AMUSEMENTS.

Star (Christchurch), Issue 17350, 15 May 1924, Page 5

AMUSEMENTS.

LIBERTY THEATRE. Much has been written about “ Main Street,” the principal picture now being: shown at Liberty, and many flattering' notices regarding it have been published. It will be admittted generally that the praise bestowed on the picture is fully justified. In the first place, the story i* intensely interesting and genuinely human, and the attention of th© spectator is held from start to finish. With Florence Vidor and Mon to Blue at the head of a strong cast of players, the acting leaves nothing to be dean eel, whilst the scenery and' mountings are elaborate and realistic. “ Main Street ” is an adaptation of Sinclair Lewis’s uovel of the same name. Thci picture follows the book with fidelity* The second big attraction on the programme is the First National picture “ Thunder gate,’ 5 based on Sidney Herscbell Small’s popular novel “ The Lord of Tbundergate.” The story deals in a romantic and dramaticway with the adventures of an American in China, who bears a strong resemblance to a young mandarin, and who, through strange circumstances, is forced to masquerade as this mandarin. Laid in the colourful atmosphere of the Orient, with the magnificence of Chinese temples and palaces as a background, “ Tbundergate ” offers a wonderful op-.portunity to a brilliant cast of players to present a thrilling story. The humorous portion of the evening’s entertainment was supplied bv a Christie comedy entitled “Take Your Choice,” in which that clever comedian Bobby Vernon is the star artist. An excellent programme of incidental mpsic is supplied by the Liberty Oiwbestra under the direction of Mr* Howard Moody.

EVERYBODY’S THEATRE.

It is a beautiful story that “ Woman to Woman ” tells. Pathetic appeal marks every stage. Those who see the film at Everybody’s Theatre this week are not likely to forget it. In the scintillating Moulin Rouge, Louise Boucher, a lily in such sordid air, whirled her way in life. Her nimble little feet captivated all. In the crowd who worshipped her one day in those warstricken months of 1914 was David Compton, an engineer in the British Army. They met and in a few days the dancer and the captain were crowned with the halo of romance. Fate intervened. Louise’s dream was over. Compton had been called overnight to the front. The next day was to have been the day of the marriage. Five years passed slowly. “ Deloryse ” was flashed on the electric signs on a Strand theatre and London was at her feet. Fame had not wrecked Louise’s hopes. She lived in a world of happiness with little David, the living image of the father who had forgotten. But still she held hopes that Compton would return. In the West End, Cqmpton lived an unhappy life with a wife who was absorbed by social ambitions. Years back in the trenches, shell shock had taken away his memory. and all recollection of the faithful French maid had been obliterated. One night he watched Deloryse dance and his memory* came back. Contrite, he told Louise the sad news. But her child ? she asked. Mrs Anson-Pond, who had engaged Deloryse to dance at her ball, refused to take her husband’s child into her home. David, with love renewed for his dancer, who had sacrificed all for him, prepared to take Louise and her son to Paris. Then as woman to woman his wife talked with Louise and offered to take the child. It was a big sacrifice, but in the greatness of her mother love, Louise acquiesced. She agreed also to dance at the ball, but there she danced her last. Happy in mind that her child was with its father, she died on a bed of silken cushions as, behind the draped curtain, her admirers .danced their happy way. The Select Orchestra provides a fine musical programme.

GRAND THEATRE,

“ My Wild Irish Rose,” which is being shown at the Grand Theatre, is adapted for the screen from the famous play by Dion Boucicault, known as “ The Shaughraun.” Pauline Starke and Pat O’Malley head the cast. A special part has been written into the story for “ Mickey ” Dajiiels,” who made such a hit in Vitagraph’s “ The Little Minister ” as Micaii Dow. in “ My Wild Irish Rose,” Daniels is cast as the young brother of Moya, the character taken by Pauline Starke. He is also the nephew of Father Dolan. The part of Conn, the Shaughraun, is taken by Pat O’Malley. He provides a typical version in personality of the devil-may-care Irishman. The second attraction is “ Venus of the South Seas,” featuring Annette Kellermann. This film bears the “ Made in New Zealand ” imprint, and that, plus the numerous commendable teatures, makes “ Venus of the South Seas ” an outstanding motion .picture. It was a big undertaking for Miss Kellerman to come from America with a company of camera-men, a director, actors and scene hands, and make a picture. She has come through with flying colours. Annette Kellerman seems to be at home under the water, and for that reason the submarine scenes have been exploited so as to make them outstanding features of the production. The supporting programme is admirable, and includes au extremely funny comedy. “ The Idle Class,” featuring Charles Chaplin, and an interesting picture in slow motion, showing the various golf strokes as adopted by Geue Sarazen, the famous golfer.

CARTER THE GREAT.

At the Theatre Royal, commencing with a matinee at 2 30 on Saturday, Carter the Great, the famous magician and illusionist, will present an entertainment which will, no doubt, create much interest and controversy. It is four years since Mr Carter paid tts a visit, and in that time he has invented and perfected many new tricks of magic and illusion, and these and numerous other novelties will be presented in a programme that should satisfy the most fastidious and keep them interested, amazed and entertained for the Best part of four hours. The Oriental settings are specially gorgeous; most of them were woven in China by the furnishers of the Imperial Palace. Of the illusions and magical scenes much descriptive matter could be written, but it will suffice to mention a Jew of the special features. The “ Astral Body” is said to be a wonderful and beautiful illusion controlled by heavy electrical mechanism, which requires a specially trained stage crew to manipulate. “ Cutting a Woman in Half ” is a startling illusion in which Mr Carter uses no mechanical device. It is done on a. brilliantly lighted stage and is entirely new. The " Growing of a Rose” is an adaptation of the famous ‘•'Growing of the Mango Tree.” In this a rose bush sprouts, buds and blooms before the gaze of the audience; over a hundred roses are cut from the bush and presented to the audience. The “Lion’s Bride” is an illusion of distinction. for it is really a dramatic romance of the Far East without the spoken word, and in which a huge Nubian lion jdays a prominent part. Miss Evelyn

Maxwell, who is known as the ‘‘Psychic Marvel,” will, it is promised, give a remarkable demonstration of thought transference and mental telepathy. The. box plans arc now open at The Bristol.

FULLER’S OPERA HOUSE.

VAUDEVILLE AND REVUE. The programme at the Opera House this week is a very attractive one. An exceedingly good ventriloquial act is presented by Victor the Great, who is assisted by a lady and a young girl. Nell Crane is a popular performer, her child impersonations and singing being of a very bright nature. The Folies Bergeres Quartette give an admirable turn. The playing of “ Musical Milestones,” or sc-ngs that will never die, brings forth storms of applause. Charles Lawrence, with his humorous stories, is an old favourite, and the Mirano Brothers are very acceptable in their flying torpedo act. The second portion of the programme is taken up by the George Wallace Revue Company in “ Athletic Frolics,” a production which is as entertaining as its predecessors.

GREATER CRYSTAL PALACE

Miss Priscilla Dean, perhaps the brightest fixed star in the movie firmament at present, has a strong personality and unusual, probably unique qualifications for characterisations that demand power. She excels herself in “White Tiger,” a Universal- Jewel picture now being shown at Greater Crystal Palace 3 largely because she represents in it a type of imperious femininity that has a strong mind and a fiery spirit. Bobbed hair seems to be coming into fashion again. There may be doubts as to whether it always is attractive, but it certainly suits Miss \Yan<?a Hawley, who, in the second big picture, takes the part of a. girl who runs away from home and joins a friend i»i a futuristic art colony, where she wears unconventional clothes and bobs her hair. 44 The New Leather-pushers ” serial still is very popular at Greater Crystal Palace. On this week’s programme there are, also, another chapter of “ The Steel Trail,” a Century comedy, and the latest International News film. The Greater Crystal Palace Symphony Orchestra supplies a very delightful musical programme.

QUEEN’S THEATRE.

“The Light That Failed” is the title of the chief picture on the new programme screened at the Queen’s Theatre. This film is a Paramount attraction, and it is an adaptation of Rudyard Kipling’s well-known novel of the same name.' In adapting the story for the screen, George Melford. the director, whose previous big attraction was “The Sheik,” has followed the original story very closely. The result is that the film versipn, backed up by able production, is quite as interesting and entertaining as the novel. The part of Heldar is well interpreted by Percy Marmont, who is famed for his work in “If Winter Comes.” Jacqueline Logan, who takes the part of Bessie Broke, has won fame in several Paramount productions. Other capable players are David Torrence, who appears as Torpenhow. and Sigrid Holniquist, who takes the part of Maisie Wells. The second attraction on the programme which Marjorie Daw plays' the leading role. It is a society drama full of action, and set amidst elabo; ste surroundings. A good programme of supporting pictures is shown, and suitable incidental music is played by the orchestra, under the baton of Mr H. G. Glaysher.

ORCHESTRAL SOCIETY.

SEASON S FIRST CONCERT. The Christchurch Orchestral Society gave its first concert of the season at the Choral Hall last evening before a large audience. The programme was nicely varied and the performers tackled some music of a fairly difficult nature. Mr Angus Gunter, the society’s conductor, is a man of wide experience in the musical world, and he is deserving of much credit for the per formance of the seventy players he had under liis baton last evening. The s'/cicty is working under difficulties, aud it. is to the credit of the conductor and members that the standard of m ?rit is a high one. There are T-.any obvious faults, but most of these should be corrected as the season advances. The programme was opened last night with “The Water Carrier” (Cherubini;. Perhaps because it was the first piece, the orchestra did not play the overture as satisfactorily as could be desired, the violins being a little at fault. The several movements of the “Oxford Symphony in G Major” (Haydn) were productive of more happy work. The second movement, "allegro spiritoso ” and the “Minuetle” were very well done. After the interval the orchestra seemed to get into its stride, and the playing was much brighter and coherent The best effort was the selection from the opera “La Bohem*.’ The lira.is work and the flutes and harp, the latter played hv Mrs J. H. Jam-on, were particularly pleasing. H'air tv applause rewarded the orchestra at the conclusion of this effort The orchestra’s final offering was the suite “Feramors” (Rubinstein! and consisted of “Dance of the Bayaderes” Nos. 1 and 2, “Torch Dance of the Brides of Cashmere.” and “Bridal Procession.” In two of these numbers the clarinets flutes and trombones stood out prominently, and the whole effect was pleasing. The vocal soloist for the evening was Mr Leslie Fleming. His opening number was “Song of the Toreador,” from “Carmen.” In this item, as, indeed, in all those that followed, the singer’s fine voice was heard at its very best. An encore was demanded and Mr Fleming responded with “Bois Epais” (Lully). Later in the evening he sang (ai “I Know a Lovely Garden” (d’Hardelot), and (b) “Dream Tryst” (Cadman!. "Both these numbers were well rendered and again the audience asked '/Or more. The lighter number with wb /ch the singer responded. “Old Toh v Jug” (Arundale), was equally as pleasing. The accompaniments were ably played by Mr L. Lewin.