THE THEATRES.

Sun (Christchurch), Volume VII, Issue 2141, 24 December 1920, Page 2

THE THEATRES.

"THE MAN FROM TORONTO." On Monday evening next, at the Theatre ■ Royal, J. C. Williamson, Ltd., in conjunction with Hugh D. Mcintosh, will present Robert Courtneldge's London Company in the ex- | quisite comedy by Douglas Murray, "The i Man from Toronto." The organisation, which is headed by Mr George Tully and I Miss Margaret Swallow, has won flattering encomiums from vast audiences in Australia. The piece, it is affirmed, is entirely diifcrent fr.om the majority of latter-day comedies. It is the work of a craftsman who has succeeded in compelling a maximum of interest with a perfectly clean story. Sparkling humour is presented in abundance. The preponderance of whimsi- ! eal situations are in the capable hands of IMr George Tully and Miss Margaret . Swallow, who arc supported by a specially strong all-round cast. This includes Messrs 'Joseph J. Graham, Roland Ward, Misses Marie Rignold, Rosalind Courtneidge, Blanche Massey, Leslie Graham, Leslie Lesjtcr and others of importance. The critic of the "Australasian" writes of Mr George Tully as follows: "His acting is perfectly I natural, his note cleanly and unaffectedly I [virile. He is probably the most convincing stage lover in any British Theatre to-day." The same journal writes of Miss Margaret I Swallow: "This charming young artist is ' an actress with feminine subtlety and con- | scientious conceptions, who knows her work and does it like a craftswoman." The box jplaus will be open at The Bristol to-day. During the holidays the plans will he at l Topper's lollie store. ' OPERA HOUSE. [ The revue, "The Rajah of Dampoor," attracted another large audience to the Opera House last evening, when the performance was enthusiastically received. The vaudeville section of the programme, also, was thoroughly appreciated. Leonard Nelson, Kenneth Maclaine and the Sinclair Brothers are still as popular bs ever, and Huley and Bent in patter and song, with Louis Bloy on the banjo, arc assured of a great reception. The programme will be repeated to-night. STRAND THEATRE. "The Terror," a stunt Aim featuring the daredevil Tom Mix, has met with the approbation of large attendances at the Strand Theatre this week. It is well supported. "LOVE'S HARVEST."

Commencing on Monday, a new double feature programme will be screened. Adorable Shirley Mason fills the principal 'part in "Love's Harvest," the story of a girl'of 15 whose father, when dying, gave her away like a parcel of real estate to a man she had never seen. It is from the novel "His Harvest," by Pearl Doles Bell, of which the critics have said, "It is a story of living characters, natural, human and vitally interesting. The character of the heroine is , irresistible, quaintly philosophic, delightfully original and altogether lovable." It is a story of the stage, and of a your.g girl's heart. The scenes are laid in one of. the capitals of Europe, and New York. The ! second feature, "The Mother of His Chilidren," featuring Gladys Brockwell as an Arabian princess. In this luxurious, oriental production, Gladys Brockwell stars |as an Arabian princess. The director of the production has infused the spirit of the East with extraordinary success by selecting, furnishings for the Arabian salon of the Princess Yve with the greatest care and attention to detail. These are the rich and exotic fittings with which a cultivated woman of the Levant would inevitably surround herself. The story is oue that will hold the unbroken interest of everyone; it deals with the fascinating artist life of Paris, and its action tur.ns upon a wonderful statue group from which it.derives jts title. I GREATER CRYSTAL PALACE. All this week workmen have been busy day and night in carrying out improvements to the Crystal Palace Theatre, which will be opened to the public on Monday. A special feature of the entertainment provided at this theatre in future will be a symphony orchestra of more than 20 players, under the conductorship of Mr Alfred J. Bunz. It is stated that this is the first time a full symphony orchestra has been engaged by any theatre in Australasia, and it is also the largest employed by any theatre in Christchurch. The opening programme'at the Greater Crystal Palace will feature the first, of the famous Universal Jewel super-pictures, "Blind Husbands," .In eight reels. This is a brilliant society drama, created with an all-star cast amidst the glorious Alpine scenery of Switzerland, and is "especially recommended as a lesson to those husbands who are so wrapped up in their own sports and pleasures that they neglect their wives until serious dilliculties ensue." This picture is elassed by the leading motion-pic-ture critics of England and America as one of the greatest masterpieces ever produced. Many of the situations are intensely dramatic, whilst a strain of humour runs right through the entire eight reels. Seats may be reserved at The Bristol Piano Co. EVERYBODY'S THEATRE. Thomas H. Ince's screen version of "Behind the Door" is being shown at Evervbody's Theatre this week, with Hobart Bosworth, Jane Novak, and\ Wallace Berry in the leading roles. "WHY CHANGE YOUR WIFE?" The coming attraction at Everybody's Theatre is "Why Change Your Wife?" a Paramount-Artcraft Royalty masterpiece. It has been produced for the screen by that genius in film-making, Cecil B. de Mllle, and will commence on Boxing Day at the matinee. Thomas Meighan, who was so splendid in "Male and Female" and "The Miracle Man," heads the masculine portion ot the cast In the role of the husband, with Gloria Swanson, the charming film actress playing opposite. Theodore Kusloff, the famous Russian dancer, also plays a prominent part in the production, in the role of a violinist, and Bebe Daniels is east for the difficult and exacting part of "the other woman." Also in the cast are Sylvia Ashton and Clarence Geldnrt, who both have wide circles of admirers amongst movie patrons. In addition to "Why Change Your Wire?" a Paramount drama entitled "His Wife's Friend," starring Dorothy Dalton, will be screened. The Box plan is at The Bristol. SYDENHAM PICTURES. At the Sydenham Pictures this evening the film "Lady Clare" will be screened for the last time. A special holiday programme will be presented on Monday night, Cecil Verne, the New Zealand comedian, being a special attraction. The picture programme will include "A Fugitive from Matrimonv " featuring H. B. Warner, and "The Man Beneath," starring Sessue Hayakawa. Both these productions should be popular and full of interest. There will be an afternoon session on Monday.

QUEEN'S THEATRE. "A Fugitive from' Matrimony," starring H. B. Warner, is the principal attraction at the Queen's Theatre this week. Clara- Kimball Young, the handsome and fascinating 1 screen favourite, also appears on the bill in "The Claw," a story of African life adapted from the novel of that name. "MISS AMBITION." "Miss Ambition" is the title of the big film to be presented at the Queen's Theatre on Monday. Corinne Griffith takes the role of Marta, a working girl, who secures a position as maid to Edith Webster, a society girl, and for some time sees no more of her sweetheart, Larry Doyle, a struggling architect. One day she has occasion to visit the studio of Nowland Wells, a sculptor, and Edith's fiance. He is much taken with her, and, unaware of her position, engages her to pose for his statue of Ambition. On the day that it is completed he is so delighted with it that he seizes the girl In his arms. And just at that moment Edith enters. As a result the girl finds herself an outcast. Longing for wealth, she marries Dudley Kelland, a millionaire. After the ceremony he discovers that she does not love him. Kelland seeks to drown his sorrows in drink. The Statue of "Ambition," which he purchased from Wells, overturns and kills him. Now a rich widow, Marta finds herself still an outcast. Larry, now a prominent contractor, will have nothing to.do with her. Shc w however, hears that he is near bankruptcy in endeavouring to lulfll a big contract for the city. She s(oes to liTs partner and makes him accept licr money, and when the job turns out successfully, and Larry demands to know the name of his benefactress, his partner tells him, and thus are the lovers reunited. Norma Talmadgc appears in "De Luxe Annie," which patrons will remember as a stage success. Chapter 11 of "The Mystery of 13," a comedy, and a Gazette complete the list. LIBERTY THEATRE. Earlc Williams appears on the. screen at the Liberty Theatre this week in "The Fortune Hunter." A number of interesting supports are shown, and Mr Harold Prescott sings at the evening sessions. "IN SEARCH OF A SINNER."

Commencing on Monday (Boxing Day), will be shown at the Liberty Theatre one of the delightful Constance Talmadge features, the funniest, sauciest and nicest comedy 1 imaginable, "In Search of a Sinner." The grouchiest mortal on earth could not resist the laughing lure of this bright, sparkling First National Production. It is a screen comedy of infinite jest and sparkle, sufficiently daring, yet never touching the risque verge, alive with smart action, always holding the interest, and terminating as happily and mirthfully as it began. And what n performance Constance Talmadge puts up as the winsome widow of 20, "In Search of a Sinner," to replace the ultra-good, fossilised old man to whom she has been wedded for three long, weary years—a man too good for this wicked old earth, who."went aloft" at an opportune time, leaving the sprightly, fascinating girl longing for something of life, alone with her opportunities/' Gay insouciance is the keynote of the story. It is replete with smart, pithy titles and situations, it is brimming,over with rippling, comedy, and it is Constance Talmadge at her best.