THE THEATRES.

Sun (Christchurch), Volume I, Issue 241, 14 November 1914, Page 13

THE THEATRES.

THEATRE ROYAL, A large holiday audience that crammed tie seating accommodation ami overflowed into the passages, welcomed the production at the Theatre Koyal last evening by the Julius Knight Dramatic Company of "The Scarlet Pimpernel." The play was in every respect an entire success, and the reception accorded the company was of the warmest. There are few who do not know Baroness Orezy's fascinating romance, and who do not admire the mysterious personage with whom the story deals. Quite probably many people who attended the theatre in the expectation of seeing the tale followed in all its ramifications of detail were disappointed. The exigencies of dramatic production have necessitated a considerable curtailment of the piece, but it cannot be said that the dramatist has done his work other than well. In the difficult task of telling the story in the briefest possible space he has succeeded in retaining all the lure and grip that the book holds. The " Searlet Pimpernel" is still the same master of

pretence that the book has told us of, and the story <jf his hazardous exploits is set forth plainly and simply. The period in which the play is set lends itself well to romantic .garb. The French republicans, victorious in their revolution, and the hysterical masters of a land given over to massacre and pillage, were according to the aristocrats that crude, vindictive justice that has made the name* of the French Revolution so dark in history. .'' The Scarlet Pimpernel," an unknown and mysterious Englishman, set himself the task of rescuing from the guillotine members of the aristocratic class. Working with a small band of men who held their lives lightly, and with the courage to hazard all risks', he baffled pursuit and detection, and made his pseudonym a by-word in France £nd England. The efforts to discover his identity and to capture anil inflict on him that penalty from which he had rescued so many French aristocrats, is dealt with in the story.' Mr Julius Knight appears as Sir Percy Blakeney, the Scarlet Pimpernel. The role ten't an easy one to interpret, and it is a particularly difficult one to make convincing. During those brief periods when the Scarlet Pimpernel is not mas-

querading as an indolent,, drink-loving pferson without the initiative to perforrr\ the simplest of commissions, he is a fervent, serious man, alert, watchful, and active. The change of character, made (in brief moments-of isolation with his associates, might, without careful handling, have easily appeared grotesque. The fact that Mr Julius Knight was convincing all through is a testimony to his versatility and grip of the character. Miss Irene Browne, as Marguerite Blakeney, the wifje of the careless Sir Percy, whom she never dreams is clever, is pleasing and natural. In those dramatic passages with the scheming Chauvelin, where the care for her brother's safety distracts her, her work is restrained and admirable. The character of Chauvelin is, entrusted for portrayal to Mr Leslie Victor, who manages, cleverly, to make.the French spy a thoroughly cruel and unscrupulous fanatic. Miss Lizette Parkes, as the viyaeious and sympathetic Suzanne de Tournai, made friends with the audience at once, and .the small amount of work entrusted to her was admirably performed. The setting and mounting of the piece are admirable, and the costuming bright and pretty. The interest, dominated at the commencement, is held throughout,

and. the play is in every way enjoyable. "The Scarlet Pimpernel" will be repeated again this evening.

SYDENHAM PICTURES. '' The Angel of Contention'' is the leading picture just now at the Sydenham Theatre, and the audiences are entirely satisfactory to the management, a fact which demonstrates the general worth of the programme, which will be presented finally this evening. MYSTERIOUS HUGARD. Mysterious Hugard and his Happy Hour Entertainers performed before another large .audience last evening. Hugard's cleanly-executed. turn delighted the patrons, as did the supporting vaudeville items. The clever company are billed to appear again this evening/ QUEEN'S THEATRE. A 'detective romance entitled "The Stolen Document" is the leading picture of the series at present being screened! at the Queen's Theatre. "The Fjords of Norway" is a splendid study of these favourite tourist resorts of the Old World, while several comedies and various special war studies complete a programme of more tliaji ordinary merit. The «series will be screened again this evening. GRAND THEATRE. An. intensely powerful and dramatic film is "A Bit of Human Driftwood," displayed in the current programme at the Grand Theatre, where large holiday audiences attend at all sessions. There are many high-class comedies that cannot fail to amuse, and there are the usual supporting studies in addition to special war topicals. The programme will be presented for the last time this evening. OPERA HOUSE. The Opera House was filled from floor to ceiling again last evening for the special 'vaudeville programme presented during carnival week. Mr Leslie Holmep and his company filled in. the first half of the programme most enjoy ably, while the other turns which go to make up the entertainment were particularly meritorious. The company will appear again to-night. COLOSSEUM. A packed house last evening witnessed the screening of the excellent programme which the Colosseum management is now running. "Colonel Ileez-a-Liar in Africa" is a screaming comedy, while '' Laughing Gas " is more jso, and the entire programme combines entertainment and instruction in an admirable manner. The usual change of programme will be made on Monday evening.

HIS MAJESTY'S. "Sixty Years a Queen" and the accompanying lecturette by Mr Barrio Marschel continues to attract packed houses to His Majesty's Theatre. The film is an excellent historical sketch of the past generation that at this time has a special interest, as it brings home to everyoneT*how quickly matters politically and socially moved forward in the days of Victoria the Good. "The Defence of Alost" also attracts much attention, and the programme generally should not be missed owing to its educational value. "Sixty Years a Queen" will be presented finally this evening. GLOBE THEATRE. The star drama in the current programme at the Globe Theatre, a production entitled "The Orphan," together with special war studies of which "The Defence of Alost" is the chief, giving a glimpse of active fighting operations, continues to please large audiences at the various sessions. The programme will be presented finally this evening.