ENTERTAINMENTS

Southland Times, Issue 17477, 5 April 1915, Page 6

ENTERTAINMENTS

“SEVEN LITTLE AUSTRALIANS.” On Saturday afternoon and evening the .charming Australian play, “Seven Little Australians,” was presented in the Municipal Theatre, there being a good house on each occasion, and It must be at once said that the patronage bestowed on the production was well deserved, as it is one that makes a strong appeal to all sections of the community, be they man or woman, boy or girl. The play is an adaptation of Miss Ethel Turner’s famous stories, “Seven Little Australians’’ and “Miss Bobbie.” Those who have read these works by Miss Turner must give testimony to the fact that they are cleverly written: that they are clean and wholesome: that they convey an intensely human story of laughter and tears, and that, in short, as a study of children it is extremely doubtful if anything equal to them has yet seen the light in this, or any other, part of this planet. The playwright has done his work well, and no higher praise can be bestowed on it than to state that the play is as equally delightful as tho two books which have furnished tho basis and superstructure for it. Mr Beaumont Smith has indeed done well in allowing the people of Invercargill to have an opportunity of witnessing this dramatisation of Miss Ethel Turner’s famous works, and in these neurotic times the advent of such a production should bo doubly welcome. It has already been said that It conveys an intensely human story, and, shortly, it tells of a clergyman ("Rev. Ur Wallace”) whose wife dies and leaves him with six little children on his hands. Dr Wallace is a benign and kindly old gentleman. but his thoughts arc frequently occupied with other than domestic pursuits, and he is tho least capable man that could be chosen to deal with a family of healthy boys and girls. who arc perennially brimming over with fun ami mischief. The brunt of trouble devolves upon "Bertha." an old domestic. To further add to the troubles of Ur Wallace and Bertha an old friend in "Captain Lennox," who through his dissolute habits has fallen on evil days, leaves his young daughter in l>r Wallace’s care, and thereafter there are increasing troubles to be encountered. The story, although in parts exerutiatingly funny, is, nevertheless, a most pathetic one, ami one can easily picture the potential failure that awaited the old doctor and his faithful domestic in their collective efforts to bring up this fairly large family in the way they should go. The youngsters themselves, however, while possessing ail the animal spirits, without which no child can be truly happy, are at heart downright good and lovable little souls, and the story is after all a happy one, 'I he children, as shown in the play, are not stage children, but are real human products, and in ibis the dramatist has been most successful in gripping the spirit that has made Miss Turner’s literary efforts so notable.

Mr Harrington Reynolds. the distinguished English actor, to whom lias been entrusted the all-important part of the Rev. Dr Wallace, needs no special introduction to Invercargill playgoers as his fine performance in the part or Father Kelly in -"he Rpsary" will be for lons remembered by those who had the privilege of seeing him on that occasion. It would be. difficult to conceive an actor more suited to the part of the Rev. Dr Wallace than Mr Reynolds, and his delineation of it on Saturday night was as well-nigh perfect as it could humanly be made. The Quiet effectiveness with which he dealt with the work allotted him: his pleasing stage appearance; the bringing out of tho latent sense of humour possessed by the doctor; his genius for adapting himself to the spirit of childish fun and frolic these attributes and others made the study one of great merit, and served to appeal irresistibly to an audience which was sympathetic from beginning to end of the"piece. Miss Sinna St. Clair, whose first appearance in an important part it was in Invercargill, came here with firstclass credentials, t.nd after seeing her as -Bertha." one is compelled to admit that the high reputation which had gone ahead of her was in every respect highly deserved. Miss St. flair acted the part to the very letter, and, while the character provided plenty of amusement, there was never at any lime even a hint of burlesque in her work. This was all the more deserving of stress, because the part is one which offers a strong temptation in that direction. Miss St. flair has indeed every reason to be proud of the manner in which she lays Lu.ro the character of Bertha, and the audience was not slow in realising that her performance was one that was far removed from the ordinary. Of the Seven Kittle Australians, nothing but praise can be uttered, and it is a rare occasion indeed that tho opportunity is provided of seeing such a remarkably clever septette of children. As "Miss Bobbie" little Vera Spaull has a most exacting part to deal with, and that she does so most effectively but fractionally expresses all the good things one would like to say about her. Throughout, whether in scenes that were gay, or in scenes that were grave and pathetic her acting was splendid, and she is certainly one of tho cleverest little women that has happened along this wav. Olga Agnew is another clever little girl, and to her was given the part of "Pip." a romping, mischievous hoy. 11 needs only a glance to show that little Miss Agnew- is temperamentally the very antithesis of tho character she had to depict. and the part of a little nun-like girl would obviously have h»en more in keeping with her retiring disposition. It speaks volumes for the artist in Olga that she is able to lose her individuality and become a "boy whose chief stock-in-trade is mischief, frolic and general childish naughtiness. She did this excellently, and one special feature about her work was her splendid enunciation. In this respect she stood out from the other juvenile performers. As "Suds’ Cecil Haines, a little New Zealand girl, gave a simply wonderful performance. Suds, it may be explained, is the most hardened young sinner of the family, and is the "bov” who is most often in disgrace. For one so young Cecil has astonishing talent, and already she possesses all tho idiosyncrasies of the finished actress. The part of Suds has certainly been given more "fat" than has been allotted the others, which., of course, provides more opportunities, and of every one of these Cecil Haines makes the very most. Her drollery completely caught the fancy of the audience. Vet a Cannon as Nell, Esma Cannon as “Baby." Fred. Carlton as "Buntv." and Hector Macdonald as "Dumps" are also excellently well placed, and. although their parts do not provide «o many opportunities as do those of the other three children, what did come their way was done in a manner that would put to shame the work of manyadult actors of allegedly great repute. Mr Hilbert Finery as “Constable Mullaney." Mr Cyril French as "the reporter,’ -Mr Walter Vincent as "Captain Lennox." and Mr Wilfrid Drayton as "Sir Frederick Graham" are the remaining members of the cast, and each helps materially to make things go with the required swing. “Seven Little Australians" will be staged again at a matinee this afternoon, and they will make their final bow this evening. THE I.TCEU.M. Hood and varied pictures, screened to the accompaniment of excellent music, provides an entertainment of high order at the Lyceum Theatre this evening. The film to which the greatest amount of prominence is given in the series is a drama which has been carried out by the Famous Players’ Company, and "The Little Grey Lady” must he numbered as one of its chief successes, especially in view of the restrained and graceful acting of Miss Jane Gray in the title role. Perry Carlyle is the type of young man whose tastes are of the extravagant order, anl though he is beloved by a girl capable of raising him to a higher plane of living, he perversely lavishes his affections and money- upon another member of the sex. involving him in financial embarrassments, and in order to supplement the overtaxed resources of his income he makes unlawful use of his position in the Treasury Department by putting mutilated money- into circulation. The discovery- of his crime and his consequent difficulties show him which is the more worthy love of the two. “The Wrong Flat,” and “Out Again and In Again" are two comedies that produce much merriment. “Japan-ese-American Fishing” is an exceedinglyinteresting industrial film, and the latest Gazette contains a selection of welcome war news and shows the Indians leaving for the front, and in the succeeding portions of the film are seen Ghurkas, c.-ifi.o smd Indian cavalry and their ap-

pearance on the screen la the signal for great enthusiasm. FULLERS’ PICTURES. “On His’ Majesty’s Service” is the star film in the new programme to be presented at tho Zealandia Hall to-night. The story opens at the time of the declaration of war between England and Germany, and it shows a couple of German spies at work on a plot to blow up a bridge over which an English troop train is* to pass. The plot, however, is discovered by their lady typist, who is in reality a secret service agent for the British Government. The girl is discovered and carried away in a motor car, but a motor cyclist, a secret service man, follows, and rescues her in the nick of time. She relates what is going on, and the train is saved. Tho picture is a very tine one, and the photography, acting, and settings are all excellent. The Keystone comedy is “A Gentleman of Nerve, ’ in which Charles Chaplin ami Mabel Normand, the favourite pair of comedians, as motor fiends in motor car races, play pranks that make the sides aelyj, with laughter. Tho latest war special entitled “India’s Reply," shows some of our dusky warriors who have answered the Empire's call, scenes in the cam]) before departing for the front, and troopof India's splendid cavalry moving out of camp. An excellent series supports the above. A matinee will bo held this afternoon at 2.30.