THE THEATRES.

Sun (Christchurch), Volume VI, Issue 1624, 29 April 1919, Page 9

THE THEATRES.

OPERA HOUSE. A bright ami varied programme,! ■mart ami snappy, engaged the atten-1 t.on of patrons of the Opera House last, evening, the place being crowded, j Amongst the new features was a j "natty, chatty couple," Ray and Gray, who pat on an entertaining turn, a pot-poorri of patter, song, and dance. Xew jokes and quips kept the audience .in a simmer of mirth, and a cleverly pieced together medley of airs, set to topical jingle, finished their turn with • bang, so to speak. The delightful : ringing of Pollard and Jackson was »ost refreshing, an exceptionally ' charming item being the evergreen Irish ; aong, "Eileen Alannah," arranged as > a duet, in which the two voices mingled with balance and harmony. Miss i'ol- ' lard's solo items were also very fine, her rich voice sounding to advantage in the simple air chosen by her, while ; Mr Jackson's solo number, "Mary of ' Argjie," was likewise extremely well i aong. Mi*s Lily Voekler, the popular and exuberant singer-of chorns songs. opened with "The Red Cross Nurse," aad followed with "We Haven't Polled the Blinds Down Yet," both going well with the audience, who supplied thorns effects. Louis Nikola, deft aad mystifying as ever, produced his clever feats of slight of hand, including his series of sbailowgrapbs. His tricks included an exposition of an original awthod of fishing, whereby goldfish were •she! out of, not water, but air. The Favr.t-s repeated their absorbing turn, in which they can fairly claim to have launched something new upon the palate of vaudeville patron-. The remarkable contortions of the male member of the doo leave the audience breathless and amazed, and the bird imitations of the lady are decidedly original and well done. Walter Emerson and Gwen- _ nit' Hasto, comedy duo, produced a amart telephone sketch in addition to a budget of song, dance and story, and Victor the Great, assisted by Madame Clothilda, and Gladys, the child ventriioajcist, gave a well-planned ventriloquial aketrb, in which the art of Victor and his daughter brought forth much appreciation from the house. The concluding turn was that of the Delavale Bros., the main feature of which was the Charlie Chaplin get-up of one of the brothers. He made quite a good doable for the popular movie ■tar, and the turn fittingly concluded the programme. The capable orchestra, ■ader the direction of Mr Albert Bidgood, supplied incidental music, and played the overture and entr'acte in their veil known finished style.

STRAND THEATRE. Playing in the title role of "Viviette" at the Strand Theatre at present, ViTian Martin is the sweet girl who is the fXiL-c of deadly enmity arising between two brothers. The story is also one of infinite pathos. For rapid action and clever "stunts," "In Again, Out Again," the second feature on the bill, will be most welcome to patrons. Douglas Fairbanks is seen as the lover who feverishly seeks ways and means to be committed to a certain prison where lives a beautiful girl. grand Theatre. "Boston Blarkic's Little Pal," 'a Metro starring Bert Lytell, and "His Own Home Town," a Paramount offering with Charles Ray as star, are the two leading films on the list being ahown at present at the Grand Theatre. A gentleman crook's career is traced in the former offering, later scenes showing the great change wrought in his life by • little friend. Interesting adjuncts sure also on the list.

QUEEiV'S THEATRE. As Maida Brown, a rich widow living in a secluded town, June Elvidge is appearing at the Queen's Theatre in "The Appearance of Evil." A feature that will undoubtedly appeal to all women is the number of expensive dresses worn by the star. The appealing little actress, Vivian Martin, is also seen in "Stronger Love," the main picture on the supplementary list. I EVERYBODY'S THEATRE. A powerful dramatic study of cowboy life mainly centring round the doings of a particular settlement, is contained in "The Medicine Man" at Everybody's Theatre this week. The picture is an elaborate Triangle release starring Roy Stewart. crysta£~palace. Humorous incidents abound in "A Camouflage Kiss," one of the star offerings which attracted large and delightful attendances to the Crystal Palace last evening. The tale told is about a very shy lover who gets a friend to kiss his intended wife in the dark. Beautiful views and convincing acting characterise "Peg of the Pirates," which is also shown. I'cggy Hyland stars. LIBERTY THEATRE. Miss Alice Bradv's acting a double role in "The Better Half delighted very large attendances at the Liberty ' Theatre yesterday. The delineation of two totally dissimilar characters is finely done. The added features also attracted much attention. SYDENHAM~PICTURES. A very fine programme is running at the Sydenham Theatre nightly. The main films are "The Better Half" and "The Shell Game," this latter offering being exclusive to this theatre. STUDENTS* CONCERT. To-morrow evening, at the Masonic Hall, the students of Mr Edward Branscombe's School of Singing, including the Choral Class, will give a repitition of the programme which was rendered on Saturday last. The soloists will be Misses JAnne Harper, Bessie Palmer, Alice Xapiper, Ida Wilbraham, Messrs W. M. I Stewart, Dobson Adams, and Bernard Reunell. The box plan is at the Bristol. SEATING RINK. Floor space was at a premium last evening at the Colosseum Skating Rink. ! Another session well attended is that I devoted to the learners, and under the care of a staff of teachers large numbers are acquiring considerable skill in the pastime. The latest • musio in waltzes and two-steps is given by a band under Mr C. Dunn. Lounges and refreshment I rooms have been installed for the .pleasure of patrons.