AMUSEMENTS.

Otago Daily Times, Issue 16508, 7 October 1915, Page 8

AMUSEMENTS.

. PRINCESS THEATRE. Excellent value is beinghanded' out to patrons at the Princess Theatre this week. The management lias gathered into ono bill ah exceptionally talented company of artists, and from rise :to fall of curtain there is not a* weak turn. The uncanny dexterity of Mr Lutes, and the facility withwhich. he_ can make his feet atone for the loss of his arms, are extraordinary. The musical performance of Alsace and Lorraine is in itself, a complete entertainment. . The sketch by- Tommy Armstrong and Mabs Howarth is intensoly droll. . The captivating Hazel Morris excels ,in ragtime, and Miss Rose Lee Ivy, Miss Kolle, Mr Herberte, and other members of the big company do excellent service. The programme will be repeated to-night. HAYWARDS' PICTURES. The big palpitating drama' "Alone in London," shown in picture form at the Octagon Theatre, is /drawing , good attendances. The faithful presentation of familiar physical features of the greatest city, the dramatic, •' the tragio picture of a. ljfe that may bo lived /alone amongst a teeming' population, hold the interest with a tense grip. The consummate artistry of Florence 'Turner in the leading role invests the play with a luminous human interest. The

supporting. subjects are all of an interesting character QUEEN'S THEATRE. • Something exceptional is promised by the management of the Queen's Theatre' today—a drama entitled " The ,Ruse," which has. been the means of packing the picture houses where it has been screened in

the north. The story relates to. a Western miner! who goes Ea'st to sell his property to a company promoter, but soon 'finds that he has fallen among thieves. They collaborate, to rob him of the mine", an enterprise overheard by the landlady's daughter, who is discovered. and abducted, .in order that she may not spoil'the plot, and then they set to Work to.ruin".the mirier by'means of false jplay at -. cards. - ' The aim of the villains is cleverly thwarted. A new Keystone ... comedy entitled "Hash'. ;House Frauds," the Pathe- Gazette, a.. Vitagraph drama, "The Worthier Man," Winter Sport on the Italian Alps, and an eocen-, .trie comedy, "Rough But Romantic," will be screened. PLAZA THEATRE. A complete new programme will be presented at the Plaza Theatre to-day, and fortunately the management' has secured as a item;the story of " The Princes' in : the Tower," an ■_ historical event that every adult- is familiar with. This will

be'the first time it. has been presented per medium of -the: kinematograph. It is. stated that the story is adapted from Shakespeare's historical drama, which relates with such dramatic skill the seizure of the Princes - by their unscrupulous - uncle, " Richard, the Hunchback." The film is 4000 ft long, and the photography' is said to bo exceptionally clear. The supporting pictures are the latest edition of the Warwick Chronicle,'and a comedy entitled Snakeville's Beauty Parlour.";. , \

KING EDWARD THEATRE. . Iri .tbo new programme to be : presented to-day at the King Edward artistic picture theatre the ..outstanding item: will be a good drama, entitled " The -Frame-up,'.' ■which a powerfully enacted story of a feud between - members, of a' gang of crooks, brought about by two of them falling in love with the same wontan. The film, is replete with sensational incidents, and is -very well presented by some of Kalem's best .artists., • Ford Sterling,, the original, comedian who made the Keystone .people is now under the direction of 'Slack Sennet, and will be seen in comedy work <in a farce entitled "He Wouldn't Stay Down." ' An excellent Topical Budget, a VitagTaph drama. "Pure Gold," and twb; comediesJ' > Wily Widow," ; <and, ; " Pimple's . Peril," .'; will complete the ■programme.' i ' '; v V GRAND THEATRE, r "The Unwelcome • Mrs . Hatch," • the emotional drama being shown at the Grand [Theatre, continues to draw crowded houses, and, as a result,: it wiir be screened till the end of the week: \" , MALE CHOIR CONCERT. ; A rival appeal, to patriotism' and a .soaking rain did not materially; militate against the attendance at the 111 th concert given by the Duiiedin Male Choir last night, in Bums HalL There was scarcely- a vacant seat, .and,,the choir of ■40 voices was certainly a good percentage .-6f 4 its " full ''strength,'. particularly, as many members have responded

to the call to arms. 'The programme was a well-choeen one, and met , with ready appreciation, that- : was fully: dbservedl - The i concert-. opened with;/Maunder'e "Song of the Northmen;" which was; rendered ' with ; proper expression and 'good modulation. \Boulanger's part song, "Cyrus in Babylon," was -given for the first time, and was,, so appropriately warlike as 'to appeal to 'the .patriotio of the. TOijimiinity. The words, are dramatic, that something fnore malje 'voices, ■ without orchestral accompanirhent,'; was necessary to do the theme justice.; With that 'it may';be' said that" the composition will be a> welcome repetition at future concerts. Another martial number was .Davies's "Hymn . Before Action,"- in which the .s;od of. biattles is appealed to in Rudyard Kipling's words. The sentiment stands out. in strong contrast to' the :"Hymn of ; Hate," that has helped to I make' Germany infamous: 'in the minds' of all I right : thinking The rendering-, of this! item was a very creditable one. In lighter: i vein, the' ohoir gave effective readings of Abt's "Lend an Ear" _ and Hatton's "Tairs'' unaccompanied.. ■ The former, was characterised by trueness of tone a,nd the latter by breezy vigour.. The first part 'of the programme was brought* far a close by the choir" singing, unaccomoanied, .Sullivan's "The Long Day Closes," in memory of the late :Mr James Jago, one. of the original members .of_ the society. .The rendering was given with an amount of sym-' pathy that showed that the sound of a voice' that is still was not forgotten. The' audience, was eimilrly reminiscent, and forbore to ap-', plaud the in memoriam item. "The , Merry - Frogs" sang/at the close of the concert, proved, a*- pleasant;,finale. , The soloists of the ' evening - materially tp - the ■general success of. the entertainment/' Miss E. ! Richards's contributions >to ; the.- programme were ; Sullivan's "Popr Wandering. .One" and "Nymphs and fauns. 0n both occasions she well deserved the unanimous recalls accorded to her. Miss Isabel . Forrester's rccitation, "Alma," was happily,- chosen, .and was delivered; 1 with a degree of fervour: that could hardly, fail to " stimulate those troubled with' sluggish patriotism.. Oh 'being recalled, Miss Forrester gave - a clever rendering of the ; well-known r.ecitaticm portraying a bride-elect, who mis-reads, a,telegram from her lover—"Don't come; too' late"—iA. whicli the absence, of a comma makes ail v tho difference to the meaning intended. Mr J. 'Simpson's:pleasant'tenor voice was heard to; great advantage !in Bliimeiithal's "Evening' Song," in which the theme; "Good-night, dear love" was given with all the' devotion of a' love-sick-Romeo. 'As a matter-of course, he was encored by an >audience -that readily apprecir ated .good musioal efforts. Mr _W. Gemmell sang, the "Prologue" ; by 'Fagliacci with so much; that ..he . was recalled, and had to contribute two other songs before he was allowed to retire.. Mr J. -A: Wallace violin solos with''Excellent effect. Mr Jesse Timson conducted his well-trained choir- with. unassuming skill,. and Mr. Chai.' A. Martin rendered valuable service as accompanist. ,