THE THEATRES.

Sun (Christchurch), Volume VII, Issue 2031, 18 August 1920, Page 13

THE THEATRES.

OPERA HOUSE. \n entertaining bill is staged this week «t the Opera House. I.e Mounter's weightlilting competition is in full swing, and is drawing a large entry. Last evening's winner was M. Morgan, with 0. Foux second. T.lla Airlie makes a hit by her singing and ; natter. Flaneur's trained dogs are given , ovations, and Eileen O'Neill is also very ! popular. Other artists are Knight and ; Hunting, ill a charming musical scena; ! Nora Kurke, dainty songstress; Pagden and Stanley, •'funny fat folk"; finest and Newlyn. drawing-room entertainers; Ward and Sherman, in a clever comedy scene; and Jiitcli and Kliltie, acrobatic comedians. LIBERTY THEATRE. An excellent programme is being shown nt the Liberty Theatre this week, the main attraction being the f.yric Costume Comedy Company, the members of which provide a very fine entertainment indeed. Miss .lessie Burtlctt, mezzo-soprano, sings "Waiata Maori" most charmingly, another popular number being "My Curly-headed liabby." Miss Betty Edwards is a most accomplished ttanseuse, and otlier entertainers appearing , j'clude Messrs Alan MeKlwain (baritone. Mill comedian), Herbert .1. Richards, and A. 1 11. Hiplev (tenorsi. and Miss Kvelyn Harvey, j sil the piano. The Lvrie Quartet Party is heartily applauded. The star film, "The | Way of a Woman," is one of the best i dramas in which Miss Talmadge has yet i appeared. It is an adaptation of the lam- j «us Eugene Walter play, "Nancy I.ee," i which had a successful run of two years in New York. Under the excellent direction <i{ Mr Leonard, and with as superb an actress as Miss Talmadge, "The Way ..f a ; Woman" has lost none of the exi-llcnt ! dramatic qualities and finesse which it had as a stage plav. Conway l'earle plays opposite Miss Talmadge. Others in the cast are Gertrude Berkeley, .lobyna Howland, Jlassard Short. Stuart Holnies. George La Guerre, and William Humphreys. The supporting pictures include a Pathe Gazette, 'topical Budget, "Caves and Coquettes (comedy, and a beautiful Swedish .scenic. "THE END OF THE ROAD." A master film story, horn in the fertile ! ]:rai« of Dr Katherine Bemcnt Davis, director of the section on woman's work, social hvgiene division, will be presented at Liberty "Theatre on Saturday. It contains ;i lesson for every mother, every young man and young woman. Discussions amongst prominent men and women in all profesMons as to the timeliness and value of the truths and lessons which are so vividly pictured in the story have resulted in unqualified and unanimous endorsement of the film. QUEEN'S THEATRE. Chinatown, 'Frisco, has its various Celestial tribes or clans, known as Tongs, and inch has Us regular "luitchetinan," who «lcals out retribution to all offenders against the laws of the 'long. Sessue Hayakawa appears at the Queen's Theatre this week in "The Tong Man" as a hatchetman, with Helen Jerome Eddy in the role of his, Chinese sweetheart. The story is taken from Clyde Westover's book, "The Dragon's Daughter," and the Japanese star has the most dramatic role of his career. The picture lifts the veil from 'Frisco's Chinatown, and sheds a lot of light on the Driental underworld. It is notable for its lavish settings and beautiful production. An additional star attcaction is "Romance j r.d Arabella," in which Constance Talmadge has the leading part. CRYSTAL PALACE. Patrons at -the Crystal Palace this week r.re charmed by the vivacious comedy which j-. at present heading the programme. This is "Please Get Married," a sparkling and fascinating story of a honeymoon which was not such a success as the honeymooners intended it to be. In the very first place it i- discovered by the bride's horrified parents that the man who had fled the knot was a burglar, aiifl not a minister. They n-t out in pursuit of the young couple, who have only a short start, and many • musing adventures befall the youngsters LcTore they finally discover that the burglar ■was a bona fide minister after all. The be--u itching star, Viola Dana, has a role which Miits her personality to perfection. A iimedy, "Long Green," and a Topical Budget arc on the supporting programme.

EVERYBODY'S THEATRE. A double-star programme? is being shown «it Everybody's Theatre this week, the first Liing a Billie Burke film, "Sadie Love." The story is an adaptation of Avery Hopv.cod's sta • success of the same name, the n-nlral figure being a vivacious young girl -who, shortly alter her marriage to a young I ):::lian count, imagines herself in love with! i "twin soul," whom she had met some i: no previously. The entrance of the "soul- | mate's" wife complicates matters, and there , 1 much delicious comedy to entertain the watcher. The second attraction is the Para-1 I inunt-Arteraft's comedy-drama, "231 Hours' ) rave," based on a novel by Mary Roberts li itehart, and in it are seen two very clever li> ht-comedv artists, Douglas McLean and Moris May. GRAND THEATRE. "The Blindness of Divorce," a powerful v. iiliam Fox picture, is being screened 1->icc i...ily at the Grand Theatre this week. 1- has for its theme the consequences of 1 ,sbands rushing into the divorce court i poll suspicion, wrecking the lives and 1 ; ppiness of their wives. "The Blindness i ! Divorce" was written and directed by 1 :ank l.lovd. who directed "Les Miserables" : Ml of Two Cities." A second big :•! traction at the Grand this week is "The v ng of the Soul," with Alice Joyce ill the leading role. STRAND THEATRE. "The Beast," with George Walsh in the r'r.r part, heads a good double-star proSi amine at the Strand Theatre this week. 'J he other film is a sparkling comedy of j:.cus life, "The Merry-go-round." SYDENHAM PICTURES. Norma Talmadge will appear to-night at ti :• Sydenham Pictures in the great film, "'he Way of a Woman." This picture is < i •• of Miss Talmadge's best vehicles, sliowj: g her in a suitable role. ORCHESTRAL SOCIETY'S CONCERT. The Christchurch Orchestral Society's siiond concert of the 11120 season will be 1 Id this evening in the Choral Hall. A ). st-elass orchestral programme has been :: ranged, which will include Cesaj: l'ranck's s.rnphonv in D Minor. The soloist will be }. ir.s Hose' Horrell. Arrangements have been 1! ade to have the hall specially heated. The ] .an of reserved seats is at The Lristol.