THE THEATRES.

Sun (Christchurch), Volume I, Issue 145, 25 July 1914, Page 13

THE THEATRES.

"THE SMART SET." That versatile and bright costume eoroedy company, "The Smart Set," scored" another success at the Theatre Royal last evening. True, the audience ■was by no means a crowded one — Friday audiences seldom are large in Christchurch —but it was certainly appreciative. So many recalls were demanded that the entertainment lasted for nearly three hours, and yet there ■were no weary waits in it. Like all the other companies of a similar nature which the Edward Branscombe- Proprietary has sent on tour through New Zealand, to the great delight of the theatre-goers of the Dominion, "The Smart Set" has a repertoire of most excellent variety. And the combination is one that emphasises that variety very pleasingly. Most of the entertainment is gaiety—a sparkling, not a forced, gaiety—but there are just enough moments in the evening in whieh, as it were, the champagne is put aside for a more fullbodied wine, to make the whole enter-

tainment really enjoyable to all reasonable tastes. Also, it is really refined, giving offenee to none. Last evening's programme was much the same as on the opening night —it would be unreasonable to expect a new programme on every evening of the company's season —and it demonstrated, possibly even more surely than on the first night, the versatility, the artistry, and the brightness of ' ' The Smart Set.'' It is really a smart set of entertainers. The ladies of the company are a really talented trio. Miss Gwenyth Evans—a winsome New * Zealander —and Miss Lalla Knight sang several sweet lyrics most charmingly. In Miss Georgie Martin the company has a fine comedienne of almost infinite variety. Moreover, Miss Martin is a very capable dancer. Mr Ernest Parkes is a baritone of real merit, particularly effective in "Shipmates o' Mine." Mr Maurice Jones has a pleasing tenor voice, although it is slightly nasal. Then there are three rattling good humorists, Messrs Walter George, Harry de Eobeck, and Gavin Wood. And there is a fine pianist and excellent accompanist, Mr Edgar Hulland. Altogether, it is an entertainment well worth attending.

ANTONY AND CLEOPATRA. The Cines recent masterpiece, "Antony and Cleopatra,'' is decidedly the best film yet screened in Christchurch, end those" who have not yet witnessed the same should bear in mind that tickets for the dress circle and special stalls may be booked free of charge at His Majesty's Theatre. The music of the augmented orchestra is an additional attraction. "Antony and Cleopatra" will be screened finally this evening., COLOSSEUM. A highly interesting romance of the Scottish Highlands, as set forth in "Black Roderick the Poacher," is the star attraction in the current programme at the Colosseum. There is a fine series of supporting films, comprising "A Romance of the North-West," '' A Leap For Life," " Rice Culture in Java," "Gaumont Graphic," and "Polidor and the Lions," and "His Favourite Pastime." The series will be screened finally this evening. OPERA HOUSE. Mr Ed. Blondell and Miss Katherync Caine continue to appear to advantage in their comedy sketch, "The Lost

Boy," and patrons should not miss seeing the best vaudeville comedy sketch which has been put on in Christchurch for some considerable time. Crotten and Skremka, the Eary Comedy Trio, Leslie and Sol Bern, Vernon and Sinclair, Miss Jessie Millar, Miss Doily Millar, Miss Lavinia Tyson, Mr James Opie, and Millie Doris evening's excellent entertainment. The this evening. On Monday an entirely new company will appear, including Gordan and Day, American trick cyclists; Irve Hayman and Company in '*' Christmas Eve,'' the IV ew York Comedy Four, Ray De Vere, Australian balladist, and others. The box plans are at Milner and Thompson 's. GLOBE THEATRE. The pleasing love story running through "The Old Oak's Secret," the star film in the current programme at the Globe Theatre, makes a most interesting production, which is strongly supported by "The Redskin's Mercy" and "A Daughter of Romany," dramas; "From Pierfitte to Cavarini," scenic; "The Pathe Gazette," topical; and '' Aunts Too Many'' and '' Cinessimo a:- Napoleon," comedies. The series v,ill be shown finally this evening. SYDENHAM PICTURES. "Bla«-k Roderick the Poacher," the star film of the current programme at iln* Sydenham Picture Theatre, is a mest attractive production, while the supporting films, "A Romance of the North-West," "A Leap For Life," "Rice Culture in Java," " Polidor and the Lions," "Gaumont Graphic,'-' and "His Favourite Pastime" are all most successfully screened. The programme will be shown finally this evening. OLYMPIA RINK. Fun may be had in abundance at the Olympia Rink, whore roller skating as a pastime increases more and more in popularity as the season advances. The rink will be open at the usual hours this evening and to-morrow. "THE FORTY THIEVES." The J. C.'Williamson ' ' Forty Thievos'' Pantomime will be presented at the Theatre Royal next Saturday evening at ten minutes to eight. " Writes the critic of the Sydney "Daily Telegraph" of "The Forty Thieves" Pantomime:— '' Quite coquettish in their gay unifofms of black and green, The Forty Thieves inarching jauntily across the stage to inspiriting music, their tinsel battle-axes the only terrifying feature of their equipment, while the brave Ganem and his pretty Morgaina, the genial Ali Baba and his wife, the avaricious Cassim, and a host of other people swarming in a perfect riot of colour and gorgeous spectacle serve to make up one of the most alluring and thoroughly satisfying pantomimes that the big firm have yet given us. Mr Andrew McCunn has written good and sparkling music. The scenic artists have painted much le-autiful scenery, distinguished for rich colouring and effective treatment of sunshine and a wealth of detail, and there are many ballets which reach their climax in the finale of the two acts. In the first of these, a ballet representative of the products of Australia, the bril-kantly-lighted stage is crowded with dancing spirits bearing trophies of wool, gold, silver, fruit, and coal, and there is ultimately a brilliant tableaux where two crowned figures emblematic of mining and agriculture sit enthroned, while an idealised Federal City appears in the background. At the end of the Pantomime an army of saucy drummers with the regimental colours of all the nations, march on beating a lively tattoo ami make a glittering show. Both these fijfales are gorgeous in spectacular beauty. The pantomime has two firstrate comedians, Mr Barry Lupino, who plays Ali Baba, and Mr Edwin Brett, v. ho returns to the Australian stage in ifaiother of his clever studies as the Dame. These genuine humorists romp lightly through the piece, making fun in delightfully irresponsive fashion. Mr I.upiuo, who startles everybody at his entrance by leaping high into the air .through the lid of a cardboard box lying en the floor, proves to be quiet in style, unforced, but always sure. His power i of facial expression is one of his great assets. Mr Brett, who had the warmest of greetings, shares the honours with Mr Lupino in one of the most laughable scenes of the night, where the Dame's description of himself as a young ai.d beautiful woman proved so grievous a strain upon the truth that the ceiling tumbled about her ears. " The seasou is for seven, nights with matinees next Wednesday and Saturday week. The [! ox plans for the season will be opened at Milner and Thompson's on Thursday.