft. An all star cast appears, every one of the players having some especially line impersonation to Ins or her credit in former Artcraft pictures. The assemblage in one him of so powerful and representative a company \,i players is evidenco of the excellence in every way of this exceptional production. Tho theme of the picture is one of supreme self-sacrifice. John Tremble hears the voice of the tempter, then the voice of fear. Down ho goes in his fearful descent, halted for a moment by the promptings of sorrow and of love, then on until one voice dominates all tho rest—the voice of self-sacrifice. The man whom Tremble impersonates is wanted for the murder of John Tremble, and Tremble is tried and convicted of tho murder of himself. With one word he could have cleared himseJf, but that word would kill his wife. So John, thief, fugitive and nameless wanderer, makes the supreme sacrifice to preserve the happiness of tho woman he loved. Back in the world the woman is waiting with expectant joy for the little soul who is to bring her the happiness this man had denied her. They kiss and pass on their ways, he to his eternity, and she into tho world to feel the love the " Whispering Chorus" had deprived him of. The piijturisation is by Jeannie MacPherson, distinguished author of such notable cinema successes as "Joan tho Woman," "Tho Woman God Forgot," and other pictures in which Mary Pickford and Geraldine Farrar were the stars. " The Whispering Chorus " is a picture built from an idea of universal significance, and, although it is unfolded with the most subtle shading of character development, lighting, titling, and so forth, it is staled to be yet so simple in theme as to be understood by everyone.

HIS MAJESTY'S THEATRE. | ', A coming picture attraction is J. and , N. Tail's special official film of " The j Surrender of the Germany Navy." which commences its season at His Majesty's Theatre next Saturday afternoon. It* is ' only upon witnessing this graphic production of the *reat scene thr.t the magnitude of the German fleet and the vast importance of its surrender to England and the Allies can be thon/ughly grasped. The great war vessels stretch out ats far as the eye can see into the musts of the grey ■ North Sea, and just when the spectator imagines that the hist of the Germnn cruisers has passed, another long lino appears, among them vessels that German boasting taught us to believe were powerful enough to blow Britain's ships out of the se?.—the battleships Hindenburg, Von der Tann, Von Moltke, Markgruf, n Kaiser and Seidlitz. Tbe picture was ,j, viewed in Wellington by the Ministers and naval authorities, and one and all are 1 said to have expressed themselves in terms ; " of boundless admiration. A feature duri, ing the screening of the picture is the I, rendering of several vocal numbers of a .. patriotic nature by Madam Power, the I famous contralto, while a specially-selected .' orchestra greatly enhances the screening ' with favourite naval and martial numbers. d The box plans are at Wildman and Arey's. PRINCESS THEATRE. Alice Brady will again appear in her latest Select picture, "Her Great Chance." at the Princess Theatre to-day. The story concerns Lola Gray, a hard-working girl, who is in love with Cliarlie Cox, son of a New York millionaire. Lolas home environments are not the most attractive part of her life, and one evening, following the usual course, she goes out in '" Charlie's car. They stop at. a cafe on the e Pali6ades, and Charlie, a little light-headed *! as the result of champagne, asks Lola to ! marry him. She refuses for his own 7 benefit, and then he goes wild. Charlie's z ■ father dies and disinherits him. SubscJ quently she marries and reforms Charlie. There are a number of excellent supporting 8 films, which were heartily appreciated by 5 ; the large audiences that assembled yes--31 terday. The same programme will he J ; screened today. On Saturday there will ' ! be a complete change, when the principal ' j item will he a stirring drama entitled 1 "Lest We Forget." 3 d STRAND THEATRE. An excellent dramatic picture entitled 1 "The Lust if Ages." is the leading item at the Strand Theatre this week, and I patrons yesterday were loud in their praise -of this particularly interesting film. It ' | is a story with a moral, and shows that * ' wealth does not always mean happiness ''as is popularly supposed. 'Hie picture* deals with a happy home which is ruined I through the husband's insatiable greed for II gold. His wife, however, vows that their " daughter will not be spoiled by similar ' ambitions to her father, and she warns ' her of the folly of the. quest. However, a desire to he wealthy manifests itself in

the girl's disposition, hut fortunately she has sufficient strength of character to withstand temptation, and remains true to the teachings of her mother. The same programme will lie shown again day. "Iho Cinderella Man " will head the bill on Saturday.

NATIONAL THEATRE. "The Bride of Fear" forms the chief production at the National Theatre this week, and it was .screened before large audiences yesterday. The picture deals with the life of a beautiful girl, who. Incoming despondent, because she is alone in the world, attempts to commit suicide. She is prevented by a criminal, whom she later marries. Subsequently she. falls in love with the. son of a wealthy financier, ami is flirting with him when her husband, who ha.« just been released from gaol, returns Complications result, but a happy solution I of the difficulty is found. " Pot: of the Pirates," a Fox topical, and a Mutt and Jeff cartoon help to make up an excel lent programme, which will he screened again to-day. GRAND THEATRE. " Miss Robinson Crusoe" heads the programme at the Grand Theatre this week, and it greatly interested and pleased the large audiences that assembled to witness it* production yesterday. lie picture

deals with a young man, Bertie, who is in love with a'beautiful girl, but is somewhat bashful. In order to arouse him she commences a flirtation with another young man. Bertie, broken-hearted, goes away, and the pair follow him. He _ subsequently abducts the girl and carries her to a lonely island, where they exist in a similar manner to " Robinson Crusoe." The sixteenth chapter of the "House of Hate," and several other interesting dramatic and comic films complete a capital programme, which will be screened again to-day. LYRIC THEATRE. Lillian Walker, tho popular film actress, has never been seen to greater advantage than in that fine dramatic film, " The Lust of Ages," which is being exhibited at the Lyric Theatre. She is moro charming than ever, and her personality stands out in a manner that appealed greatly to tho large audience that assembled last evening. The story concerns the lust for power and wealth through past and present times, dealing with primitive peoples' lavish luxury in the days of Midias, and in after periods, where the lure of gold has brought in its train destruction. Tho scenes, which aro masterfully handled! aro presented in a novel and elaborate manner, which holds tho interest. GLOBE THEATRE, A picture that deals with the sex problem in a manner that cannot offend is " Race Suicide," now being presented at the Globe Theatre. The struggle of mother-love throughout the ages, culminating in a story of present-day homelife without children, is the main theme of this picture. Tho principal roles are taken by Ormi Hawley and Earl Metcalfe, and their acting has'appealed greatly to ail audiences who have witnessed this production. Other items of interest are also to be seen on the same programme. QUEEN'S THEATRE. "Untamed," a picture of life on a cattle ranch in Mexico, is the chief attraction at the Queen's Theatre this weekThe leading role of Jim Janson is played by Roy Stewart, who is ably supported by a strong cast, including a wonderful child actress, May Giraci. The storytells of a rascally Spaniard who endeavours to get rid of his partner by underhand methods. Other pictures, including an amusing comedy, are also to be seen. On Saturday " Just Sylvia" will be the leading attraction. EVERYBODY'S THEATRE. Everybody's Theatre was well patronised yesterday when that excellent dramatic picture "His Own Homo Town," was i a?ain exhibited. The story depicts tho i adventures of a reporter on one of the I lame American dailies, and they prove most entertaining to those who take an ' interest in journalism. The picture is excellently mounted, and the acting is of a high order. In addition, there are several other dramatic and comio items, which were greatly appreciated. The same programme will be screened aeain today.