AMUSEMENTS.

Press, Volume LIV, Issue 16264, 15 July 1918, Page 8

AMUSEMENTS.

"DICK WHITTINGTON." Hie appeal of pantomime is persistent and irresistible. The large audiences at the matinco and evening performances of "Dick Whittington" at the Theatre Royal on Saturday wero eloquent evidence of the attractions of this popular form of amusement for young and old alike. • The heartiness of the laughter and the spontaneity of the applause showed conclusively that the J. C. Williamson Pantomime Company, by their presentation of the familiar story of "Dick Whittington, conveyed the proper and expected pantomime effects to the audience. In a production on such a magnificent 6oale, combined with a wealth of artistic attractions, it i 9 somewhat •iiffiult to select any particular features for special commendation. In fact, there is, throughout, such a high lev-el of excellence maintained that the production as a whole seems to be as near perfection ns it is possible for pantomime to attain. The beautiful costume®, naturally, strongly impress the beholder, but these are almost completely eclipsed by the exceedingly graceful, poetic, and wholly delightful dancing of Miss Mauds Emery, Miss Maggie Dickinson, to say nothing of the many beautiful ballets with which the pantomime abounds. Tho "Dick Whittington" of Miss Vera Pearce completely satisfies the most romantio expectations of the character, Miss Pearce embodying in the role the charm and youth of the youp.cj hero. Miss Constance Cayley and Miss Pauline Bindley in their respective roles were also most convincing. On the comedy side the company is particularly strong, and the excellent work of Arthur Stigant, Claude Bajitock, Ernest Langford, Harry Roxbury, William Fallbrook, Howard Vernon, isilly le Brun, and tho acrobatic feata of the Cainille Trio all contributed largely to the success of the pantomime. In honour of the French National Fete Day, the orchestra played the "Marseillaise," tho audience standing. ' To-night "Dick Whittington" will be repeated, and on Wednesday, in addition to the evening performance, there will be a matinee at 1.45 p.m.

OPEEiA HOUSE. A very large audience was present on Saturday at each performance at the Opera House, when the Farrow Potted Pantomime Company made their farewell appearances, and several floral and _ other tributes were handed across the footlights. To-night, after a protracted season of revue, the programme will revert to all vaudoville, and a strong programme of attractions is promised. Heading the bill _ are the Limpini Bros, who epecialise in illusions and mock magio. Their performance is said to bo a clever combination of humour and mystery. A first- appearance will be made by the Vivians, two clever juvenile musical comedy performers, who hail from Dunedin. Another first appearanco is that of Durno, a comedy "trick cyclist and pole-balancer. A reappearance will be made by that favourite comedian Phil Percival, who will be remembered for his clever monologues at tho piano. Brandon Cremer and Kalblecn Arnold will present a new sketch, "Freddy the Sport," and L-eywood. and Norell will be heard in further burlesque items. Miss Nellie Kolle, who is one of the most popular comediennes over seen here, will be heard in fresh songs. The programme will also include Napier and Yvonne, contortion and dancing specialists, and Victor Elvin, fancy skater.

CRYSTAL PALACE. The star Sim at tho Crystal Palace to-day will be another of tho justly celebrated *ox productions, entitled "Where Lovo _ Leads. Tho themo of the play has much originality, and there are numerous powerful and dramatic situations which are made the meat of by tho clever cast headed by Ormi Hawley and Rockcliffe Fellowes, twe new stars in the *ox firmament. Tho story of tho play tells of lovo and adventure, first in College and. later in newspaper life. Richard Warren, in the opening of tho play» sa-vee tho life of Marian Barstow, and naturallv the two fall in love. Warren, who is a popular college taan, lfl 100 teed upon as the greatest hope of winning the Thanksgiving football game, as he is a crack quarter-back. . Warren wins the game, and Kennedy Baratow, Marian's father, gives a dance in honour of the players, a-t which Marian meets Sir Rankin Chatewortli, an impoverished English knight. Mariana father is wealthy. Sir Rankin sets out to marry Marian. At the same danoe Warren proposes to her; she admits her love, but tells him first to get the permission of her parents. The father refuses Warren's request. Warren goes to work as a newspaper reporter. The editor tells him his stories must have mors "punch" and "human interest." Warren is too "love sick" to write. In the meantime Sir Rankin ha» succeeded in securing Marian s hand, through the influence of her parents, and they are married and sail for Eno'iftncL Seventeon years later finds Marian neglected by her British husband. She has two daughters, Kathleen and Rose. Fearing the influence of her home will affect her dautrhtors, Marian sends them to visit their giand-par-ents in America. She entrusts their care on the trip to Camillo Dorc, pesing ps a decent women, but in reality an inhabitant of the "under world," where she is known as the "Gold" Queen." Camille, by tho assistance of confederates, prevents the grandparents from • meeting the two girls, and brings them to her house. Warrm has remained all these years in newspaper work—still looking for "Human interest stories." By chance warren's work brings Him to Caimlles house, where" he meets tho sjirl prisoners. He learns their identity m sending Kathleen to warn the police while ho and Rose remain in the house. Warren's action was discovered, and after a hard fight in tho house he is overpowered and: bound. He finally escapes on to the roof and down the fire C - cape. Camille is just preparing to escape with Rose, wheu the police arrive and the two girls are saved. Then Warren awakes! He hps fallen asleep at his _ n-rl beside him stands Marian, who exclaims that she will mafrv him anyway. The supportin" subjects will be"A Country Hero (featuring Roscoc "Fiittv" Arbuek 1 " in bis latest and funniest comedy), tho IStli episode of "Who is Number One?" which is full of sensations, thrills, and hair-raising complications, and the latest WeeJtly Gazelto. The vocalist will bo Mr Farouhar Young, who is well and fnvournblv known to ChnstctriT'-h audiences. Mr Young will sing at the night sessions do luxe, "The Enwrs" snd Tlw Company Sergeant-Major. The Cnratal Palace orchestra, under Mr W. H. Cornsfan 6 baton, will give the overture, "Raymond" (Thomas).

QUEEN'S THEATEE. There has been a, eucctssion of <vr<v-lW« photo-plav3 shown at tho Queen's Theatre recently, "but there were none better than the bj«r picture which will head this week's programme, "High Play," which is a powerful story of high finance, in which a love story is interwoven. Tiw actor, who fc>Va the chi»f male role is Wm. Russell, and with him will be featured Francoiia Billington. The film has had a big run in all the Australian citi*«, ; "nd its -plot i« ss follows:—John Sevier, vice-president of a big financial corporation, is engaged to a dark, voluptuous -irl. Elaine Morier, fafher, Morier, runs a semi-fashionable gambling house. SeviT interfeje-s one night in a quarrel between Jim' Hammond, a confederate secretary, employed bv Morier, an-I Tom L»nnard," a ycun?, wealthy idler. Sevier tak<*s Tom !ionr>. wher» h" W« e:stw Marin and is greatly struck with <ho young, fair slim girl—who is quite the opposite to Elaic Morier. 'The firm Sevier is connected w;t closes its doors through its president, Jam • Calling, juggling on the stock market. Eevi informs the public through the president .thevery deposition will be paid at the eacrifi. of his own fortune, which he is jost about do. "When his fiancee, Elaine, heaTG of tifailure, she breaks off the engagement an. hands Sevier back the ring. - Marion is jus tho opposite. -She remaiiis loyal to her fee. ings against him, and Sevier'B love turns t her and h3 infatuation for Elaine is forgoiteiDropping hi 3 first love leads to an excitin, scene, and the banker is threatened with dis grac© by a revsng-:iul clubman. Braving dis grace, Russell avows his love for the girloi his heart' 3 dceire, and tho storv ends with the clubman's death, and RcraeD's discovery that he has made tbs highest play and won. A farther irat.il men| of the eicitins aerial. "A

Laos of the Lumbarianda" will be shown, sad the other supporting features will bo:—"In the French Alps" (scenic), a two-reel drama, "Viviana" (featuring' Vivian Rich and George Periolat), and the oomedy, "Mischief and a Mirror." The Queen's orchestra, will render appropriate selections.

EVERYBODY'S THEATRE. "The Marriage Market," a World production featuring June Elvidge and Carlyle Blackwoll, will be the chief attraction at Everybody's th» week. The 6toiy is a powerful indictment of marriage for money, and it tells of a girl who, to save her father and to obtain a certain amount of money which he must have, consents to marry a rich profligate, only to find immediately after that her father, unaware of her sacrifice, has committed suicide. Then follow days <-* despair, culminating in an attempt on her part to make herself financially independent oi her unendurable husband. The result ifl a murder to which Blackwell pleads guilty, because he believes that June has oommitted it. The climax comes during a very thrilling court scene. The story altogether is teDee and has a strong heart appeal. Another film on the new programme that 'is sure to claim special attention will be the sixth chapter of "The Mystery of the Double Cross," featuring Mollie King, and entitled "The Dead Come Back." As a Pathe Gazette, showing the latest happenings of the day, will be submitted, and special musio will be played by the augmented orchestra.

STRAND THEATRE. The large audiences at the Strand Theatre on Saturday witnessed not only an exceedingly interesting story, but also some very fine acting in the Paramount super-picture, "The Undying Flame." Lovers of moving pictures long ago fell willing victim© to tho charm and beauty of Olga Pctrova, and th«y have seen her in many varied productions, but it can be 6aid with accuracy that this charming actress has never been seen in a film play in which the story-teller's art and that of the produoer have reachcd euch & high standard of artistio excellence. The story divides itself naturally into two parts -riUio first taking tho beholder back to ancient Egypt, and the second to the modern land of the Nile, whore even yet there lingers tho glamour and mystery of tie neverchanging East. Tho story is one of reincarnation. Thousands of years ago aji Egyptian princess loved a shepherd, their love was discovered, and the shepherd was burned alivo in the King's palace, and the princess, after witnessing her lover's entombment, beseeches the goddess Isis to turn her into stone, and the goddess complies. The prince 6» has given her lover one half of a scarab, retaining the other half —the legend •being that when the two halves were rejoined the princess and hex shepherd _ lover would bo reunited. The modern portion the story, the soeno of whioh is laid at Wady Haifa, tells in what strange manner a British officer's daughter and a British officer find themselves possessed of tie halves of the magical ecarab, and now the love story, so tragically interrupted ages before, comes to a happy conclusion. Such a story, it will be recognised, calls for great artistry both on the part of the actors a® well as on the part of the producer. In "Tho Undying Flamo" Uhese essentials are satisfactorily wedded. Olga petrova, first as the Egyptian princess and latex as tie modern English girl, thoroughly satisfies all the demands made upon her art, tho dark eastern fftylo of her beauty fitting in extremely well with the role of the lithe and sensuous Egyptian. Tho star's support perfectly adequate, the role of tho shepherd, and later of Captain Paget, tho British officer, being in very capable hands. Tho produoer has been eminently successful in picturing the vastnees of the ancient Egyptian palace, and the modern scenes in Wady Haifa are equally convincing. The supjjorting subjects included tho latest American Gazette, and a Mack Sennett oomedy, full of rapid motion and sensational humour, entitled "Watch Tout Neighbour." In honour of the National Fete day of France, "The Marseillaise" was sung with much spirit oy Miss Milliccnt Jennings in French. To-day and this evening "Tho Undying Flame" and the supporting films will bo again screened.

LIBERTY THEATRB. "Empty Pockets," the ertar pictttro at the Liberty Theatre, this week, Je the first of tho famous National series; *nd is an tion of a well-known Hovel by Rupert Hughes. There is a very remarkable plot, which gives full scope for such clever players as Kitty GalaJita, Barbara Castleton, Bert Lyell, and Malcolm Williams. Probably there' has never been screened such an inexplicable story as "Empty Pookets." It goee with a swing from the start, and it J® based upon a novel theme, the weakness of a certain millionaire for girls with coppercoloured hair. The millionaire is found murdered on the -top floor of a tenement, and five women, all with red hair, aio implicated, because of the fact that in the dead man's hand ia. found a knot of hajx of that hue. A very pleasing love story develops early in tho play, and this, combined with tho weird mystery tangle which has also been created, makes the picture one of outstanding interest. Despite all its complications, the play possesses a nematrkable clarity, and tho way in which the unexpected oonclusion is arrived at cannot fail to please. The scenes of the play aro many and varied, and range from the alum-dwellers' homes to the mansions of the millionaires, ■ and 'the contrast is well carried out. Tho supporting subjects will be tho latest Gaumont Graphic and "The Mole Cricket," a scientific film.

STARLAND THEATRE. Julian. El tinge, who i 6 said to. bo the cleverest female impersonator in the -world, is fetu tured in "The Clever Mrs Card's," the star picture at Starland this week. The etory is a most interesting one. The etar, as the result of a bet, appears in publio in feminine guise, and edits £ newspaper column containing advice to the lovelorn. Supporting l subjects will be a revival of the great comedy "Fatty Out West" featuring Rosooe Arbuckle and the American and Australian. Gazettes. LADY LIVERPOOL CONCERT. The popularity of the concerto organised by Mrs Burnes Loughnan in aid of the Lady Liverpool Christmas Parcels Fund continues to grow, '.and last night hundreds of people wero turned away from the doors of Everybody's Theatre, as all the seating accommodation had been taken up. For tlus conccrt a good many tickets had been sold beforehand, their value 'being approximately £20, and tho total takings were about £40 or £47. As there were over 300 threepenny pieces in the collection, it is apparent that tho tradition as to the meet suitable coin to "put in the plate" dies hard. The concert itself was of tlio usual high order of excellence. After an opening by Everybody's orchestra, Mr F. E. Charles sang "The Lord is My Light" very finely, and later in tho programme sang "Honour and Arms," receiving a deserved encoro for both items. Mies Kiorc King, who has seldom been persuaded to perform in public in Christehurch, recited with immense effect Barry Pain s "The Kaiser and "Tho Singing of the Magnificat" (Nesbitl, giving as cnoores "Would You Tackle That Trouble if it Came to You?" and "Youth and Ago." Miss Dulcie Metz, whose first appearance it was lost night, was deservedly successful, and jnado a very good impression indeed in her singing of Gounod's "Oh, Divine Redeemer and "Beloved it is Morn" (Aylwnrd). Her recall numbers were "Thank God for a Garden" and "June Rapture." _ Mr Trewera's sympathetic and artistic singing of "If With All Your Heart" and "Inter Nos" was much appreciated, and both he and Miss Jean Burrowos, who played some brilliant piano soli, wero cncored. GLEE AND M!ADRIGAL SOCIETY. An interesting feature of to-night's concert at the Choral Hall will be the appearance of the Bellbird Quartet Party—Misses Harris, Curtis, Graham, and Johnson, members of the Society's choir—who will sing "The Little Grey Home in the West" fLohr) and "I Know a Lovely Garden" (D'Hardelet). M : sses Harris Curtis, end Johnson will sing the trio "Night of Stars" (Hoffman). Other items to be given aro solos by Mr Leslie Fleming (baritone), _ a monologue and recitations by Mr C. Gaines, also part songs by the choir under Mr Sidnev Williamson. Miss Dorothy Naumonn will act as accompanist. ' SKATING RINK. The Colosseum Skating Rink was a seen© of much animation on Saturday evening there being a large number of skaters on the floor. The learners' session was wc'l ratronisod, and under the abl? tvition of the instructors those present made good prozress. The band was in attendance afternoon and evening, and the popular airs played male the pastime all the more enjoyable. TJv> rink wi" be open at the usual hours to-day.