THE THEATRES.

Sun (Christchurch), Volume V, Issue 1339, 29 May 1918, Page 7

THE THEATRES.

BRANDON-CREMER DRAMATIC COMPANY. The box plan for the commencement of the Brandon-Cremer season at the Theatre Royal opened at The Bristol this morning. The opening production, to be presented on Saturday night, will be "My Jack," which will be remembered as one of Bland Holt's big dramatic successes. It is a nautical drama in five acts, and has an enthralling and well-worked-out plot, full of surprises and dramatic moments, and possessing a thrilling air of mystery throughout. The company comes to Christchurch after playing record seasons in Auckland and Wellington. In the former city they played (j7 weeks continuously. "My Jack " is a well-known and popular play, and it is said that the company gives it a faithful interpretation. The scenes are striking, and capable stage manaeement adds to the completeness of the production. The plays for the remainder of the season will be chosen from the following list:— "The Silence of Dean Maitland," "The Bad Girl of the Family," "The Christian," "Uncle Tom's Cabin," "When London Sleeps," "Mary Latimer—Nun," "East Lyrnie," and "The Shamrock and the Rose." EVERYBODY'S THEATRE. An instant success is scored by Miss Madge Kennedy, the latest adjunct to the coterie of charming artistes in the Goldwyn Studios, who is to be seen in the fascinating play "Baby Mine" at Everybody's Theatre this week. Goldwyn plays have already become highly popular, and the public now recognises that when a Goldwyn feature is announced something exceptionally good will be seen. The latest picture, "Baby Mine," is equally as good as its predecessors, and the large audiences at Everybody's have thoroughly enjoyed the production. It is full of bright and unusual situations, which are pleasingly presented. There is a good list of supporting subjects. STARLAND THEATRE. "Grauslark," the picturisation of George Barr McCutcheon's popular novel, is now being shown with great success at Starland Theatre. It is an Essanay production with.a superb all-star cast, including Francis X. Bushman and Beverley Bayne, Edna Mayo, Bryant Washburn, and Helen Dunbar. The play tells of the romantic adventures of an American in a foreign Kingdom, where he meets and falls in love with a princess. There are a number of other good pictures in support, including the first of a new series of dramas, entitled "Is Marriage Sacred?" GRAND THEATRE. The Grand Theatre has been well attended all this week, where a powerful and enthralling Metro drama, "The Eyes of Mystery," is being screened. Miss Edith Storey, an artist of very considerable note, is the star in this picture, and her acting is splendid. The play is an unusual one, and tells of a girl who was kidnapped by her own father and taken to live in the mountains in a house known as "The House in the Mis!." Her lonely existence here is the forerunner of a series of startling adventures. The big picture is supported by an excellent list of minor subjects, including a good comedy. STRAND THEATRE. The large attendances at the Strand Theatre at all sessions yesterday were a decided tribute to the popularity of Miss Fannie Ward, the brilliant Lasky star. She is at present appearing in "The Crystal Gazer," her biggest success since "The Cheat." It is a remarkably unusual story, and in it Miss Ward portrays three distinct roles, as a mother and her two daughters. The story traces and contrasts the lives of the two girls, who upon the death «f their mother set out upon two ever-widening paths. There is an excellent supporting programme, which includes a good comedy. QUEEN'S THEATRE. "Souls in Pawn," a stirring romance with the combined subjects of love and war for its theme, is being shown to large attendances this week at the Queen's Theatre. Gail Kane, the beautiful and popular actress, is the star, and her acting is magnificent. The story possesses a wealth of stirring action, plenty of big scenes and powerful dramatic situations, while throughout there runs a fascinating vein of romance which compels attention. Altogether "Souls in Pawn" is ihe best drama released by Mutual to date. A wellvaried supporting programme, which includes chapter three of "The Lass of the Lumberlands," is also being shown.

OPERA HOUSE. The brilliant musical turn provided by Gregory Ivanoff, violinist, now appearing at the Opera House, was thoroughly enjoyed by a very large audience last evening. Mr Ivanoff was last seen here with Jack Waller's " Look Who's Here " company, and his act is one of the best musical treats yet presented by the Fuller management. There is a lengthy vaudeville programme, an excellent item on which is the turn of Miss Patsy Hill, a charming and talented soubrette, whose singing is of much more than average quality. The Maxims are a clever juvenile duo, while Carlton Max is entertaining with his ventriloquiaLfeats. Bellora, with his bird and animal mimicry, and Jack Coco, She and It, with a unique comedy balancing act, and a sensational "upside down" slide, are also appearing. The Tom Haverley Revue Company will conclude its Christchurch season with a final presentation of "The Man in Black." On Friday evening the Harry Farrow Pantomime Company will open. This company will present, during its season, a series of potted pantomimes, commencing with a threescene extract of "Aladdin." LIBERTY~THEATRE. The story of "Convict 993," which is the headliner now at the Liberty Theatre, is rather thrilling,' and added to this is the fact that the film itself is well produced and mounted admirably. The scenes of high life are all well done and are not overdrawn. The plot itself borders upon melodrama, but it is thrilling all the way. Irene Castle is the star, and her part is that of a convict woman who escapes. She takes advantage of all her opportunities, and enters society, where she is courted by a rich business man. But right at the zenith of her fortune a prison mate meets her, and blackmails her into joining a criminal gang. From this incident the action becomes very swift, and more than usually interesting. "Convict 993" has a variety of interesting picture topics as its supports, CRYSTAL PALACE.

One of William Fox's best heavy dramas to date is now being screened at Crystal Palace, in " The Silent Lie," a powerful and well-produced play in five soul-stirring acts. It is a virile, healthy story of life in the Great North-West, and depicts the struggle for happiness of a girl who has spent her youth amid the sordidness of a Western dance hall. How, when contentment seems to be within her reach, it is suddenly torn further from her, and the way in which she eventually wins through, is powerfully told. The settings of the picture are splendidly realistic, while the acting of the cast, headed by Miriam Cooper, is artistic in the extreme. An uproarious Mack Sennett comedy is also on the programme. During the night sessions Mr W. H. Corrigan's famous orchestra and Miss Millicent Jennings provide the music, "THE ETERNAL CITY." Hall Caine's world-read novel is being presented in picture form at the Theatre Royal this week. Rome, "The Eternal City," is shown in all its nobil-ity, mystery, and tragicbeauty. The picture opens with a view of the city of Rome, banked against a night sky—its towers and domes and ruins standing out in imposing silhouette. Throughout the entire production scenes of impressive beauty and grandeur are unfolded, through which is mingled a stirring romance. Nearly everyone has read the novel, and will remember the tragic love of David and Roma, the central figures in the plot. Miss Pauline Frederick, the world's greatest dramatic screen actress, portrays the difficult part of Roma with superb ability, whilst scarcely less commendable is the performance given by Thomas Holding as David Rossi, Ihe Italian Socialist. The supporting cast has been carefully chosen, each with a character particularly suited to his capabilities, so that throughout the entire production not one jarring note is sounded. COLOSSEUM SKATING RINK. With each succeeding week the popularity of roller skating seems lo be increasing, and consequently the attendances at each session at the Colosseum Rink are also increasing. The four daily sessions are being very liberally attended, and patrons get the utmost enjoyment from an hour or two on the "rollers." There is a large number learning this season, and for these the management has provided every facility in the way of comfort and safety. There is a special session for beginners, from 5.30 lo 7 p.m. Other sessions are:—lo lo 12 (morning), 2.30 to 4.30 ; (afternoon), and 7.30 to 10 (night, with band).

SCHUBERT'S SONG RECITAL. For the first time for several years a Schubert song recital will be given in Christchurch on Monday evening next. With so many songs from which to choose, there has been selected a varied and interesting programme, which should give the audience a clear insight into the many beauties to be found in Schubert's music. Christchurch musiclovers are already familiar with Mr Williamson's power of interpretation, and with the assistance of Miss Ethel Johnson, contralto, and Mrs Alma Carey, the well-known pianist, the concert on Monday, June 3, promises to be a very attractive one. The box plan and tickets are now available at Milner and Thompson's.