AMUSEMENTS

Otago Daily Times, Issue 16594, 18 January 1916, Page 7

AMUSEMENTS

PRINCESS THEATRE. Thcro was a very large attendance .at the Princess Thoatro lu<st evening to witm.sti tho new programme with which the 'woelc waa ushered ill. Unfortunately ono of 1.1)0 performers (.Miss Betty Bruce), making a first appearance, was unable to fulfil hor engagement. having missed tho steamer by which sho was to iiave oome to Dunodin. It is, however, quite definite that Miss Bruce will appear this evening, and as she has tho reputation of being an exceptionally clover comediennc, last ovening's programme will bo mudo increasingly enjoyable. Indisposition prevented the appearance of Billy Sutton, but Miss Burlee, who is associatc-d with liiin in stage representations, sang several songs nicely, and to the complete wito'staction of the audience. By no means tho least attractive item presented was provided by Ibex, who proved himself very clever at shadowgraphs, many amusing matters being made fco appear on the screen merely by the aid of tho hands. Tho Maxwells' comedy and trick cycle act \V.is another feature that calls lor favourable comment. Tho two men weie quite at their ease on the wheel, and introduced several novelties. Tho serpentine skirt dancing by Sylvia was pretty and effective, and from a spectacular point of view gamed much by artistic coloured lighting. The remainder of tho programme was filled by tho Bletsoos, ,who appeared in a musical comedy ontitled " Palmistry Up-to-date." The setting was excellent, and Japanese in aharactor. Apparently tho establishment vas kept by a Madamo Cbrystal (Miss Aland Bletsoe), who haa a gift for finding affinities, and who sings some pretty songs while going about her business. There is in -the cast a very piquant French maid 1 (Miss Carrie Franks), whose sprightly, vivacious bearing waa very captivating, and several other lady parts, all of which were satisfactorily filled. These, more or less, provided a fund of humour, but the bulk of this emanated from three or four male members of tho revue. Albert Bletsop and Roy Rene were principals, and kept the aucfionoo highly anuused with their drolleries, besides contributing to the humour musically. This most recent production by tho Blctsoes met with considerable favour, and recalls wo frequent. The same programme, with the inclusion of Miss Bruce, will be repoated this evening. HAY WARD'S THEATRE. Patrons of the Octagon Theatre are promised a treat in the entertaiixjug qualities of tho usual change of programme, whicili is being made to-night instead of last evening. Tho loading picture will be a captivating Orientil romanoe entitled "The Carpet from Bagdad." The supporting pictures, as already announced, axe also interesting. QUEEN'S THEATRE. The new programme screened at the Queen's Theatre yesterdav was responsible for attracting largo audienccs at each eee-s-ion throughout the afternoon and ovening. No doubt tho fifteenth film containing a further pieco of tho " Million Dollar Mystery," dramatised, was responsible in tho main for tho largo attendance, a good number of people desiring to follow the story to its conclusion. However, the other pictures screened' are of a most entertaining character, and ably support the "headliner," entitled "The Borrowed Hydropiano." As tho story- runß, tho "Black Hundred," having sustained defeat after defeat., they aro driven to attempt greater deeds of during, and to achieve these they strive to perfect schemes and plans which will enable them to carry out their object. Their descent upon the House of Mystery in force, and their demand for one million dollars from Jones, and tho lather's defiance of them until the approach of a_ flying machine, when, in a fight to a finish, tho "Black Hundred" aro again defeated, are thrilling parts throughout. It is little wonder* that it attracts tho public. The other films, which complete a first-class programme, are " Their First Quarrel," "tor Love of Marv Ellen," and the Topical Budget. These pictures will be screened again to-day, commencing at the usual hour. PLAZA THEATRE. Tho now programme brought beforo patrons at the Plaza Theatre yesterday was very popular at the various sessions. Special attraction was found in tho dramatic presentation of "Business Rivals," a deeplylaid plot to bring off a jewel robbery by rival crooks of tho swell mob variety. Tho opportunity presented itself when the wealthy Primrose M'Farland decided to wear all the family jewels at a birthday party. Dominica and Braga, on the one part, gain admission to the function, one as a sympathetic singer, and the other as an extra waiter. Their rival in tho nefarious business was Gaston Lo Grand, an expolice official, who, pretending to bo a butler from a mansion three doors lower down, made love to one <jf tho M'Farland maids, and so gained access to the rooms where the guests had been dancing the winged hours away. Braga ooncealed himself in a big chest, "and Le Grand ohloroformed the hostess after the ball, but not before she had divested herself of her jewels and handed them over to the custody of her artist nephew Robert, who undertakes to place them in a tafo deposit strong-room next morning. On tho way to his taxi he was attacked by Le Grand, after having Ijion warned of hia danger by Dominica. Finally all tho rogues suffer discomfiture, and tho jewels find safe lodgment in the owner's vault. A diverting comedy, "A Happy Pair," brings under notice a domestic contest between a fault-finding husband and an irate wife. By special request, tlio Charlio Chaplin revue "The Elopement" has been revived, and kept the audiences in roars of laughter from start to finish. A very clever cartoon, "Weight and Seo," satirised tho Kaiser as a strong man trying to carry tho wholo_ weight of the Allies as they _ are superimposed on his chest. Tho topical films present vivid war pictures, including some of Salonika. KING EDWARD THEATRE..

The special attraction at tho King Edward Theatre for this week will bo found in the appropriate story from tho Far East, "The Carpet From Bagdad." This takes tho spectators away ti'om tho matter-of-fact, materialistic twentieth century surroundings into tho realms of Oriental fancy, made familiax to tho world for all timo amongst tho thousand and one stories enshrined in the "Arabian Nights." Tho narrative pictorially centres around the adventures of some New York thieves, who scheme to possess themselves of tho sacred prayer carpet from a mosque in Bagdad. The accomplishment of this not of sacrilege brings tho perpotrators into no end of trouble, arid involves them' in countless adventures. The plot is worked out amongst travelling caravans in a desert sandstorm, in charming oases, in mosques and teniples, and in Cairo hotels. In oontrast to these is interwoven a New York plot, in which a pretty girl (Fortune) thwarts the schemes of her mother and other disreputablo characters. Another attraction of quite a different character is presontod in "The Honeymoon Baby." In this comedy a nowly-marricd couple on their honeymoon tour endeavour to escape the embarrassing convivial demonstrations of their friends at their journey's end by borrowing tho chubby baby of one of their travelling companions. Tho "Birdland Studies" convey instructive lessons in natural history, _ and the "Patho Gazette" contains interesting and numerous recent war incidents. GRAND THEATRE. The management of tho Grand Theatre has put forward for tho early part of this week a programme that loses nothing when compared with programmes of the past. The leading picturo is "Tho Ghost Breaker," which is a stor.y woven about a theft of jewellery. There is a Spanish family of ancient lineage and bearing a high-sonnding title, which by some means has lost valuable jewels under mysterious circumstances; tho mystery being carried further by the fact that the.ro is a locket which contains tho chic to their whereabouts. This locket is stolen by a maid in tho employ of tho noblo family of Arrogan, and sold to an American visitor with an ey© to tho " almighty dollar." Tho head of tho noblo houso goes to a haunted castlo, having an idea some light may be thrown on matters there; is promptly knocked on tho head by servants of tho Duke D'Alva, who is an interested party, and finally drowned. His son goes to the haunted castle in search of him, and is seized and kept in close confinement by tho duke's servants. It is therefore left to a woman and an American named Jarvis to unravel tho mystery. Tho lady is tho Princess Maria Thercsn, daughter of tho murdered man, in whose room Jarvis, after shooting a man in a family feud, takes refuge. Jarvis, having had his life thus proserved bv the princess, becomes her " vassal," and undertakes to find out all about tho enchanted castle. Thither ho goes, attended by a negro servant, and some "scary" things happen in dark passages. Meantimo the brother of tho princess, who has been provided with limited accommodation i ind bread and water, escapes under thrilling renditions. Tho Duko D'Alva has got an i inkling of where tho gems are hidden in i the haunted castle, and is verv busy on tho masonry with_ a hammer and chisel when * Jarvis and his black retainer enter tho i gloomy place. Ho beats a retreat to a place sf concealment, but is discovered, and i landed oyer to the civil authorities, who have <

arrived in a violent terry by motor car. Jiirvis discovers where tho jerwela are secreted, and his return of them to Princes 3 Maria Theresa results in a lovo passage in this haunted castle that is plainly indicative of a 'union for life. EVERYBODY'S THEATRE. A story full of interest and excitement forms tho subject of "Lola," tha star film of tho new programms; shown at Everybody's Theatre yesterday. It is ono of the latest productions of the World Film Com]Mmy, and tho leading piirt is taken by Miss Clara Kimball Young, while Miss Ola Humphries, who has been acen on the stage in Dunedin, oocupics another important role. Doris Moore, the heroine, is an unsophisticated country girl, whose father is a derer soiontiEt. Ho perfects an invention by the aid of which he claims that he can restore the dead to lifo. A subject for hie experiments is not long wanting, for his daughter is tho victim of a serious accident, and to ail appearances is dead. Her father applies his methods, which resnlt in the recovery of tho girL But she does not return entirely to her former state. While physically fihe remains the 3amo, mentally and morally she has undergone an appalling change, and from an innocent young girl with an instinctive lovo of what is truest and best she is transformed into a woman with a decided leaning towards undesirable habits and companions. Her beauty is thus transformed into an enemy of her well-being, and it is not long before she is plunged into tho society of ono of the worst sets of tho New York underworld. Before her transformation she was loved by a suitable young man, and returned Iris affection, but after her resuscitation she prefers the society of a dissolute rival of his in nor regard, who is totally ineligible in a varioty of ways to beoomo her husband. The climax is very sensational, and tho whole picture grips the attention throughout. The principal film was supported by a two-part Charles Chaplin comedy entitled "A Woman." If eomo of the humour is cheap and obtained from more or less vulgar effects, it is not very bad, and yesterday's audiences certainly seemed to enjoy it heartily. Tho Clara Kimball Young competition was started yesterday. Every patron purchasing a sixpenny ticket will receive a coupon, and tho person who saves the greatest number of coupons by February 28 will receive an .oil painting of Miss Young. Tho programme will be repeated today. MR AND MRs'ipTH'S RECITAL. Mr Krnest Firth/ F.R.G.0., and Mrs Firth are both very well-known m musical circles in Christchurch, and it would appear that their reputation liad preceded them to tho south it the very large audience which attended their recital in the Octagon Hall last night could be taken as evidence of tho fact. Mrs Firth has a contralto voice of a good deal of power and considerable range. It is produced with smooth 'facility and effortless ease, and her phrasing is remarkably good. She gives evidence of musical sensibility in a high degree, and interprets her songs for the audience in tho most plea6iiig manner, producing the correct atmosphere, so to speak, with the nicest precision of effort. She is a cultured vocalist with a good voice and a pleasing personality. The programme was largely of what may be called a popular character, using the word in a good sense. Mrs Firth enlisted the sympathy of her audience with her singing ot BlumenthaTs " Sunshine and Rain," her opening number, of which she made as much as was possible with & song wliich is, perhaps, a little thin. " I Love Thee, Lifo" (Liddle), was very well sung, with a good deal of dramatic ability pleasantly subdued. " Tho Three Fishers," Hullah's song, which so admirably suits a good contralto, was one of .her best numbers and one that found most favour with the audience, and the very well-known " Rosary" acquired added charm through her treatment of it, apt as it is to grow wearisome through frequent repetition. " Break, Break, Break," in a v setting by Carey, was another of her best items, and the imperishable "Good-bye" (Tosti), which must be well in tho lead of all songs as far as frequency of repetition is concerned, was sung in a thoroughly charming manner. Mrs Firth also gave an agreeable taste of her ability in oratorical work. Although her programme was trying, comprising a round dozen of numbers, her voice did not loso ono whit of its freshness. Mr Firth played a number of organ solos in an able fashion. Wagner's " Flying Dutchman" was a test of his ability from which he emerged triumphantly, and other agreeable items were " Polonaise in A Major" (Chopin) "Sous Les Boie " (Durand), "Intermezzo " (I Toll ins), " Festal March" (Calkin), and "Slumber Song." In spite of tho fact that they sustained the weight of tho whole programme alone, Mr and Mrs Firth obligingly responded to_ insistent recalls. The proceeds of the recital were in aid of the Central Missiofi, and at the conclusion tho Kev. Mr Clarenco Eaton gratefully thanked the performers.