AMUSEMENTS.

Press, Volume LVI, Issue 16725, 7 January 1920, Page 2

AMUSEMENTS.

THEATRE ROYAL "The Bird of Paradise,"' presented ry in* - ruriel Starr C'on-rary. urw another 1»tko udience to t*:e Theatre Hrva! "s»t night. Ko piece. which hue th' prettiest settings vt-r iwr. Chrir'.v-hu-rV., *1!'. I*> phvoJ ; 3r the Its: time to-right. "THE PI LENT WITNESS.Had "The Silent Witness." w:::ch vri'.i be resented to-morrow night, Iven staged f"f he first instead ■>; -.ho i*s:, production of be Mur«el Starr fi-ason. it would h»vc prob- ! b'.y hel'i the un;:.i now. There is in ! hj piece griv. and p-pnty stirrin;* :r.'.crc*t 1 it tr<- kind thit tj th-T por.rrai I iu'jlic. ]t i- iroxl orau'.Atic ni the popu- ' a.- varifty. a_-ij -.ho cn-racler '>f Hud Morsar. * o:k> il.at hol;t« the syn:path;.' u:xi sSwtinr; : >: or. <tuil««ijCo. * Muik'i Slurr, as p:r; and | r.-jthrr. !ms a par: wlich r.o.t on!v wins j vn:p-;hv. L::t ?i'-vv. i cr stnj-vt l'or Bo:!.<r rfTcc- | ■ ivo <.niotiTn:;l moments. ; 'The Silcr.: Witness" i« raid !<"> l>e satisfym-. I i poir.t which ocd., considerably t.-> a play'# | Htrnction. The -lay i-- ro:ir;cd meloilrar.-.a, I i«-ft!y har.oied '; y ci:<.' knows statecraft 1 ind t!i<' .>r'. of sn?tai: inc ti;o intprcM j 0 the i.l ?. The fitorv of round ihc n;v**.<-rv oi the deu'h oi j c student, kiili-.i .1 ttrusr'"; « feiiow I ir.nijte ni the university mo'her re- ; turns fru::: a European trip to '.md that hcc | loy is ir.dictcd for nnrrder. and then to her horror tir.ds that the attenvoy ioy the pr.>w- I :utior. is hi« father, her husband. iro;n whom »ho has .•cur: l.>nr; The «tibic>- . qiron: e'.enrinp of 1.-r sonV r.inip Li •: fT-cvd j ir: :i wa* that r.o niomber "f the .Ttidienee j will lore«ee. There is » doui'lo love «U»ry j throuyhont the drurr.a, w:d innny quaint j toucbcn of humour. ! WILLIAMSON C.KAN*L> OPERA. j Grand opera will shortly l>e with n«. The | season, which rtiirts at the Theatre Hoya! on Friday, ICth cjrrie« the UTeat additional interest of jcin;j th-. tirst serimis «t----tenipt at 1 lie- p.-vsentatinn >>f the uriind repertory' l>y !l locally c'unpai.y, in which are included in the loading rolea » (rood many einsers, who, with u ie.v exceptions, have !.<■<-[: txclueivolv trained in Australia. Thi« fact assume: piouter tisniiicanco when it is taken into consideration that tho J. C. Williamson organisation foreshadows a permanent operatic syfitom for tho Commonwealth and New Zealand. And eucb idea can only fruit on the undoreatnding that it will derive n. perennial replenishment of talent from lorti Biurets. Because of our geographical isolation there nms'. _ always be added certain recruits from foreign fields <>i individual r.'.ani, to set new standard* for approval or disapproval. Australia and New Zealand, however, will hove to depend upon their oVn singers in tho mam. Of the Australian urincipala who will be heard here aro two of world-wide reputation —Miss Amy Caatlca and her younger sister, Eileen. Local nvur.ical cnthusmsts rctaiu re--ent memories of the elder Miss Caollesi. It was in New Zealand that, in her student days, she reived some- of licr strongest supnoit in her intention to prosecuto her siudie* abroad. Mis« Eileen Cantlcn has followed in her sister's footsteps and comes to Christchurch from a r.tav in the United States as lenjrthy as it was uniformly sucecrsful\[j j Uertrude .lolinfon, ft yimUifiil Melbourne soprano, in Sydney, one night practically cstnblished herself not simply as a public favourite, but as an artist of high calibre. Mis.< Leah Myers. Miss Strella Wilson, Mis* Elsy Trewcck, Miss Patti Kuftsell, and Miss Thelina Carter hnve had their opportunities, and have bettered tho expectationfl formed of them. Of Australian men. mention may 'w made of at least two whose voiccs are nt the beginning of their maturity iir.d who add .■> sound knowledge of stagecraft. These aiv Mr Fred Collier and Mr Brownin;; Mummory—the former a basso, the latter -* tenor. Complete, particulars of the season aro announced oioewhere. The l>ox plana will open at Milner ar.d Tliompson's next Monday morning. OPERA HOUSE. The Opera House was well filled la£l right, when tho new programme was l-epeatcd. Maud Courtney and Mr C\, He Sly* it, the Falvey Sistera, 1-V>ster, Daisy court, Charlebcrt Hios., and Harry llenfux, und Arto and La Bel!« Marie in their r*p«ctive turns, agisted uy lX- Hajio.l s Models, make up a very strong programme, which will run until tho end of the week. LIBERTY THEATRE. Largo audicncca were present at the Liberty Theatre yesterday when the Goldwyu picture "When Doctors Disagree" wus ecrcencd. Tho supporting lilms are un to th; high standard associated with the theatre. A full orchestral mntince wiil be givon to-day. "DAMAGED GOODS." Following on a remarkably successful North Island swison, the propaganda liim "Damaged Goods," begins a ncason <it the Librrty Theatre next Saturday afternoon. Too oiten is it tme that the story, play, or novel written with a message proves to be ull message and devoid of continuity of interest. In°Eugene Brioux's prcat film work "Damaged Goods," the mceaage and tho accompanying dramatic elemonte oi tfie fine story cusuaiu tho interest tliroughout the entire picture. To thoeo who have not read lirieus'e book it may bo as well to briefly refer to il ns an expoemro of an actual chapter of life. It presents on the screen a story uiiat no aoubt baa been enacted many times quite as tragically, but the actual foroo of fact has boen so iiidden as to bo really a secret. "Damaged Goode" stifles noDo of the facte neccesary for a full inculcation of its tremendotui lesson, 6cencs taken in a hoepital, showing victims of the dread disease, contribute greatly to the picture's authenticity and moral appeal. The whole story is profoundly moving, and U not for <»no claea of men or ■vomen bnt for every gTad? of society. It do«e not parade evil that good may come of it. It shows how the most innocent may bccoma victims of tlvc sin«i of others. The box plans open to-day at The Bristol. f EVERYBODY'S THEATRE. The big attraction Rt Everybody's Tbe«tro is the photo adaptation of "De Luxe Annie, 'in which Miss Norma Talmadge is oeen to much advantage t>« Nan, tho character that has been rendered fniniliar to Chnstchurcn plav-goera by Krnilie Polini. GRAND THEATRE. Madge Kennedy is the star in the Goldwyr. pictucc "A Pcriect Lady," now showing nt tho Grand Theatre. Large audicnccjs witnessed the performances yesterday. The accompanving films are an episode of garce," a Christie comedy, and others. QUEEN'S THEATRE. 1 The Goldwyn picture "Blue Blood." starriiv Howard Hickman, which is showing this week at the Queen's Theatre, makes a strong appeal to the imagination, dealing, as it doca, with a subjret tliat is too often Mossed over, arxl allowed thu.vto pursue lta evil course. "The Lightning Reider, 1 with Pearl White in the-leading r« rl - » powerful serial, and tho ■ "The New Butler" and "Her Kaiidy Kid" are showiu in support; STRAND THEATRE. "The Marriaca Price," with Elsie Ferguson in the star port, is i-.ttrccting large audi-necs lo tho Strand Theatre this week. Great interest is being displayed in the n«»w ferial "The Siient Mysten-." tho first episode ot which i» entitled "Egyj.t'e Vengcance.'* CRYSTAL PALACE. At the Crvstal Piilace this week the bill is headed by'a film adaptation of Miss Marie ! Corclli's powerful etory Treasure cf Heaven " supportiiig it nre a <_.harlie Cliaplin comedy, a New Zealand tconic, und ether fine pictures.