ENTERTAINMENTS

Southland Times, Issue 14577, 18 November 1910, Page 6

ENTERTAINMENTS

"THE PASSING Or THE THIRD FLOOR BACK." There was a large audience at the Municipal Theatre last night when Mr Allan Hamilton's Plimmer-Denniston Dramatic Company presented Jerome K. Jerome's remarkable play, •••The Passing of the Third Floor Back." The story upon which the play is based is familiar to the wide circle of readers of this popular writer's work, and need not be entered into in detail here. Nor is it necessary to elaborate upon the various conjectures that have been submitted as to the identity of "The Mysterious Stranger" who is the central figure of a story that shows .the possibility of brightening the sordid atmosphere of a Bl'oomsbury lodging house. Those who watched the development of his beneficent influence, as interpreted by a capable body of actors and actresses last night, wore quite satisfied with the suggestion that the transformation was possible by direct appeal to the "better .self" which, none but those sunk in the dark depths of pessimism refuses to believe is latent in the worst of us. The play is one that invigorates and convinces. Jinny people are aware from bitter experience that there are deeps within deeps of lodginghouse misery. The lodging-house which was revealed when the curtain rose last night was the most unpromising field in which to expect thai any springs of human kindness might be tapped. To this unpromising borne came the passing stranger, a man of infinite gentleness, and one by one the landlady and the boarders fall under his iniluonce, until the lodging house life becomes a delightful idyll. The various characters were excellently cast. .Mrs trough's realisation of the landlady, a solicitor's widow who used to have "at homes" every third Friday, was a most artistic performance, and .Miss Jjizrtte Parkes, as the downtrodden little slavey, gave a finished study of the part. Mr'.Harry I'limmer's acting as the "Stranger" was marked by restraint and power, and carried conviction all through. Mr lieynolds Denniston, as the bullying Major Tompkins, gave a very clever charactersketch, and with .Miss .Mice Deorwvn, as .Mrs Tompkins, admirably realised the author's idea and ideal. lCunallv successful were Miss Valentine .Sidney ("lie painted lady"). Miss .Marie ],e Croisette ("a snob"), Miss Myra Wall ("Vivian Tompkins"), and Messrs S. A. Fitzgerald ("the retired bookmaker"), Charles Throsby ("the rogue"), Harry Neville ("the rogue's jackal"), and Paget Hunter ("the struggling artist"). The plav called for a notable display of versatility on the part of the actors and actresses' and to their capable work must, be attributed the success of the production.

FULLERS' FXCTUKES. An unusually attractive change of programme was submitted at the Zealandia Hall last evening, when the attendance was large, and the majority of the films screened were received with much applause, particularly that entitled "Under the Microscope." The subject presents the results of the scientific investigation of the properties of a drop of water, which is drawn from a stagnant pool. It is an excellent example of the application of the cinematograph to the study of various matters under the micro-

scope, so that young and old alike may he instructed and entertained. It show's the various forms of organic life contained in the water, the manner In which Imcv are encouraged by being brought into contact with suitable cultivating material, and. after a close study, during which many of them are magnified to Mt least thirty thousand times their original size, their final destruction and elimination are shown by the aid of boilins: and (iUering the water —an an-

pealing recommendation to this course being thus furnished. "Pearl Fishing in -Australia" presents an. engrossing subject and gives a very realistic iuea of now this industry is pursued in the northern portion of the Commonwealth. The story of how a kind-hearted policeman rescues an. ill-used .street wait to his own ultimate benefit is well told in "One of the Finest," which is neatly acted olid cleverly Designed. With its wealth of detail and military effects, "The .Marriage of Muggins, V.C." caught the general raney ana also provided a prettv climax. While classing the dramatic representations mention must be made in laudatory terms of "Stars and Stripes," a silent drama in which love and war enter as the main theme, the whole being founded on an incident said to have occurred in the life of that famous naval hero, John Paul Jones. From a scenic and engineering point of view, "Ascending Schynige Platte," with its striking mountain railroad and alpine heights and depths is well worthy of a foremost place, while "Pathe's Animated Gazette No. 72" is well up-to-date, and the storv of "The Adopted Daughter' furnishes examples of good acting, grouping and general surroundings. One of the most engrossing pictures of the series "Behind tne Scenes of a Cinematograph Theatre" explains how illusion lilms are built up and finally presented to the public. The laughter-producing .subjects did not fail lo succeed in their object, and "The Almighty Dollar" may he'said to take pride of place; but "When Strength is not a Blessing" and "Tontolini's Bet" were not far behind. On Saturday afternoon the younger generation will be introduced to the mysteries of "A Drop of Water" at a matinee.

HAYWAED'S PICTURES. A new programme of Haywarrl's Pictures will be presented at the Municipal Theatre to-night. Among some of the attractions promised are a couple of scenic studios, "Picturesque Rome," revealing many interesting aspects of the eternal city, and "Life and People South of the Equator," which consists of views of places and people in tropical regions. The dramatic section includes a variety of subjects, "Out of the Past," "The Double-Six," - and "The Tide of Fortune." Among the humorous pictures to be shown are "When the Cat is Away," introducing .some clever acrobatic feats by two children, "The Wrong Floor," "The,ir Chaperoned Honeymoon," and "The Trimming of Paradise Gulch." The programme will he shown only tonight, to-morrow afternoon and evening, and on Tuesday evening. The theatre will be otherwise engaged on Monday evening, and a new programme will be shown for the cricketers' benefit next Wednesday evening. NELX.IE STEWART. Miss Nellie Stewart is unquestionably the most popular actress who has ever visited New Zealand, and the announcement that she is to once more appear in Invercargill, at the Municipal Theatre, on Friday next and Saturday week will be read with pleasurable anticipation by playgoers. On Friday night Mr Williamson will present "Australasia's idol" in a magnificent production for the first time here of Paul Kester's romantic historical drama " When Knighthood was "in Flower" and on Saturday' " Sweet Nell of Old Drury" will be revived. The part of Mary Tudor in " When Knighthood was in Flower" was specially written for Miss Stewart, with the happy result that it is classed amongst her greatest triumphs. The new drama deals with old historical days which ever hold a powerful charm by virtue of their picturesque and poetic atmosphere, and because they illustrate in a measure the most interesting period of our national growth. Miss Stewart will be supported by a particularly powerful organisation of artists, including Messrs Harcourt Beatty, Gaston Mervale, J. E. Atholwood, Eardely Turner, Gregan McMahon, A. J. Patrick, Norman Campbell, Stewart Clyde, Albert Myers, Misses Rosslyn Vane, Madeline Meredith, Gwen Burroughs, and Edith Lewis. One of the most memorable events in the long list of triumphs achieved by Miss Stewart was that which attended her efforts In an endeavour to raise at a matinee performance of " Sweet Nell " the sum of £IOOO for the Sydney Radium Hospital. iliss Stewart sold tickets for the matinee in the streets, she sold eau-de-cologne in the shop of David Jones in aid of the fund, she sold souvenir oranges, served afternoon tea during the interval, assisted at the auction sale for seats, and eventually she had the pleasure of handing to the hospital authorities the enormous sum of £llOO. "When Knighthood was in Flower ' and " Sweet Nell " will be staged on the same complete scale of magnificence as when they created a furore of enthusiasm in Sydney and Melbourne. The plans for the two productions will be opened at the Dresden on Tuesday morning next at 8.30. A queue will be formed from S a.m.

KrOEWAN CONCERT COKTPAWTT. AN ENTERTAINMENT AT INVERCARGILL. It has been arranged that the Norman Concert Company, which is winning golden opinions wherever it appears, shall give one entertainment here on Thursday, the 24th inst. The fact that the leading- members of the company are Miss Amy Murphy, Mr Walter Whyte, and Miss Nellie Black (late of the " All Blacks ") is a sure index of its unusually high calibre. It also includes Miss Mabel Fowler, a Tasmanian dramatic soprano, who is reported to have a phenomenal range and truly noble quality of tone. She won the gold medal given at a competition ar Hobart four years ago by Madame Amy Shcrwin, who described her voice as the best natural one she had ever heard. Madame Melba is enthusiastic about the possibilities of a brilliant career for her after she has undergone some further training. The company is completed with Miss Edith Nevill, . mezzo-con-tralto, a pupil of Andrew Black, Mr Louis Blitz (cello soloist), and Mr Charles Norman (pianist.)