AMUSEMENTS.

Otago Daily Times, Issue 16718, 12 June 1916, Page 7

AMUSEMENTS.

VAUDKVILLK AT HIS MAJESTY'S. Tho new quiiiters provided for ]''iilleis' va\ide\illo entertainment at llis M.iji tj's "1 he.itro wcro leaded by large andieii.es on Hiituid.iy afteinoon ami evening, .md the laige bill of varieties met uitii a more than toidial roeept'ou. Thero will bo four new ikts to strengthen to night's programing. Special bigmluanoc ie attached to the first nppeaianeo lieieof the comic opera "stirs,' Miss Pearl Lndd and Mr Villiws Arnold — two artists who wore brought out to Aus tr.ilia some years ago by J. C llluimsjii (Ltd ). Tliev aio saitl to fuinish a routmo in v.nukville unique in character. Two other iicls out of tho ordin i.ry rut of tho \arietios are announced in Man clip's Cockatoos and Charlie's Oomno Circus. Tho former is confidently .incited to be a revelation of bird education such as lias never before been disilosul, and withal an exhibition of p>>»iinount interest and di\er<='on. The dogs are said ta bo not less unnaturally flever and bright, and their act is a most comicalh entertaining one. Mr Hariy Cash, an Kmrlis.h comedian of repute, who features Dutch character pongs, will also make his first appearance. Amongst other acts already high in popular esteem, which n ill remain for another week, aro tho Americ-m Comedy Team, Karlv and Laight, Barnes and Darncs, fJlen Ecsho, Jack Martin, and Bay and Gray.

OCTAGON THEATRE. BENEFIT PERFORMANCE TO-NIGIIT. Patrons who intend attending tho "Octagon" tonight, when Hall Caine's immortal work, "The Christian," will bo shown in aid of tho dependents of the gallant seamen who perished in tho recent navalbattlo off the Jutland coast, aro advised to book seats to-day at tho Bristol, otherwise seating accommodation will not be assured. Tlio plan gives every indication of a record attendance, and apait from the cause, tho entertainment itself makes a strong appeal. For tho success of ' Tho Chustian" photodrama produced by an English Jilm concern, most credit is duo to Hall Came, who supervised the whole production. In this way tho mob scenes wherein hundreds of terrified men, women, and ch.ldren dash tlnough tlio streets of London after the man whom they regard as a false prophet, aro tho largest yet seen in an English production. Hall Caino has humanised John Storm. Itv tho film version thoie is something fino about John Storm's fanaticism. His splendid, if hopeless, hat tic against tho powers of evil has the quality of real tragedy. Derwent Hall Caino, who has played the part many times upon the legitimate stage, makes it his vehicle for his screen debut. Miss Elizabeth Risdon makes a spirited Glory Quayle, and is supported by Gerald Ames, Doughs Munro, and many other well-known favourites. The doors will open to-nig t at 7 o'clock sharo, and as an added attraction Mi- J. A. Wallace, L.R.A.M., is to play two violm soli. Tin orchestra, under tho direction of Mr Fred Stokes, will render a special nautical oveiturc for this memorable occasion. PLAZA THEATRE. " The House of Tears " attracted largo afternoon and evening attendances to tho Plaza Theatre on Saturday, and patrons expressed pleasure at tho entertainment provided. The usual change of programme is announced for to-day, and has for its feature drama a World's Film production entitled •'Tho Dollar Mark." "Hearts in Esilo" was produced by tho same company, and created quite a furore when shown at the Plaza last winter. "Tlio Dollar Mark" is in five parts, presenting oyer 200 scenes. Tho loading parts are sustained by Robert Warwick and Barbara Tennant. The supporting films aro " The Black Box" (episodethirteen), "British Cavalry in the Making," and a screaming farco comedy of tho KeyFtone tjpe. entitled "In and Out." The theatre 'will bo open at 1 p.m. to-day. NEW QUEEN'S THEATRE. Sennett's " Crooked to tho End," whieili will be shown at the New Queen's Theatre to-day, is ono of tho wild, whirling Keystones which wore wont to gladden us List year. Three parts of it consist of mad admixture of delirious risks and diverting situations. Tho burglars cariy off a safo from a railway station, also tho station master s daughter, who has refused to give tho combination, and has contrived to ring up for assistance. They mount a railway tricycle, and then take possession of a passing tramcar as their pursuers como on locomotives and motor cars at breakneck speod. The engines collide in a head-on collision. Tho motors dash and crash over fences, through gates, into houses, and ono goes clean through a big lorry which happens to bo in the way. Meanwhile tho girl has clambered on the roof of tho tram, and is hauled back without a skirt. Then tho car goes through a dead-end and over a cliff, and the forces of the bw collect the malefactors. It is a real live, diverting picture and tho acting of tho gin, her father, and tho crooks is genuinely humorous. GRAND THEATRE. "The Unwiitten Law, or His Worship the Mayor," tho "star" feature to bo screened at "the Grand Picturo Palaco to-day, is a a cry powerful photo-play, dealing as it docs with, "graft" in America, and tho unscrupulous methods udoptcd by somo politicians in the land of tho Stars and Stupes are vividly portrayed. A phase of "society" life is laid bare in a daiing manner, and tho eouit scene, where the brother is charged with tho murder of his sister's betrayer, approaches a dramatic climax wlwn tho ]'iry acquits him by virtue of the "Unwritten Law." The "Eclair War Journal" is full of interesting subjects, and the suppoiting films are of unifoim merit and inteicst. KING EDWARD THEATRE. Hall Maine's greatest work, '~ne Christian," will bt) buown at tlio King Edw r ard 'jLm-atro to-night. 'J lie plot ot •"jliio Uirit,tian" lias btcomo laminar to tho public, not only through the extensive balu ot the book, but also by tho itage dramatisation. The principals aio John iitoim, a young London ekigjman, and Dorothy Quayle, tile granddaughter ol a olcigjnian, whom he lalls in love with. Dorothy takes up woik as a nurse in a London hospital, but has an ambition to go on the stage, and is cncouraged and assisted by a wea.tny acquaint- j ante, Fianus Diakc. In the glamour ot her new suiroundmgs stio is drawn away irom John Storm, whose good woik among tho poor of London has made him famous, llow Glory and John aro brought together again is jjortraved under tensely diamatic circumstances. EVERYBODY'S THEATRE. " The Bridge, or thu Bigger Man." It is generally recognised that tho picture theatre j,<3ing public, desire variety and nmelty jii tho programmes screened, and the management ot Everybody's 'J heatre, being in tho unic[ue position ot being able to screen feature diamas pioduced by at least two of the woild's leading film companies— nameU, "World Film" and "Metio" —has dt'c-idcd to cater loi the public tasto as far as it is m its power. Ihe tirst dr una under the new innovation to be screened is a "Metro ' photo play, entitled "I ho Budge, or the Bigger Man," which is said to oe ono ot the lincst films pioduced b> "Metio " 'ihe initial screening will take place to-day. lleniv Kolket, who plaj , tho leading pait, ably supported by Mis» Reno Kelly and a notable cast, and who will be remembered by his lino acting with Maigaret Anghn on the legitimate stage, is given full scope to show his leinarkablo povveis of mterpietation and versatility at their very best. A number of scenes stmd out piominently, notably a l-iOt between strikeis and stnko-bicakcrs. and the clash between the military and the howling mob. r lho whole stoiy is .said to be of a hcart-inteiesting chaiacter, containing many touching scenes, showing the itruggle for existence maintained by the bulk of the working class, and depicting tho self-sacrifice of .a noble-hc .n ted woman, who leaves riches <.nd friends to go out among tho denuons of tho undeiworld, and follows the man she 'encs even to tho end of tho t.uth. .V full suppoiting piogramme is pr<v containing comedy, topical, and scenic films. EMPIRE THEATRE. The wiitings of the Canadian Kipling, Robeit W. fcervioe, have .already been tinned to account for picture purposes, and for the second time, at least, hi.-, poemi have lortnc d the .übject foi what may be termed a picture poem The Empire 'lhcatro management has been fortunate enough to secure an c-cecllnit pictuiisation of "The Kong of tho Wage Hlave," the title of a poem bv Service, which has gained much favour, and which has been mateiiabsed for sc ri en production. In its presented condition Ned Lane, a iran belonging to tho lumber cunps of Oiegon. falls in love with liis mistn's daughter. Mildred Ilile. This young lady, however, loves ono Frank Dawson, a plausible, ciaven hearted soit of individual, who is the sou of the "Paper Mills King " Dawson dcsei's Mildred at the mandate of his father, and complicates matters by his chivalious action m marrying Mildred. From this point there is a series of grievous complications, l-cnunciation of all his rights by Ned, and a scries of sensational happen.ngs tint, leach a climax in which Noel loses his b f e, tho c-nd being icrv tragic. IJe gives tip his life willingly for Mildred, whom ho lias never ccised to love. The chief interest of tlie story centres round

Ned's lifo as ft toiler in llio wild pi, iocs ot tile uorl'l, whoir, ivi-Urss mid hope It"--., lie onl;> M'i'Us to .asmuljo Jut. pain ol jmiid In hiiuselt into <\ory sort, of turmoil, in order tr> induce, at somo (Itjjieo of Joi'ffctfuliK'-s of In-i troubles, lie iimliiU'o.s in wild oxee.S'.es with tile Mine olijeit in Men. A strus of moht, s'ns.il ion.i.l iiieii|en|q jr]vet, the liliu ontjrossmtf mlon M,, drpic linar, .is tiny do, the work of tlio toilers ,>t Iho fuinaoo, at the pit f.we, in tlio c.iinp, arid in tlio nulH One seene 111 p,u ticut.tr of niteriso mteiest, mill tli.it is wheif D.iwson, sen., is swept .may by tho ,ir< ulcnUl opening of the outli I pipe of ,i fl.iin, and earned away into a deep r<vvmo below 'i'here ib also a \<ry fine pietiiro of the tripping of a clani in the trie.Lt forests of liriti'-h Columbia, which is undo-ilitedly one of tho finest in the whole of the film. Tho scenery i-? magnificent, and this in itself is sufficient to ptye value to "The No-ic? of the Wage Slave," ap.irt from the telling of tho story. Tho .suppoiting liltns m tlio new arc (rood.