THE THEATRES.

Sun (Christchurch), Volume III, Issue 873, 27 November 1916, Page 9

THE THEATRES.

i STARLAND THEATRE. | 11 "Samson," this week's feature at. Star J and, is a photo-play aeknow-i, lodged to be William Farnum's mas-p tcrpicce. Now this is claiming a lot j' when it is remembered that Farnunil! is the highest salaried actor in the world, and that for five years he!'' starred in "Ben Hur." But, on the| J other hand, when a big film corpora- \' lion opens in a country it is certain that the first film they show will be something par excellence—something that will create business for them. It was "Samson" that the Fox. Filmj; Corporation screened at a profes-j 1 s'onal matinee when they opened in ] Australia. Subsequently it was shown to packed houses for four j weeks at the Theatre Royal, Sydney. I' In conjunction with "Samson." Star-: laud screens the Famous Players ver-| sion of Mark Twain's master com-j position, "The Prince and the Pau- ' per." It is Mark Twain's wonder-1, ful depiction of the lot of the "down! and out" before the advent of demo-;' cracy—in the days when church and J king conspired to keep the common [ people in their place with stake and ' halberd. To this serious work, with! its quaint flashes of humour, thei' adorable Marguerite Clark, in the i' dual title character, adds the charm!' of her delightful presence, and in this, her first interpretation of aj boy's part, she has scored her great-1 est success. The combination of her! exquisitely bright acting and Mark! Twain's wonderful creative talent! makes "The Prince and the Pauper" | a photo-play that-instantly appeals! to and wins the sympathies of any! audience. Seats may be booked for! the night session tie luxe at The! Bristol, and patrons arriving at their case about a quarter to 8 will be in i lime for both big productions, which! will be also screened at the three-' hour continuous day sessions. |

QUEEN'S THEATRE. "Honour Thy Name," Triangle's forceful five act drama featuring Louise Glaum, is a picture which fully upholds the excellent reputation established by the Triangle Corporation. The story opens in the home of old Colonel Castleton, for whom a distant relative acts as housekeeper. The colonel's son is in love with the housekeeper's daughter. Later the son leaves to be educated in New York, where he meets a cabaret dancer with whom he becomes infatuated. His infatuation grows, and soon he is trapped into a marriage with the dancer, who lurns out to be the daughter of a once famous prima donna, who was at one time associated with the old colonel. He learns of his son's marriage, and tries to buy the woman olf, but she insists on claiming her place as his son's wife. The play ends with a tragedy, in which the colonel sacrifices his own life to save the honour of his son. Other excellent items arc also on the programme. A DAUGHTER OF THE GODS. On Saturday the charming Japanese play "A Daughter of the Gods," was repated by request at the Theatre Royal, ami a large audience was again amused and entertained by the efforts of the children who participate. The play is so refreshing wnd delightful that it could bear a longer season, and a further "repeat performance" later on would not be an unwelcome happening. The applause was hearty and spontaneous, and tributes in the shape of flowers and sweets were not lacking. During the evening Mr W. E. Sinies auctioned a silk cushion, made by a relative of one of the performers, in aid of the Belgian Fund. The cushion was sold and re-sold a number of times before being put up "for keeps."' Mr T. 11. Baker, of Baker and Coy., was the purchaser at £2 10/-. Other bids of £1 each were received from Messrs P. L. Halienslein, I). Bcese, Williams, T. S. Foster, T. 11. Baker, J. Buchanan, J. S. Wilson and E. Nordon. At the conclusion of the performance Mr W. S. Wauchop returned thanks on behalf of the management to all who had assisted.

EVERYBODY'S THEATRE. The initial presentation of the great Triangle drama "Hell-to-Pay Austin" took place at Everybody's to-day. The central figure, around j which a most fascinating love story J is wound, is a care-free little orphan! girl (Bessie Love), whose father, aj derelict parson, suddenly dies, leav-| ing her trt fight the world. The scenes are laid in a sawmilling town in the great Siwash forests, and the opening chapters of the story depict the adoption of the little orphan, nicknamed Nettles, by Hell-to-Pay Austin, the sawmill supervisor, who bullies his men, but allows Nellies to bully him. After adopting Nettles,! the question of her education gives' rise to much discussion amongst the "boys" of the camp, the subject being raised by Hell-to-Pay Austin's nephew, Jack, whom the iattcr thinks j Nettles is in love with. After decid-i ing the college by playing poker, the! vivacious Nettles is dispatched to the j city to receive the polish of civilisa-j tion. Before leaving, she meets! "Mrs" Doris Valentine, who, as one' of a party of tourists, enters the for-1 est, but on becoming lost, is found by Hell-to-Pay Austin and taken to; the hut. He recognises her as the woman he once loved. She threatens him with exposure, as being the murderer of his rival in the early! days, but he compels her to return to the city. Finding the college an ( educational centre for everything but j human kindness, Nettles goes to the home of the questionable "Mrs" Valentine, advising her guardian by leti ter. To save Nettles from the pitfalls of the immoral Valentine set, Hell-to-Pay Austin risks the possibility of arrest, and saves Nettles, j who loves him, and becomes his | wife. There is a good supporting I programme, including a Gaumont j Graphic, War Topics showing scenes ! at Arras, and a Mult and Jeff cartoon. OPERA HOUSE.

This evening, at the Opera House, the Bert la Blanc Revue Company j will commence the last week of their i return season in Chrislchurch. The j production which is to be staged j this week is "In Watts," the revue j which was so successful some time i ago. It abounds with the witticisms [of Messrs la Blanc and Mack, while I the musical numbers are particui larly good. The New York Com--1 edy Four render some excellent quartet numbers, while the work of the ballet is also excellent. The I vaudeville section-of the programme I will include a reappearance for a I short season of Cestria, the clever ! Italian tumbler and comedy juggler. | Coyne and Levingstonc will produce i an amusing playlet entitled "Bits and Pieces," while Clark and Wallace, j English palter comedians and danc- ! ers will also make a reappearance. "PEG 0' MY HEART." "Peg o' My Heart," with which J. and N. Tait will open at the Theatre Royal on Wednesday, has charmed millions, because it is so simple and direct in its appeal to the belter side of everybody's nature. This world record-winner had its inception in the fertile brain of Laurelle Taylor, I then a comparatively unknown ae- | tress, who had noted that Irish ! heroes were popular upon the stage, jand she wondered why someone haoT j not written a play with a real Irish j heroine. She became acquainted j with J. Hartley Manners, a young I Irish actor who had atlrected sonic ! attention to himself as a playwright, ! and who was in Australia some years 'ago. Miss Taylor outlined her | scheme to Manners. They developed the original plot together. About the time Peg became an international figure the original Peg became the wife of the brilliant author, who made such a successful play out of her idea. Laurette Taylor became ! the most popular comedienne of her (lay, and later on duplicated her jgrcat American success in London, I where she has made an enormous | personal hit. Miss Sara Allgood is to play Peg in Christchurch, when she I will be supported by Tail's new Engjlish Comedy Company. The box ! plan is now open at The Bristol.

HIS MAJESTY'S THEATRE. "Mice and Men," which is to be presented at His Majesty's Theatre this evening is another picture which ! must be added to the already long 'list of little Marguerite Clark's snej cesses. It is a novel story, beautiI fully portrayed and superbly acted. 'How a philosopher and scientist conceived the idea of adopting Peggy, j a foundling, in the hone that she | would one day develop into an ideal I wife for him, is Ihe theme of the story. Under his careful and well •, thought out plan of tuition, Peggv! gradually develops into a beautiful 1 i girl, with n keen intellect, and noble I ! heart, and in time comes to love her guardian. But when Peggy meets youth, in the person of Captain Geo. Lovell, nephew of the professor, she j finds him more interesting, and two | cases of love at first sight result. [With the outbreak of the Mexican war, the young man is called to sorjvice with his regiment and with his 'departure, Pesgv finds life not quite iso interesting. Meanwhile, her guar- | idian has fallen violently in love; i with his ward, and the way in which 'his original designs are realised i comes as a striking and powerful denouement. Miss Clark plays her j part with consistent charm through-1 i out, and her portrayal of the varied j ' emotions required is eminently sympathetic. "The Battler" is a thrill-) ing Vitagraph comedy which as a : | laugh raiser is highly successful. • I Other good pictures, including the • Pathc Gazette, are also on the programme which will be screened , I every evening this week.