THE THEATRES.

Sun (Christchurch), Volume II, Issue 568, 4 December 1915, Page 13

THE THEATRES.

DAMON AND PYTHIAS. LAST NIGHT TO-NIGHT. The last performance of this Wonderful .photo-play will be given -toil ight at the Theatre Royal. Some Very spectacular scenes are depicted, jiotably those of the great battle outside the walls of Agrigentum, the looting and burning of the city by the invaders, and the great chariot race at Syracuse.,, Dramatic incidents are closely interwoven forming a thrilling story. With every eye at present turned to modern Greece, no one should miss seeing this picture of Greece when she was one of the great Powers of the world. The highest possible art in grouping, and photography has been used in" this picture* and it with people, the management's claim that there are over 2000* in the cast being well substantiated. OPERA HOUSE, The vaudeville season at the Opera House will come to a close for a period this evening, owing to certain alterations being in contemplation. The current programme is a good one, with Herbert Brooks, an amazing mystifier, as the principal attraction. His card tricks are as bewildering and clever ,as<Jiis sensational steel trunk mystery. 'Morris and Meeker are patter artists who cause, much merriment, and Vernon and Sinclair put on a clever sketch. Bellora is a young man with a wonderful gift for mimicing Australian birds and animals. His turn is always much appreciated. Rowley and Tointon, in their dancing turn, and Ward Lear and Ted Russell, are all good. EVERYBODY'S. The striking Vitagraph feature, "From Headquarters," will be shown finally at this evening. Next week a romance of the high seas, entitled "What Happened on the Bermuda," will be the star picture. The story concerns a girl named Ruth, who is accompanying her father, Dr Wislow, on a trip to South America on the steamer Bermuda. While on the high seas the crew mutiny, and lock up the passengers and officers. The vessel runs ashore on an island, and the gang go ashore, and force Ruth to accompany them. When ordered to make some coffee for the mutineers, she does so, and places in it some morphia tabloids she had brought with her ih case the worst should come. She escapes to the ship, and manages to free one of the officers, who sends a wireless call to a United States warship, which arrives in time to take prisoner the gang. There is a charming romance, and any amount of thrill and realism in the portrayal. The shipwreck scene is most sensational, and is one of the best sea tale spectacles that the Edison Company have yet produced. The big feature will be supported by a Tseries of well-selectecl subjects. HIS MAJESTY'S. The splendid London Film Company's production, "The Heart" of a Child," with clever Edna Flugrath in the principal role, will be shown at His Majesty's finally to-night, in conjunction with an excellent series of supporting pictures. This is a first-class programme, and one that is sure to please all tastes. Next week a Vitagraph feature film, entitled "The Evil Men Do," with Maurice Costello in the leading role, will be the chief attraction. The "plot is novel, inasmuch as it dispenses with the more common type of hero and heroine, and replaces them with characters true to life. Maurice Costello's part is that of a young husband more fascinated than loved by his wife. The latter proves faithless, and the young husband, heartbroken, and penniless, decides to start afresh in life. Out in the West he begins work on a ranch, and is urged on to success by the kind sympathies of a young woman, whom he loved when a child. In these cir-

cumstances, success comes rapidly. The wife, now deserted by her new. lover, returns, and complications \ follow, in which it is found that the cause of their ruin has since become married to his friend of brighter days. The close is sad. The wife who» strayed is shot by the "other man," and then it is that the two who have played so important a part I in the little tragedy realise that they are united by a mutual sympathy. 1 [The play is an impressive one, with many striking situations. GRAND THEATRE. The usual matinee was held at the Grand Theatre to-day, when special pictures, in addition to the ordinary programme, were shown. The star attraction is the Cines drama, entitled "Deserter of Submarine S. 2," which has drawn large audiences the past two days. This-picture will be shown for the last time to-night. On Monday the principal picture will be "Circus Mary," a sensational drama of circus life, featuring the wellknown kinema actress, Miss Mary Fuller, who recently left the Edison Company, with which she was associated so long, and entered the ranks Of the Universal players, under the banner of the "Victor" Company. This drama, which is 3000 feet long, is stated to be one of the best of i,ts kind which has been produced for years. It deals with the career of Mary Elton, a wirewalker in a circus, who marries John Hammond, a politician and a lawyer. The girl's lowly calling militates against Hammond's career, and she leaves him. The "daughter of the marriage also develops a great talent for wire-walk-ing, and as the plot unfolds she is the means of saving her father's life. The supporting films will include two excellent Essanay comedies entitled "SweedieV Finish," and the "Countless Count," featuring Harry | Pollard, who has played lead with Charles Chaplin in a number of Essanay comedies. The latest number of the "Eclair Journal" will also be shown. THE GLOBE. The tenth episode of the "Million Dollar Mystery" at the Globe will be shown for the last time this evening. Among the supporting pictures is a laughable Lubin comedy with Billy Reeves in- the leading role, entitled "Nearly a Prize Fighter." For the j matinee this afternoon there is a [pretty story-book picture entitled "Eggs and Babies." On Monday the eleventh episode of the serial will be shown, and its title, "In the Path of the Express," promises some more thrills. SYDENHAM PICTURES. The splendid Vitagraph production, "From Headquarters," will be screened at the Sydenham Pictures to-night for the last time. This photo-play is full of power and thrills, and is acted by Anita Stewart and Earle Williams. Next week another Vitagraph feature film, entitled "The Evil Men Do," will be shown, with the famous actor, Maurice Costello, in the leading irole.

J. C. WILLIAMSON'S COMEDY COMPANY.

"POTASH AND PERLMUTTER." At the Theatre Royal on Monday night at 8 o'clock the curtain will rise on the first performance here of the world-renowned laughing success "Potash and Perlmutter," which is said to be the funniesf and bestacted comedy yet staged in the Dominion. The season is for five nights only, and the curtain will rise each evening at 8 o'clock. It is said that no more entertaining, more original, or funnier comedy has even been staged on the English r speaking stage than "Potash and Perlmutter," and certainly there has not been a more successful play, musical or dramatic, produced during the past 20 years. The J. G. Williamson, Ltd., management must be complimented on being able to secure the five principals out of the original New York production, because it is their exceptionally fine portrayals which have gone a long way to make "Pot-<

ash and Perlmutter" the wonderful success it has proved. Mr Sam »Le Bet+, who plays Mawruss Perlmutter, is one of America's best-known Jewish impersonators. He has played such parts since he was 17 years old. He explains: "I have lived among these types such as you see in 'Potash ans Perlmutter.' I have studied them, and know their humour and their pathos. In 'Potash and Perlmutter' you do not see the caricatured Jew, "who is made to look ridiculous, but the real thing—a humorous but a sympathetic Jew; and there is no more humorous person in the world." Mr Paul Burns, too, has made a special study of the character he represents in the Hebrew play. One of the most fascinating actresses who has ever visited Australasia, it is said, is Miss Margaret Vinton, who plays the im-portant-role of Ruth Goldman. Miss Lizzie Wilson, a veteran American actress, appears Rosie Potash, wife of Abe. In a quiet way? she gives one of the most effective pictures in the comedy. She is a little jealous of the pretty girls in her husband's store, and at last breaks,out with a complaint, "A designer can always leave, but a vife must shtick it." The other member of the originarNew York cast is Mr Sam Howard, as the buyer from Syracuse, Marks Pasinsky, a ladies' man among the Yiddish tradesmen with a comic simper. The ladies of the company, it is said, wear some magnificent dresses during the evening, and the scenery and mounting is of the usual J. C. Williamson, Ltd., order. A full operatic orchestra will play some specially composed music. "CHRISTMAS JOY." The coming programme of Mr Arthur Lilly's new work, "Christmas Joy,'Mhe words of which have been taken from Milton's ode, at the Choral Hall next Thursday, is creating much interest in musical circles. The fact that the composer is*a New Zealander by birth marks a progressive step in the musical doings of the Dominion. A full orchestra of 35 players, and a chorus of 150 voices, will perform the work, with Miss Vida Hill (soprano) and Mr J. H. Peek, sen., as soloists. Dun-; edin folk resident in Christchurch will be interested to hear the theme of the hour chime of the Dunedin Town Clock is incorporated in the work. Previous to the work itself the chorus and audience will join in singing the old carol, "The First Nowel," with full orchestral accompaniments. A few miscellaneous items will also be rendered, including Gounod's "Nazareth," sung by Mr W. J. Spratt; two arias from "The Messiah," "I Know that My Redeemer Liveth," sung by Miss Elsie Large, and "Rejoice Greatly," by Miss Spratt. Mr Lanham will play a trombone solo, and Mr Lindsay Mitchell (pianist) will play Chopin's "Ballade in A flat." The plan is at Milner "and Thompson's, and tickets are on sale at Woodward's.