THE THEATRES.

Sun (Christchurch), Volume I, Issue 128, 6 July 1914, Page 9

THE THEATRES.

"THE ROSARY."

As a drama "The Rosary" is an ingenious hybrid, a combination of the realistic drama with ordinary melodrama flavoured with broad comedy and a dash of that sweet sentiment which made such plays as ' '/The Village Priest," but the combination is not unpleasing, and the play has much more merit than the average drama of emotionalism. It is, of course, more melodrama than anything, but it is more restrained, less exaggerated than the usual type. The story centres round a priest of the traditional good-fellowship, combined with piousness and good works, £ and the play opens with Bruce Wilton, a rich stock broker, shown in the midst of domestic felicity. Into this country Eden somewhere in the vicinity of New • York, enters the serpent, Kenward "Wright, who has already played havoc •with the life of Mrs Wilton's twin sister, and who is intent on ruining the happiness of-Bruce Wilton. Through the twin sister, whose remarkable likenes to Mrs Wilton is a big factor in the development of the plot, he gets a knowledge of Wilton's prospective dealings in shares, and so manipulates the market as to ruin him. He also continues tt> blacken the character of the wife, so that her husband distrusts her, and Eden is turned to a wilderness of misery. All this the villain contrives while posing as the friend of Bruce Wilton and his wife, and while he is received with the intimacy of an old friend. All his plottings are subtly carried out, and it is only Father Brian Kelly who suspects that someone is deliberately working mischief, "and sets himself to discover the originator of the evil. Things go from bad to The twin sister takes refuge in the house of Mrs Wilton, where she meets Kenward Wright, the man who has ruined her. With specious promises and explanations he persuades her to leave the house with him. Mrs Wilton discovers* her disapearance too late to recall her, and in trying to shield her sister she incurs the suspicion of her husband, •who believes that it is she who has been keeping a midnight assignation. She is unable to clear herself, and shortly afterwards, when news is received that her sister has been fatally injured in an accident, the wife endeavours to get a confession clearing her from the dying woman, but before the confession can be made the sister dies. The husband is Convinced of his wife's unfaithfulness, and the couple are completely estranged. Then, when the husband discovers that he is ruined through someone possessing information which he thought was known only to himself and his wife, he is more than ever certain that she has been guilty of treachery towards him. Throughout the intricacies move the figures of the subtle villain and the earnest priest, intent on finding the cause of all this tragedy. A year passes, and Father Kelly is discovered as the priest of the Chapel of the Rosary, which Bruce Wilton had built for him in his fortunate days. Here, by some curious circumstance, husband, wife, and villain reassemble, and the kindly priest reunites the estranged couple and denounces Kenward Wright as the origiuator of all the unhappiness. The villain at once repents with great fervour and pours out a full confession of his misdeeds. He is "forgiven, and the curtain falls on a benediction. The play is not very logical in its construction, but it does not lack in

human appeal because of that, and it is not all on the tragic note —the comedy is plentiful, really amusing and quite well done. The comic element is in the hands of Kathleen O'Connor (Miss Grace Reading), Charlie Harrow, her impetuous wooer (Mr Paul Bryan), Lee Martin (Mr George Leary), once a person known to the police, but now reformed and valet to Bruce Wilton, and Lesma Watkins (Miss Ethel Elder), a young lady whose sense of humour lias been mislaid. The comedy in the amorous passages between Kathleen O'Connor and Charlie Harrow was particularly good. The humour is quiet, dry humour, distinctly American, and not the forced burlesque that usually makes the comic relief of melodrama, and Miss Reading is an actress with ability and excellent enunciation. MiGeorge Leary, as the reformed "crook," also gets true humour from his racy dialogue, which is mostly the wit of the New York tough, but always fails to move the stolid Lesma Watkins. Bruce Wilton is very capably played by Mr Albert M'Govern. He makes the character a realisable human being, and does not over-stress the emotion. The same can b3 said of Mr Walter Fenner's performance of the villain, Kenwood Wright —he was a great improvement on the traditional villain of melodrama. Miss Jessie Arnold doubles the parts of the wife and the erring sister, and contrives to make them distinct people. She plays a difficult part, somewhat overcharged with sentiment, as naturally the requirements of the characters will allow. Mr Harrington Reynolds plays the part of Father Kelly with dignity and naturalness, though he speaks his lines with too little variety of tone, the level monotony of his speech being more suggestive of the pulpit than of the kindly priest in everyday life; still, his is a good performance, and contributes largely to the success of the play. "The Rosary" is very well staged, the first scene showing Bruce Wilton's country home, and the last, the exterior of the Chapel of the Rosary, being the best. The play will be continued until next Saturday, and should be very popular. HIS MAJESTY'S. To-night will see an altogether unusual picture at His Majesty's Theatre. The new film, '' Down the Crater of Vesuvius," was secured by the daring American kinematographer, Mr Frederick Burlingham, who, in face of the fact that the Italian Government, when approached for assistance, sternly criticised his project as madness, and flatly refused to have anything to do with it, went on with his intention and secured this most wonderful record. It is 2000 feet long, and its many sections include pictures of Naples, Vesuvius smoking, ruins of Pompeii, Funicular railway, the observatory, the dams, British and colonial caravan, on top of Vesuvius, ruins of former railway, Battery of Fumerodes, via Malladra, descent, hell-pit filled with boiling lava, on the floor of the crater, edge of the funnel, final descent down the funnel, on the edge of the abyss, 1212 feet down, and the inferno. '' The Crater of Vesuvius" will be accompanied by "The Third String" (Jacobs comedy), "Through the Quercy District" (Pathe scenic), "The Story the Gate Told" (drama), "Art of the Furrier" (industrial), "A Night Out" (comedy), and the "Gaumont Graphic." Hayward's orchestra will accompany all screenings, and the box. plans are at the Dresden. COLOSSEUM. The Colosseum was liberally patronised on Saturday evening, when the current programme was screened finally.

The new series to be. shown to-night has a naval drama, "The Naval Spy," as star film, a production written from incidents of the American-Mexican conflict. The film is 3500 ft long, and should prove a great attraction. Other films «to be shown are: —"Pathe Gazette," topical; "The Delayed Special," drama; "A Sandstone Quarry," industrial; "His Comrade's Wife," drama; "Bunny's Mistake," comedy; "Lakes of the Pyrenees," scenic; and "ARural Demon," Keystone comedy. OPERA HOUSE. Last week's programme at the Opera House wound up a highly sue-

cessful week's run when it was presented to a large audience for the last time on Saturday night. Owing to the tremendous success achieved, Bailey's Posing Dogs have been specially retained for one week longer, and will this week present entirely new poses, including the. famous representation, '' Rock of Ages." A strong coterie of new artists will appear for the first time, including the starring engagement, direct from America, of Walter Deaves and Company," presenting "Deaves's Merry Mannikins," said to be one of the greatest shows of its kind ever presented in this Dominion, the starring engagement and first appearance of Johnny Small and the Small Sisters in singing and dancing specialties. Another welcome reappearance will be Millie Doris, the popular character comedienne. The foregoing will be supported by Signor Rellimi, Italy's master of the accordeon, Le Witte, America's Protean artist, and Armstrong and Howarth, comedy duo. Box plans are at Milner and Thompson's. GLOBE THEATRE. The programme screened finally at the Globe Theatre on Saturday night attracted large audiences, but the new series of pictures presented to-day should prove even more popular. '' The American King" is the star drama, one which goes to show that kingly rank does not always assure happiness. The story told is most captivating, and the production is made even more interesting by capable acting and splendid photography. The supporting drama is "Endless Night"; an interesting number of the "Warwick Chronicle" is screened, and the programme is completed by the films "Mother's Boy" and "Little Prince is Lost," the former a Keystone star comedy and the latter a Cines mirth-maker. The same programme will be screened throughout tomorrow. SYDENHAM PICTURES. The final Screening of the current programme at the Sydenham Picture Theatre was witnessed by a large and appreciative audience on Saturday night and the new series promised for this evening should prove specially attractive. "Down the Crater of Vesuvius" is the star film, a production which shows the daring descent of the intrepid American, Fredk. Burlingham, into the crater of the activfe volcano. Other pictures are: —"The Gaumout - Graphic," topical; "The Story the Gate Told," drama; "Through the Querc.y District," scenic; "The Art of the Furrier," industrial; "A Night Out" and "The Third String," comedies. OLYMPIA RINK. The sudden cold snap, which has descended upon us should give a decided fillip to the enthusiasm for skating. Day by day at the Olympia Rink, where everything in the way of equipment is of the best, the attendances are increasing, severely taxing the floorage accommodation. Four sessions will be observed to-day, and the band will play in the evening. MISCHA ELMAN, VIOLINIST. The coining of Mischa Elman, the great violinist, will doubtless be welcomed by lovers of music. The occasion, it is stated, will stand out as a red letter day in the history of our music. We have had great singers and great pianists, but the visits of great violinists have unfortunately been few and far between. In Mischa Elman we have the pinnacle of virtuoso greatness, and it is claimed that never in the history of great players has one man commanded the homage of his fellow artists so completely as this Russian genius. He is said to have all the requisites of greatness, his technique being bewildering, and his tone the wonder of the age. Two concerts in this city will be given iu the Theatre Royal on Saturday and Monday, duly 18 and 20. On end) night Mischa Elman will play one of the famous concertos, and he will dip into the choicest literature ever written for the violin, including a composition of his own each evening. Apart from the artistic value of the performances the educational aspect must not be

overlooked, so it will- not be surprising if Elman repeats here his phenomenal success in Australia. Only two concerts can be given here. Mile. Eva Gauthier, the brilliant French-Canadian mezzo-soprano, will be the vocalist each evening; she will render some of the classics and delve into the popular songs of the concert artist. Mr Percy Kahn, who occupies a prominent position in' London musical circles, will be the pianist; he has now been with Elmaii for the past five years. Applications for the advance booking' are now being received by Milner and Thompson, Ltd., opposite the Clock Tower, High Street, for the 10/6 seats. This will give the country people an equal opportunity with the townsfolk of securing some of the best seats at each concert.