AMUSEMENTS.

Press, Volume LVI, Issue 16729, 12 January 1920, Page 4

AMUSEMENTS.

THEATRE ROTAL. "THE SILENT WITNESS." Another excellent houso witnessed the third performance of "The Silent 'Witness" on Saturday night. The play tells the story of two lovers, parted in youth through a miaudvonture, who aro brought together again whon their sou—unknown aa such to tho father—is accused of murder. Aa Helen flattings, and mother, Hiss MHiriei Starr gave another fine emotional portrayal. Mr Frank Harrey again proves his mastery of the atage art as Richard Morgan, tho publio prosecutor, who -ultimately goes over to the dcfenco and proves his son's innocenie. Throughout ■the melodramatic unfolding of tho plot is tempered -with real comedy, chicflv provided by Mr J. 11. Athol■wood, an Rifjsby. the shrewd old colleso gatdencr, and Marion Marcus Clurko, who has tho part of Aunt Sarah. Tho picco was keenly enjoyed by the audience, tho general opinion bcintr that it rhows tho exceptionally ab'.e members of Miss Starr's company to ranch hotter advantage than tho preccdin? productions of tho season. "Tho Silent Witness" will be staged nightly until Thursday. WILLIAMSON GRAND OPERA. This morning at 0 o'clock tho plans for tho oleren nights' season of tho J. C. Williamson (irand Opera Company will be available ut llilner and Thompson's. There ix every indication of the booking boin? very heavy. Mailed orders from country patron.! will be reooived at tho box o/Hce. They will bo Sled in the order received and the".scat* assigned aa near tho desired location as possible. point that should not l>a missed in J connexion with the season, which will i at tho Thentro Royal text Friday evening, is | thst the various works will bo presented in I such a. fashion as to noises* tii appeal {or the ordinary tbcutre-cocr, to whom pnro | music may bo a secondary consideration. Tho fact thut the piincipuls and chorus v.-ill pint; I in English adds to the value of the operas j in fliis re*F*ct. During the Australian senior, j this essentially "modern"' method of operatic | production not merely brought to the theatre people for whom the eooken drama is tho <hief attraction, but »lso cnli.ii.ccl thr» niuei- ( ial eido of tho prodtictior.s. Music-lovers 'found new vnhua in works with which, under previously existing condition?, they h?d felt * themselves fully acquainted. Miss Amy Castles, the prima, uonna of the organisation, will make a welcome reappearance in C'hristchurch next Friday. "Faust" has iiecr. set down for that. date. With her in Gounod's popular work there will bo associated Mr Ralph Kiroile, a tenor wlro comes from America with a fire record of opcratic work. Tho Mophistopheies will 1.0 Mr ...b'redo Valenti. it bnsso with ft repertoire of over a hundred operas. He has sung Faust" in four languages. Mr Valenti wa* the lending of tho Madamo Mclbrv (irand Opera Company. Tho Valentino will be Mr Carl Forme.?, r. baritone, grandson of the famous of tho fame name, who sang at. Covcst Garden for fifteen consecutive feasor.-?. Saturday evening will l:c notable lor tho tirst production ill Christcliurch of Offenbach'a brilliant work "T'Oes of Hoffman." On Mondav night ''I.a Bohr me" will l>o played with Amy C.istles as Minii. "Madus« Butterfly" will be surxr on Tuesday, "t'avalleriiv Rusticana'' «nd "Pagliacci" or. Wednesday. "Faust'' will bo jercated on Thursday. A nonular work in "Trovatore" wiM bo preserved 011 Friday. At the onh" matinee. "11 Saturday. 21th iiist., "Madame llutterfly," wilh Amy Ca*ties in tl:e cast, will be {.'laved. "Carmen" will to staged the same evening. OPERA HOUSE. j The new programme -.it the Opera House | promises to pro\ido .'ii excellent entertain- ! rccr.t. Heading the bill arc the Corelli | Trio, who havo recently arrived from Er.g- ' lard. They cunsist of two ■violinist.* and a harpist, and are said to pro' n!e a first-class instrumental turn. Eurasian ii dcsci:u:d as a magiciaD of more than average ability, while Frank Mark »nd Alice are *aid to be brilliant ciu'o u-.jnif.ulator*. Lieut. Harper, the popular tenov. is aiso duo for a reappearance. Further witty songs and stories may be anticipated by the exceedingly popular Maud Courtney r.r.d Mr C. Mssrgie Foiter. violinist. Do Sylvia, skater. Charlebert Bros., j and Harry, acrobats, and La Bci> Marie, j trapczist. are also on the oiu. Seats mir ' now be reserved at Milner and Thompson's. LIBERTY THEATRE. ' -damagf.iT ; The reproduction c.oving picture iora ; of Ktigre Brieux'« Damaged <ioods" w.t« < •creened for the nr.it time in Cbristchuich I

| fit the Libert? Theatre on Saturday, when tho sessions wero for women only. The production, while preserving tho essential features of tbo play, adds eomo introductory scenes without which the ecreeu scenario would havo that relentless baldness which, was tho main icharacteristio of Brieux'a xncdico drama. Oq» addition, for inaUnco, which rather improves tho lesson of the plsy> is a eerie* of examples of tbo effects of tlio l discaso dealt with, which aro introduced naturally Into the incidont of tho story and used with excellont discretion to cohanco tbo point of the play without offending Ordinary susceptibilities. Tho picfuro euccccds in conveying tho lesson without sensatioualism or catering to vulgarity, and it will probably carry a much moro widespread message to the public than did tho play, in propagating tho gospel ot * self-knowledge in tho m-lere-its of society generally. Iho subject of "Damaged Goods" ii too well known to need rccital. However unpleasant, it has undeniably 1.11 interest to a. great many people. Its appeal is largely :o tho vounjr, to your.:: men especially, who in tho course of a "night out" thoughtlessly cxposo themselves to infection by a loathsome disease. Iho segregation of tho bcxc-j at tho several cessions is a. mere provision, for while there 1* probably nothing in tbo picturo a mixed cudienoo of adults might object to, tho division of patrons at special sessions remove* anv possibility of embarrassment, and tends to nromotc a fro'dom of disci.- 3ion which cannot bnt rend tho veil of accrccy, *" 3 j? | -..nrenio.c<i. :v.ay mean tho perpetration Mr '" perpetuation of horrors unspeakable- VamGoods" will 1>« screened at 2.15 and ..lo throughout tho week.. A raatmoe for women will be r*ivei\ this »£ternoor. and to-iaght s | jcrccr.in? will bo for men only. | l-.VERYBODrS THEATRE. ; A procession of young men, ola men. strong men, weak men, nice men, ana natty men chases after Constunc© Tabnudso in "A Lady's Name," ono of tho star items at I Everybody's Thentro this week. She advoi- , tiees for a husband to get oomo copy i or i her now novel, end th© replies were niulti- ' tudinous and multifarious. and her I expectations by a pood deal. She had • a fiance of her own, and his annovanco can bo ! imagined. A rattling pood comedy lias been j provided in "A Ladv'a Name, and one that ' only the itiimiUblo and youthful Cor.stanco c:.u do full juaiice to. The second star »t- ; traction on tho programtno is tho -atest Paramount photoplay. "The Law of -the 1 North." It is a- picture of thrills and sensations, and presents Charlfft Ray in a decidedly new role. This time bo is seen n«. a "etrong, healthy trapper of the Canadian wildfi. Tho background oi ice and snow sets off splendidiv tho f-trong dramatio story. Charles Ray does some of the bo*t work in his screen career in this picture, which was produced under tho pergonal supervision of Thomas 11. Ince. Special im'fic will l>o piovided by Everybody's "Sclect" Orchestra, including the overture, "11 Trov.itore." and as an entr-ncto "Ar.dantino" (Lemare-. Reserved *e&t.s may bo booked at The Bristol or bv Tinging No. 49^. GKAXD THEATRIC. At the Grand Thcjtro this week. "The Lion «.nd the Mouae," a «ci€«n adaptation of Charles Klein's big atase suceas, Alice Joyce, will be the -principal attiucticnThe character of Shirley liossmorc, a. real American girl. beautiful, generous, talented. itr.d devoVxi to hoc father, is a distinctly individual creation of Charlta Klein. Tom Terriss. tho director, shows the etar ami! rich surroundings, the centre of beautiful settings worthy of tho borne of tho "richest man in tho world," and loses no chance to s*i oil hor winning j>eisonality. 1 rem ' pcir.t of interest, human appeal." «nd eu.«pcnse._ "The Lion and the Mouae" is the best Vitagraph rolcac-ed for a lor.- time. Aimtot everyone Knows <ho story, wjndi Ins J>:cn presented by Julius Knight before New Zealand audiences. Ihe further n'jvcntuies of ' Stincirce are tdvance<i another cptxxio (eleventh', and lie n just as elusiv® t.» ever in this chapter. The Christie comedy ".\Litriej by I'rox;*. * ,i thrilhig drania "Re<l istcphrtro." and an eiccllcr.: Topics! muTe up_.i good proL-rammc. Th> music will I>« a or tho evening a-a as usual, and the booking is at Th« Brit'.o!. , QUEEN'S THEATRE. : ' Marie. Ltd." :s the title of tho hi; picture at tho Queer's Theatre this week, ar.d A'.ico Brady uk«» tive principal ;o!e ci Dr.n i Hiihirc. Hor parents have separated when she is a very little ?:ri. and her mother, Marie c&iublishes a tmirt m;!liper> 3 busioeti* in New York. Ecr place on } ifth avenue becomes famous, and she i has a select patronage of not«d .actresses « and rich society women. She systematical- 1 overcharges the men who pay the V: 11 ■«, and makes enough money to send Hrina :<i the best schooia in California. Drina knows . ' that ohc lu3 her mother to thank for her

education, and decides th.it as soon as slvo finishes collcgo eho will go to Now Jork to help in tho business. On tho train goinjf £ast, l)rina meet* Dlair Carron, * wcalthf New Yorker. He makes her promise that they will oee much of cach other, but thinps talie a different turn for Drina thun she expected. £:bt- meets Colonel Lambert, an old roue, who falls desperately in lov© with her. Drma's mollier is very mucli if favour of tb<i mutch, but Drina Lt not. The colonal threatens Drina with an ciposo of her mother's business itnle«s cl>o marrios him- Sho doos not know what to do, but what, she does do will como as a distinct «urpri?o to oil thoso who seo tho picttire. A strong inipporting programme W provided, Tho films include "Thais" (starring Mary Garden), Episode T oi tho sensational serial, "Tlie Lightning Raider." "Our Vanishincr Game" (educational), and & Pictorial Budget. CRYSTAL lULACE. Bert- Lytell has a prcat part in "One Thin? at a Timo o' Way," vhich is the feature j film in the n«v Crystal Palaco programme litis week. Ho plays the role of Stradivarius O'Day, wlio believes that to accomplish succt.vs it is necessary to concentrate upon one tliiny at a time. Ore day he visits n cirrm, and sees tho bare- [ back rider La Belle Marie. He at onci ; decides that ebo is the girl ho intends lu | marry, but first, of course, he must, muko I a special study of lore. O'Day applies for | i job with tho circus, but is rerujed. His persistants, however, finaly prevails, and Iha is given » «mall 7iosition. Ho discovers that the etronsr man of the company is in love with Marie, and he drterminei to lick I hirj, although h"» himself is no! u fighter. Ho therefore makes j. spcoial ftudy of bov.to accomplish this, and ho succevdv Ho r.ext turns his attention to acquiring a partnership in tho circus, and aj- lie is a wealthv mun, and tho circus iA in a bad way fmancißliy, that or matter. Then ho decides that Marie shal] love him. What is his amazement to rind that hbe already does, and that one thins hu-'> corns to him without, n spccia! study. As supporting films there is a Topical Budget, a Dominion Travelogue, and a comedy entitled "The Curse of a Nnir.e." Tho management announces tho re-engagement of the Compbell Brothers, in an entirely fresh selection of concertina ducts.STRAND THEATRE. In "The tiherifl'B Son." which i« t'uo feature film in the Strand Theatre-'? new programme which was shown on Saturday for j tho first time. Charles Ray appears ir. an ' entirely new rolo. It is a virile play, anrl j tho story tells how the fbciiils Uoyal I lleaudrv. };a>t his physical courago put to | th" teat and overcomes the timidity of iccx- , p?ri"nco under trying circumstanccs. A | har.d-to-hnnd fight with three ruffians is the '

most fpirited of hit conflicts with a gang bent on icaJtin? tho son pay the pr-upitv of ! liis lather's heverity with iaw-breakcrs. Tho values of the picture are thc6o of th» Wetteru melodrama and of Ilay's own popularity. lt> ' purpose is to show that fear may l>e o-er-ocir.o wl:or. a man's buck is up agair.?t ih > vai!. Ray responds to the limit of his <i<)Kirtunitic<> as liis f.ipport does to the roir-' accoracJ them. The Francis Fold serial lives ! up to its title. " !•"<• Silent Mysten - " i« ' packed with niclodramatir thrills and creepy doings. A disembodird hind is continually ; reaching* out of *pac<? ar. 1 seizing a victim , in it« grip. In th'. opening epi>o io .i ncred jewel •' taken bv the mother of th> heroine, and brought to tho Uritod State*, j ar.d a priccess i» sent, t » recover the trca- ; tinro. The broiher of the Iwroiro is mi.-ei | up witi: a par.g of German .-vmpnthi?-; ■"ho i-.ave stolen ' U 'o->.i», .ird intend t > prcv on Aineriran ;r.?rchri"• row that, the "-ar i» firirhe'l. This situation gi"c-s ; opening for all fcrtr- of exciting experience. .NU"*iortir.r films a - " " Ur.-iw 'oin'd*. n;':i:ei ■ ';Burkerf<i." the "Kvoiutiia of tho Dance,"' »nd an A:r.e::ran Gucttc.

v;inTH\i enters. j Wjrth's Circus and Zoo vri'J open « se;- j so;-. :r. C'Lristefc:irrh rr. Siturdnv next. for. is ni:ht» jr.:! :hrtc :ri'itinc-s'. The Vcation *w:il I V ivwiic. <<ppa«i V? tfco Kxilvcaj | Station. Mar.v star p*.t. iction* •■•;':] br pr«*- 1 ?cr - «-d. Ti c Kddy !>iio f.v<> ruar-xo .5 , performance or. u:? !«iker -*:re. Tin? Cevino Tionpo c: Ij/iie* .1 rd t> o :-c ' wi:] apye»" in * ••rhirWind "*:r<»-w3.n-.ir.r 2nd dar.cin; act. c: U'.ied "" ho llaniitr rf the Wire." :r. which the.* it.rt it ?*:ch «.p<"-d th*l the..* require two j-.ira.liel ni» v> piv.i room fcr the «in!« eo.llp.Jiiv to perform a', once. TL« Melbourne "Scrala" eaii :— "They racc ale-™ the- vires li.ke V'.ejTirr.s, end with n-.orc c«rtair.t-- 0} reicliin- their ! destination.Th? T::re« Orfrciaa will 1>? 1 seen in wonder:'-.: 1 acrostic 'eats. Tho Z">Sisters, ir. a butterfly ballet in mid-a>. suspended rords h«--d in their teeth. rrjl! Siv* a pv/oruurc so ueauti/ul that Hebn'irif:" wil'. hard!-.- ;hirk of it* danger. Tli« Flvia? VinskiiU »:li i*jp thr-nrh the a:r. 1

pirouetting and eomcrsaultin; from one swinging trapeze to another, while their Charlie Chaplin clown keeps tiio audieneo in paroxvsmn of laughter. Monforf: circling "tho loop of death," will show what ho tviouo has bocn ablo to do, two of his would-be imitators having been killed in the attempt. Ter Bailey's living statuary animals will be *een apain in an entirely new set of classical and topical posos, copies from tho statuca of tap world's famous art gallerie.'. Last, but not least. Silly Danny, the clown, with his flock of pcifcrming geese, will show to all and_ sundry that "there's n method in his madness." Tho r.oo will ba open daily from t p.m. to 5 p.m. The bos plans aro at The Bristol. Tho matiness will bo given on Monday., Wednesday, and Thursday.