THE THEATRES.

Sun (Christchurch), Volume III, Issue 698, 6 May 1916, Page 13

THE THEATRES.

MR ASHMEAD-BARTLETT. The illustrated lecture delivered at the Theatre Royal last evening by Mr Ashmead-Bartlett, the famous war correspondent, was closely followed by an interested and appreciative audience. In his introductory remarks the lecturer briefly contrasted the economic conditions •f the belligerent countries and opined that before the end of the present year some drastic changes would occur. Mis graphic account of the performances of the New Zealanders and Australians in the Gallipoli campaign were warmly received, and his vivid descriptions of j the several landings executed underi most difficult conditions were particularly interesting. Mr Bartlett stated that during the course of sun-| dry interviews he had been surpris-i cd at the general misapprehension eoncerning the extent of the locality' in which the colonial troops were engaged, and he took some pains to outline the exact district in which the lighting occurred, lie deprecated the general tendency to depreciate the value of the Gallipoli engagement, .and pointed out that although its immediate object had not been attained, it had considerably! aided the Russian attacks on Armenia by causing a heavy concentration of Turkish troops elsewhere. Having been an eye-witness, Mr Bartlett speaks with convincing directness, and his personal experiences, which are specially piquant, include the unusual sensation of presence on a torpedoed battleship. He was on H.M.S. Majestic when that ship was sunk off the Peninsula. MISS DOROTHEA SPINNEY. Last evening, in the Canterbury •ollege Hall. Miss Dorothea Spinney gave her second recital on the works •f Euripides, before a good audience. Undoubtedly Miss Spinney's work is educational, as it gives quite a good idea of tb<>se wonderful Greek plays. Miss Spinney preceded her recital with a brief outline of the storv—the •onlcmplated sacrifice of Iphigenia, daughter of King Agamemnon, to the goddess Artemis, and the removal of Iphigenia to Tauris, theer to be the virgin priestess of the goddess. FVr duly was to consecrate all strangers and shipwrecked men east on their shores, who were subsequently slain as sacrifice to the sacred image of Artemis. The great scene of the play comes when Fphigenia's own brother, Orestes, who believes her dead, finds his way to Tauris, and Bieets his sister. Orestes has mur-

dered his own mother, Clyslemncs-'i tra, and is maddened by furies. Apollo has told him lhat he will not regain his peace of mind until he jhas found the sacred wooden image I of Artemis and taken it to Attic Earth, where it shall no longer be] stained with human blood. The meeting of the brother and sister, |the plan for the escape to Greece, and the intervention of the goddess,: !Pallas Athene, who aids the fugi-1 'tives, are all portrayed as the play igoes on. It ends on a picture of the exiled Iphigenia returning to her ;beloved Greece with her brother, to whom the image has brought peace. [The play was greatly enjoyed by the j audience, who gave Miss Spinney iher meed of applause at its concluj sion. LAST DUFAULT CONCERT. I The last concert of the Paul Duj fault season will be given to-night at the Theatre Royal. Judging by the | advance booking the audience will be limited only by the walls of the •theatre. An especially popular programme has been prepared for Mr Dufault's final concert. He will sing 'the magnificent aria from "The Pro-! kligal Son," and several new English and French ballads, and some of the I old favourites, including "Sylvclin" jand "Spirit Flower." Yielding to numerous requests, Mr Dufault will jalso include his thrilling rendition of I "The Trumpeter." Miss Bindley and |Mr Dufault will sing a duet from "Romeo antr Juliet." Miss Bindley's I principal number will be an aria from "Madame Butterfly." Miss Florence Scapini's principal item will be the Max Bruch Concerto. The ibox plan for to-night will be at The I Bristol until noon to-day; after that, I together with dav sales, at the Toy Cave. OPERA HOUSE. Victor Prince's clever revue company will appear finally to-night in the bright pioduction "The Midnight ; Club." This is a humorous and musical piece, affording many oppor- ! [unities to the comedians and singers j in the company. The vaudeville II programme presented in the first ,'half is of all-round merit, and in- • | eludes some excellent turns. The ' Littlejohns are in their last week. !jl)e Bakei's Models are statue posers ■; who present a novel and clever i turn, while Brown and Sorlie, •1 coloured comedians, Eloise Taylor, Milncr and Storey, and All". Holt all '! present new and varied turns. Next | week the dockers will be presented I in their comedy water juggling act, •and the Victor Prince Cimpany will I j appear in "Full Steam Ahead." EVERYBODY'S On Monday, at noon, a new era in pictures will be inaugurated, when the first of the Triangle features will be screened. Triangle pictures are at present the rage of America, due, no doubt, lo the association of D. W. Griffiths, Thomas Tnce, and Mack Sennett as producers for the company. Every detail that makes for success is introduced into the piclures, and the plays rank in a class by themselves. The opening Triangle picture, which will be seen at Everybody's, is a Keystone Triangle comedy, "The Submarine Pirate," which features Syd Chaplin. In this four-reel star comedy all the gamut of comedy (brills has been introduced, and Syd Chaplin used all the acrobatic comedy arts of which he is master in making the picture Ihe besl comedy yel seen. Nothing so startling and unique-in novelties has s been used as a submarine for photo- ' play. The U.S.A. Navy Department placed a new submarine at the disposal of Mack Sennelt for the purj pose of the play, and the underwater scenes are mosl humorous. II Nothing like "The Submarine Pirate" has been seen before, and -Syd Chaplin will have one of the • best comedies he has ever been featured in, in which lo make his rel' appearance. HIS MAJESTY'S . j One of Ihe greatest Ihealrical sue k I cesses of the last decade was Paul- ' ton's delightful comedy-drama "Niobe." In Australia and New j Zealand the never-to-be-forgotten Brough-Boucieault Company played I it on many occasions. The Famous Players' Company have, it is said, mosl cleverly adapted the play to the screen, and have selected one of Ihe mosl beautiful, charming, and talented actrofcscs *f Ihe day. Miss i Hazel Dawn, for the part of "Niobe," the Goddess of Tears, who after 30011 years as a statue comes lo life when entangled with (he electric, wires in Ihe house of the staid business man, Peter Amos Dunn. The complications which ensue and Ihe difficulties and embarrassments that beset

Dunn in Irving to explain the presence of the beautiful young woman makes one of the most fascinating and clever comedy-dramas of the present day. There are several other excellent photo-plays included in the programme for Hife Majesty's on Monday. GRAND THEATRE. Such has been the success of the "Metro" pictures which are being shown at the Grand Theatre that the management has secured the exclusive rights for these films for this city. A "Metro" feature will be shown each week from Monday to Saturday inclusive. The fourth production by this famous company is now being shown, entitled "The High Road," in five acts, featuring Mine. Valli Yalli, described as "the idol of two continents." On Monday the fifth "Metro" picture will be shown at all sessions. This will be "The Heart of a Painted Woman," featuring Mine. Olga Petrova, who appeared with much success in "The Vampire" last week. The "New York Mail" says of this actress:"Olga Petrova is one of the handsomest women.on the stage, and she is to be one of the reigning beauties of Ihe screen. In this film masterpiece she is wonderful. The story is good, and the character which Mine. Petrova portrays carries with it a strong, sympathetic appeal in the following exceedingly fascinating spectacular drama, entitled 'The Heart of a Painted Woman.' It is an elaborate live-reel production of very high standard." Owing to a delay in transit in another part of the Dominion, the tenth series of "The Black Box" cannot be shown until Tuesday night. An excellent supporting programme will replace "The Black Box' 'on Monday. THE WILLARD-JOHNSON FIGHT. The picture of the boxing contest for the heavy-weight championship of the world between Jess Willard and Jack Johnson drew another large audience to Ihe King's Theatre last evening. The picture, quite apart from its importance because of Ihe particular contest it shows, is one of Ihe best "light" films that have ever been screened here. It was taken in bright sunlight, and every movement of the contestants ean.be followed with ease. In addition to the contest, interesting piclures are shown of the training operations and of other incidents connected with the fight. The gradual tiring of (he black champion and the vigour of Ihe bigger and stronger while man's aggression can be plainly followed, and even in the phrases of quicker lighting the picture gives the scene clearly. Owing to the large numbers of people desirous of seeing Ihe picture the season of its exhibition has been extended to include Monday and Tuesday next. The picture will be screened' again to-night. QUEEN'S THEATRE. To-night will be the last opportunity of seeing "The One Between," Ihe dramatic Italian production at [the Queen's Theatre. Another World Film Corporal ion feature in live acts, entitled "The Pit," will be screened on Monday. Wilton Lackage and Gail Kane will be the principals in this picture, which deals in a powerful manner with the greed for wealth and power thai consumed a business man named Curtis. He earned thousands of dollars, and became drunk with success and wanted millions, with Ihe result that he nearly ruined his life. Then the story is well worked out, and has a powerful denouement. "The Pit" will be supported by comedy and topical subjects. SYDENHAM PICTURES. [ The magnificently produced picture "The Arab," which has been showing at the Sydenham Pictures this week, will be screened finally tonight. On Monday a film entitled i"Niobe," described as the greatest j of all comedies, and featuring Hazel Dawn, will be screened. GLOBE THEATRE. The Famous Players' feature film, "Such a Little Queen," wilh Mary Piekford in the leading role, will be screened finally to-night. "The Outlaw's Deputy" was (he special picture put on for Ibis afternoon's matinee. "Helen's Babies," a comedy with an excellent reputation as a mirth raiser, will be screened on .Monday. THE ROYAL STROLLERS. On Monday evening, at the Theatre Royal, .Messrs J. and N. Tail present Sydney James and Ihe Loyal Strollers, a company of entertainers who have been drawing huge audiences nightly in Wellington. The Ade-

laide "Mail" says:—'-The mirth was fast and furious, and never a dull moment the whole night long. rhere was not a weak link in "fhei Strollers' chain. II is a long time I since we have had such a whimsical I character as Sydnev James, Stroller-j in-Chief. He whistled splendidly/ and as ventriloquist he is a front, ranker ('Billy," his pal, will he a prime favourite). He sang-, he re-1 cited, he gave invitations, he joined i in the choruses, and worked all night I for the common good and to the! credit of the show. Madeline Rossi-! ter proved herself an artist to the Up of her long and expressive lingers. She danced with exceptional! cleverness, and got to her work likej quick-silver. Gwen Lewis contributed some smart monologue numbers, and was crisp and bright in her; Margaret Cooper songs. Stroller Desmond danced splendidly. Chor-! uses, catches, nursery rhymes,' roundelays, quips, and jingles found : a large part in the revelries, and every one judged the show uncommonly good and most diverting."! Mr George Graystoiie (basso), Miss! Connie Milne (soubrette), Mr Cyril i Northcote (comedian), and Mr "Arthur Frost (the talented solo pianist and musical director) are all universal favourites. The box plan is now: open at The Bristol, where seats may be reserved for the season of seven [ nights. I