THE THEATRES.

Sun (Christchurch), Volume I, Issue 46, 31 March 1914, Page 9

THE THEATRES.

"A DAY AT THE RACES."

The second effort of the American

Burlesque Company how appearing at the Theatre Royal can truthfully be said to be better than the first. "A Day at the Races" if its plot be not new, certainly contains some diversifying numbers- and much eleanr tomfoolery. The plot is certainly not of the consistency of pottage, but it runs along through the piece without interfering witha goodly number of musical items sandwiched in between the dark machinations of the heavy man, and the extravagant farcicalities of the humorists. It is the usual story of " doping " the favourite, and, as always happens in stageiand, the plot misses. Interspersed in this cold scheming are some very acceptable numbers. "Let's Make Love Among the Hoses," Miss Elaine Ravensberg and the Lancaster Trio, is a pretty and tuneful composition. A Scottish contribution, '' Bring Back my Bonny to Me," —Carlton Chase and a suitably attired chorus —-

was well received, and more was de-

manded, the members obliging. Harry Burgess, the real comedian of the company- —though whether the management kifow it or not is a different thing—made: a hit with "X Looked Just Once," and was compelled to supply many more verses than he had originally intended. Bert Le Blanc and Paul Stanhope kept the. fun going, the audience appreciattheir efforts, and the first act finishes with "Lady Love" winning by a neck, thereby disconcerting the villain. The setting of Act 11. was quite good. It represented a'' joy house'' on Coney Island, and was very effective. The initial characters introduced themselves per medium of a schute, which was supported from an effect standpoint by a brilliantlylighted windmill in full working order. The star act of this half of the programme was a burlesque opera effort by Miss Elaine Ravensberg and Mr Dave Nowlin. The entry of the chorus and the principals of the opera were extravagantly'sketched by these two in a very clever manner, an encore being demanded. A dinner party at which the plot, is further unravelled provides fur,the7r frolics for the humour men, and was followed by the "Waltzing Wedding," which' was a pleasing feature. In the end all the tangle, was straight--ened, and those who desired to marry did so. "A Day- at the Races" will be . repeated to-night, and for three more nights, and on Saturday evening <A Dream City" will be staged.

HIS MAJESTY'S. ; An excellent overture, " Goddess of .Wight," last evening ushered in a programme of general acceptability at His Majesty's Theatre. Following the overture, the series of pictures obtained of Scotland's recent flight in fellington, was screened, and the- machine shown in the trees at Newtown Park, a bad wreck. An excellent number of the ."Gaumond Graphie" was then projected, showing a splendid variety in the way of topical news, the picture of most interest, perhaps, being ; that of , .lack Johnson and Prank Moran: signing aa agreement- for a fight in Paris. In the. film, 11 One Hour Before Dawn,'' which followed next and occupied the remainder of the first half of the programme, patrons were shown something original in the way of moving pictures. The film is a great detective drama, in which. Laura Sawyer, a charming young acrtess, appears to splendid advantage as Kate Kirby. The film deals with the death of a scientist whose son was infatuated with a chorus girl. The mght before his death the scientist had been approached by his son and the girl of -his choice, with a view to reconciliation, but the old man refused' to consider it. The death occurred from a bullet wound caused by a revolver. Detectives were called in, but were baffled, and at last they arrested the son, charging him with murder. Modern police methods were used in the matter of extracting confession, including the third degree, but the young man still maintained his innocence. Meanwhile, Kate Kirby obtained a place in the theatrical company as chorus girl and endeavoured to obtain a confession from the woman in the case. This person was soon also in the h&Hds of the-police, and at last> to save fcOr lover, she confessed her guilt. Kate Kirby, however, was not satisfied as to the the ixjorifesaion, -anct continued herf "im-destigation. : Eventually she praved conclusively that the scientist was the victim of a

terrific explosive force -which he had « r secretly discovered, and she was able ta demonstrate ■ that force herself by mean*} of the scientist -s apparatus. The story, is based', on the; recent scientific discovery, the Infrared ray, discovered bjT' Signor Ulivii, and now in the possession of the Italian. Government, "by which explosives may be fired from a distance. The second half of the ©rogramme commenced with a. travel

film, "St A Cloud,of value 1 in that it ■ portrays historic scenes as well as scenes of great beauty. "The Little Hero" then followed, a dramatic reproduction of the song 'of that name. 14 Zuza, the Bandmaster,'' brought the Excellent programme to a conclusion. This film is a skit on the world famous American bandmaster, and calls forth unbounded mirth. One man on leaving the theatre was heard to say, ' c The best pictures I have ever seen." Perhaps this gentleman had not had very "extensive in the matter of picture shows; but nevertheless, the programme is well worth seeing, and should draw large houses throughout the week.

COLOSSEUM.

A good all-round programme made its appearance for the firsir time at the Colosseum last night, and was mueh appreciated by the large audience. The first half of the programme was of a varied and acceptable nature, consisting of the films, "Water Fowl at. Home," an excellent Pathe Nature study, "How Moving Pictures are Made," a film setting out all the varied processes involved in* the business of film production; " Pathe's English/ Gazette," depicting splendid topical news; "Trapped in a Forest Fire,'? the chief scene being a gallant rescue from death in a forest fire; and , "Mary Jane,'' a Vitagraph comedy. It was in the second half of the programme that the strength lay. It was commenced with a fine industrial film, '' The Sponge Industry," dealing with the industry off the coast of Cuba. The star film was put on next, in "Within the Enemy's Lines." This production portrays , a dramatic happening of the American Civil War. The story is that on a certain Christmas Day a Colonel in the Southern Army decided that on the next Christmas he would make an effort to procure adequate presents for his children, so that Christmas festivities might go on as usual for them. On leaving his home he procured the toys, and kept them until the following Christmas. By that time the Northern Army was in the district around his home, and it was a matter of great danger to break through the enemy's lines. The Colonel, however, was determined to make the attempt, and, attired as a pedlar, he set out on his perilous journey. Unfortunately, he was recognised by the General of the Union Army,' who, taking a squad of men, set out to arrest the Colonel on •his arrival home. The Colonel's son knew that if his father were captured out of uniform he would be- shot. The plucky young fellow slipped over the Union lines, got possession of. a Confederate uniform from one of the officers in custody, ostensibly, to take the place of his own clothes, which had become sodden through his swimming a creek,and clad in the new garb he quickly returned in time to save his father, from arrest and an ignominious death. The Colonel was.then taken as a prisoner of war, and shortly afterwards, when festivities■' were in full swing and the Union General a guest, word was received that he had been exchanged for a captured Union offieer. The concluding picture on the programme was a Keystone comedy, "Too Many Brides.'' This film called forth | laughter in abundance, and was an j exceedingly humorous production. The programme will be screened again this evening.

OPERA HOUSE. The programme at the Opera House this week is up to the usual standard, and that, to consistent patrons, is sufficient commendation. The humour of Charles Zoli, the dialect comedian, is still fresh and provokes pronounced hilarity. Miss Elsie Knowles is a balladist of some distinction, and JKas an attractive voiee. Sydney Bach as a monologuist at the piano is as good as most entertainers of the sort, and secures the approval of the audience. Miss Agnes. Rawes has a good soprano which she uses effectively, and the pattor and grotesquerie of Mitchell and Lightn'or keep the house in roars of laughter. This turn is one of the best pieces of knock-about humour staged at the Opera House for some time. The comedian is ridiculous, of course, but ho never fails to get the audience where it laughs most. Knowles and Lee are a feminine pair whose singing is much ( better than their comedy, and they get their due meed of applause. Les Bau Malagas have been prevailed on to stay another week, and their great popularity is the justification of their continuance —they give one of the best turns staged. The Russian dance of the male partner, their variation of the tango, and the French chanson as sung by the feminine half are quite enjoyable. Perhaps the star turn of the show, however, is the daring and origi : nal trick cycling of Valentine and Bell. Though trick cycling has been done so often by so many who have introduced now tricks, yet this pair continue to tHo hmujiess fresh with

farther originality. There is hardly a piece of furniture in the properties of their drawing-room that doesn't eurm orat to be some sort of cycle in disguise, which they ride daringly. Valentine and Bell are certainly the most original trick cyclists seen here for many years.- Carlton and Sutton are another pair of patter comedians appearing; Weston and Hill are by this time well known, and there is the grotesque Tom Leonard to conclude a full and varied programme.

SYDENHAM PICTURES, Science is introduced ingeniously to ir«ake the interest of the star picture Kow showing at the Sydenham Theatre. This picture is called "An Hour Before Dawn." The discovery 'by Signer Übvii, an Italian engineer, of a violent light ray, known as the infrared ray, puts a new power into the hands of one able to use it. Professor Wallace, a scientist, is investigating this ray. Meanwhile his son forms an attachment for a girl of whom his father disapproves, and threatens t& disinherit his son. A quarrel ensues between father and son,- which is overheard by a servant. Next morning the professor is found dead, and the son is suspected of his murder. But Kate Kirby, a girl detective, is brought in, and she discovers that the violent light ray was the cause of death, and the path is cleared for the inevitable ending. A humorous skit on the American bandmaster, Sousa, is shown in- "Zuza, the.Bandmaster," a comedy which cannot \ fail to provoke laughter. The '' Gaumont Graphic'' contains the usual variety of news and views. There is a good scenic film showing picturesque St. Cloud, and "The Little Hero," is a pictureised version of the tale of the little stowaway who astonished the crew of the Atlantic liner by his incapacity for prevarication. The programme will be repeated this evening.

GRAND THEATRE. The various sessions of the Grand Theatre continue to be well patronised, and the new programme presented yesterday ensures a continuance of good entertainment to the patrons of this popular theatre. The principal picture is a Nor disk comedy-drama entitled "The Ghost of the White Lady." It is an involved story, but well told. Simplified, it is the' story of a young countess, who, to enable the man she loves to break engagement and marry another woman, impersonates the historic ghost of the house, and so frightens the young man's stern parent into permitting the engagement which is so ardently desired. The acting, as is always the case in Nor disk pictures, is excellent. The story of a boardinglxouse and of one woman's sacrifice to save the reputation of another is told in '' Saints - and Sinners.'' To shield a young married woman from.the consequences which almost lead to her elopement with another man, the woman with a'' past,'' evidently feeling that one more blot on her character will not perceptibly darken it, takes the younger woman's burden on her own shoulders, and thereby proves herself the better saint even though she be the greater sinner. A detective drama entitled "John Bousall" centres round some missing diamonds, and contains some novel features and an interest which passes from adventure to adventure up to a thrilling climax. An ingenious scientific film of more than usual interest is '' The Marvels of the Magnet," which supplies some very useful object lessons in the elementary laws of electricity. "The Hudson River" is a magnificent series of views of the big northern river of America. It contains, besides scenic beauty, some excellent views of the famous military academy at West Point and views of the great Sing Sing prison. An hilarious burlesque, '' Pimple's Great Bull Fight," is a certain laughter : maker, which concludes a first-class picture programme.

GLOBE THEATRE. The new programme at the Globe Theatre continues to be well received. The star film is a comedy"*'A Noise from the Deep,'' which fully deserves its designation as a star film. It is a comedy of rare worth, and it was repeatedly greeted with unbounded mirth. The story told is that of a girl who, while she is supposed to be drowning, is being married to the man of lier choice. 1 In the meantime her distracted parents seek her body, the deception being maintained by a small boy who blows bubbles into the water through a long of tubing, the while he is concealed behind a bush. Scotland's unfortunate Wellington flight is also screened, and the machine shown in its precarious position in the trees of Newtown Park. "Trapped" is a good drama, telling the life story of a girl, who, through a series of misfortunes became 'an outcast. She retrieved herself, however, and became tha wife of a young doctor. One night

the farmer companion of her darker days broke into the home and attempted to force the girl "back to her life of crime, tint in this he was foiled. The "Warwick Chronicle" is an ever interesting number, ajwl this Week it is especially" so. It contains views of the international football match between, the officers of the English and Dutch armies, the eentenary celebrations of the Republic of Switzerland, the burning of a ' 'fire-proof'' church in Copenhagen,. and scenes in Berlin during a heavy storm. The* educational picture this time is "An Iron Foundry,' f showing the processes in the manufacture of iron pipes; and there are others of equal merit.