THE THEATRES.

Sun (Christchurch), Volume V, Issue 1340, 30 May 1918, Page 7

THE THEATRES.

BRANDON-CREMER DRAMATIC COMPANY. "My Jack," a capital nautical flrama, will be the opening production of the Brandon-Cremer Dramatic Company, at the Theatre Royal on Saturday. Everything will be done to make the production complete in every respect, and among the big scenes will be an explosion, the demolition of a lighthouse, and a | rescue at sea. The play is in livei acts, while there are nine changes lap of scenery. The various characters' P* in the play, which will be remember-j ed as one of Bland Holt's successes J of former years, have been capably allocated, and an excellent production* seems assured. Mr BrandonCremer will play the part of Patrick Doolan, the jolly tar, while Kathleen Arnold will be seen as Dorothy Prcscott, the girl who is loved by two men. The box plan is now open at The Bristol. During the company's season other popular plays will be presented, anions them being "The Silence of Dean Maitland,"~"The Bad Girl of the Family," "The Christian," "Uncle Tom's Cabin," "When London Sleeps," "Mary Latimer—Nun," "East Lynne," and "The Shamrock and the Rose." Arrangements have been made with the Gas Company for the instalment of radiators, which will be kept lit all day, so that the theatre will be thoroughly warmed by the time the performance starts. OPERA HOUSE. This evening, at the Opera House, the Tom Haverley Revue Companywill make its positively Dual appearance, when "The Man In Black" will be presented for the last time. There will be a good programme of seven high class vaudeville turns, including that sterling musical offering of Gregory Ivanoff, violinist, who has been accorded a rousing reception rightly. Patsie Hill is a dainty little comedienne and soubrette, who is heard in some pleasing songs. Coco, gfe She and It present a sensational coinW edy balancing act, while the Maxims ™ are a clever pair of juveniles. Carlton Max, ventriloquist, and Bellora, the bird and animal mimic, are.also appearing. A big attraction is announced for to-morrow, when the Harry Farrow Pantomime Company v,ill open its season with a concentrated and abbreviated version of "Aladdin." It is in three scenes and is full of brightness and action. Other "potted" pantomimes will be presented during the season. STAR LAND THEATRE. "lj Few pictures have such a popular .* all-star cast as "Graustark," which is how being screened as the premier attraction at Starland. The cast includes such popular artists as Edna Mayo, Francis X. Bushman, Beverley Bayne, Bryant Washburn, and Helen Dunbar. The picture is a dramatisation of the engrossing novel of the same name by George Barr McCutcheon, and it makes a first class photo-play, as produced by Essanay. There is a succession of pleasing incidents and good scenes, all held together by a wonderful vein of romance. Other good pictures are also being shown. GRAND THEATRE. There are some scenes of remarkable beauty in "The Eyes of Mystery," the unusual Metro drama which is being shown to large attendances this week at the Grand Theatre. In (his picture, which is in five acts, Miss Edith Storey, a popular star for many years, is featured • in a role of intense appeal, and her work is excellent. She portrays the part of a girl who, living alone in the wilds', discovers a document which means happiness to two lives. The conclusion is startling, but eminently satisfactory. There is a good supporting programme. STRANDTHEATRE. j The strangely-different lives of jtwo sisters, who have been left jfriendless by the death of their [mother, are depicted in "The Crystal ;Gazer," a powerful Paramount feature, which is at the head of a good !programme at the Strand Theatre ithis week. Miss Fannie Ward is the 'Star, and she lakes no less than three distinct parts, and (his difficult task she accomplishes with supreme artistry. The story concerns the doings of Calislro, a weird hypnotist, and the effect he has upon the life of one of the girls. The conclusion is K strange but happy one. SYDENHAM PICTURES. "Baby Mine," the big Goldwyn ;ature, will he shown this evening t the Sydenham Pictures.

QUEEN'S THEATRE. Gail Kane has attracted large attendances to the Queen's Theatre this week, where she is appearing with great success in "Souls in Pawn," a picture which is probably the best that has yet come from the Mutual Studios. It is a splendidly-told story of war, blended with which are the spirits of love and romance, while good scenic backgrounds, the superb acting of the cast, and the high quality of photography make the picture a genuine kinema triumph. Included on the supporting programme is chapter three of the enthralling Mutual serial "The Lass of the Luinberland." A pleasing short drama and a good comedy are also on the programme, while during the evening session a good musical programme is contributed by the Queen's orchestra. LIBERTY~THEATRE. A most ingeniously worked-out plot is revealed in "Convict 993," the remarkable Palhe drama which is being shown at the Liberty Theatre. Convict 993 is a beautiful girl who is seemingly wrongly imprisoned for theft. In prison she meets one Neva Stokes, a masterful little criminal. Convict 993 escapes, and when this Neva Stokes meets her in later life she blackmails her with threats of sending her back to gaol to finish her term of imprisonment. Convict 993 has now blossomed forth into a rich society lady and is involved by Neva Stokes and a gang of clever crooks in a plot to steal a~ priceless collection of jewels. To save herself from disgrace apparently the ex-convict consents to become the tool of her old prison associate. Then comes the climax, with its overwhelming surprises. CRYSTAL PALACE. "The Silent Lie," another William Fox masterpiece, is being shown Ibis week at Crystal Palace. It is a big, virile story of the Great North-West, where is enacted a series of tragedies in the life of a young girl, a product of the dance halls. She Sets her chance to quit the sordid life, and accepts it, but Fate drags her back, and her subsequent battle for happiness and contentment form the subject of an absorbing play. Miss Miriam Cooper, an artist who achieved fame in "The Birth of a Nation" and "Intolerance," is the star. A screamingly humorous Mack Sennett comedy, another chapter of "Who Is Number One?" and the latest American Gazette conclude the programme. During the night sessions a classical musical programme is contributed by Mr W. 11. Corrigan's orcheslra, while Miss Millicent Jennings is heard in some excellent vocal items. EVERYBODY'S THEATRE. As Zoie in the delightful comedydrama, "Baby Mine," now being shown at Everybody's, Madge Kennedy has won the affection of all picturegoers who have witnessed her splendid performance. She goes upon a baby-shopping expedition, and Zoie complains that the first sample shown her is too red. She asks whether they have any other colours, and promptly a black one is produced. This, however, is only one of the incidents in this great picture, which is the third of the Goldwyn productions. The acting of all the characters is remarkably good. There is an excellent list of supporting subjects. " AMERICAN ARISTOCRACY." "American Aristocracy," a rippling Triangle-Fine Art production, featur-

ring Douglas Fairbanks, will be next week's attraction at Everybody's. The story is typical of Fairbanks. A girl, tired of the "ultra-fashionable" hotel life, and the society of barons of industry and commerce, declares for adventure, and threatens to kiss the first man she meets. This happens to be Cassius Lee. When Cassius recovers from the shock, he decides that the girl would make a very beautiful bride, so he sets out to win her. His quest leads him along unexpected pathways and is responsible for a succession of highlydiverting incidents. "THE ETeIrNAL CITY." For the production of "The Eternal City," now being shown at the Theatre Royal, inside scenes of the Colosseum, the gardens of the Vatican, etc., have been secured for the first time in motion-picture annals. That this was achieved was largely due to the tact of the Famous Players' directors, Edwin S. Porter and Hugh Ford. It took not a little cajoling before the Italian authorities unbent sufficiently to allow the city to be exposed to the critical eye of the motion-picture camera. The result is a marvel in historic photography and a triumph in production. CQLOSSEUM SKATING RINK. In addition to being fascinating, roller-skating also has- the advantages of being healthy, warmth-pro-ducing and invigorating, and consequently the frosty atmosphere last evening sent a very large crowd to the Colosseum Skating Rink. The splendid exercise of skating soon warmed up patrons, and at 10 o'clock they departed, feeling very much the better for their evening at the rink. Mr Dunn's band contributed largely towards the success of the evening. There are four sessions daily, as follow:—10 to 12 (morning), 2.30 to 1.30 (afternoon). 5.30 to 7 (evening, learners), and 7.30 to 10, with band. SCHUBERT SONG RECITAL. At Mr Williamson's song recital on Monday evening next the programme Will consist of songs by Schubert. Amongst others will be sung the well-known "Erl King," 'The Wanderer," "Das Wandern," "Wohin," "Die Liebe Farbe," "Die Bose Farbe," "Der Neugierige," "Ungeduld," "Aufenthalt," "Der Doppehganger," "To be Sung on the Waters," and the ever-popular "Linden Tree" and "Who Is Sylvia?" Miss Ethel John-, son (contralto) will be heard in "Die Allmacht." "Margaret at the Spinning Wheel," "Death and the Girl," and "Hark! Hark! the Lark!" Mrs Alma Carey will be at the piano. The box plans are at Milner and Thompson's. HOCKEY CONCERT. The programme for the Canterbury Hockey Association's concert for Monday next, in the King's Theatre, is one of all-round excellence, and it is a long time since a better offering of local talent was presented to the Christchurch public. Amongst others on the programme are the well-known and popular Lyric Four in quartets, songs by Messrs J. H. Cocks, Waller Searl, Frank Charles, and Misses Olds and Thompson, recitals by Mill. McD. Vincent, Mr J. A. Rosewarnel (elocutionary judge at the rccen! competitions), and Miss Jean Adams. 1 The programme is also supported by items by Mrs 11. R. Smith's Pom Pom Pierrots.