THE THEATRES.

Sun (Christchurch), Volume III, Issue 881, 6 December 1916, Page 9

THE THEATRES.

"PEG 0' MY HEART." The popularity of that delightful comedy "Peg o' My Heart," played by Messrs J. and N. Tail's New English Comedy Company, at the Theatre Royal, continues unabated. The large audience which watched last night's production showed its appreciation in unstinted manner. Of course, the production owes much of its success to Miss Sara Allgood's charming interpretation of the role of Peg, but Miss Allgood is well supported by the company. The performance will be repeated this evening. OPERA HOUSE. Good business is being done this week at the Opera House, and the excellence of the current programme fully justifies the patronage. The star turn is being provided by Chris. Richards, the English comedian. This performer comes to Chrislchurch with a great reputation. Another comedy lurn is that to be presented hy Leeds and Lemar, who carry the distinction of being the only vaudeville artists specially selected by the military authorities to entertain our soldiers in Egypt. Harry Little, is an operatic baritone, who has been well received every night. The Two Devons appear in a clever melange of song and dance, while the Three Ruddles are sterling juvenile acrobats. Coyne and Levingslone. Cestria, and Clarke and Wallace, are also appearing. STARLAND THEATRE. "The Little Gipsy," this week's Fox feature at Starland, is undoubtedly the best of this firm's plays to date. Dorothy Bernard, an actress who is in the front rank of screen artists of the day, plays the title role in a manner which is from the first fascinating. It is the story of a little gipsy baby who is found by a wealthy Scottish estate owner, and brought up after the manner and customs of Scottish society. The girl's gipsy nature,, however, cannot be concealed, and it is her delight l<i masquerade at night as a gipsy maiden. In this role she captivates the minister of the parish, who, not knowing who she is, falls wildly in love with her. The conclusion comes as a complete and pleasing surprise, and provides ample opportunity lor some good acting. The picture was produced amid some magnificent woodland scenery, and contains some remarkably fine spectacular effects. "Tennessee's Pardner" is the title of the other star item. ;> five-reel Lasky p!a> featuring t'annie Ward.

EVERYBODY'S THEATRE. Always a fascinating subject, London life is revealed in a more striking manner in "Sweet Lavender," now showing at Everybody's, than ever before. This famous drama is from the pen of Sir Arthur Pinero. The picture form, in which Henry Ainley and Alma Taylor play the leads, is remarkably true-to-life. The lapse of a banker in his youthful days,—the wronging of an innocent girl commences the story, and the conclusion conies after a series of romantic events. A Keystone Triangle comedy entitled "The Judge," is a good laughter-maker. The programme, is concluded by an animal study, and the Gaumont Graphic. HIS MAJESTY'S THEATRE. Bessie Barriscale's magnificent emotional acting in "The Payment*' delighted another large audience at His Majesty's Theatre last evening. "The Payment" is a woman's problejn solved in a woman's way. A poor girl, whose ambition it is to become an artist, accepts an offer of help from an unscrupulous married man. She thinks the price of his help not too much, but when, after three years abroad, she returns, a famous artist, there comes the terrible realisation that she has not completed the transaction. The conclusion is a powerfully appealing one, with a moral. Miss Barriscale's acting throughout is excellent, while the other characters arc also capably handled. There is a good supporting programme.