AMUSEMENTS

Otago Daily Times, Issue 16542, 16 November 1915, Page 7

AMUSEMENTS

PRINCESS THEATRE. The juggler and mysiifier of tho vaudcvillo stago musif bo a magician of no mean parts if ho is to please tho exacting public. Tho art has boon carried to such a length that to obtain novel effects is extremely difficult, and yet is absolutely necessary unless the audience is to be bored. Herbert Brooks, who opened at the Princess Thjatre last night, is not only one of the most mystifying of myatifiers who have ever been seen locally, but is also a comedian of many quaint oonceits._ Throughout a series of clever card-palming feats no kept his audience amused by the laughable &D----surdity of his comments, and his fun provided a pleasant light relief to what was really a remarkable performance. There seemed to bo few things that, he oould not do with a pack of oards, and hie ability to produce "full hands" and "routine flushes," apparently from, nowhere, was a thing to excite the envy of poker players. A really uniquo feat was his escape from a steel chcst, into which he squeezed himself with difficulty, and which was then strapped, corded, and fastened and re-fastened in a variety of ingenious ways. A second or two sufficed to enable him to emerge from his seemingly impregnable prison. Yernon and Sinclair presented a bright aiid amusing sketch, centring around the idea of a husband and wife, who had been married ovter tho telephone, and had never seen each other, meeting and falling in love. At intervals thoy sang pleasantly. One could not help laughing at the quick-fire patter of Delevale and Gilbert, who entertained the audience for 20 minutes, and perpetrated never a chestnut. The physical peculiarities of Gilbert were in themselves a subject for mirth. Miss Eugene Boland's fine contralto was heard to advantage in several numbers, and she scored a decided success in the tender littlo Irish song, "Mother Machree." Among those who appeared last week Ted Russell (comedian), Rowley_ and Tointon (dancers), the Leroy Sisters (vocalists), and Balancing; Stevens, the equilibrist, with the infectious smile, were again welcome. The programme will be repeated to-night, , HAYWARC'S PICTURES.

The leading picture at the Octagon Theatre is entitled "The Escape," a stirring dramatic story which deals chiefly with the efforts of a young girl to get away from the drawbacks of her environment, and raise herself and the members of her family to a higher moral life, _ As can be readily understood, the difficulties which beset an attractive girl, who strives,- to release herself from the shackles, and temptations which are associated with life in the slums, are almost insurmountable, but in this case the girl wins through. May Joyce, the child of the slums, \ both by preoept and example, strives to get her father to better the condition of his children. She does not meet with a great deal of. encouragement in her endeavours, and ,is ultimately prevailed ■ upon to marry a ' well-known desperado of the meighbourhood, "Bull 31'Goe," but at the last moment gives heed to the advice of Dr von Eiden, a young ambulance surgeon, to escape, if possible, from her surroundings, and makes her exit from the house by the fire-escape. May's sister Jenny, however, proves a more willing victim, and consents to take the vacant place at the altar and marry M'Gee.. She lives to fully' repent the day. May secures a position in an office in tho city, and is again rescued by the doctor from temptations. The doctor operates on her brother Larry, and restores him to hie normal mind, the surviving members of the Joyce family become happily united, and May becomes the wife of the man who has befriended her on so many critical occasions. The piece is presented by a particularly capafole body of artiste, Miss Blanche Sw»et, as the heroine, giving a fine interpretation of the part. A fine view of the finish of tho Melbourne Cup is included in the supporting subjects, which are judiciously selected.

QUEEN'S THEATRE. The "Million Dollar Mystery" picture progressed another stage at the Queen's Theatre yesterday, when the sixth episode, "The Coaching. Party of tho Duchess,">.was put on the screen. Braomi.arid the countess, discussing their failures, discover a man watching the countess's apartments, and are alarmed, . and plan another scheme to get not only Florence; but Jones, as well. Florence and Jones are invited to a coaching party, and the .members of the Black Hundred gather secretly to carry out the plan of capture. Norton cotnes upon the scene, and, fearing he knows not what, follows, and in the end, with the assistance of Jones, rescues Florence. A pursuit follows, in which Jones distinguishes himself, keeping back the gang while Florence and Norton gallop away. The picture is as good as any of its predecessors, and as full of incidents. Among other pictures shown is the Melbourne Cup and the Topical Gazette, both full of interest. "Britain's New Army" is a film that 'should attract much attention, and is well worth seeing. Wiffles on the Riviera," a comedy of considerable length, is a good production by the Pathe Company ; and the Lubin Company contributes another laughter-provoking subject in "Tho Valet," featuring Billie Keeves, in the employ of a wealthy bachelor invalid, whose patience, notwithstanding _ his fondness for "Billie," is frequently tried to the utmost by the vagaries of the latter. A widow comes upon the scene, and also a young girl, both of whom lead to trouble. Escaping from the pit into which he has fallen with the young girl's lover, " Billie" returns to seek the shelter of his employer's service, but i| thunderstruck to find the invalid upon his feet strolling gaily with 'the widow. The programme % will be repeated to-day. . PLAZA PICTURES. The chief picture presented at the Plaza Picture Theatre yesterday, was that entitled' "The Inner Brute." The story, briefly put, is that Jake Miller, the son ot a mountaineer, who has few associates, and who fr6m early childhood was much indulged owing to his brutish nature, due mainly to pre-natal influences, his mother ■ having been frightened by a lion. The lad had all tho brutishness arid ferocity of this animal. When Jake grew, up he fell in loVe with_ a girl named Helen Parker, and upon discovering that she favoured a young fellow named Will Hammond his jealousy, knew no bounds. All the. fierceness in his nature gained mastery over him, and ho waited for Hammond, and, after a terrific fight, killed him by throwing him over a cliff. He is pursued, but he eludes his pursuers by hiding in a tree, and as nignt comes on he stealthily makes his way to his mother's cabin, and, seeing her alone, he makes a scratching noise on the door. His mother, fearing tii'at it is the lion which, frightened her years before, gets a gun. She fires through the window, and kills her son. The photographic effect of this film is very good and most interesting. "Is America Ready?' is a picture of President Wilson reviewing the U.S.A. Navy. It is a fine spectacular production, and, in view of current events,' is decidcdly interesting., The other subjects, which make iip an entertaining programme, are: "Fable of tho Fusser, "Magic Hat," "Trapped," and the Eclair Journal. The series will be shown again today.

KING EDWARD THEATRE. At the King Edward Theatre last evening' was screened ,for the first time the powerful dramatisation of Paul' Armstrong's remarkable play, "The Escape." This great picture, which is over 7500 ft in length, is .produced on a most lavish arid artistic' scale by Mr D. W. Griffiths, and the east engaged includes some of the "most, favourably known picture actors in America. "The Escape." in c*dcr to throw its plot into vivid relief, has plumbed the depths of degradation to an unusual extent, and «the theme probably draws much of its power to fascinate from its closc adherence to the sordid truth. As a character study it stands upon a remarkable and striding level, and if some of the earlier events pourtrayed stand put with a, degree of poignancy amounting almost to ferocity, these only serve to throw a more lurid after-glow on the closing incidents of the tale. The opening scenes show May Joyce, the heroine, and the elder of two sisters, longing for brighter prospects and beseeching her besotted father to better the condition of his children. She escapes just in timo to avoid a marriage with a. villain of the blackest type, but her delicate sister, to hof lifelong sorrow, agrees to become the wife of the same man. Moving in higher, but even more perilous circles, the elder" gifl is rescued for a second time by a young ambulance surgeon, whom she grows tf> love. Pier later marriage to the surgeon forms a very natural and hnnpy finish to a. fine story. " The Melbourne Cur). 1915." gives an excellent impression of th : s ereat race from start, to finish, and shows Pntrohus winning l nicely, as well as some fine views of the lawns and stands. The same programme will be repeated to-day. GRAND THEATRE. The mannsrement of the Grand Picture Palace seems to have broken aw.iv from the estnblished order of thiners this week bv nutting on a nrogramme of pictures remarkably 'free frnm sensation, romance, and unreality. To Fome the chantre will w-lrnrne, «'b'l" nossiblv others will miss the hishly coloured, matter they are accustomed to. But the latter will derive a great deal of entertainment and pleasure

from witnessing -what » oertainly a fine , „ sot of pictures, end can scarcely faD to be f. x deeply interesting in all that is placed be- i ! "- fore tham. " Chir British Navy "is some- -• •. •i thing that goes very far beyond a mere depiction of battleships passing in stately 'h prooession across the screen, such as its 5 name might seem to imply. It starts of! \ with the career of a lad •who joins tlio " British Navy, and takes him through tho • ,y various stages of training and discipline he has to undergo, until he finally emerge* fully qualified to become a member of the crew of a British man-of-war. But this 1 . is by way : of preliminary to what follows: \ The individual is left there, and the pictures take a natioual form. Vessejs of war of all types are placed before the spectator, from the super-Dreadnought to tho . torpedo boat and the submersible, and aH '« are shown' actively at work. The deadly effects of the torpedo and of sea and land mines are illustrated in a startling fashion. . An excellent insight into naval armament is obtained from some of the pictures, and qg what purposta to be naval engagements , '< and land attacks oonclude a really interesting half-hour's exhibition. There is also a series of beautiful pictures of water- t; falls, in which the scenery is particularly rugged and grand, and something very y interesting to , young and old alike is witnessed in a fairly comprehensive depiotion of aniamls wild and domesticated. An excellent comedy, and a good number of "; the Gaumont Graphic, completes the pro- . i gramme.

EVERYBODY'S THEATRE. "Everybody's," the splendid new picture N theatre in Princes street (near Rattray street), w drawing large crowds of viators, and not- less attractive than the building ia <,* the programme of pictures submitted. The , management has decided to continue to ' show for a few days longer "The Dollar .i, Mark," tho remarkable drama with which ""i such a successful opening of the new theatre was made last week. The principal parts }) in this excellent picture are taken by Miss ,'jl Barbara Tenant and Robert Warwick, who' ~'j show themselves to be fully equal to the demands of a series of thrilling situations. , The new feature of the programme shown ' yesterday is a Posey Foot comedy entitled ' £ " Your Name Brown T' The humour in this # piece arises from the confusion between - "4; two ma-ned couples named Brown, who li»« in adjoining 'similar flats. They find their £ way into each other's rooms, and, with the aid of several friends and a zealous defcc- '' tive, beoome hopelessly mixed and compro-L ' ,■?/ mised. This programme will be repeated '<} to-day from 12 o'clock continuously till 10.30.