THE LORGNETTE

Observer, Volume XL, Issue 6, 11 October 1919, Page 6

THE LORGNETTE

(By Pbomptbb.3

AT Fuller's Opera House those gifted vocalists, Signor and Signora Molinari, whose previous season aroused enthusiasm, are again giving large audiences the best of their repertoire. Both are highlyaccomplished artists, who to their vocal gifts add a rare enthusiasm and knowledge of their audiences. It is unnecessary almost to say that when they gave "The Marseillaise Hymn," and followed it with "Rule Britannia," the people were greatly delighted. Brightie and Carlyon arc again with the company, and with the good new stuff they bring they are able to delight everybody. The audiences generally refuse to lot them go, and they are generous with return numbers. ' The Two Gilberts have a large supply of comedy and patter, and it is. "the stuff to give the soldiers." Nobody has yet discovered the secret of "Astra's wonderful thought-reading stunt." Astra has not yet made a mistake. The introduction of a tame panther as a living "prop" adds a creepy feeling to the stunt. There is also Sylvester the magician, with his aerial pictures. Sylvester has some stuff that maketh the eye to bulge. The Walter George Comedy Company does "The Grand Hotel." Mr. George Storey is a bell-boy of special excellence. Miss Hylda Shannon, soprano, had a flattering reception in her ballad, "I Wonder If It's True." Miss Dulcie Milner made an attractive French modiste, and sang and danced prettily. Miss Georgie Martin was vivacious as Dotty., Miss Polly McLaren dances deliciously. Mr ' George gave a clever character impersonation of a Frenchman, and later was seen as a peppery old major. Next Monday afternoon and evening Mr. Barry Lupino, the wellknown pantomime artist, will appear at the Opera House for the first time.

"Broken Threads," seen at the Queen's Theatre, has the unusual novelty of being English. It depicts a phase of life the forefathers of New Zealanders lived, and has nothing to do with the hectic rush of the dollar kings of America. It is laid in a portion of Devonshire, well known by New Zealand soldiers who patronised the home of their forefathers unfortunate enough to have beon born outside of Wharekirauponga and is simple and alluring m action, true to life, and played by people whose dramatic instinct is tor the real in life. The action takes place in a Devonshire village, rich with associations of the greatest men England ever produced, and who are incidentally the reason for the settlement of New Zealand by British people. If the average person can be made to believe that England is more important to him than the Bowery of New York, or that an English fishing village means more than the horrors of Sing Sing, or the adventures of Hairy Ike the Cowboy Curate of Creasote Canyon, he will <ro along and thank God for Britain. He will also see some pictures irom his beloved Yankeeland.

The Tivoli has a picture which is drawing huge crowds irresistibly. "Sporting Life" is a drama of love, wicked intrigue, and thrilling scenes in the lives of highly-interesting people—The photo-drama was produced by Maurice Tourneur—an expert in the excellences of , screen artistry. Towering far above the ordinary mo-tion-play in the vigour of its action, and the intensity of its love story, "Sporting Life" carries a tremen-

clous appeal, not only to sport lovers, but to all men aiuL-women* The young English earl who enters the boxing ring himself, rather than allow an enemy who has drugged his fighter to succeed in dastardly schemes, is rewarded with a throb of. compassion from every spectator. The Derby that bears, the fortunes of a manly, lovable, and persecuted hero, has more in it than a picture of Britain's famous race.; Threading its way through the* mazes woven by vile plotters, the tender sentiment is ever there to brighten the screen with hope. There is a touch of the deeply human in the trials and triumphs of the principal characters that enlists the sympathy and awakens delight. There is a Max Sennett farce, too.

Miss Billie Burke, in "The MakeBelieve Wife," seen at the Princess Theatre, is full of the. Irish vivacity and Hibernian charm which has made her famous, in five Continents. The piece is bright and smart. As the piquant "make-believe" wife, Miss Burke is irresistible, and thoroughly captivates the large audience which fills the theatre at each session. The three most important items of the supporting programme are: "Tweedie Dan," a comedy in which an acrobat is the leading figure; "The Wrong Flat," another comedy; and the latest topical review. The music is worthy of the pictures

® ®> @> At the National Theatre on Saturday will be screened "Caught in the Act," a great comedy, in which Peggy Hyland will play lead. You may take* it from the' Fox proprietary that this comedy doos naturally lay over any fun to date. It details how a vivid girl rebels at being kept in a select boarding school. This young blossom, inter alia, sews tip the bottom of the teacher's skirt, hides in the bonnet of a motor car, meets a bounder aching to wed, takes him and a busted hat into a repair shop, pretends to become chief repairer, mends her own sweetheart's pyjamas (cries of horror), make a rope of bedclothes, which busts, and so on, through a largo number of extragrdinarily funny adventures. It makes you laugh!

On Saturday the Strand Theatre will screen " Daddy Long Legs," a worthy pictorial adaptation of Jean Webster's already classical story, a work which is indeed one of real <renius. Mary Pickford is featured as Judy. Judy Abbott, the lovable little 'orphan of Jean Webster s book, begins life with a roll of newspapers for her first garments, and an ash-can for a crib. Her early years are spent in the John Greer orphanage. All that is required is the assurance that the spirit and charm of the original are to be found in the picture. The picture was directed by Marshall Neilan "The Mark Twain of the Screen. Miss tlckford is supported in "Daddy Long Legs" by Mr. Neilan, who has the part of a young college man in love with Judy; by Mahlon Hamilton, who has the part of Jaens Pembleton, Judy's benefactor; fey Milla Davenport, as the tyrannical head matron of the asylum,; by Fay Leniport, as Angelica Wyckoft, an ill-mannered little girl reared in luxury; and by a charming group ot child actors.

A highly entertaining programme was tendered by the concert party of H.M.S. "New Zealand" on Tuesday evening as a return concert to the members of the Auckland Workingmen's Club and Mechanics' Institute, about 300 being present The concert party, in charge ot Stokers F. A. Gough and W. N. Rogers, showed themselves finished artistes in their respective items, encores being most frequent. Mr. Purdy, the Acting President of the Club, welcomed the visitors, and Green and Seacombe, A.B.s, opened the programme with a ragtime duet, being well received, and the former afterwards gave another item. Stoker Jock MacG/uire gave a fine imitation of an inebriated Scotchman

on the bagpipes, earning deserved applause; after which S. Jacobsen, 5.P.0.," danced a sailor's hornpipe as only sailors can. Stoker Bowen put on a fine balancing turn, ably assisted by Hore (cook) as Charlie Chaplin, and for an encore thefor- - mer delivered a patter song, and the latter with a comic song entitled "I Took Off My Coat and Went Home.." Stoker F. A. Gough came next with an exceedingly clever exhibition of club-swinging, which was much admired, and Col.-Sergt. M. Moore was seen to advantage with the banjo, and for an encore rendered a recitation composed by himself. Stoker W. N. Rogers exhibited a professional touch in his comic item of "Ten Days' Leave," and excellent singing was contribiited by Leading Stoker Williams, Leading Stoker Campbell, Stokers A. Binns, J. Moloney, Durgess, Pennells, P. 0., and Boy Wright. Corporal Yendell, R.M.L.1., gave a fine rendering of "Ghunda Ghin," and for an encore gave a monologue entitled "The Raids on Zeebrugge Mole." A. J. Stanford, A.8., proved a capable accompanist, and during the evening gave a refreshing pianoforte solo. At the termination of the programme Mr. F. R. Mason moved a hearty vote of thanks to the performers, which was carried by acclamation and cheers, and responded to by Leading Stoker "Campbell.

The nature of the impression created by Mr. Ha,rry Dearth has already travelled to -this ieland, and will doubtless be re-produced when the tuneful singer comes north. In Christchurch he was greeted with an enthusiasm such as had not been witnessed for years, and encores three and four were insisted on and given. Writing of Mr. Dearth, the Dunedin "Star" said: —"He has a fine resonant'voice, firmly under control in every part, enabling him to get colour 'and weight effects in swift alternation without the least appearance of effort. An easier singer it would be impossible to think of. He is fully equipped as to training and knowledge, and adding an alert perception and sense of humour, he has at command the qualifications of a great interpreter. That is his outstanding greatness. Some singers with fifty songs sing one song with forty-nine changes of words. Mr. Dearth has the art of putting each song into a frame of its own." The North Island tour of Mr. Harry Dearth and the fine company Messrs J. N. Tait have sent to support him, will commence at the Concert Chamber, Wellington, on October 20th.

The latest news from Sydney is to the effect that Miss Eme'Se Polini was still packing them at the Palace Theatre, Sydney, which has been the case on every one of the four seasons she has played in that city. Hers has been a unique experience. During the eighteen months she has been under the J. and N: Tait banner Miss Polini has only appeared in three plays, and of those three one was only played for a short run in Sydney, so that the two plays to be seen in New Zealand, "De Luxe Annie," and "The Eyes of Youth," are those which she has magnetised Australian audiences in during the past year and a half. Miss Polini will be supported by a very strong company, which includes Miss Georgie Harvey, a Canadian character actress; Miss o<ive Wilton, Mr. Harmon Lee, an American actor of excellent repute; Mr. John Fernside, a rising young juvenile lead, Mr. George Chalmers, and 'Mr. John de Lneev.

"Oh, you lucky people," said Mise Helen Carson, the American Chautauqua leader, on hearing that Miss Emelie Polini was coming to New Zealand. "She is the most delightful and natural actress I know in America. There is so much lite in her'work so much naturalism, that it does hot seem that she is acting at all, and yet she is co entirely different in every play. My; shes a great favourite over our way, ana I do think it's a bit of luck for you people to get her at all!"