THE THEATRES.

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

THE THEATRES.

OPERA HOUSE. A bright ami varied programme,: •mart and snappy, engaged the attenUrn of patrons of the Opera House last evening, the place being erowded. Amongst the new features was a: "natty, chatty eonple," Ray ami Gray, | wt.u pat on an entertaining tarn, a pot j--irirri of patter, song, ami dance. New jokes and quips kept the audience; . in a simmer of mirth, and a cleverly | pieced together medley of airs, set to; topii-al jingle, finished their torn with . ■ bang, so to speak. The delightful I tinging of Pollard and Jackson was ' most refreshing, an exceptionally * charming item being the evergreen Irish •on,'. "Eileen Alannah," arranged as ' a duet, in whirh the two voices mingled with balance and harmony. Miss Pol--1 lard's solo items were also very fine, hi r rich voire sounding to advantage in the simple air chosen by her, while •Mr Jackson's solo number, "Mary of ' Argyle," was likewise extremely well i anng. -Mi-s Lily Yockler, the popular and exuberant singer of chorus songs. opened with "The Red Cross Nurse," and followed with "We Haveu't Pulled the Blinds Down Yet," both going well with the audience, who supplied chorus effects. Louis Nikola, deft and mystifying as ever, produced* his clever feats of slight of hand, including his series of >hadowgraphs. His tricks included an exposition of an original Method of fishing, whereby goldfish were fished out of, not water, but air. The Paynes repeated their absorbing turn. in which they can fairly claim to have launched something new upon the palate of vaudeville patrons. The remarkable contortions of the male member of the duo leave the audience breathlews and amazed, and the bird imitations of the lady are decidedly original and . -well done. Waltei JOmerson and Gwent ate 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 1 Clothilda, and Gladys, the child ventriloquist, gave a well-planned ventriloquial afcetrh, in whirh 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 double for the popular movie ■tar, and the turn fittingly concluded the programme. The ca|iable orchestra, under the direction of Mr Albert Bidgood, supplied incidental music, and played the overture and entr'acte in their well known finished style. STRAND THEATRE. Playing in the title role of "Viviet'e" at the Strand Theatre at present, Vivian Martin is the sweet girl who is the cause of dearth/ enmity arising between two brothers. The story is also one of infinite pathos.. Por rapid action and clever "stunts," "In Again, Out Again," the second feature on the bill, will bo most welcome to patrons. Itoaglas Fairbanks is seen as the lover who feverishly seeks ways and means to be committed to a certain prison where livi - a beautiful girl. GRAND THEATRE. "Boston B'ackie's Little Pal," a Metro starring Bert Lytell, and "His Own Home Town," a Paramount offerlag with Charles Ray as star, are the two leading films on the list being •hown at present at the Grand Theatre. A gentleman crook's eareer is traced in the former offering, later scenes showing the great change wrought in his life by a little friend. Interesting adjuncts •re also on the list.

QUEEIVS 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 maiu picture on the supplementary list. EVEEYBODY'B 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'a Theatre this week. The picture is an elaborate Triangle release starring Roy Stewart. CRYSTAiTpALACE. 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 j friend to kiss his intended wife in tho 'dark. Beautiful views and convincing [acting characterise "Peg of the Pirates," which is also shown. Peggy 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 j finely done. The added features also attracted much attention. j SYDENHAM - PICTURES. A very fine programme is running at j the Sydenham Theatre nightly. The! main films are "The Better Half" andl "The Shell Game," this latter offering I being exclusive to this theatre. STUDENTS' CONCERT. , To-morrow evening, at the Masonic! Hall, the students of Mr Edward Brans- j | combe's School of Singing, including the | ; Choral Class, will give a repitition of the programme which was rendered on Satur-; day last. The soloists will be Misses i Anne Harper, Bessie Palmer, Alice Nap- ■ per, Ida Wilbraham, Messrs W. M. i Stewart, Dobson Adams, and Bernard Renriell. The box plan is at the Bristol. SKATING RINK Floor space was at a premium last evening at the Colosseum Skating Sink. , Another session well attended is that ! devoted to the learners, and under the care of a staff of teachers large numbers are acquiring considerable skill in the pastime. The latest music in waltzes and two-steps is given by a band under Mr C. Dunn. Lounges and refreshment | rooms have been installed for the j pleasure of patrons.

I There was a good attendance in the [Canterbury Fruitgrowers' Association's rooms last evening, when Mr L. jJ. Wild, M.A., B.Sc., F.G.S., j Lecturer in Chemistry at the Canterbury Agricultural College, delivered the first of a series of six lectures which he is to give to members of the association. Mr H. Wyatt, president of the association, took the chair. "The Chemistry of Soils" was Mr Wild's subject, and he treated it in a highly interesting '.and non-technical manner, dealing fully with the chemical formation, peculiar [characteristics and the commercial possibilities of various soils. At the con- '. elusion, the lecturer answered a number iof questions. Form the good habit of inhaling I"NAZOL" and you'll keep free from [coughs and colds. Eighteenpence buys sixty doses. \l