AMUSEMENTS.

Press, Volume LIV, Issue 16259, 9 July 1918, Page 4

AMUSEMENTS.

OPE HA HOUSE. Admirers fine appreciatorß of vaudeville found much to ndiuire and to appreciate in 4ho items presented by tho new artists nt the Opera lluii.'o last nigiit. Of a distinctive rtkl p.rtistic character was tho offering of jjum- Livingstone, a reciter who' possesses ,vroi't dramatic power, combined tvith ver.nitility and humour. In "The Dreamer," Hi- Livingstone desciibed with admirable cfleet the illusions followed respectively by en Italian workman, a jovial inebriated gentleman, a pawnbroker, and a miser. In addition to "tulcing off" these various characters, Mr Livingstone dressed oach part, lightning changes being effacled behind a curtain, whilst the artist, with only his head showing through au opening of the curtain, recited the connecting linos. Thcas changes were very rapidly accomplished, and tho effect was highly dramatic. 'The artist was well tc>ceived, his different, impersonations evoking hearty applause. A pleading turn was given by Aubrey and Richo, who are clever and dainty dancers, and who fling acceptably. Their principal item was a Venetian serenade scene accompanied by a graceful dance. A feature of their offering was tha charming dresses worn by both performers. Delicate humour alternated with broad burlesque in the turn given by Leywood and Norell, who greatly pleased wish their eonge, and also with the sketsh descriptive of the training given by an old-time actor to an aspirant for revuo honours. This sketch was brightly done, tho humour having sparkle and vivacity. After a lengthy absence, Mias Nellie Kolle, tho singing comedienne, made a welcome re-appearance, and her topical and well sung numbers were appreciatively received. A lively comedy sketch was given by Crcnier and Arnold, who caused much merriment with the ludicrous situations which arose from each mistaking the other at a ball at a mental hospital, for inmates of the institution. The fun was fast and furious until their common mistake was made clear to them. Harry Farrow's clever company repeated successfully tho "potted pantomime" version of "The Babes in tho Woods," the various vocal numbers and graceful dances being received with ovident pleasure.. To-night' the some programme will be repeated.

CRYSTAL PALACE. When William Fox, maker of photoplays de luxe, "discovered" June Caprice, sunniest of film, ingenues, ho declared that ho would speedily make her n star of the first magnitude. And that he has fulfilled his promise is proved in no uncertain manner by the fact that nowadays the name of June Caprice attached to a picture play is sufficient guarantee for the showing of that play at any of those theatres wluoli pride themselves upon screening only tho very • best of the world's film. offerings. Crystal Palace is showing June Caprice this week, as star of a charming- photo-play entitled "Every Girl's Dream." "Every Girl's Dream" is more or lees of a picture phantasy. It is written round a quaint old-fashioned rhyme, which describes how:

Two wicked men from Bugeldorf, Where a wicked prince did reign, Kidnapped a tiny baby

For the sake of royal gain. The rhyme runs right through tho picturo from the time when tho two "bad' men" are seen kidnapping the baby until tho time when, grown up into a beautiful girl named Grefchen, she is the 6unshine of tho little village of Olenburg, famed for its pretty girls. Gretohen, who lives, with' hoc foster mother, Mrs Van Lorn, is beloved by- all, es-' pecially by Carl, a wood-cutter, who also is a foster child. Unfortunately Mynheer' De Hans, the old town lawyer and capitalist, also •has his eye on Gretchen. and as he ho!d3 a mortgage on the Van Lorn proporty, he has a strong lever to use. Hulda, a dark beauty, loves Carl, and is determined that Gretohen shall not get him, and she kindly notifies Mrs Van Lorn (who favours the old lawyer for obvious reasons) whenever Carl and Gretchen are together. One day De Hruis comes to "pop the question." As he is making a fervent plea a friend fastens a fishhook to his wig. When he gets up of! goes the wig-. Gretohen laughß heartily, and Mynheer leaves in a rage. Determined to make the ■ Van Lorn family pay for the . insult he looks for the mortgage in his pocket. It is not there, fie has Gretchen arrested as: the thief, and she is put into tho stocks. . Meanwhile Carl, who haa a mysterious birth mark, on his back, is seized by the attendants of tho reigning sovereign, and carried off. The story goes on to show how G retch en's inDocenco is established, how Carl is really tho rightful heir to the throne, and how everything ends happily, though not possibly how the audience thought it would at first. As usual June Caprico is charming. She is literally the "sunshine girl" of the William Fox studios, and already bids fair to equal Mary Pickford in the hearts of the picture-loving public. She is supported by Harry Hilliard, and an exceptionally strong all-star cast. a. whole Dutoh village was built by William Fox especially / for "Every Girl's • Dream," and a quaintly-picturesque village it is, with its market square, its well and its town crier. Tho kiddies will literally love "Every Girl's Dream," and grown-ups will find in it one of the daintiest pictures ever screened in Christohurch. Chief on tho supporting programme is an uproarious Mack Sennett comedy, entitled '"Her Hidden Purpose," with Chester Copklin and Marie Provost as leads, and a Paramount Gazette of immense topical interest. The twelfth chapter of "Who Is Number On®?" which is being shown this week, is the most interesting to date. It shows the identity of the mysterious "Number One" revealed, but there are some wholly new and unexpected developments, which baffle the beholder more and more. A feature of the instalment is a fight on the top 'of a high wall. The Crystal Palace orchestra adds materially to the enjoyment of ths evening sessions, commencing at 7.30, hy playing in first-fiLass style the overture to "Maritana," and incidental music throughout the programme. The soloist this week is Mr James Cooks, whose singing of "Beware When Bright Eyea Glance" and "Wait Till the Clouds 801 l By,** is excellent.

BTAELAND. A thrilling Mexican drama, entitled "The Jaguar's daw," is being: staged at Starland this week. Se9sue Havakaws, -who has been described as "The Japanese Irving," sustains the character of The Jaguar, which is an unenviable one. "El Jaguar," as be is called in the surrounding district, is a Ifexican bandit who, surrounded by a band of desperadoes, succeeds in establishing a reign ot terror until he meets his match in Phil Jordan. Among' the exeitin? incidents are a heltsrekelter rush of men and horses to the rescue, and a tragic scene in which a fearful fate be-

falis the bandit. The Japanese actor is supported by Fritz Brunette, Tom Moore, Marjorie Daw, Tom Forman, and Mabel Van Buien. The supporting films include- a revival of the Mack Sennet comedy, "It Pave to Advertise," and a Topical Budget.

QUEEN'S THEATHE. Patrons of the Queen's Theatre have witnessed Margarita Fischer in many varied rolea, but it is questionable whether they haro seen this charming actress in a character so well suited to her as that of Molly Allieon in the American Mutual feature, "Molly Go Get 'Em," which headed the new programme shown to large audiences yesterday at this popular theatre. Tho quaint, unusual title of tho production ia quite in keeping with tho spirit of tho story it depicts. Molly is the younger of two daughters of a rich widower, and, as Bh© ia only "sweet seventeen," sho is not "out" in society, though she is, moat girls are, intensely anxious to join the giddy throng of social butterflies. The manner in which Molly effects her purpose provides much amusing incident, including tho chagrin of her eisler, the fast ageing Julie, when ehe linds Molly exercising her powers of fascination on her fiancee. Julie retires peeved and leaves the field to Molly, who, in a tODiboyish spirit, first proposes a motor drive und later that tho young man should take her to the ball in place of her sister. Graham Gordon enters into the opirit of these proposals, and Molly duly electrifies the dancsrs, but an accident which detaches tho train from her sister's ball dress (which Molly has commandeered) makes tho capricious beauty demand to be taken as far as possible from tho ball. A breakdown of the motor-car twenty miles from home leads to complications, but ere the final scene all ends happily. Margarita Fischer is the piquant, irresponsible young flapper to tho life, and, metaphorically, carries tho beholders off their feet by the exquisitely natural way iu which she acts tho part. Very noticeable are tho ' beautiful creations which Molly wears. Amongst them are a costume, referred to by the young man next door as a "chink" outfit, but which Mijs Molly insists is a chic costume, and the wonderful ball dross. No matter what the costume is, Margarita Fischer wears it with distinction nrd stylo, and it is little wonder that ehe fascinates all, even her much hitrassed father. The settings are also noteworthy, the interiors being rich and luxurious. The production, as a whole, is a fine example of excellent photography. A further instalment of the serial, "A Lass of the Lumberlands," in which Helen Holmes, the heroino, goes through more exciting and unusual adventures, was also shown. "A Mi* Up at Ki-.'lolph's" was an intensely-, humorous, film, characterised by plonty of action of tho vigorous comedy description. A tworeel drama, "The Gulf Between," pictured sn interesting love story, and "Tho South African Whaling Industry" depicted many interesting features connected with the getting of whales and with the manufacture of whale oil. To-day and this evening the same programme will be screened.

"DICK WHITTINGTON" PANTOMIME. Tho box pLitis for the six season of tho <T. C. Williamson "Dick Whittington" pantomim/?, will bo opened at Milner and Thompson's to-morrow morning at 9 o'clock. A special feature of tlio pantomime, which is to bo presented at tho Theatre Royal on I'riduy next, in p.iid -to bo the particularly oeautiful ecc-nic displaj* and "tlio wonderful variety of tho subjects painted by those past, masters of acenio art, Messrs "ft". -R. Coleman and George Upward. Thcro ire no fewer than 17 different scenes in the pantomime. All are said io bo exceptionally beautiful. The Oriental spectacle, which tfikeg place in the old-timo city of Hong Kong; the scene of the ballet of The Temptations ; tho wonderful oolouring of the Hawaiian Butterfly scene, with a number of children flying about; tho cotton fields, in the subdued light of which white lanterns suggest tho cotton bolla; tho remarkable futurist picjoo of painting that forms tho scene in which is danced the famoua "Vogue" ba.llet; the astonishing interior of old Guild Hall in the City of London, in which takes place tho glittering heraldic pageant, which brings this fine feast of colour to a successful close—these are perhaps "the pick of the bucket-." Of patriotic balleto and marches thoro are plenty, all fitted and caparisoned by the scenic artists in the same complete manner. .Evidently the aim of theeo craftsmen has been to depart from the ordinary tinsel to something approachrfcftl fift. The first m&tuiOQ will be given on Saturday next, and the last on Wednesday week.

EVERYBODY'S THEATRE. Kipling said that "East was East and West waa West, and never the twain shaJl meet, but jn "Tho Naulahka" they did meet for a moment, and thereon hinges the p|ot of Kipling's famous tale, of which a vivid picturisation heads the bill at Everybody's this week. K 0 lover of Kipling should miM seeing "The Naulahka,'' for it is literally a, masterpiece made into a masterpiece by Pathe—a master of tho art of picturemaking. Ah a rule films, in which a good deal of Indian scenery is necessary to the plot, mo apt to be disappointing; but in the cuee of "Tho Naulahka" the Indian scenes are nothing leas than wonderful, while the costuming and general mounting of tho film are characterised by a marvellous attention to detail. The scenes in the rajah's palace, in the gigantio temple, and by the ruined tomb are magnificent, and many of them are thrilling to a degree, while over all hangs tho inscrutability of the East. The atmosphere throughout is perfectly achieved. For those who have not read "The Naulahka" it may bo briefly told that the story starts in two Colorado towns, which are rival claimants for a railway. Then tho scene moves' to India, the home of mystery and glamour. The fate of the railway in remote Colorado is to be decided in remoter India, where a certain rajah possessed the jewel of jewels —the Naulahka. There, in his quest for the desired jewel, amazing adventures befall the hero, and hairbreadth escapes are his. The part of the young American hero is taken by Antonio Moreno, who, in addition to being • tie ideal type of hero of stirring modern day romance, is a fine athlete, a good horseman, and is possessed of groat dramatic talent to boot. The part of the heroine—a girl consumed with the fire of a sacred mission to assist tho suffering wives and children of India, falls to Helen Chadwick, presumably a newcomer to the .screen, and who brings to it a.fresh and altogether adorable girl-like beauty. But the supreme triumph of the piece is that achieved by Doraldina, the great dancer, who takes tlio part of Sitahbai, the rajah'e favourite. Doraldina has hitherto been renowned as a dancer only; but her performance in "Tho Naulahka" stamps hear as an actress of great emotional powers. In addition she ia surpassingly beautiful in a wild gipsy-like fashion, and as seen in this piece, wearing her "wonderful Eastern garments, and literally covered with jewels, she makes a series of unforgettable pictures. The supporting programme at Everybody's includes a thrilling instalment of the Pathe serial, "The Mystery of the Double Cross," while thero is also taiug shown a splendid number of the Pathe Gazette, depicting all the latest topical incidents in England and America. The orchestra adds materially to the pleasure of tho evening session, which is also enlivened by a violin solo, "Eg a Kunyki," by Mr Ver© Buchanan, and a 'cello solo, "Caprice Hongroise," by Mr G. T. Martinengo.

STRAND THEATRE. Delighted audiences witnessed i the screenings of "Bab's Burglar," featuring Marguerite Clark, at the Strand Theatre yesterday. With the supporting subjects, "Bob's Burglar" will bo shown to-day and this evening.

LIBERTY THEATRE.

Singularly appropriate, in view of the recent observance of Independence Day in the United States, the head liner of Liberty Theatre's new programme yesterday dealt with the stirring times when the American colonies were fighting for the right to control their own affairs. _ "Betsy Roes," the World drama, featuring attractive Alice Brady, may be considered semi-historical, though in the lapse of tiino doubts have arisen as to whether Betsy Boas, of Philadelphia really constructed the first sample o£ "Old Glory"—the stare and stripes. Leaving historical accuracy out of the question, "Betsy Ross" is a finely constructed and produced drama, vibrant with the loves and hatee of real human beings. The quaint Quaker phraseology heightens the effects, and the inoidents themselves are intensely interesting. Alice Brady plays the part of the Quaker girl with charming naturalness, and. looks fascinating in the old-time costumes of the Quakeress. The "Father of Hia Country"—George Washington—and other historical figures including General Benedict Arnold, are introduced in the course of the action of the drama, and 'intensify its realism. There ore two love stories interwoven in tho plot, a duel with sword®, and a military execution, which is interrupated by the arrival, at the critical moment, of a reprieve. Included in the supporting subjects is "Le Cheval, or the Steeplechaser/' a coloured Pathe .production showing, by means of slow photography, tho muscular action of a horse when leaping. This film proved most 'interesting. Other pictures • shown wore the Vitagraph comedy, "Cops and Cussedncsa," and the ■ "Gaumont Graphic." , To-day and .this evening> the same films will bo screened.

GLEE AND MADRIGAL SOCIETY. At tho Choral Hall on Monday evening next, the members of the Chiietchurch Glee and Madrigal Society,, under Mr Sidney Williamson, will give the second concert of the 1918 season. Part-eongs for male and female voices separately and combined, madrigals by the choir, and solos by Mr Leslie Fleming, the popular baritone, will be included in the programme. The box plan is at Milner and Thompson's, where tiokets can be obtained.

SKATING RINK. The cold weather yesterday had the effect of inducing a very large • number of young folk to go to the Colosseum to participate in ]the invigorating pastime of roller-skating. There was an exceptionally large crowd in attendance at night, when Mr C.. Dunn'® band played popular waltz «nd two-«tep tunes. The Risk will be open at the usual hours today.