THE THEATRES.

Sun (Christchurch), Volume II, Issue 546, 9 November 1915, Page 9

THE THEATRES.

OPERA HOUSE. . The Opera House provides another brisk and bright programme this week, arid judging by,the size of last night's audience and its unrestrained approval of the'various items this popular place of amusement is going to do even better business than usual during carnival week. Some of the old favourites who have ensured their popularity in the past few weeks are still on the bill, but there are several new turns. Frank Herfoerte, the singer of popular ballads, is still a first favourite, and the song and dance turn, of the Two Gibson Girls is as much appreciated as ever. Their novel and. skilful dancing earned them ;their recalls. .Another turn which shows np sign ; of waning in public favour is that of Pollard and Jackson, whose singing both individually arid in duets is greatly . enjoyed.: As in last week's programme, it is the|r rendering of excerjE)ts grand opera 'that'scores the greatest hit. Of the new turns that of Joe Gharles and the Glory Girl was one of the most successful, their clever comedy, bright stories, and songs at the, piano making a finished turn. Ford and Davis succeeded in their object of creating loud laughter by their absurd comedy sketch, "After the Show." It is an amusing trifle from which the two performers contrive to extract every possible bit of humour, with the result that the laughter is continuous. Deiavale* and Gilbert are a pair of singers and knock-about comedians who won the approval of last night's audience./ Their's is a burlesque military turn in which Delavale, Who sings well, delivers patriotic songs,.and Gilbert, an extraordinarily lanky caricature of a Highland soldier, provides the grotesque humour. Phil Percival presents a quaint turn in burlesquing a policeman, and gets a good "deal of fun out of it. Miss Violet Trevenyon, an English comedienne, made a decided success on her first appearance. Her songs are bright, her voice is good, and her style is dainty, so that with these attributes it is no wonder that she stepped right into popular favour. The Musical Ibsons are also very popular for their clever handling of a variety of musical instruments. It is an excellent turn of its sort, and the Ibsons do produce music. Last, but by no means least with Opera House patrons, there is Leonard Nelson and his unforced comedy, as popular as he has always ,been. Altogether the quality of this -week's programme is as notable as its variety.

"THE GIRL ON THE FILM." - "The Girl on the Film," a new musical comedy which comes with a fine reputation from the Gaiety Theatre, London, is announced as the final attraction of the J. C. Williamson New English Musical Comedy season. It is said to be the best exposition of the successful musical play, besides being the latest and most up-to-date of these entertainments. Great opportunities are given for much excellent acting. Messrs G. H. Workman, W. H. Rawlins, Field Fisher, Alfred Frith, and Misses Dorothy Brunton, Florence Vie, Marie Eaton, and Daisy Yates being especially favoured in this direction. The play is essentially bright and alluring, the music being more than ordinarily scholarly and attractive. "The Girl on the Film" will be presented to-night, and on Wednesday and Thursday next, the three concluding nights.

THE GRAND. The Universal Company has spared no trouble or expense in making the serial drama, "The Master Key," one of the greatest of its kind. The audience is given realistic glimpses of India, in which are seen Hindus begging and juggling, elephants and camels transporting people and goods, and the populace at worship in the temple of Buddha. The reason for this Indian setting is that the idol, containing the plans of the gold mine, has been recovered from

the sea, and by a devious route has been carried back to its Indian temple. Ruth and Dore, placing themselves under the guidance of one Nelson Smithers, who is, unknown to them, an unscrupulous adventurer, pursue the idol to India. Smithers has become infatuated with Ruth, and in order fo get her fiance, Dore, out of the way, he puts him on to the track of the idol. When he is stealing it from the temple Smithers gives the alarm to the priests. t Dore does not return, and Smithers tries to persuade Ruth that he has secured, the idol for his own ends and deserted her. There is a good supporting programme, comprising the "Eclair Journal," "Bloomer's Theft" (comedy), and an excellent satire, written in the best style of George Ade, entitled "The Fable of the Intermittent Fusser."

EVERYBODY'S.

"The Silent Plea," the star picture at Everybody's this week, is a photo play with amission. The Vitagraph Company have taken a page from life, showing the need for State aid to widowed mothers. "Gertie" is the title of a comedy of a new kind. Gertie is a mammal that lived on earth 13,000,000 years ago. When she trips down Broadway she makes human beings and animals look silly, while she can look over the top of a skyscraper with ease., After such a lo'ng absence Gert enjoys herself immensely when she finds there are nothing bigger than elephants, and she amuses herself by tossing these animals about when one is unlucky enough to cross her path. In case intending patrons doubt that even freak photography can produce this marvel of the bygone ages, it may be explained that the whole delightful comedy is done in animated cartoons by Winsor McKay, the American cartoonist. A charming film trip is 'Up the River Nile," while Helen Holmes, the daring Kalem girl, is seen in another hair-raising Kalem drama, "The Fate of No. 1." The Gaumont Graphic and "When Love Took Wings," a Keystone featuring Roscoe Arbucklc, conclude the programme. J

QUEEN'S THEATRE. The Keystone comedian Ford Sterling is seen at his liveliest and funniest in a two-part farce entitled "Dirty Work in a Laundry." Most of the action takes place in.a laundry which, as the Keystone people demonstrate, can be made to provide opportunity for a great deal of fun. In the course of a thrilling and amazing chase, Ford Sterling makes a dare-devil leap from a motor cycle to an automobile. A very fine dramatic production of the Thanhouser Company is "Old Jane of the Gaiety." Old Jane, the wardrobe woman of the Gaiety Theatre, keeps a motherly eye on the chorus girls, of the youngest of whom she is" especially fond. When she sees her favourite breaking away from her hitherto well-regulated life she warns her, but in order to convince the girl she tell, with great power, the story of her life. The picture is an artistic success. "Cutcy," of the Vitagraph Company, is seen in one of his best roles, in a comedy "Cutey's Sister," and a film showing "Australia Day" in Sydney, and the Topical Budget conclude the entertainment.

SYDENHAM PICTURES, "The Escape," the big feature film now running at the Sydenham Pictures, contains a plot which is in reality a powerful argument on eugenics. It is pointed out, in the course of the prologue, that though the lowest forms of life are properly mated, man, the highest form, is guided in mating merely by passion or possessions. The story reveals the revolting conditions under which the people of the slums live. May and Jennie Joyce and their brother Larry are children of the slums, living in constant fear of their father. May is sought by "Bull" McGee, the boss gangster of the neighbourhood. She is about to marry McGee, when she decides to escape from her degrading surroundings. She succeeds in eluding her pursuers, and later lives with a wealthy man who gives

her every luxury. Meanwhile, her sister Jennie, a typical, half-witted slum-dweller, has married McGee, and lives in absolute squalor. Both sisters make their escape from their evil surroundings, Jennie by death, and May by the love and encouragement of a man superior to those she has known all her life.

HIS MAJESTY'S.

A most unusual film entitled "The Escape," takes up the whole programme at His Majesty's this week. It is a D. W. Griffith masterpiece, and is quite worthy of the famous producer. The film is 7500 feet in length, and features, among others, Blanch Sweet, Mae Marsh, and Robert Harron. As is claimed in the opening the producers do not fear censorship, but they demand the right to portray life as it is in some quarters. At times the types of humanity presented are revolting, but as these people exist it is right that the respectable and* comfortable public should know of the conditions which these people live. In this picture the veil is rudely torn aside and the camera can do this with more poignancy than the* book, as it takes an imagination to see in a book all that the author has created there. May Joyce and her sister Jennie are the principal female characters in the play. They live in the most wretched New York slums. Their father is a drunkard, associated with a gang of which "Bull" McGee is boss. This gang boss is a powerfully-made man who has risen to the most exalted position—in the slum .dwellers' minds—that of the most feared and the most sought after man in the neighbourhood. McGee wishes to marry May, a girl who shows signs of a superior intelligence to most. She, is sullen and unsmiling, as a result of her sordid surroundings. She meets the ambulance doctor, who has come to tend her brother. He recognises her superiority, and begs her to escape from her wretched home. She [runs away on the eve of her marriage to "Bull" McGee, but only to I fall into an easier but less yirtuous mode of living. Her friend the doctor does not pass out of her life, and it is through him that she is eventually redeemed and_ finds great happiness. But the life of her sister Jennie goes from bad to worse, and to many this part of the picture is a fevelation of the heart-breaking poverty and vice*that exist in the world. The young woman's death, after her marriage to the brutal McGee, is a very touching incident. The picture takes over two hours to show, so no adequate idea can be given of the completeness and dramatic power of the plot.

THE GLOBE. "The Doom of the Auto Bandits" is the title of the seventh episode of the great "Million Dollar Mystery" serial. Florence is once more in the toils of the conspirators, when Norton, the "hefty" reporter, rescues her, and makes a thrilling escape in Hie robbers' motor car. The episode closes with the car and occupants dashing over a river bank. "Nobody Would "Believe" is a Lubin drama featuring the beautiful actress Lily Leslie, while "Getting Andy's Goat" is a delightful Edison comedy. The Australian Gazette and an amusing comedy, "A Corner in Hats," conclude the programme.

PATRIOTIC CONCERTS. The series of concerts in aid of the Canterbury Patriotic Fund was inaugurated in the King's Theatre last evening, when the Patriotic Pierrots made their first appearance. The downpour of rain interfered considerably with the attendance, but in other respects the concert was a great success, the Pierrots proving to be a really gifted company of amateurs. Those who did not hear them last evening should not miss the opportunity which will be afforded again to-morrow evening. Mr Tom Charters's baritone voice was heard to great advantage in several items, "Drake Goes West," i.nd "The Ringers" being especially popular.

Miss Gwen Merrett was a charming soubrette, whose numbers, "Ever Heard of Djin?" and "Sneaky Feelings," won her hearty applause. Miss Meg Wauchop and Mr W. S. Wauchop scored with a couple of humorous duets, and Mr J. B. Cade sang several ragtime songs with appropriate spirit. Mr J. B. Gillespie sang and danced cleverly, being assisted by a* bevy of young ladies. Messrs H. Watts and R. Malcolm gave humorous items. Mr F, Bullock sang the prologue to "Pagliacci" and Raff's "Serenade," and Miss Lillian Wauchop, "My Dear Soul," and "Land of Sky Blue Waters." A farce, a comedietta, and several choruses by the company, were also included in the programme. • To-night's concert will be given by Miss Gladys Vincent, assisted by Madame Clarise Holgate, Mr C. Joll, Mr- H. Gill, and others. Miss 'Vincent's violin selections , will include "Liebesfreund" (Kreisler), "Valse Triste" (Sibelius), "PerpetuaMobile" (Bohm), "Romance" (Ersfield)y ''Phantom Melody" (Ketebby), and a Wieniawski "Mazurka." A special item will be Corelli's "Folies d'Espaghe."

MUSICAL SOCIETY.

The third concert, of the season was given in the Choral Hall last evening by the Musical Society. The downpour of rain must have affected the attendances at all entertainments so it was pleasing to see that the attractive power of the society's concerts was powerful enough to draw a good house on such a wild night. The programme was a miscellaneous one, and a very pleasant variety had been provided. The chorus contributions by 'members of the society were the part songs, "0 Happy Eyes" (Elgar), "Blow, Ye Gentle Breezes, Blow" (Marks)., "The River Floweth Strong, My Love" (Rogers), and "Row, Row, Gently Row" (Cowen). The interpretations were distinguished by intelligence and sympathy, and the whole' effect was eminently pleasing. The choir has been strengthened of late, and under Dr Bradshaw has studied with both assiduity and intelligent comprehension.

A vocal soloist of established popularity now is Mrs F. C. Cother, whose songs last evening were heartily appreciated. She has some gift for interpretation, and this is supported by a voice of pleasing duality. She sang Elgar's "Poet : s Life" and Saint Saens's "Fair Spring is Returning," (from "Samson and Delilah"), in quite an acceptable style, but was perhaps more happily suitr ed in Scott's "Prologue," and Landon Ronald's "Love I Have Won You." Another soloist was Mr G. M. Lucas, whose songs were pleasantly given. He also was encored on each appearance. A trio of instrumentalists— Miss Vera A'Court (violin), Mrs Russell (piano), and Mrs Guthrie ('cello) —played .a movement from a trio by Bargill, and Miss Irene Morris and Miss A'Court were nicely associated in a violin duet. The solo pianist for the concert was Miss Irene Barbour, who gave a creditable performance of Chopin's "Fantasie Impromptu," and for an encore played quite delightfully a quaint composition by McDowell. The accompanist for the evening was Mrs V. Livingstone.

SKATING RINK. The Olympia Rink was reopened yesterday, and very satisfactory patronage was accorded. The floor is in excellent condition, and the arrangements and appointments are capital. The day sessions are from 10 to 12, and 2.30 to 5 p.m., and the evening (with band) from 7.30 to 10 p.m. A much appreciated attention is the installation by Mrs Clark of a soda fountain, where refreshing drinks may be procured.