THE THEATRES.

Sun (Christchurch), Volume VI, Issue 1810, 2 December 1919, Page 9

THE THEATRES.

OPERA HOUSE. Since the resumption of passenger traffic from Australia the fc'uller Proprietary has rteen able to send over to the Dominion many of th« best artists at present on its circuit. Last night's new programme included some particularly clever performers, and was characterised by brightness throughcut its whole length. A crowded house •bowed its appreciation ill no uncertain »av. .loe anil Vera White still remain at the' head of the programme, in what they themselves describe as "a chop-suey of vaudeville." As an eccentric performer the Indv is in many respects unique. She appeared last evening in some extraordinary creation*, which might have been designed I>\ \V. Heath Robinson. In burlesque work Miss Vera has nothing to learn, and in the language of her own country "has the poods." Yr While is also a gord comedian. nut a tumbler of considerable anility. It it n .• marl "live wire" act which last evening received quite an ovation. Campbell and Mnvo. newcomers to the bill, presented a l,iiced little juggling act, interspersed with songs, dances and humorous "business." A neat stage selling added to the success «if their performance. Ford and Aldous, mn Australian duo, danced neatly. Miss Aldous was heard ill an odd little number, •WhMtin' J;ni," a running accompaniment rf whistles heard "off" being supplied by 1-rr partner. Davis and Lee. "The Aces of Atlilctit ism," also newcomers, appeared in ji hdßd-bahir.ring act. different from the

Usual offering of this nature. They possess marvellous strength of arm and body, and «:i accuracy of balance that is surprising. 1 iltlr touches of comedy brightened the act s icrrtahiy. C.olino, "The Dexterous Dig- | fcr." was seen again in his neat juggling performance. Once again the troubles of Spike Murphy furnished the story of the | Stanhope revue. "Down on the Farm" ■was the title of the amusing little sketch J offered last night—a sketch which was really •dd-time farce interlarded with songs. Paul Stanhope as "Spike" was. as usual, the mainstay of the production. He has that fortunate knack of appearing to enjoy liim»elf as much as his audience does, and , makes his entrances and exits apparently •when the mood seizes him. Mark Erickson, as Si Pel kins, an irascible old constable. rave a good character- study. Mr Erickson is too fond, however, or the "knock-about" type of humour, which last night detracted from an otherwise good piece of work. His singing of "How Ya Gonna Keep 'Km Down on the Farm?" was one of the revue's liest numbers. F.rnrst Pitcher was cast as "Filgarlick," a cab-driver in search of easy money. He gave two selections on his saxophone during the evening. F.tliel Uennetto bad little else to do hut look pretty-ami she «lid so convincingly. Maude Miles sang "I'm Glad I Made You Cry'." successfully, and the Grafters' Quartet "harmonised well in "Rose of Xo Man's Land," receiving a double encore, for which they sang "Kiddic-Kaddic-Koo." The chorus danced and sang well. and a pretty finale was eapped by an oldtime skirt-dance, given by Eileen Maloney as Columbia. The Opera House Orchestra. under Mr Albert Bidgood, played the incidental music in its usual efficient manner. The same programme will be repeated for the remainder of the week. Rox plans arc open at Milner and Thompson's. LIBERTY THEATRE. "Daddy Long Legs," the charming comedy of Jean Webster, which claims an enormous following as a novel, a play, and a film, is showing this week at the Liberty Theatre.

The story itself is sufficient draw to attrac large houses, hut when a comedy of tin calibre of "Daddy Long Legs" is interprets by an artist with Hie standing of Mary Pick ford, the combination is irresistible. .' prologue to "Daddy Long Legs" is showl •with Master Ph'il Munn and Miss May An dcrson as "Bosca" and "Judy" respectively and Miss Joan Herre, a charming littl tlanccr in specialties. The Liberty Thentri Orchestra has been specially augmented fo this week's performance, and include among its numbers the suite of dances fron "Henry VIII." The box plan is open at tli Liberty after 5 p.m., prior to that at Thi Bristol. CRYSTAL PALACE. May Allison, in "Castles in the Air," is tin ■tarring attraction at the Crystal l'alac this week. The story embodies a dclightfu romance, with the maximum of appeal Supporting the lead is a "Fatty" Arbuckli remedy, with ftOECoe in a more bumoron vein than he has hitherto displayed b C.hristchurch. Other attractions include ; Hilly West absurdity, "The Handy Man," : Dominion travelogue, and a Topical Budge of exceptional interest. For this week' season the management lies engaged Ml Louis Bloy, the well-known banjoist, whosi repertoire" ranges from grand opera aria to ragtime numbers. GRAND THEATRE.

After the prolonged procession of American films the Hcpworth production "The Hanging Judge," now showing at the Grand Theatre, conies as a relief. It is an adaptation of Tom Gallon's famous play and novel of the same name. Hamilton Stewart is starred as the judge, and his acting «,f tl'-e difficult role is superb. -Miss Chrissic White plays opposite. The fifth episode of the adventures of "Stingarce," is now knowing, and is even more exciting than its predecessors. A .good supporting proCrunune includes "Captain Grogg Learns to Ja77," the Christie comedy, "This Way Out," and the latest Topical. QUEEN'S THEATRE. Those who have seen Pearl White in her previous serial successes should not miss seeing the first episode in her latest and liest yet, "The Lightning Haider.*' The story reveals the remarkable life of the underworld, and the end of this week's introduction leaves the audience breathless, and with an Oliver Twist longing for more. Heallv fine supplementary films include "Two Bit Seats," which deals with the adventures of a young man who seeks to win the girl he sat next to one night at the theatre. How he gets acquainted shows up a woman's little wiles, and that tile interest was not all on his side. Other films are a Charlie Chaplin scream, "His New Job," and a pictorial budget. The Quern's professional orchestra of eight instruments accompanies the films with appropriate music. EVERYBODY'S THEATRE. The many admirers of Clara Kimball Young will have another opportunity of seeing her in "Magda," her latest production. The original "Magda" was made famous by Sarah Bernhardt. Miss Young's style of acting is peculiarly suited to the piece, which calls for great emotional ex- ! pression. The story is of a beautiful young singer who won her way to fame and i success in the face of adverse circuni- i stances and parental opposition. Her greatest struggle commences with the discovery that the marriage with her lever is hut a ! ruse; and She is left with her child to | struggle in a strange city. Additional films are a Triangle comedv-drama "Paddy O'Hara," featuring William Desmond, a Keystone side-splitter and the latest Gazette from Pathe I'rcrcs. STRAND THEATRE. The new bill this week at the Strand featurrs Pauline Frederick in "Out of the Shadow." The story is a good one. and the interest of the audience never flags. Miss Frederick's acting of the part of Ruth Minrhin as the wife of a drunken husband, as a woman accused of the murder of her husband, as a woman who afterwards becomes the happy lover of one who really cares for her; is at all times convincing. A Mack Sennett care killer "The Foolish Age,"" a I'ictograph and a Gazette, complete the programme. SYDENHAM PICTURES. At the Sydenham Picture Theatre this week. Mary Pickford in "Daddy Long l.egs"—one of her most successful performances, is being starred. 1". ■.client support-, complete the attractive programme. MR WAUCHOP'S DANCE RECITALS. At the Choral Hall tomorrow night Mr W. S. Wauchop will give the first of his pupils' dance recitals. Mr Wauchop's artistic work as a producer is will known to Christrhurch audiences, and these entertainments promise to he quite up to the standard of his previous productions. Beallticul ballets and solo dances play a prominent part in the programme, and all are artistically dressed and prettily staged, but there are also some very catchy songs new to Christchurch audiences. Among these are humorous songs sung by Mr "Wauchop siipoprted by a smartly-dressed rhorus (Misses Bishop, Miles. Thornton, Nprnce, Thompson, anil Carson i, and a duet composed by Mai llurncs l.ouglinan and interpreted by Miss Meg Wauchop and . Jlr Wauchop. The Christchurch Salon Orchestra will supply the accompaniments and will support Miss Lilian Wnuchoji in the operatic aria. "Mother, you know the Storv." The plans for both recitals are at Milner and Thompson's and the day sales at the Toy Cave Sweet Shop.

"DE LUXE ANNIE." In the realm of sensational drama the American playwright has no serious rival in the matter of refurbishing old ideas so as to give them an air of novelty. In "De Luxe Annie," the old subject of an adventuress is treated from a new standpoint bv the introduction of modern scientific discovery that- in some cases crime is connected with amnesia. The idea is that the woman in the case is a victim to an accident which has obscured the moral instincts, and left her with uncontrolled predatory impulses. There are thus distinct possibilities in the subject, and the presentation of the drama last evening in the Theatre Royal by the .1. and X. Tait Companv, as was to be expected, was reccW-d appreciatively by the large audience. In no small measure was this success due to the excelle nt portrayal of the title role by Miss Emelie Polini, who was given every opportunity to displav her versatility. Really, it must be admitted that the play requires an actress of ability. for there are certain crudities which would otherwise become apparent. Thus, the character of Jimmic I-itzpatrick, the crook who for live years partners "De Luxe Annie,"' is an unreal one, which could be more easily accepted in melodrama. The second scene of the first act. where the main essential action develops, is drama of the thrilling and tense order. However, this standard is nut always maintained, and. apart from some rather crude comedy, such incidents as throwing bloodhounds off the trail by skating on ice are too rcniini-

sent of the old-time thriller. The drama itself is unfolded as a story within a story, the idea being that a doctor, drawn into a discussion on coincidences, tells of the experience of De Luxe Annie as explaining his theory that coincidence is oft-times the workings of a subconsciousness. Rut in the final short scene, it is hard to imagine a medical man, by actually identifying the subject to chance acquaintances, exposing an unfortunate patient to the gossip and slander of the world. Still, despite its defects, the play has the merit of an incisiveness peculiarly American, and is full of vigour. Indeed, it is essentially magnetic, as the success of its New York and London seasons has demonstrated. Miss Polini will long he remembered by her capacity ill depicting grief. There was a startling realism, distinct in every way from the usual type of stage emotionalism, in her depicting of the scene where the woman finds a world of dreams, which she had built up. tumble in ruins. This was in the llrst act, where, having fallen in with an honest man, and, lor the first time, glimpsing a better life, she is faced with the discovery of her criminal associations, with the inevitable consequences. Miss Polini was also extremely effective when, having returned to her underworld existence, the subconsciousness of a former life begins to obtrude. It is a tribute to the ability and experience of John Fcrnsiilc that he- largely managed to hide toe obvious inconsistency of the character of Jimmy Fitzgerald, who is at once an unscrupulous and selfish crook, and also a sclf-sacrjficing fellow of the "strong man" type. Mr Fernside's comedy work was not so convincing as in the previous production, but he was better in the dramatic situations. Harmon Lee gave an excellent representation of the accepted type of American detective. On the other hand, A. F. Grccnaway, as the husband of De Luxe Annie, did not satisfy. In the love interludes he was simply sentimental. Olive Winton was very good indeed as Mrs Archer. Although her characterisation was uneven, Georgia Harvey was distinctly amusing as a garrulous landlady. Charles Bertal did some effective comedy work, especially in his pantomimic action, as Cyrus Monroe. The other characters were I in capable hands.

"De Luxe Annie" is certainly entitled to good houses during its presentation this week.

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