THE THEATRES.

Sun (Christchurch), Volume IV, Issue 1230, 21 January 1918, Page 7

THE THEATRES.

"MRS DOT." We have now seen Marie Tempest as maid, wife, and widow, and il is: impossible to say in which she! excels, all portrayals being done so excellently well. On Saturday night she was the widow—the clever, : wealthy, unconventional Mrs Dot, with a fortune, made in be r, of £60,000 a year. She flings the plebe-i ian source of her wealth in the faces: of her society acquaintances with great gusto—she has an impish delight for shocks, has Mrs Dot. Iter, affections centre upon one Gerald! Halstane (Mr lan McLaren), and she: divines that her love is returned. I And so it is, hut Halstane has to tell her how he drifted into an engagement with Nellie Sellenger (Miss Nancye Stewart) a year before, an engagement frowned upon by her mother, for Halstane is hopelessly' ineligible, being poor as the proverbial church mouse. With dramatic, suddenness, wealth and a title fall to his lot, whereat Lady Sellenger takes him to her heart, bestows Nellie upon him with her blessing. and plunges Halstane himself into! despair. But not so the lov-| able, impetuous, delightful Dot, | who is all the more determined to marry the man she loves because of the obstacles. Fate, in the shape of her nephew, Freddie Perkins (Mr Roger Barry), points a way. Perkins falls in love with : Nellie—calf love, but it serves—and] Nellie is induced to fancy herself in) love with him. How Dot, the clever I little schemer, plots to give the of-! ficial lovers (Halstane and Nellie) j so much of their own society that one is bored to death of the other—how she fans Halstane's love for her j own artful little self by a seeming: "affair" with a mutual friend, James Blenkinsop (Mr Graham Browne),) and how, finally, she drops a special marriage license in the way of Nellie and Freddie at the exact psychological moment when they! would be likely to use it (as they did) is delightfully told as the story j unfolds. Tt is a charming little comedy, and Marie Tempest's study of "Mrs Dot" is a most satisfying one. Her engaging little mannerisms, her sweetly inconsequent femininity, and the golden frankness

and generosity of her nature made ' the audience fall in love with her, even as Gerald Halstane did, and even as James Bienkinsop did not, A word about this James Bienkinsop must be said. As Mr Graham Browne presented him, he was a very real personality, frankly selfish, a bachelor, thoroughly "up" to feminine wiles, and well guarded against thorn, and yet, with a tender (but quite safe) snot for the little widow, whom he victimises properly once during the play, an indulgence to an unsuspected sense of humour. She is petulant because he has not made his part of the affair real enough to the onlookers, and he takes his revenge by doing it so well that everyone, Dot included, imagines he is in earnest. But the last word, as usual, is with the widow, who, discovering the fraud, pretends to accept him, and strikes cold terror into his ease-loving heart, which is strictly opposed to matrimony. There are a couple of really fine scenes between them. Mr Roger Barry gives a very capable presentation of Freddie Perkins, the youngster who, armed with the supreme and amazing confidence of

extreme youth, imagines himself irresistible. He is an engaging lad, ►• for ill 1 his egotism, and Miss Nancye Stewart plavs up to him very prettily. Miss Ethel Morrison, as Lady Sellenger, the pompous, mercenary society mamma—humourless, yet ponderously sentimental when the occasion seems to call for it—was extremely good. The minor characters were taken by Mr Leslie Victor, a valet with an extremely good opinion of himself and some very clear-cut opinions on life: Mr Frank Allonbv, valet to Tames Blenkinsop; and Mr Tal Ordell, who has a momentary appearance, so to speak, as a friend of Gerald Italslane. Mr Frank Allanby doubles his part of a vale! with a similar appearance to thai Of Mr Ordell. Like all (lie previous productions, the play is mounted and produced in a most finished and satisfactory fashion. II will he repeated to-night. EVERYBODY'S THEATRE. A picture which has been described as the greatest war story ever presented on the screen, was introduced at Everybody's Theatre to-day. It is entitled "For France," and is a stirring story of the present war. The ViUigniph Company was % responsible for Hie production, and the popular actor Fdward Earle plays the leading role, while lie is assisted by a powerful east, which includes a new and delightful young star, Betty Howe. The play exploit's a novel theme, the text of which is summed up in (be one sentence, 'Every man has two countries—the Other is France." The picture de-

picis the adventures which befall a cheerful young American airman, who adopts France as his "second country." The aeroplane views are really remarkable for their extreme realism, while the other war views are of a rarely vivid nature. The story is essentially an intensely dramatic one, but it is lightened here and there by humorous incidents. One of the exciting episodes is the portrayal of the retribution which over-; lakes a Hun officer who has outraged a lovely French girl. Through the play there runs a fascinatingly I sweet and surprising love story, I which moves through the storms and: calms of the picture to a conclusion which cannot fail to please. The! picture, which is a Blue Ribbon \ feature, is filmed in the Vitagraph's usual excellent manner, the photo-; graphy being perfect and the settings; of the very best. There is a good | supporting list, which includes the latest edition of "The Gaumont j Graphic."

LIBERTY THEATRE. "The Sweetheart of the Doomed," j j the Triangle drama which heads then current programme at the Liberty. Theatre, is a vampire story, but itji is a vampire story of a nature which;; has not yet been seen here. It tells] of the life of Honore Zonlay, a mer-j----eenary beauty of Monte Carlo, whose j one thought, born of the memory of ; > |a bitter betrayal, is that she mayij live to revenge herself on all man- ] I kind. Yet even this bitter-hearted hj woman is re-created and transformed j • into the ardent sweetheart of Paul.] Montague. Then comes the war, and ] she courts almost certain death for t the sight of her lover, and in the i stormed-wrecked fields of Northern | France she is commanded by one of die deluded vLtims of her past to j ("make love to the dying sons of , France." This weird and enthralling i I story then shows how the siren < charms of an enchantress, which had in the past spelt ruin for many I men, became a power for good. ■ This is undoubtedly the most allur- \ jing role of Miss Glaum's career, as I | she elicits the full sympathy of the spectators. The picture is intensely i interesting throughout, and pos- . sesses a unique charm. Its action is swift at all times, and the conclu- i sion, which follows a most startling , climax, comes as a wonderful dra- ] matic surprise. On the same proI gramme is the latest chapter of that i [fascinating serial, "The Secret King- ; I dom," which depicts some more , weird adventures, and a recitation in film form by Barrie Marsehel of the poem in the vernacular, "The Kid from Timaru." . STRAND THEATRE. "A Poor Little Rich Girl," which j was shown on Saturday at the ' Strand Theatre, discloses Mary Pickford in a picture which, al- ! though of typical Pickford charm, presents the famous girl-star in a , character quite different from any- ' jibing in which she has appeared heretofore. For instance, whoever ; (heard of Mary Pickford being a j regular little bob-cat, when it comes ; I to fighting? Yet this is just what , [proves to be the case in "Little , Mary's" new film when a gang of j street urchins attacks her at her palatial home. In the luxurious con- : servatory, with its lily pond and gigantic palms, she battles with half- | a-dozen sturdy youngsters, and j finally disperses them at the cost of much expensive furnishings as well las her own immaculate appearance. | Bespattered from head to foot with mud from the erstwhile lily pond, ;and severely scratched, she stands I triumphant as the remains of the | gang are set to flight. The urchins; iused in these scenes were instructed! jto give real battle, and in fighting them off the popular little star had I her hands full in every sense of the 1 expression—as well as her teeth and! feet. After Ibis fight Miss Piekford's activities for the day at the studio! ceased right then and there. The! picture will be screened al all sessions Ibis week until Friday, and : those who possibly can are advised; I to attend Hie dav sessions. During, I the screening of this film the well-] known Ellwood Trio rendered some i fine selection's from popular works ; I in the pleasing manner which one: ifias come to expect from this tal|filled combination. GRAND THEATRE. The Metro Pictures Corporation! [provides the principal attraction al ,lhe Grand Theatre this week in a seven-reel dramatic feature, "Their ]Compact." This picture is of infer-; est for several reasons, one of the! : chief being that it marks the reap-; 'pearance, after a lengthy absence, of: those popular artists, Francis "X. i Bushman and Beverley Baync.i ■ There is plenty of action in the play, ;and it is a gripping story of manly | | courage and the West—of a mail] | who kepi his word, even though the [whole world misjudged him, until! /•vents proved his honesty. James; [Van Dyke Moore has put his (rust lin a woman who has proved worth-! less. He goes West to forget her,

and meets winsome Mollie Anderson. To the West comes his friend, Robert Forrest, on his honeymoon. His bride is the false creature Moore has unmasked. She begs him to keep her secret. Forrest goes away, leaving his wife in Moore's care for safekeeping. Worthless as she is, he must protect her—it is "their compact." Dramatic moments come quickly until the tremendous climax, in which right and justice win. The story is one that has a breath of open spaces in it, the action being laid in Bed Gulch, Arizona, a place noted for its silver mines, and altogether there is the atmosphere of the West, which has such a fascination. There is a good supporting programme, but the management announce that, owing to a delay in transit, the new instalment of "The Mvstcrics of Myra" cannot be shown to-day. It will be shown on arrival. QUEEN'S THEATRE. The World Film drama, "The Corner Grocer," shown for the first lime at the Queen's Theatre to-day, is a really refreshing type of picture. The film has a human appeal that must find a response in those who see it. As a play "The Corner Grocer" had a phenomenally successful run in New York, and is said to have held the boards there for three years. Its adaptation to the screen has been singularly successful. The producers, the World Film Company, evidently realised that they had something above the ordinary to produce, and so have turned out a remarkably fine picture. The two leading characters in the play have been ideally cast. Madge Evans takes the part of the adorable little orphan in the story, and Lew Fields that of the old money-making grocer. In spite of his money-making the latter old person is at heart an exceedingly kind old man. He adopts the little heroine of the story-—the charming orphan girl Petite—and it is she who eventually brings him real happiness. The old grocer has a son of his own, and with the fortune he has amassed sends him away to have the benefits and "culture" of the modern college. The son returns to his father with lofty ideals, and scorns his father's mode of livelihood. The scenes heLween the three central figures in the story are of engrossing interest. The picture has a beautiful ending. A splendid Keystone comedy, an interesting topical gazette, and the latest instalment of "The Girl and the Game," make up a first-class programme. STARLAND THEATRE.

The programmes which have been presented at Starland of late have been of such a high class that the popular little theatre has been crowded nightly. This week the management have more than succeeded in their endeavour to give natrons not only the best that is to be obtained in film offerings, but also more of it. The current programme, which is three hours in length, includes five splendid pictures, the main item being a powerful and elaborately-mounted play, "The Straight Way," which features the "Emnress of Fashion," Valeska Suratt. This actress fully maintains her reputation for convincing acting, and is, as usual, a delight to the ladies on account of her gorgeous dresses. The story of the play is an exceptionally good one, telling of the ruin brought about by an act of injustice, while it also has to do with a startling quest for revenge, and its strange and pleasing result. Miss Suratt does not play her customary role as a vampire, but is this [time seen as a wife, injured by in- ! iustice and scheming. The picture [is a distinctly entertaining one [throughout .and is a credit to "Willliam Fox, its producer. The supporting programme includes another lof those brilliant Fox comedies, a |two-reel scream entitled "His Final i Blow-out." The other pictures which so to make up the programme are: "The Marriage Broker" (Victor leomedv), "American Sceen Mag.ijzinc" (topical), and "The Purple ■ Domino" (chapter 12^. OPERA HOUSE. Another first-class programme has jbecn arranged for presentation at the Opera House ibis evening. The i Three Carrs are a Irro of clever [juveniles, who are particularly good lin songs and impersonations. Maud | Courtney, the talented comedienne. Mi' C, the popular raconteur, Tom Rccs, entertainer and monologuist, and Arthur Croxon, the entertaining |Fnglish comedian, will also appear I with new programmes. Paul Stanjhope and his versatile revue company will present their fifth production, a riotous farce bearing the non-descriptive title of "Holey iPoley." This piece is said to abound wilh novelty effects. Ko one likes moving, but tlio work i-.'in be made ?mn'h lighter if competent [men are employed. J. M. Hoy wood and Co., Ltd., have them, and three up-to-jdnte pantechnicons. Telephones 200, 1241, and 2174. .8