AMUSEMENTS

Press, Volume LVI, Issue 16854, 7 June 1920, Page 8

AMUSEMENTS

J < THEATRE ROYAL. j -POSSUM PADDOCK." An smn?ir.g coit.ody<lrama, wtia ar. atmosphere of opor. c;jacos and fragrant blnegr.ms, in whirii b. st-njjrjrlias family endeavours to gain n- living in the face of heavy c-lds—such is "Possum Paddock," which was Tirnduced n* the ThT'-e Rival <""• S.iruivinr night by Miss Kiito Howardo ar.d. hor corapany of eighteen Australian -pUiyonj. The Mum and Dad typo of character i.ns lor.g been famiiiav to Xev>- Zealand ii-aders of A-astra'ian literature, con£e<i-!ier.uy Ih 13 cla-ss of play neecLs no introduction. .Miiiough a strong vein cf comcdy — 1 ? throughout the piece, and is interprets-i by the * ccnr.ianv mainly by the of the vernacular, which is '.is readily underwood here a.s in Australia, there are at times moments or" ten?-; dramatic interest, this being so pnrticnlr-riv in the thin! act, where tha worthiesoness oi Fred Deering is exposed. Although tho eharacte-1-3 appeared in some instances to b<r exaggerated—th-r.- would bo if the play was sot- in 2Cew Zealand—they are docla-i-o! ia be in keeping with hundreds v.-lio earn their living in the Australian way-'ooek, where their eyes have rovov ye-t. beheld c railway cng ; ne, anil where a trip to Sydney is. xegivrdod as the great event of their lives. As X>lay3 go, "Possum Paddock" is net ox very bigheet order; nevertheless, it must rank high when reearde-i as a portrayal of Australian pioneer life. That it pleased the auaienco was amplv demonstrated bv the hearty Twghter which punctuated the piece at frequent int&rvals. In ether centres" ti;« audiences have grown the longer the plnv rau, and no dcubt a similar experience *.vill bo met with in Chrisfchtirch. Tlie. story of plav :—A strngsrar.g selector, Andrew Mc-Qunde, is i-.ard jvat to it to meet his bank overdraft, IJla st.tvjgUt«JW?l circumstances having Iwn brought abo'.it 1 principally by the rT.-»c;c3 of lirourrht, ao j commonly extwrfenced in the island ccnti- ] r.cnt. Adioi'iing McQuade's selection—a fifty-acre block known as Paddock" I —ia that of Dan M-nrtin, on whom fortune I has "smi-ed not eo unlcindly. Between him ! and McQuado there ia conside/a'olo ill-fee-l- I in?, cngen-lsred Ih'o.tuec ci tho former's envy j of the latter's littlo paddock. Martin is I wcl] aware oi McQuade's plight, nr.J ho j ixiakfa us--> of tbi-i knowledge in an oiler to ! purchase the p-addock. However, his avaricc ! will net allow him <o make anytbing liiw a reasonable proposition, and" McQuado | promptly turns it down, much to Martin's j chagrin. Meanvhile a very different spirit j is being shown by Bob r.nd Bill, JlcQnade's ' two sons, and Martin'* linvarUtero. Mary Ellen a.ti'l An astasia, both coupJes falliog- ii! love with each other. It happens that j Hugh Bracken, a bachelor, nko cn the land, I learning- cf LlcQuads's wou'oka, oilers fino.-.> cial aosistaace. McQuad«. however, being 100 pro;>:l to nccept, his v.-a-rries ar.-l the intimation is made to him that it i?

the intention of the bark to sell bio property and wip.3 off the overdraft. Appea.rar.oe3 -point to tho selection passing into the hands of Martin, and then Braeiceii comes on the scene with the* intention oi outbidding Martin, and thus pi-eveming Martin from being the nev.- omi-r. He bias high and- i>er=:istenUy, but with his limited -eaotirccs cannot keep ahead, and just when it eoetE3 that all is lost, Nella Carsiey, a Sy.i ney cousin of Mrs McQuade, epjjortunely arrives, ond amidst tense escitetnKit makos th>» closing bid, leaving Martin very ctc=£falien, and tho McQuades in the seventh lieaven of <lelight by restoring to them their beloved "Pcamm Paddock." From thia stage the play increases in interest, and after many exciting incidents, all oridi ha,pDily, the curtain falling. 011 a lvroli dance held in the McQuades' canson-alor.'.

-" 'The pi-eee gives plenty cf scope to the various memlxjrs of ithe company, who on er " the whols acquit theraselve-B creditably. The finest characterisation :s ihwt driven l.y Misa a Cora. "Warner sm Mivggie McQuade (Mum). Her work all through is conviucin<» os the HO hard worked wife of li>3 wtrusglinsf selector, lcr and nothing finer could be wished for. Nest „„ in point of merit was Fred Macdona-ld (wellknown as "Dave" of "On On t' Selection"), , who wag seen in the role of Billy McQuado. by the selector's eluest son. Hr Maedonald 3t, excels in such a part, and ho is able to Lin bring- out to tuw best advantage the •humorIgo | °" s t nati"- , p in which ihe p:* v ee abounds. Miss Kate How-arde, who not only wrote but ' also produced the pioco, gave a Tory F-ntis- '? fying presentation of tire part of Sirs CarsIcy. As Bobbv MeQu-ide, Jack Souter -was ' lr o bio to raise laughter every time ho aplal peared, and Jack Kirbv, as tho :.<j-uattcr ir- Hugh Brn-ckcn. was also rood. The part of (j-. Dan Martin, -the- avaricious selector, was in q ilic capable- hands of Aloe. McDonald, and wn~ well portrayed. Leonard Brodetick, as "Dad" McQuade, looked the part to the life, mul Ailv>rt Harrison, as Shad Cuiummgs, Leslie Wood as Fred Deerir.g, Vivian Langley as Elisabeth Martin, Le?lie Adrieno as Nancy McQuade, and Jessie Dale and Alice . Walton as Mivry Ellen and Anas-tafia Mnrtin respectively, assisted to keep tho fun ■n- goinj. • a . A feature cf the first act wns a couple of Australian kookaburras (lar.ghiug jackasscs), ( < 3 which set up a shrill cackling on the appear- j [ 10 ance of Bob McQuade. "Possum Paddock" , a . will be lopc-ckd to-night and during tho ho wcck - OPERA house. et To-night Mr Walter George and. iiia brilliant Sunshine Playera will bo seen in n-n d. entirely now miniaturo musical comedy, "Tho >1- Cruise of tho Cymbeliae." This is oaid to p- bo one of tho. finest -productions that Mr ry George Iras yet presented for public approval, and a splendid entertainment may bo k-' confidently anticipated. In tho vaudeville °" section a, vory strong attraction -will be pro*B vidod by Abdy'e performing cats, pigeons, dogs, ai:d cockatoos, in a marvellous zoologi 1 - le cal ensemble. Poincaire, a brilliant animal i y and bird mimic, will make his first nppear,y &nco. The last nights ars announced of 10 Goodhue and Oliver, versatile entertainers, and Louis London. S-;ats may now bobooked at Tho Bristol. '° _ EVERYBODY'S THEATRE. j S Tho stago piay, "Secret Service,' written and -prodv.cod by the famou3 actor and playwright, William Gillette, is regarded as or:o of the molcdramatic masterpieces of tho «-vjc. "Secret Service, the Paijjnount-Artcrafo tspecial, which v.ill bo screened at. Everybody's 51 '.l.'heatro tliia week, wa-s founded on this ° l'-.'.rao-_n eiago presentation, and with tho alr most limitlees ap.portunitios cfiordcd by tho 0 scrcon at its command, it is more tha.a duplicating its phenomenal guc-ccs3 a spsakiaj; drama. It is a picturo that will hold the . interest of tho spectator as few, ii any, haAo ' done before-. "Sccret Service" has nothing 1 to do with the war just ended; but as a. atory 0 of tho Civil War it is crammed full oi .human interest, and will appeal irresistibly 5 to every ajjo and cla-ss. The main rele ii 3 taken by Major P-obc-rt- Warwick, the first ?, American officer to enter the recovered city 2 of Strassburg. He a time type of soldier, -1 and a fine actor besides, a man of quiet dignity and suppressed emotion, ihe very man for tho role, and he is splendidly supported by Wanda Hawlcy, Theodore -Roberta, Irving Cummins*, others c: a notablo caat. The snppoitirg- programme is a long- and varied one, and includes the Paramount drama, "Lousiana," starring Vivian Martin, and she is afforded ample opportunity to display tkosn charms and mannerism.! that have gained her much popularity. A Mr.ck Sennett comedy and a Topical Gazc-tte will also bo - screened. An entirely new musical pro--1 gramme will be pivcu by Everybody's l "Select'' Orchestra, Itoserved eeats may be , obtained at Tha Bristol, or by 'phoning 4923. &EA>"iD THEATRE. Tho naw programme to bs shown at tho j I Grand 'i'heatra to-day av.d to-night continuously promises to be r.n excellent one. A welcome change from the American films wi'.l ; be tho lavish •'Broadwest" (English) -picturc, entitled 'Under Suspicion,'' which has been adapted from the famous c-ta-je success of the t ssmo name, but the film version is said to bo even, better than the stage play. The picturo hp.a had a tremendous run in _r.ll parts of the world, and comes here v:iih the hi;hest credential?. Wonderful acting by i Iho well-known English artists, Horace Hunter and Hilda Bayley, and a powerful tup- , porting cast, together with gorgeous settings and beautiful costumes, make this pioduction quite a rotable or.e. Tho duel eceno is said to be most realistic, and tho fight for a woman's honour and froedom is described as b<ving- very stirring, and at times sensational. . In all departments of production "Broadwesf' has worked sinccr:ly and skilfully to give "Under Suspicion" consistent dignity and power; teckjrounde are rich and r compleie, and the ty;:cs well choser. Tho ; supporting pictures are all and ir--clude another cf the merry Sunshine com;- ! ( dies, entitled "Boarin;r Lions in a Hospital," ji which is described aa one bi:* laur;b Ircrr. j beginninc; to end; alc-o. the cleaver and humor- { on 3 comedy, ''Hard Luck, Bill.'' v-fcile tho | \ Co-operative Weekly Topical is raid to bo i ■] very interesting-. The prices to >K- charged J will be the popular ones, from 3d to Is Id, j and the bo- plan is at The Bristol until,. 5 j p.m., thereafter at the theatre, where Beats ! • may bo also booked durinc iho day ('phono 6 293-1). i

CRYSTAL PALACE. ''in "A Storting C-Kancc/* which. ' heads the neTT prcsxanime Crystal PaJiico toflay, Ethel Clayton plays th? pari of Carey Cent, an impulsive jrirl. tkv??rtcd by her chauffeur, ehe is driving her car home when tyre trouble happens. A stranger wh-m she tokos to Uo ar. escaped convict, offers his - services, which arc acocV.rcL. C.ircy ikcidca - to reform the supposed conrict, who really -! :s Paul Savre, and engages him n-3 her ~ j cfcauileur. At homo mother is p^ s " 5 i tcrod by a society idler, Ralpli Seward, who : I po:-sc«&3 some letters written by Mrs Brent - 1 t-*> p. former sweetheart. Ho oScrs to return s tlv> letters provided Mrs Brer.t snecx«ic-- in l bringing about his marriage with C«iThe f ot?;r is refused. Both C-.rcr and tho r-;;p----j convict overhear t!io c<jt?vcyri; .l, and t that night Carey onton* Seward's apart- ! rcentr. for Ire purpose of secttrirg tiio letters, j Seward unexptNrtcdly conic* is, and insists j that Carey arrreo »o mc-rr" h~:u beioro she lis allowed !o k-.tve. Pan!, who, unknown to ' the others-, Ims lawn in an adjoining room, i appears, and compels Seward to produce the ; letters. In the explanations which tubseI <v:--nu!y ei>n:o, Paxil oenf».<»sos that ho is a j broker who, shortly before he offered to arai.-t C.iruY in her trouble with iho tyre, i had Ijrcn a viciiui of the convict she had mistaken him for. Further explanations ffcro required when Paul interviewed Gaiey's father on a:i imro-vtant matter concerning both of i_hcrj. LIBERTY THEATRE. The r.ew programme shown at tho Liberty Theatre on Saturday was headed by a mirthful production, entitled "The Veiled Adventure," featuring' Constance Tclmadgo. There is nothing very startling about a grey cln lion veil, but when tha girl rover wears rrey, and tho v<il is discovered pcepir.~ out ot her fiance's pocket, it's liable to ctawe some complications, snd those little complications furnish a siie-apliltin-y series cf humoroits ineiI u«nU th;.t ioilo-.v 011 each other's heels I through "Tho Veiled Adventure.'' Some ' very ink resting- sidelights aro thrown on ilie beauty varltmr sido 01" iiTe, no veiled in soerecy to mere man—ho>.\- ii 13 dor.-j—what, womoi> endure lor tho sake of beauty that vrii! persist in fading. Do you want a dnzrriinj: complexion? i* answered fully and in detail in ibis comedy, with the dreadful exposures in fire soft a I'd tcv.dc-v bauds of the illimitable Constjnce. Also c-ti tho -bill jit tho Liberty Theatre p.» the !ak*v Pa tho Gasoti?, "Winter S-ovt.q in Quebec," "Perfect Day Aliveys" (Clieaier pccnic). the Royal visit to Bor.riwillo, and '"It's f, Hr.rd Life" Mi-:s Oi.-ra TvV.ckcd contributes ceveral d>l;>h'.fnl vocal numbers at the ovenins seScion. QUEEN'S THEATRE. There is jt point-Ed moral r.itachfd to the ciury of ''Vv'ithin the Cun," Bessie Bnrriecals's latcsst strtTiasr vehicle for Paralia now showing at tho Queen's Theatre. The etory is based 03 a powerful raid daring tiwrao of a dirilhisioned sirl, who seeks to ma.k-» her own of life and lire u:> to then, to find in tha end that while one law is tuadu for women, men have their own, and the soxes cannot meet on common gxour.d along l conaiu paths. Lavish ecen-es and dresses' aro a foaturo of tlie production, dealing, as it doer., with Bohemian life ii> New York and Paris. B?ssie Barriscale does her best work yet. in the- ro'o she sustains, and provea not only unusual talent in an emotional part, but the possessor of hitherto discreetly -veiled charms, which a.ro onlianced hv a keenly developed sense of tha artistic. Tl;c programme at the Queen's also contains Chapter Fourteen of "Thc> Man- of Might," tins powerful eeria', in addition to a coitK/iy subject, and tho usual cscslloni pictorial . budget. STRAND THEATRE. At the Strand Theatre on Saturday a bier Fox production, entitled "Doing- Tbs'ir Eit," was screened for tha firafe tima in ChristI church. "Doing- Their Bit" features the delightful Los Children, Jane and Virginia, in a hmghabie patriotic picture. They arc> doiiarhtfully natural, end the picture has not a dull moment in it from Gtart to finish. Another Fee: production was also screened, vis., "Lav.-less Love," which atara bonny blue-eyed Jewel Carmen. "Lawless Love" i 3 a big melodrama, in which a beautiful woman, in 1 imminent danger and deadly peril of her li/e, cr.pt.uroa her captor's heart. There aro many thrilling momenta in the piece, notably those in whicli tha heroine rides a fear-maddened ; horse. An amusing cartoon and a Fas , Gazetto also feature on tho -very excellent ; I programme. The same bill will be repeated throughout tho week. PROFESSIONAL ORCHESTRA. 1 There tras a attendance at the Opera Eouse last night when tho Christchurch Professional Orclrestra gave their monthly Sunday concert. Tlie following items were played by the orchestra:—Ballot mueio from "Sylvia." (Delilxw), Serenade (\Vidcyr). Pcr<m-c. "Finl.ajidia" (Jean Sibelins), Arbiado Prir.tannierc (Laeombo), overture. "May Day" (Wood), ee'cction from "Tho ililtado" (Sullivan), and eketch, "A Southera Widdins" (Letter). I.liss Olga Wackcd sany "iTy Heart is "VTear\"" (Thomas). ORCHESTRAL CONCERT. Owing to the increasing subscribers' list ! to tho Christchureh Orchestral Society, patrons to Wednesday evening's concert at 1 the Choral Hall aro advised to book their seats early. Tho box t>lan3 open at The ( Bristol this morning, at 9 o'clock. •