ENTERTAINMENTS.

New Zealand Herald, Volume LVI, Issue 17270, 20 September 1919, Page 11

ENTERTAINMENTS.

MISS DAPHNE KNIGHT'S PUPILS.

The splendid performance given by pupils of Miss Daphne Knight was repeated in His Majesty's Theatre last evening before a very large audience. The dancing of each performer was of a high order, and some of the solo dances were very fine. A play-in-dance, "Gwenwyn of the Lonely Tower," written by Mr. H. H. Bolitho, was much appreciated. The story is quaint, the effects charming, and the scenes and music commendable. Most fascinating was the "Dance of the Roses," in which Miss Lalla Knight took the principal part, the swing scene being brilliant. The costumes were a feature of the production. The performance ended with an exceedingly clever series of tableaux, "Through War to Peace." Both productions will be repeated -this evening.

OPERA HOUSE. Variety is the keynote of the present vaudeville programme at the Opera House. The individual turns are of a high order, and the Bert la Blanc Travesty Stars present a laughable revue. A matinee performance will be given to-day. THE GONDOLIERS. A seven nights' revival of the evergreen comic opera, " The Gondoliers," will take place at His Majesty's Theatre, ■ commencing on Saturday evening next. September 27. The play will be produced by the Auckland Amateur Operatic Society, under the direction of Mr. Tom Pollard. Leading Auckland amateurs will take part, and the production will be enhanced by a specially-fine full orchestra under Mr. Colin Muston. The settings are said to be elaborate. Plans for subscribers will open at Wildman and Arey's on Monday and for the public on Wednesday TJ AUCKLAND ORPHANS' CLUB. A concert-in aid of the St. John Ambulance Association Fund will be given in the Town Hall on Thursday. October 2, by the Auckland Orphans' Club. MR. WALTER IMPETT'B PUPILS. The special series of invitation musical evenings by pupils of Mr. Walter Impett will be resumed on Monday evening, when the fourth programme will be presented at Messrs. Lewis R. Eady and Son's ■pianoforte showrooms, Queen Street. Items will be contributed bv Misses C. Wallace, V. Lambert, L. Walker, A. Peterson, E. Woodham, L. Ross, M. Arey. and Mr. Allen Croseley. BOHEMIAN ORCHESTRA CONCERT. The third concert of the Bohemian Orchestra's sixth season will be given in the Town Hall on Thursday, October 9. EMERY . BROTHERS' CIRCUS. A speeial matinee performance will be given to-day by Emery Brothers at their circus, near the City Baths. An excellent entertainment is offered by these versatile performers, including acrobats, singers, cowboys, trapezisis, and wire walkers. A i clever sketch, "Pun in a Stockyard," l concludes the entertainment. A special attraction, "Marvin," will appear on Monday. AUCKLAND JUVENILE CHOIR. The Auckland Juvenile Choir will reappear on Tuesday evening next in His Majesty's Theatre with the fairy operetta " Snow-White and the Seven Dwarfs." In addition to the choir, who represent the fairies, dwarfs, and forest children, a strong cast of principals has been secured. The part of the princess will be taken by Miss Jessie Melvin, the wicked queen will be represented by Miss Lillian Braithwaite, Mr. R. Hart will portray the prince, and Mr. F. V. Archibald will be seen as Carl, the faithful huntsman. Miss Jessie Lamb, Miss Evelyn Jackson, and Miss Hilda Collier will act the parts of the principal fairies, while Miss Nellie Entrican will sing the " Mirror Songs." A special feature of the performance will be the dance of the wood nymphs, by ! pupils of Miss Daphne Knight. The j operetta will be repeated on Wednesday afternoon. NATIONAL THEATRE. What is said to be a wonderful photoplay will be screened to-day at the National Theatre. It is entitled " Soul of Buddha," and features Theda Bara. An American reviewer writes as follows:"Fresh from her triumphs in "Cleopatra," " Caroille," "Rose of Blood," "Du Barry," and "The Forbidden Path," the versatile Miss Bara adds new lustre to her fame in this screen masterShe leaves the beaten path of romance and conducts her beholders into an environment that is new and startling, unfolds a plot that grips and holds and carries one breathlessly to the very end. The plot is Miss Bara's very ownfor she conceived the story, wrote it, and acts the leading role as one inspired. From the Old World and its* superstitions to the modern metropolis of art the plot runs swiftly. As a daughter of the heathen gods, whom love - steals . from her parents' faith, Miss Bara rises to heights of dramatib and emotional acting that she has never before achieved. The role gives full play to her remarkable talents. In The Soul of Buddha," Miss Bara takes the part of a half-caste East Indian girl, the daughter of a Javanese widow, who was a devout believer in the worship of Buddha. The East Indian girl devotes all her spare time to dancing weird dances. Night after night she performs for the populace. On one of these occasions a tipsy English sailor tries to kiss her. Her mother rescues the Englishman from the wrath of the populace, and the mother consecrates her daughter to Buddha as a sacred dancing girl. After a time the religious atmosphere palls on Bava. She falls in love with a handsome English army officer, and forsakes her religion and her Buddha oath. STRAND THEATRE. A programme of unusual attractiveness is promised to-day at the Strand Theatre, when Anita Stewart, one of the most fascinating actresses in motion pictures, will be seen as the heroine of ' A midnight Romance." The aim is a "First National" attraction, and was directed by Lois Weber. Miss Stewart is a talented actress, and her acting as the girl who was a servant by day and a regal beauty by night should prove acceptable to patrons of the theatre. Briefly, the story is as follows : A published announcement that the wealthy Sloan fa.mily is to visit a seaside hotel attracts a clever adventurer and his accomplices, especially 'Blondie Mazie," through the possibility of ensnaring young Roper Sloan, though he is accompanied by his father, mother, and young sister. About the time the adventurers arrive, the rescued passengers from a shipwrecked steamer are brought to the hotel, and one of them secures employment ;is a chauiberbaid —Marie. Quite as susceptible as she is efficient, Marie :? assigned to the floor where the wealthy Sloans and the adventurers have taken rooms. Marie becomes infatuated with athletic and handsome Roger Sloan, and is led to suspect that "Blondie Mazie" has designs or. him. The maid shows keen discernment fathoming the plot of the adventurers, and finally saves the hero, but she meanwhile has a moonlight adventure. Supposing herself alone at the midnight hour, she disports in the surf scantily clad. Young Sloan, weary of social attentions, happens on the moonlit beach, and becomes infatuated with the "foam-born sprite." In the end it transpires that she is a princess in disguise. First-rate supporting films are promised, including the latest gazettes of topical interest and humorous films.

LYRIC THEATRE. A story of the East, with its glamour., and mystery, is "The Forbidden City," which will be screened to-day for the first time at the Lyric Theatre. In the role <jf the half-caste Chinese girl will be seen, Miss Norma Talmadge, one of the most beautiful actresses in America. A critic says of Miss Talmadge :—"Picture-lovers, have always been particularly impressed by the remarkably balanced harmony between her two extremes of dramatic inter- I pretation—light, whimsical comedy anct intense tragic emotion. Every interpretative movement she makes, whether it be a mere glance from the eye, a fleeting j.ncSering of her forehead, a meaningful smile, or a gesture of tragic despair, spell*

[absolute sincerity. It is this realism ii. j Miss Talmadge's art, this poorer to- per ; tray a wide range of varying roles, givinr to each a distinct characterisation, %hirh chiefly distinguishes her work from that ci other emotional actresses of the screen In her characterisation of the childish woman in "The Forbidden*. City,'* ' her revelations of thought and feeling are » source of constant delight to spectators. Not"By pantomime, not by gesticulationed facial contortion, but bv investing hf-r own wonderful personality with' th.it of the character she portrays, «hr holds the eye enchanted. Miss Tbl raadge is not a typo actress' One never speaks of her as a 'vampire.' *. 'comedienne,' a 'tragedy queen.' a 'pnrtrayer of society parts," or a 'character actress.' A children's matinee, featuring Madge Evans in "The Volunteer," will he given to-day.

TIVOLI THEATRE. Bryant Washburn, the famous American picture-actor, will be seen to-day at the 7-?! 1 Theatre in his latest film success. entitled "The Way of a Man." Mr. Washburn has been connected with motion pictures for many years, and all his productions have been unqualified sue cesses. He is popularly said to be the best-looking motion picture actor in tf eri Sr *.£ critic ***** ot ' the plav: wl'i sh^. ura . « a natural actor, vvnue his histrionic Dowers are considerable, there is in his work no unnecessary strainwg after effect. He is a mile tvpe Hi «r* I"/ T kss an "e!lent hero. His splendid performances in "Tin I Come Back to You iv. Will , net easily be forgotten by lovers of the photo-play. " The Way of a Man" tells of society life & America, and is remarkably true to life. men + H JH fc a « irl who «JWd rich men to take her out to expensive supper* was not a spendthrift after she was married. In the role of the girl is charm-' Mr w hK, Ha ley ' who *»»■ acted with Mr. Washburn for several years.

GRAND THEATRE r£„ Stable comedian. Charlie Chapbn 5- wih be seen toda v at, the Grand .Theatre, J in his latest absurdity, 2£ C K M entitled "Shoulder Arms™ a Tt^JTw 011 th Ü B hter side of war.. sin 7 by special perm.s----«on of the American War Office,- and many scenes of training camps are screened. Chaplin, who is agisted bv a capable cast, "„ said to give a good characterisation of the role of a raw re ennt at an American concentration camp and he has many adventures. \ critic writes of the film:-" Chaplin bungles his way into a series of scrapes onlv to immediately bungle. himself out again When the rain floods the trenches and . the water stands shoulder deep m the cug-out. Chaplin there develops a routine of most comical situations. When Chaplin charges into the enemy trenches, and effect'! a triumphant capture, new drolleries develop, with the enemy military squad the victims of his t 'inventive genius .Next there is dangerous work to be done, and Chaplin, to his immensely humorous ' discomfiture, is selected from-a squad of hundred per cent, volunteers. He goes into enemy territory on ecout duty, and we find him now disguised as a 'stump with his arms serving as vengeful instruments of defence and attack the livetv branches of a dead tree trunk. ' Fritz is dealt with severely in surprise attach?, and, when a fat German takes- up the chase. Chaplin shows how cleverly he is camouflaged." The supporting programme. which should be an excellent one, will include a drama entitled, "Primitive Woman." It is said to be a specially attractive film. The usual excellent topical and humorous films win be screened. EVERYBODY'S THEATRE: " Large attendances witnessed the initial screenings yesterday at Everybody's Theatre, of " The City of Dim Faces," with Sessue Hayakawa, the noted Japanese actor, in the principal role. It is a tragic story of semi-Christianised Chinese lite, where East meets West, to the detriment of both. The story is elaborately staged, and the various scenes, featuring Chinese life, are said to be an attraction in themselves. Sessue Hayakawa impersonates the chief actor in the story. His emotional acting is exceptionally forceful in his- impersonation of a half-caste American-Chinese. In the " City of Dim Faces" he is seen as Jang, the half-caste son of a Chinese merchant. Jang's father's first marriage left the merchant a widower, with a daughter. He yearns for a son, and marries his daughter's white governess, in hopes that she will bear him a son that will have all the "cunning of both races. Jang ie the product of the marriage, and is taken from his mother whila very young to be educated, without knowing he has white blood in his vein? When grown up Jang is sent to America, where he falls in loy e with a, white girl! who rejects him because of his. yellow blood. They meet again in C&ina, anjS'he plans a revenge, but before he can cari-v out his intentions he learns the- fcrafepdv of his life and his mother's fate. - In the end he rises to the occasion, arid showy that he has been imbued with the highest traaitions of both races. ' - ' PRINCESS THEATRE. An attractive double bill is announced tor the change of programme at the Princess Theatre, commencing to-dav Miss Elsie Ferguson, the beautiful and popular star of the stage and screen, will appear in the Paramount Artcraffc picture Under the Greenwood Tree." This picture play is spoken most highly of bv critics, and is described as an * unusual romance of love and adventure, with many thrills and sensations and a wholly enjoyable entertainment. Following this attractive feature there is still another attraction in the appearance of .the always popular and unique comedian " Fatty" Roscoe Arbuckle. who will be seen in the latest Paramount Arbuckle comedv entitled "Camping Out." Such an attractive double offering should attract the attention of theatre-goers. QUEEN'S THEATRE. The change of programme to-day at the Queen's Theatre should give satisfaction. Miss Gail Kane will appear in what is said to be a stirring romance between royalty and a society maid, entitled " Her Great Match." A critic writes : —"The acting in the picture is very fine throughout, Miss Kane being most convincing. Mr. Vernon Steele, as the prince, and all the other characters fit into, their respective parts perfectly. The photography is splendid, soma weird and striking night scenes of the Venetian fete at the palace being particularly worthy of notice, the sensational fall of great logs just as Jo goes by in her canoe, is realism that will thrill all spectators. The story is interesting all the time, the plot being well ?.nd consistently worked out, as is 'to be expected, for it was written by' that master of American drama Clyde Fitch"' The supporting programme will include a Christie comedy and " Night Animals.""

GLOBE THEATRE. A splendid metro film -was screened for the first time yesterday at the Globe Theatre, there being large attendances at each session. It is entitled " The Spender," and in the title role,, is I art Lytell, a clever actor. He acts the part of Dick Bisbee, who is the nephew of T. W. Bisbee, millionaire factory owner, noted for his- closeness in money matters. His initials, T. W. are taken to mean " Tight Wad" by his employees, as his one aim in life seems to be the accumulation of wealth. Dick is cast out by his .uncle, but is later brought back happy man) to favour; A specially-fne supporting programme is presented, including topical, humorous, and instructive films. In future the best Metro films will be screened at the Globe Theatre. PALACE THEATRE.

Charming Constance Talmadge will be seen to-day at the Palace Theatre in her zreat success, ."Good Night. Paul,*' which is a splendid film. A good supportin<r programme of topical and humorous films is promised.