AMUSEMENTS.

Stratford Evening Post, Volume XXV, Issue 283, 27 November 1914, Page 3

AMUSEMENTS.

HIS MAJESTY’S THEATRE. “Hinemoa,” a beautiful Maori story, is a special feature on to-nigiit’s programme, it is the most ambitious cinema effort- yet attempted in this country. Every scene is acted and filmed in the Land of the Moa. It is enacted by a picked cast of ‘SO clever Maoris, selected from the Rev. 11.I 1 . Bonnet’s noted Maori OholT, and

taken on the identical spots presented in Maori tradition. It presents Maoriland’s queen of the waver, Hinemoa, a beautiful belle in bronze, who braves all, answers the love call,

and swims four miles across Lake Rotorua to the Island of Mokoia. Another feature on this programme is “Strength of the French Army.” This is a picture of our brave Allies, which no one should miss. “Just a Song at Twilight” is a grand drama taken from that famous song by the same name. “Gaumont Graphic”- shoivc the latest from Europe, “Birth ol Plants” is a splendid Pathe study n. colors. The comedies include, “The Bo’sun’s Mate” and “A Migjhty Monarch,” featuring John Bunny. Mr Will Diamond will sing, “Just a Song at Twilight,” with orchestra! accompaniment.

“BUNTY PULLS THE STRINGS.” TO-MORROW NIGHT. Mr and Mrs Graham Moffat’s Scot fish company will give a performanc of the Scotch comedy, “Bunty Pull the Strings” (under the direction of E J. Carroll and J. C. Williamson) in th Town Hall to-morrow evening. Foi the benefit of those who are npt ac quainted with “Bunty,” it may b mentioned that tjie action of the pla;. is excited round the tangles of Tam mas Biggar of Liutiehaugh, Scotland which entanglements are straightene out by his quiet common-sense dau ghter, “Bunty.” The period is 1860 the time of the crinoline chenille hair nets, and pork-pie hats, which fashion are faithfully represented on the plaj The history of the play is one o the : romances of the theatrical world It was originally produced at a spec ial matinee given to theatrical man agers, actors, and critics. So pro found was the impression made, tha' four West Eh;l theatre managers offer ed their theatres for the production o “Bunty” to Mr Graham Moffat, th author. It'was eventually played a the Haymarket Theatre, London, t phenomenal business. So great wa the demand for seats that three mat! nees each week, in addition to th evening performances, were given. Tin broke all London records, and durin; the run of the play, King George V. Queen Mary, the Prince of Wales, an the principal members of the Cahine and House of Parliament were amongs' its patrons. / Its success was not con fined to London. “Bunty” was plaj ed in NewiYork for 400 nights to rc cord business, and thirteen companie were then organised to play the corned in Great Britain, America and Can ada, all meeting with remarkable sur cess.

The box plan is at Mr Grubb’s

“SAN TOY.”

Considering the wretched weai he last night the New Plymouth Opera tic Society had a very good lioum for their production of “San Toy” ai the Town Hall. The play is 01 ai extremely light natiKOj but the musiis bright and catchy and the libretti smart. Some of the best music r contained in the choruses, and thes« rvere all excellently rendered lar night. Full advantage Avas taken o. of the Chinese setting and a specia feature Avas made if 1 1: e dressing. AI the strong colors favored hy tin Chinese were much in evidence, am' t.he effect Avas ! triVng in the ex treme in the ensembles. The seen ery, spotially pa in tad by Mr A. Bind bury, set off aa*o!l the bright dressing and the presentation .avas a credit ti all concerned. A special word o praise is due to the orchestra, Avjin under Mr R. N. iiena.ul's capabb baton, supplied excellent music. Then Avere, it is)true, rather•• many time: when things did not av jrk so s.m roth ly as they should, but last night Avas the first occasion Avhen the Society had faced the. public—a serious con sidoration in the case of an amateui organisation—and no doubt Avhen the.' next face the, footlights the piece aa il go Avith all the required sAving. Male ing all rflloAvances, the performanci can he properly described as a tlior oughly creditable one. The story of the play is soon told San Toy, daughter of a mandarin

masquerades as a boy to escape be ing sent to Pekin as one ol the Km peror’s wives. She falls m love wit)

an English military officer; but wbe.i they are on the verge of eloping, Sai Toy is discovered and summoned tr Pekin. The Emperor is highly pleas od with San Toy, and things look ; little queer for the English officer: hut the Emperor is a good sorb, and just before the final chorus and curtain he announces that San Tnyh ways are too English for aim, and he gives her a free I and to choose a husband for herself. Her mind has been previously made up on the matter, and the English officer is the lucky man. Mrs Birch-Johnston was a decided success as San Toy, playing with just the requisite piquancy and vim. Her first solo, “It’s \ T ice to he a Boy Sometimes,” is a light, catchy melody, which she rendered excei'ontlv. A pretty number was “A.8.C..” sung with Bobbie. “I’m so Fond of a Little Bit of Fun” : s another vivacious number, in which Mrs BiichJobnston was thoroughly, at heme She was no less sneces-ful in “Some, body,” a song of a veiy different

character—a quiet, soft love song. In “China Maid,” sung with Bobbie, her singing and acting were excellent, the number being a very pielty one. In a rather mall part a c Poppy Preston, Mrs E. M. Doll '.'allied herself through wicn croon. She gave a fine rendering of her solo A Posy from over the Sea,” and took a prominent part in the concerted item*. Miss K. Bennett gave a fine icpie-.'n-tation of Dudley, Poppy’s maid. Her solos. “The Lady’s Maid” a d “Rhode.” two “snappy” were .riven with spirit, and her d iets wtn Li, “Samee , Sdtnoc,” and '•Chum raised a hearty laugh. Mnses *. Hooker (Captain of the Guards), KTuohv, M. Tip lady, L. Mount, JDavidson, T. Gilbert, J. Elliott O e* How’s wives), A. Hnuke, W. Beuaett, B Oliver, and Mrs Maidley (Engksh ladies) had little to do except looa pretty, and put “body” into the choruses, and, in the words of the song, “They did it very well. Mr George V. Lambert made a success of the part of Captain Bobbie Preston (Mr San Tov in the sequel). Mis solo “From Lotus Land” is a pretty item, and was nicely done. In t.ne second act he introduced the i)«:ti song “Motherland,” being sur ported by two gentlemen representatives of the Army and Navy. The song has •r good swing and Mr Lambert failed not to make the most of it. He ha a fairly heavy part and was seen frequently in the concerted numbers. As Yen How, mandarin, Mr Alf Cray, supplied a good deal of quiet Ivtirmr. He had' two good solos, “Six Little Wives” and “Introduce it ” ,to China.” Sir Bingo Preston 'Mr A McDiarmid) had a smallish r-irt, but it was done with a degree of finish. The low comedy was in the capable hands of Mr Will McEwen as Li, a very humorous Chinese servant. He kept the fun moving throughout, and was rewarded with a gonexois shaie of laughter. His solo “China S<Jger Man” was a good effort, and he was übiquitous in the concerned numbers. Messrs P. Stainton, N; Parker, T. Hogg, E. S. Baylv, 11. McEwen, E. Preecf, T. Hoggand, T. Bacon, rendered small parts credits dly. The operations of the Emperor’s Guards and of the, ballet were pleasing circumstances.