AMUSEMENTS.

Press, Volume L, Issue 14885, 27 January 1914, Page 8

AMUSEMENTS.

THE DUFAULT CONCERTS. The third concert at the Theatre Royal last night was very largely attended, and tho whole programme demonstratively approved ot. Mr Dufault introduced the fine recitative and aria, from Verdi's "Aiiia," wherein the delicacy and taste of Ins singing, especially the aria "Celeste Aida," was universally admired. Sylvelin, as so far in every one of his concerts, and "Beaming Eyes," followed as encores. In the bceond part a not highly interesting song by Huhii, "How Many Years Ago." was easily overshadowed by the French chanson, "Obstination." and even "Spring's Awakening," by Hawley, with its joyous colouring, appealed more strongly. In that unsatisfactory way of compliance with" special requests was added, in response to recalls, "Au Pays" and a rather pretty song, "Absent," by Metcalfe. followed suit. The final group iticluded "Lorraine, Lorraine, Lorree," of the impetuous type in which the singer is particularly effective, a graceful song by Chaminade, "Au Pays Bleu," and Robyn's "Answer," and as responses to enthusiastic applause, "Mother o' Mino" and "Invictus." "With the exception of the Verdi aria, the selections were not as well mado as for the preceding concert, but that lie did moro than justice to their merits goes almost without saying in the case ot so prominent and irresistibly attractive an artist. Among Miss Pauline Bindley's contributions, those of a graceful and dainty style, like "Tho Lasa with the Delicate Air" and "The Wren," by Liza Lehn:ann, a charming little song of its type, by the way, found tho most pleasing and finished interpretation. Mr Ernest Toy gave a very good reading of the last two movements of tho Mendelssohn concerto, and with it the most satisfying choice and performance, and a pretty madrigal of his own composition, deserves special mention. In the Witches Dance, by Bazzini, he displayed a clever mastery of its diffioult.es Mr Harold Whjttle came up quite, to the standard of his previous services as accompanist. OPERA~HOUSE. Hie Brennan-Fullcr proprietary is to be congratulated on introducing to Christchurch a vaudeville turn of a standard that has never before been equalled m Christchurch. The Royal Banzai Family played to a crowded audience at the Opera House last night, and the Japanese troupe of five clever artists had a tremendous reception from a house which previously had not been slow to express its disapproval or another turn. The Banzai family are equilibrists, contortionists, and acrobats, but there is practically nothing in their act which has ever been staged locally. They appear in a gorgeous setting of gold, silk, and velvet—wondorful Japanese tapestries of striking design. The quaint costumes of the artists blend perfectly with the scenery. The first sensation was provided by a Japanese lady ami the boy equilibrist. The woman, lying on her back on a cushion, balanced a complicated ladder with her feet, The boy climbed up ten or twelve rungs, and did a hand balance. He skipped nimbly along the next portion of the ladder, which was horizontal, and then climbed up a few more rungs, taking him to a height of twenty odd whore, to the audience's astonishment, he proceeded to do a full-arm balance That hazardous feat accomplished, he performed more evolutions before he finally left the ladder, which all the time his partnar had cleverly b&lancu'l A youngster, who had sung a comic song and kept everyone amused wich bis comicalities, next took a part His elder sister, lying in the same position as her mother had do:io, twirled him about in tho air with her feet. The sight of. the little Japanese kiddie, whirling round like a Catherine-wheel, caused roars of laughter. Occasionally, she would toss him up in a dou&le somersault and catch him on one foot, and then she would send him flying through a further series of twists and turns. The performance ended with an exhibition of hand balancing by another member of the troupe, who built up a column of bricks, and succeeded in tying himself up in. a knot, and .unravelling himself without losing his balance. The Royal Banzai Family were recalled several times, and the audience was quick to show its appreciation of an act brimful of merit. Another turn ivhch was well applauded was that of Huntress, character impersonator, classic dancer, and lightning change artist. His performance ended in a butterfly dance, performed on a big white ball. When the lights wero turned down, and a special lantern played upon the artist, an exceedingly beautiful effect was obtained. Among the other 'new performers was Margaret Corby, Australian soprano; Salmon and Joy. comedy sketch artists, and the Straub sisters, while Sayles and Warton, Gale and Sadie, and Jewell and Jordan, all old favourites, made a welcome appearance. HAYWARD'S PICTURES. The. ancient Grecian myth of Cupid and Psyche was the subject of tho principal item on the well-selected newprogramme at Hayward's Pictures submitted at his Majesty's Theatre last night to a large and appreciative audience. The beautiful and poetic legend .of the god of love's wooing of tho mortal Psyche was told in a series of great artistic merit. The film was an excellent example of Pathe-colour photography, and the attention paid to details of costume and scenery resulted in a production that was convincing in almost every respect. Beautiful gardens, amidst which statuary gleamed, and cool ponds on the surface of which beauteous lilies floated, were some of the outstanding features of tho scenio effects. The principal characters were represented by capable .artists, and the subsidiary characters were in harmony. From start to finish the film enchained the attention of the audience-, which followed the unfolding of the story with the keenest interest. The supporting pictures wero admirably selected. A Thanhouser drama, "The Children's Hour," presented the incidents described in Longfellow's wellknown poem in a pleasing and interesting manner. In "The Railroad Inspeci tor's Peril " there was pictiircd a ro- [ mantic railway ride, and in the course of the story the heroine jumps from a train jroing at a hijzh speed into a lake. The latest issue of the Pntlv:' Gazette contained an interesting budget of news pictorially told, and a Gaumont coloured scenic gave a realistic presentation of the scenery of the Chevrouse VahV.y. The Auckland Cup of 1913 was pictured in an interesting film. The comedy pictures were "Schnitz the Tailor" and "Which Way did He Go?" To-right the same films will be screened. GRAND THEATRE. Crowded audiences greeted the new programme at tho Grand Theatre yesterday. The chief item ,was a drama, The" Queen's Jewel," founded on a well-known romance which for the purposes of the pictorial play was brought right up to date by the introduction of flying machines, motor-cars, and other modern inventions for fast transit. A queen of some mythical state presents a former lover with a valuable jewel which she is in the habit- of wearing at state functions. The act is quite an innocent one, for she gives the gentleman his final dismissal with the keepsake. Tho Prime Minister, however, gets wind of the business arid promptly informs the king. The king thereupon asks his lady to wear this particular jewel at a big function to come off in a few days, and there is a great howd -yc-do to get it back in time. The fastest train will not suffice, but an aviator appears. Ke soars off and gets delivery of the jewel, but on his return journey meets with trouble. On coming to earth ho is taken prisoner

by emissaries of the king and his flying machine is consigned to the flames. This misfortune only stimulates vim to further effort, and by means of train, motor-car, and cycle, ie bounds along and reaches the palace in time to hand over to the anxious queen the all-important jewel. There were some splendid scenes and settings in the picture, and the photography was excellent. Another "Broncho Billy's Reason," by the Essanay Company, depicts the favourite, G. B. Anderson, in one of his exciting frontier incidents. The Eclair Journal has many interesting items from the latest fashions for the ladies to the recent aviation manoeuvres. ''A House Divided" is a Jolax comedy, and provides the humorous element. The AH BlackAmerican match was a special film, and is a very fine picture of Rugby football as "played by the famous "All Blacks." The many exciting incidents in this match are clearly shown, as well as the individual players. The picture will be shown in conjunction with the current programme at both the day and night sessions. FULLER'S PICTURES. There was a good attendance of spectators at the volosseum last night, when a new programme of Fuller's Pictures was shown. Tho star film was a drama entitled "The Call." The story related to a young married woman who foolishly continued to receive visits from a former suitor, by name Tom Hughes. The husband takes to drink, loses his job, and starts out for the West. Chance, in the form of a railroad accident, favours him.,and he is fiblo to change his identity by changing clothes and papers with an unrecognisable victim. Tom identifies the papers, and the dead man is buried as Ed. Wilson, the husband. Two years later Lucille marries Tom. The husband, known as "Bill Stanton," makes good in the North-West and becomes enormously wealthy, and one day, by chance., he meets a clerk from his former office. He hears of the girl's Tom, and is told also that Tom nas so neglected and illtreated her that she had died, suspicion pointing to Tom as her. murderer. By means of tho yodeling "call" which Tom had formerly used when calling at his home, lid. reduces Tom to a state of absolute terror. He finally enters Tom's house, and in a struggle between the two men Ed. is shot, and dies in a few moments after Tom, his victim. Other good films were "A Deal in Oil" (comedy-drama), "Spots on the Oregon" (a splendid scenic), 'The Doctor's Duty" (medical drama), "Tommy's First Love Affair" (comic), tho latest Gaumont Graphic, a series of topical New Zealand news in pictures, and a fine Nature study film entitled "Stereoscopic Study of Flowers." Tho same programme will be given to-night. GLOBE PICTURES. A new programme was put on at the Globe Picture Theatre yesterday, and the pictures wero witnessed by large crowds of spectators at all sessions. The leading film was a detective drama entitled "Tho Riddle of the Tin Soldier," in which a lady detective is seen at work. The story has to do with tho kidnapping of a rich man's son by a gang of desperadoes, who hold the boy [to ransom. The lady detective is brought in to find tho missing heir, and she passes through many strange adventures in pursuit of her mission. She does not have it altogether all her own way, but she eludes cleverly many traps and devices set out by tho gang to shield themselves and to baffle the lady, but finally she has them cornered, and the picture comes to a triumphant end with the capture of the wholeparty of kidnappers, and tho release of tho little boy. Other successful films were "The Clown and the Prima Donna" (drama), "Types of the Caucasus" (scenic), "All On Account ot Daisy" (comedy), "Love and Potatoes'' comedy, and Warwick Chronicle No. 177, a good number. To-day tho same pictures will pass over the screen continuously from noon till 10.30 p.m: QUEEN'S THEATRE. "The Sea Eternal," a stirring drama by the Lubiu Company, occupies premier position on the new programme to be shown to-day and to-night at the Queen's Continuous Picture Theatre. It is represented in the plot that John Tapley, a fisherman, Mary, his wife, and their baby, live happily at The Point until Mason comes to buy fish, outbidding Corson, the local dealer. Mason pays a little attention to John's wife, and this is the causo of an estrangement between husband and wife. Many exciting incidents, including a realistic rescue at sea, are enacted beforo the fir.nl happy ending of the story is told. What is described as a remarkable Edison comedy is entitled "Archie and tho Bell Boy," the film dealing with the adventures of a pampered boy. Tho "Topical Budget" includes scenes showing the activity of the United States troops in view of the situation in Mexico. Other new films are:—"Tho Pointsman's Daughter" (Gaumont drama"). "A Trip to Morocco" (seenie\ and "Her Father's Choice" (Lubin comic). Mr Fleming's orchestra wi!l_ supply tho music at the evening session. SYDENHAM PICTURES. Tho new programme was witnessed by a large audience at the Sydenham Pictures last liight. Tho star item was a glorious fairy legend, "Psyche," a tale of the love of tho god Cupid for the mortal. Psycho. It is a splendid Pathe coloured picture 30CO feet long. Psyche, a mortal, arouses the jealousy of Venus, who orders Cupid to kill her presumptuous rival, but intsead of this l>o falls a victim to her charms. "The Patho Gazette" shows the latest . of the world's news. "Scenes on Chevreuse" is a scenic film. Other pictures are: — "The Railroad Inspector's Peril" (Railway drama), "The Children's Hour" (drama), "Schnitz. the Tailor" (Keystone comedy), "Which Way Did He Go?" (a John Bunny and Flora Finer comedy), and "The Auckland Cup," showing splendid views on tho racecourse. The same pictures will" be shown to-night.