THE THEATRES.

Sun (Christchurch), Volume VII, Issue 2047, 6 September 1920, Page 9

THE THEATRES.

FULLER'S OPERA HOUSE. A good and varied programme is promised for to-night, when a first appearance will he made by Hall and Menzies, who have recently arrived from London. They •will he seen in an amusing comedy sketch, entitled "Photo Bits," in which Miss Hall portrays three distinct characters. That •uprenie artiste, Miss Helen Charles, will inter upon the last five nights of her engagement, and will present several new monologues and stories. Carlton Max will be heard in a clever exposition of ventriloquism, while a musical comedietta, entitled "Three of a Kind," will be the offering of l : j-nest lirinknian and the Steele Sisters. New items will be offered by Eileen O'Neill, Instrumentalist: Louis London, character ■vocalist; Ella Airlie, entertainer; Herbert Joy, musical tramp; Ward and Sherman, comedians; and Curly Sherwood, comedienne. To-morrow will witness the first tipprarance of Champion's Dogs. Seats may now be reserved at The Bristol. QUEEN'S THEATRE. Rex Beach's famous story. "The Brand," Is the additional attraction for to-day's programme at the Queen's Theatre. Dan McGill, who has spent the best part of his life in hunting for gold in Alaska, arrives ;'t the town of Ophir. There he meets Alice Andrews, a variety performer, who was left behind by her partner, Bob Barclay, when that crooked young man decided to no on the trail and look for gold. Dan believes Alice to be a good woman, and marries her. but by the time her husband is Mire he has married an angel, Alice has grown tired of the life she is leading. Handsome Bob returns, renews their old acquaintance, and when McGill learns the truth he leaves Opliir. After five years spent in solitude and a fruitless search for gold, he suddenly striker, it rich, and a prosperous township springs up near his claim. Dan returns to Ophir, and there meets Alice in the. dance hall, and discovers that Barclav is one of the faro dealers and lias forced Alice to follow the calling of the other female inmates. Alice takes him to her home, shows him a little girl, five years old, asleep in bed, and tells him that the Bleeping child is his own. Dan hurries back In the dance hall, seizes Barclay, and brands him on the forehead with his revolver. This is the biggest scene in the play. Going hack to the home, Dan picks the ehilil up from its col. then seeing the remorse written on the face of Alice, beckons her to come with them. CRYSTAL PALACE. "The Walk-ofTs," now showing at the Crystal Palace, is a fascinating photo-drama «>f high social life, full of romance, and flavoured with the sting of satire, which 5s directed at social parasites. May Allison. the clever and popular screen star, takes the stellar role, anil is supported by other notable artists. "The Walk-oJTs" is a picturisation by Screen Classics of the successful stage play by Frederick and Fanny Hatton. The production has brilliancy of background, exquisite flocking, and includes scenes showing gay studio entertainments. The story presents the picture of Schuyler Rutherford, divorced by his wife, and reduced, with his sistei Kathleen, to the penniless state of a "walk-off." He urges his sister to marry a wealthy New Yorker, and thus establish their fortunes, but Kathleen does not love the man. She is introduced to a wealthy Kentuckian as a stenographer in want of employment, and she • •vcrhears his denunciation of the Rutherford divorce case, and his declaration that he would tame such a worthless specimen us Rutherford's sister. Kathleen determines to score back on him, and the story develops into fast action and plenty of thrills, Excellent supporting pictures are also shown. EVERYBODY'S THEATRE. "F.verywoman" is entering on the second week of its Christrhureh season at Everybody's Theatre to-day. The success which has attended its previous screenings in this city amply justifies this step. Thousand vfi .' unable to gain admission last week, and it was to allow them to see the picture that it was secured for another «eek. There is a notable cast portraying the various roles. The following wellknown favourites appear:—Violet Hemfng, Clara Horton, Wanda Hawlcy, Margaret loom is, Mildred Reardon, F.dytfi Chapman, It l;e Daniels, Theodore Roberts. Monte. Blue, Irving Cummings, James Neill, Ravmond, l.'aflon, I.mien Littlefleld, Noah Beeiv, .lav I-.iggins. Tully Marshall. Robert Brower, < harlrs Ogle, Fred Huntley, Clarence < Idart. There is a specially augmented i chestra which renders an attractive n.usicai programme.

LIBERTY THEATRE. Huge audiences greeted the initial presentation of the special double-star programme at the Liberty Theatre on Saturday. It comprised the Curwood-Carver production, "Back to God's Country," and Charles Chaplin's third three-reel comedy for Mrst i National, "Sunnyside." "Back to God s Country" is a splendid and exceedingly cji- , tcrtaining adaptation of James Oliver Curwood's "W'api, the Walrus," and tlm personal co-operation of the author has enabled the producers to obtain for the picture the identical locations lie visited three years ago while originating the plot for his novel, which is the most successful of all his works. Sixteen varieties of wild animals. including mountain lions, wolves, bears, a lynx, fox, deer, wildcats, donkeys, porcupines, and racoons, are a unique feature of the east, and each lias a definite part to plav. "Back to Cod's Country" is a gripping and stirring tale of the Canadian wilds and the thrilling adventures "1 Dolores, the beautiful swimming girl, who makes friends of the wild beasts. Several of the scenes were Aimed in Alaska with the thermometer at 60 degrees below zero, and the entire company suffering terribly with the intense cold. Nell Shipman, an accomplished and charming actress, portrays the principal character, and displays remarkable nerve when she swims down the dangerous waters of mountain rapids in one intensely thrilling scene. David Hartficld directed' the picture,- and a well-balanced I cast appears in support of Miss Shipman. In "Sunnyside," Charles Chaplin again proves himself the world's greatest comedian. This is a three-reel comedy, in which Charlie is the sentimental lover of the village belle, and the full "help" of a country hotel. The picture is one long laugh from start to finish. Two of the big hits of "Sunnyside" are Charlie's burlesque of the Creek dance and an amusing imitation of a slick city chap's stylish garments, 1 whom Charlie believes to be a dangerous rival. Mary Pickford and her husband, j Douglas Fairbanks, are seen in the Topical Budget on flieir arrival in England and . other incidents of their visit. ] GRAND THEATRE. j The new programme at the Grand Theatre to-dav and throughout the week will lie headed by "Greater Than Fame," featuring Miss Elaine Haminerstein, the first Selzni.-k ! production starring this clever screen artist., It is a film adaptation of Jay Kaufman's play, and carries deep human appeal. Miss Haminerstein assumes the role of Margaret Broke, who goes to New York to study for a career, but eventually finds that a happy heart is greater than fame, for which -die worked so untiringly and against such odds. The other big film, "The Lincoln Highwayman," features William Russell, the popular screen athletic star. It is essentially a photoplay of speed. The plot runs through many exciting incidents before it reaches a happy ending in a six-cylinder romance. Some sensation auto-driving will be seen. The supporting films will include a comedy and topical. The box plan is at The Bristol, or seats may be reserved at the theatre, 'phone 2931. STRAND THEATRE. A notable William Fox production, "The Honor System," is being screened at the Strand Theatre, the photo-play being interpreted by a splendid east headed by Milton Sills, Miriam Cooper, and Charles Clary. It presents a powerful dramatic ! spectacle, not unrelieved by flashes of j humour, and made doubly absorbing by convincing realism and a powerful love | appeal. The director, R. A. Walsh, has handled the subject cleverly, and has made of it a picture that cannot fail hi impress | all who see it. Besides this Fox masterpiece there is a good supporting programme. Seats may be booked at the Bristol or by ringing 'phone 2123. SYDENHAM PICTURES. A double programme will be screened at the Sydenham Pictures to-night, to-morrow and Wednesday night, consisting of "A Broadway Saint," featuring Montagu Love, and "Through the Wrong Door," with Madge Kennedy in the lead. Each film has plenty of adventure and excitement, and is well produced and acted.

| "TIGER ROSE." I The box plan for the .1. and N. Tait i production of " Tiger Rose" opened at The Bristol this morning, when brisk business was done. The season is for six nights, and in view of the interest taken in the production big advance booking is anticipated. It is possible that not in a decade is seen so original and striking a plav as " Tiger Rose," written by Willard Mack, a famous American playwright. "Tiger Rose " will be presented by J. and X. Tait at the Theatre Royal on Wednesday next, interpreted by a company, most of the members of which have been specially engaged for their several roles in America and England. It will introduce here an actress who is at the zenith of her fame Miss Marie Ilka. Miss Ilka is stvled in America as the modern "Ellen Terry." The Sydney " Sun " writes of the plav as follows :-—" 'Tiger Rose' is a vivid, grasping, realistic story, staged by a master-hand with a passion for detail. Indeed, the stage illusion is so good that it carries the audience far away, and Sydney conns as a strange country after the curtain falls. The thunderstorm is reality itself. The window curtains llap, the thunder rolls, the lightning Hashes until the eyes ache, and beyond everything else, the deafening rain rattles and patters and pours down . . . breaks fresh ground in many places. The acting . . . is excellent throughout, and Messrs .1. and N. Tait are to be congratulated. In her finely-sustained emotional scenes Miss Ilka rises to heights seldom attained here. Additional interest is lent by all the artists being specially imported for the play."