THE THEATRES.

Sun (Christchurch), Volume II, Issue 566, 2 December 1915, Page 9

THE THEATRES.

"DAMON and PYTHIAS." Great interest is being manifested . in {the spectacular photo-play, "Damon and Pythias," now being shown at the Theatre Royal nightly. In this great picture drama, the minutest details of the customs, costumes, and architecture of the period have been followed with the greatest care, and,the result has been magnificent, j Particularly so is the great chariot! race with its chariots, each drawn by four Arabian horses. Another -fine is the old witch's cavern, with her leopard pacing to a*td fro at- the entrance, while in a bowl she reveals the future to the gaze Of Pythias's sweetheart. The supporting: programme is very strong, including "Unditie," the 1 story of the water nymph, who , pined for. the love of a mortal, and "When the Mummy Cried for Help," a scream- : ingly funny comedy. . The engagement ends Saturday night. There - will be a matinee Saturday afternoon at 2.30. ' r ; OPERA HOUSE. An all-star programme is presented to vaudeville patrons at the Opera House this week, the "head : liner" being Herbert Brooks, an unusual mystifier, who does his tricks in the cleanest and easiest manner. Morris and Meeker describe .themselves as the "salesmen joy," and they prove" themselves quite worthy of the description. Their engagement is for one week only. Bellora is a clever mimiCj imitating the calte of well-known •/.-•.birds,?. ':and. animals, while Vermon and Sinclair have returned to repeat their great success of some months ago: Their patter is always original and pointed. Rowley and Tointon still, dance, arid gain anand Ward Lear, Ted Russell, ■ and Balancing Stephens are also appearing with success. EVERYBODY'S. A popular subject in the current programme at Everybody's is "An African Hunt," a Gartodn comedy. "An- Hour of Freedom," drama, . "Father Love," 'comedy, and the "Gaumont Grapliic, J ' are all films which meet with the approval of patrons, but it is snfeio say that it is the 3000 ft Vitagraph feature, "From Headquarters," which draws the great crowds to Everybody's this week. This is; a very powerful drama, alive with human thrills, and acted T)y the famous* American picture stars, Anita Stewart and Earle Williams. Very few screen players can rouse the emotions of people as these artists can, and their popularity must he a source of envy to many a lesser star. 1 The names of these romantic players are enough in. themselves to fill a picture theatre, but intending patrons may'be sure of" seeing a great film drama, as well as great actors, in "From Headquarters." SYDENHAM PICTURES. A lengthy and well-varied programme will, be screened for the biweekly change of programme at the Sydenham Pictures to-night. A ; Vitagraph drama,with Anita Stewart and Earle Williams leading, is the feature, and the critics say that these notable artists have never done anything greater than they do in this picture, which is entitled "From Headquarters." A. supporting programme much out of the ordinary ■will also be shown, the subjects comprising: "An African Hunt," cartoon comedy; "Gaumont Graphic," "An Hour of Freedom," drama; "Father Love," comedy; "Picturesque China," scenic, and" "Professor's Painless Cure," comedy. HIS MAJESTY'S THEATRE. "The Heart of a Child," the London Film Company's successful 5000 ft film adaptation of Frank Danby's delightful book, is meeting with much, appreciation. The charming story of the girl who wins through by pluck and personality from the depth of London slum-life to an exalted position in the peerage,

is well told on the screen. There are some excellent studies of coster life, in contrast to the aristocratic life of ..the?' West End. Some excellent films*, as well as the "star" attraction, are shown, including a splendid picture of the Cathedral at Rheims, showing the irreparable damage to.; the historical building, and of the surrounding battlefields, and of the French army in action. THE GLOBE. The current instalment of the: "Million Dollar Mystery" serial at the Globe is entitled "Shanghaied," and shows the heroic Norton captured by the conspirators, and * taken to sea. The episode is full of thrills and surprises, and the strategy of Norton in escaping once more with Florence is cleverly shown, and is always appreciated. Billy Reeves, the ex-music hall comedian, is still doing good-work for the Lubin Co., and he is appearing in the programme in a highly humorous farce, "nearly a Prize-Fighter." Billy dons the "raits," and sets out to scoop in the easy money. An "Intercepted Vengeance" is a Vitagraph Wild West drama, in which a ferocious-looking' outlaw dominates a large community. He has a fancy for "drawing a bead" on everyone or anything that crosses his path, but he is eventually killed by the long-suffering Indians, in a refined and characteristic manner. Topical views in the ian Gazette," and an industrial pic-? ture, conclude the entertainment. GRAND THEATRE. • A new programme was presented at the Grand Theatre to-day, being pleaded by a drama which should prove'of great interest to all, entitled "The Deserter of Submarine $2." Actual scenes of submarines in action and the blowing up of a bruiser are shown, and the picture is lull of exciting- happenings in the under-watei* War. The supporting Subjects are also good, comprising "A Hot Finish," an Essanay comedy; "John Bull's Sketch Book " cartoons, find a war features "The Allies Storming a German Trench." This fine war programme will-be contin-, ued at all sessions for the remainder i of the 'week.

TjHE, WILLIAMSON PRODUCTION.

i "POTASH AND PERLMUTf ER." : Judging by the unusual interest in the production of the ifamous' Jewish play, "Potash and Perlmutter," to be presented at the Theatre Royal under the J. G. Williamson management on Monday evening next, the five nights' season should prove satisfactory. To those who have not read the book by Montague Glass, the following story of the play will doubtless prove interesting:—Few plays , of recent years have given us two such notable character types as the pair of unconscious humorists, Abe Potash and Mawruss Perlmutter, partners in a wholesale cloak and suit business. They are not happy if they are not bickering. In their hearts they Hove and respect each other, but they •delight in arguifig. Potash is an elderly Hebrew-American, with a wife (Rothie) and a daughter (Irma). Perlmutter, the strongerminded of the partners, is a young man, unmarried. Abe is inclined to be soft-hearted; Mawruss hurls denunciations at his head; vows he will tear up the deeds of partnership; abuses poor Abe, who returns the compliment with interest; and, liey, presto! in five minutes all is forgotten, and hard-hearted Perlmutter is raising the wages of the very employee he had declared he would sack. Now the young employee in question is Boris Andrieff, wanted by the Russian Government on suspicion of being concerned in a bomb-throwing affair. Unknown to papa Potash, Boris and Irma have fallen in love with one another. The young Russian has also attracted the interest of the beautiful and talented girl, Ruth Goldman, who, accompanied by a peculiarly repellant solicitor, Henry Feldman, interviews the partners, who are most anxious to secure the famous designer who has helped l .to make the for-

tune of a business rival. Matters are at a deadlock when emissaries of the law enter and arrest Boris. All the real goodness of the two Jews comes out. They do everything they can Lo aid the boy, j and Abe agrees to stand bail for him for s2oiooo. Ruth is so touched by their goodness that she decides to come to them on their own terms. Three weeks later we find the firm' occupying fine new premises, with Miss Goldman established both as their employee and friend. Boris is still in grave danger, of being sent back to Russia, where certain death awaits him, and Irma confesses to her father the attachment there is between them. The deitr ol<;l man, with utmost sympathy, promises his daughter that her Boris s*hall be restored to her,, and bravely swallows his disappointment that she has chosen a nobody instead of making the fine match he had hoped for. The box plan for the season will be at Milner and Thompson's to-morrow morning.