THE THEATRES.

Sun (Christchurch), Volume VII, Issue 2028, 14 August 1920, Page 13

THE THEATRES.

Double attraction at the liberty. An unusual double programme or supreme excellence, the Lyric Costume Comedy Company, and "The Way of a Woman," a new Select drama, are included in the offering at the Liberty Theatre today and during next week. The Lyric Company is an exceedingly i brilliant combination of singers, musicians and humorists, which has established a big reputation. The entertainment includes the newest in ballads, song, and sketch'items, as well as many popular oldtime melodies and songs. One if the many delights of tile performance is provided by the famous Lyric Quartet, a parly of gifted male singers who make a speciality of part-singing, accompanied and unaccompanied, of the songs and lyrics of Cngland, and selections from the classical and popular operas. Arthur Kiplev, tenor. Herbert .1. Richards, tenor. John W. Hyan. basso, Alan McElwoin, comedian and baritone, Jessie Hartlett. mez/o soprano and Evelyn Harvey; violinist and pianislc, are the principal members of tile company. Miss lielty Edwards, a danseuse of no mean order, has been especially engaged. Norma Talniadge, the popular dramatic actress, is the star of "The Way of a Woman," which is said to lie an exceptionally fine screen version of Eugene Walter's celebrated >tage success, "Nancy Lee." The fascinating star is seen in a role that affords her many line opportunities for displaying her remarkable dramatic ability and personal charm. Con way Tearle is leading man. and Gertrude Berkley. Joe Humphrey, Stuart Holmes, George Le Guene, and others equally well known, head one of the finest and strongest supporting companies ever seen in a Norma Talniadge picture. Pathe Gazette, Topical Budget. "Caves and Coquettes" comedy, "The Kingdom of Spring" (Swedish scenic), educational Review No. 12, and "All Blacks' South African Tour" (Topical! complete a programme that cannot fail to please any audience. STRAND THEATRE. An excellent programme is billed for presentation at the Strand Theatre to-day. The star attraction is "The Beast." The beast (George Walsh 1 doesn't know he is a beast until the beauty tells him so. He is a ranch owner in Arizona. Hi' allows his cowboys, with three months' pay in their pocket's, a little recreation in C.opherlown. a wool I v western spot. To keep them straight he goes with them, hut ends by getting drunk with the "boys" in a saloon and dance-hall that is typical or the old border days. There lie meets the "beauty," an Eastern girl, travelling with her father in their private car. She is seen by the roisterers, and lured by her beauty, the beast fights another of the men for possession of her. The beast wins, and inflamed by drink and light carries her off on his horse towards his desert home in true cave-man fashion. They reach the brink of the river, where they are discovered by three pursuing Mexicans, who want the girl's jewellery. Aroused to their danger the beast plunges into the rushing river. They are swept and whirled by the powerful current till they are washed ashore, and when tile beast revives he finds that he has saved the girl's life. Then over the desert he rides with her, and rcluctanllv takes her back to her anxious father. 'Through months that follow the beast remembers. At length he journeys to the city and sees the girl. When he meets her she does not recognise in this prince charming, so liauntingly familiar, the beast of the tragic desert episode. At last when he has won her love, lie reveals himself.

QUEEN'S THEATRE. "The Tong Man," featuring the great Japanese actor Scssue Hayakawa, will be the star film at the Queen's Theatre, commencing to-day. In Chinatown there lives Lull Chan, a "hatchet man," who is very proficient in the handling of that deadly weapon. He is leaved in the Chinese colony and is known as the most desperate assassin of the "tong," a secret society. He is an outcast in the eyes of the better class, but there is one. Sen (V ee, the beautiful daughter of Louie Toy, a wealthy merchant, who cares for him. Ming Tai, the mean. Cringing leader of the "long," has n tilling for both Sen Ghee and the merchant's fortune. The merchant will not consent and Ming Tai schemes to put him to death. It falls to l.uH Chan to execute the crime. The "hatchet man" lures the merchant to a den to kill him. As he is raising the hatchet his heart fails him and the old man leaves unharmed. Lucero, a faithful friend of Louie Toy's, informs Luk that the girl has been captured by Ming Tai. They both hurry over the roofs of the buildings to the assassin's house, and save the girl. The lovers hide in a large dragon's head until I.ucero can secure passage on a boat bound for China. There is an excellent supporting programme and an added attraction for Monday will be "Romance anil Arabella."' starring Constance Talmadge.

EVERYBODY'S'THEATRE. I Twenty-three sind-a-lialf Hours' Leave" is the amusing lilni which will head the programme at Everybody's Tlicatre next week. Douglas Maclean and Doris May arc the co-stars in this Ince production, which is a rollicking comedy-drama containing new "business," speedy action, unusual, yet humourous, situations and delightful romance. Mary Roberts Rinehart wrote the excellent story. It recounts the experiences of an audacious n.c.o. in a training camp, Sergeant William Gray, who has made a bet that he will be invited by his general to eat bran muffins with him at breakfast. Cray meets the general's daughter and falls in love with her. During his 2!H hours' leave he and she capture a pair of German spies and the general, pleased at his feat, invites him to breakfast with him and feeds him with bran muffins. Gray wins his bet and the general's daughter as well. "Sadie 1-oVft" is the other feature, starring liillie Hurke. The story is an unusual one, full of swift-moving comedy-drama and complications of an amusing nature. James L. Crane is Billie Burke's leading man. The dainty comedienne proves conclusively in this picture that she is one of the prettiest, pertest and cleverest little ladies on the screen.

CRYSTAL PALACE. The bill for next week at the Crystal Palace will be headed by what is said to be one of the most amusing comedy-dramas seen here for many moons. "Phase Get The picture is an adaptation of the riot.his farce by .lames Cullen and Lewis Allen Browne and stars the bewitching star Viola Dana. The plot is most adroit. It has to do with the honeymoon of a young couple who are interrupted by a chain of exasperating incidents. In the first place it torus out thai it was a burglar and not a parson, "ho performed the wedding ceremony and it is only after the pair of voungsters have left on their bridal tour that the bride's parents learn the astounding fact that they may not be marlied at all. They set out in pursuit but the newly weds have a start of them, and a great number of unusual adventures befall them in the little mountain hotel where they seek shelter and solitude. The juvenile lead is sustained by Antrim Short. The current programme, beaded by "The Sheet of Seven Stars." will be shown finally to-night. SYDENHAM PICTURES. "Tile Man from Kangaroo," featuring the prominent Australian actor Snow v Baker, Will be the star film at the Sydenham Pictures next Monday. "All the World to Nothing" will be screened for the last time to-night.

"HIAWATHA." Coleridge-Taylor's masterpiece. "Hiawatha." will be given a repeat performance in the Choral Hall this evening. The piece is well produced by the Christehurch Orchestral Society ami music-lovers should not miss this treat. One hundred seats for this concert have been allotted to senior scholars attending secondary schools by the society which thus hopes to develop in the children a love for choral music. SACRED CONCERT. A sacred concert will be given in the Opera House to -morrow evening, commencing at K. 15. Some of the artists will be Miss Dorothv Garner, the Nelson contralto; Miss Vaguer, soprano; Miss Cadenhrnd, violinist: Missis Untlon, flautist; George Martinengo, 'cetlisl and baritone.

OPERA HOUSE. To-night will be the last performance of the current programme at the Opera House which has provided such excellent entertainment for the holiday-makers in town during the week. The artists include Billy Elliott, black-face comedian; Le Mounier. athlete and jiu-jitsu expert; Knight and Bunting, refined vocalists; Nora Burke, music hall artist; i'agden and Stanley, sketch specialists; Kitch and Kliftie, who put on a novelty turn; Balto and Curly Sherwood, who also contribute acceptably to the programme. GRAND THEATRE. Social conditions as they exist to-day, with particular emphasis on the divorce evil, are graphically shown in "The Blindness of Divorce," a. William Vox production which ! will be screened twice daily all next week jut the Grand Theatre. It lias as its theme the terrible consequences that come from j the neglect of some husbands, and their 1 willingness 4u rush into the divorce court jupou suspicion, and wreck the lives and happiness of their wives. "The Blindness (of Divorce" was written and directed by Frank Llovd, who made "I.es Miserables" ! ami "A Tale of Two Cities." The story is superblv acted by a east which includes lirrlha Mann, Rhea Mitchell, Charles Clary, land others equally well known. The divorce problem is one of the oldest with which ! civilisation has had to contend, and William ! Fox instructed Frank Lloyd to make the drama (one that would carry its message to the public. There is a good supporting programme. "THE GEISHA." Ihe Chrislchureh Operatic Society has : been fortunate in securing the services of Mr Tom I'ollard, the well-known producer, Ito direct its rehearsals of "The Geisha." which popular opera will be its first effort. i Eve-r since its initial production, "The Geisha" has enjoyed an extraordinary run of popularity, which, however, is not surprising for "The Geisha" contains far more than the average number of catchy lyrics; I lias a sparkling libretto: and possesses a story of interest. "The Amorous Goldfish," "The Interfering Parrot," "Chin. Chin, I Chinaman," "The Jewel of Asia," and "Star lot' My Soul," to mention only a few numbers from the score, possess the same popularity today, as at the time wh.'ii "The 'Geisha" first created a sensation in London. A strong east has been secured, and the j production, which commences- a sevennights' season on August 2S, promises to Ibe a most successful one. The society are ! enrolling members at i'l 1/- per annum I which entitles them to three tickets lea- each production. I GRAND NATIONAL CARNIVAL. J The Grand National Carnival at King Ed'ward Barracks was again well patronised i last evening, when the large audience was thoroughly delighted with the various amusements provided. To-night will be the last opportunity of paying a visit to th • {carnival and of witnessing the spectacular : display undei the direction of Mr W. S. ! Waucliop. A special programme of the I season's most successful items has been 'arranged in I will include the gorgeously I dressed Eastern Scena and the picturcsquf | ballets, the beautiful pageant of fashion and 1 the charming 'tatue dance. Solo number! I will be contributed by Miss lilsie Lock, | Thelnia Thompson, Ivy Speuce and Joan Wright and Mr Jack Wright, whose wort I has won much praise during the season. I The drawing of the various art unions 1 and raffles will lend additional interest tc , the evening's proceedings. The position oi , candidates in the Prince and Princess com- | petition at closing time last night was as I follows:—Hibernians 1, Diggers 2, Pictures :i and Sports -1.

ORCHESTRAL CONCERT. | I The Cliristchureh Orchestral Society's | second concert of 1920 season will he held j ]on Wednesday next, at the. Choral Hall. The society's full orchestra will play:— : Overture "Itosamunde" (Schubert); Symj phony in I) Minor (Cesar rranck), Entr'acte, "Corisande" (R. A. Home); Suite, "Scenes Pittoresqucs" (Massenet); Triumphal March , from "Cleopatra (Marneinelli); Mr Vere BuI chiinan i violinist) will play "Meditation: from Thais" (Massenet), with full orchestral accompaniment. The soloist will he Miss Rose Horrell, who will sing, "An In- j dian Squaw's Song" (Morgan), " Heart's; j Delight" (Clarke), "Proposal" (Brackctt), and "Come Close, Beloved" (Lambert). The accompaniste will be Mrs Vere Livingstone. I The box plan opens at The Bristol on MoiiI day, at 9 a.m. I WAR MEMORIAL FUND CONCERT. j Intending patrons of the concert to 1):' given <or the War Memorial Fund are rrI minded that the box plan is now open at i Weblev, Sons ind Gofton. The commercial travellers' ability to fill the house is well known and holders of tickits will be well I advised to secure their seats without delay. I

EVANS-GANGE CONCERT SEASON. j ; Judging by the comment of the Aucklandl papers, it Is evident that the local concert" i goers may anticipate something out of the 1 ordinary status in this field of entertain- ; incut, when Amy Evans, the Welsh soprano, j and Eraser Gauge, the Scotch baritone, make their debut here. The tour of these overI sea artists is being conducted under the ; direction of Chapped and Company, the | widely-known musical house of London, and ! this firm have claimed that they have eni entered the concert "arena" of the Southern Seas with a view to introducing the foremost artists of the old world. They assert ; that on presenting Amy Evans and Eraser j Gauge as forerunners of their campaign, |their whole future in this direction is based. The management claim that the merits of I both of the artists are admitted in all. parts lof the world. The Chrislchureh seat-on is | announced to commence on Tuesdav, August 21, in the Choral Hall. The box plans !or I the whole season will be opened at The Brislol on Thursday next. "MOTHER HUBBARD." The dual presentation of the J. and X. | fait pantomime "Mother Hubbard" will be i given this evening. The pantomime is very I popular witli Christchurch folk, and its seaj son here has been a very successful one.