AMUSEMENTS.

Press, Volume LVII, Issue 17111, 5 April 1921, Page 10

AMUSEMENTS.

THEATRE ROYAL. | The Mario Tempest Company concluded a- | v ery successful farewell season at the Theatre j Royal last night, when "Outcast" was re- j peated before a large and. appreciative- audience. ■••- .-•■ --.-■•, OPERA HOUSE, •hi spite of the absence from the cast of the principal • comedian, George Storey, owing to tho injuries he received in the motor accident, the playlet "Down Kentucky Way, presented at the Opera. House last night'by. Walter George's Sunshine Players, went offl successfully. Prior to the performance the manager of the Opera House, Mr W. C. Hels-. don, announced that the part of George Storey would bo taken by Harry Huley, although that artist had had to leain his line 3 since the morning. The piece proved to be well mounted and full of fun, if not o? plot. Harry Huley acquitted himself creditably, all things considered, and was. responsible, for much of the mirth ag Felix Flake, an adventurer. Dulcie Milner (Mr 3 Storey) received a, very cordial recetition for her pluck in carrying on. Owing to the strain she was suffering from however, she did not sing. The best songs were the Tyrolean lullaby, "Sleep, Babv, Sleep," by Reg. Hawthorn, "My Curly Headed Baby," by May Geary. "Piccaninny Mine," bv Hilda Shannon, and the coon song "I do Like to be "Where the Money, is/' by Georgia Martin. A pleasing ballet was danced by Polly McLaren and Reg. -Hawthorne. In the vaudeville faction of the programme the Bruns made a first appearance. Tho lady, who is French, was charmingly frocked. She was warmly received for her Hinging of "Madelom," her partner, an Australian,, heir.? equally successful in has roller skatinc exhibition, finishing a good turn by a- sensational slide down an incline. The Australian coloratura 6opTano, Miss Giadvs Verona, a new periormer'. to Christchurch, quickly *ang her way into the goodwill of the audieuce, despite the fact that her , offerings Were rather high-cla»s-for a ..vaudeville audience. Her iteim were "Ah Fors e Lui," "Villanelle," "April Morn," and "Sol■ro'g's Song," A lot of laughter was raieed lr.- Huley and Bent in their new sketch, "Two in" a Flat," in which the lady caused heT partner to suffer tortures by her treatment of the furniture, which was theirs only on hire. Much applause greeted Miller arid Reiney, whose sketch, "Who's Looney?" depicting tho interior of a mental hospital, was really funny. The Two Fishers repeated their clever turn "A Florida Enchantment," and Captain Charles Erard placed himself on good term» with the audience with his impressions of music-hall artists.

GREATER CRYSTAL PALACE. So many pictures of outstanding mejit have l,6eu shown at the Greater Crystal Palace since that theatre- was reopened to- the public that tlio name ia now associated only with the best productions of the film world. When it is stated that '•Under Crimson Silos," a Universal .Jewel masterpiece, pre-iont-od yesterday, has novel- been surpassed , >y any picture of its type in Christchurch it will bo understood that it is something out of the ordinary. The picture is characterised by beautiful photography, a storm at sea being- so wonderfully portrayed as alinest to inauo people, who are not good sailors, feel ieaaick. -Scenes of the tropical lands, with v.uving palms' and. white Bands, were siost • realistic. The picture abounds in thrill's; one of the finest being a fight between a sea captain and a. gigantic coloured sailor, of 'whom everyone else was in fear. The skipper orders the man to -assist the former's inatc, who has- been injured, and meets with ;i r-eiusal, followed by a savage onslaught. A'''blow eoncls the skipper reeling on the 9 Uath. He recovers, and a terrific struggle or.sues, first ono'gaining the advantage, then die- otner. Around the combatants stand a sc-or<» of i-ufnanly beachcombers, amazed at the- fight put up by the white man. At last u well-directed blow gives the skipper the nocondeucy, and the other being thoroughly co.ved offers no moro .resistance 'when, told to attend to the skipper's mate. A battlo between troops- ana the .beachcombers is another thrilling scene. The 'star of the piecei » Elmo Lincoln, whose acting is of the quality that earned him the reputation he made in ••intolerance," and other great pictures. A side-splitting comedy, entitled '-Tails Up,' m wh.th the tamous Century lions are allotted roles, in shown in 'support, also an. interesting picture of the travel class, and the latest of the Universal International news aeries. The ■ Symphony • Orchestra, under; the baton of Mr, A. Bunz; played the following.music:-Over-ture, "Noel JDe Pierrot" (Monti) ; " "Concert- : stuck" (laVmovement) (Weber) for pianoforte and orchestra.'; soloist, Mr Howard" Moody;', "Intermezzo" (Gabriel-Marie), violin solo ' 'with orchestral accompaniment, soloist, Miss C. Byrne;' "CavallerSa Rusticana" (Mascagni); I 'trhgarish'' , (Moszknwßki); serenade, '•Coquette" (Bartbaloiny); "Marohe Tzigane"; (Lacome). A much ; appreciated musical treat was given by the Lyric Four, consisting of Messrs C. J. Morgan, H. Blakeley, K. More; and E. J;- Johnsbn.- They sang •unaccompanied' a medley of plantation songs, their voices' blending harmoniously. Mr Howaro. '" Moody,- solo pianist, now permanently ! engaged'*t. tie .theatre, played the first movement of Weber's "Cbncertstuok" with splendid effect, accompanied by the full orchestra, the number of which is now twenty-two. Miss (J.. Byrne, violinist, also played the Gabriel- ■■ Marie -.''lntermezzo"" with full,orchestral accompaniment. The musical programme..«ub- ' mitted nightly is of an- order quite beyond that of the usual picture theatre, the man- . agemeit sparing no expense to ensure thiß.

: •- EVEBYBODY'S THEATRE. .. The Artcrait itoyalty masterpiece, "Hivmorcsque," which is'ibuhded on' Dannie Hurst's • . biuliant ' story on : .Dvoraks melody of the ■" name name, was screened before large audivenoes'- at Everybody's' Theatre yesterday, the " -opinion' being generally expressed that,-it is Vno of the few really great pictures that have .' -yet beeUt shown in Ghristchuroh; • As,* story' •'- ••jiuinoreßo.ue" makes such an appeal that' ■no member of the' audience haying seen, it \' commenced wouldi care to-leave before, the ' "reel, was finished.. The Kantors, a family of " ltusSian Jews, living in one of the squalid •parts of New York, are typical, of thousands, .of their class'who have to struggle for a bare existence among mirroundiaga that happily are unknown in. Mew Zealand.' Abraham cantor isV* dealer, in biftsees, and is burdened with a young family, but •» fortunate in tna " ■ possession oi ft good wife. One ttay ljeon, . one of Kantor's sons, while shoppinc with his father, sees a violin and sets his heart on its' possession, much- to the disgust of the iuther," who tries td] induce the lad to seek consolation, in a nnniature savings, bank, and tailing this a; musical toy capable, as Kantor aescriDes it, -of producing "swell" noises. Tne boy is punished for:his persistence in ' ciesirihg the violin,' but when on his return •to his nomo Jtantor tells his wife of the incident she fondly embraces the boy and joyliitly tells.her husband that she-rfeele mat •"• th 6 dream and hope of her. life will be realised—that Leon will become a great muai'cian. The father regrets that, his son is so lacking in business propensities as to pr<» lor a violin to the saving of money, but m spite of this Leon gets his beloved violin, and shortly uttefwards gives a demonstration of • his iausictii geniua'by playing Dvorak's beautitul composition "xluihoresque," in a mat ' -ntr that is deeply affecting to his mother, 'and that compels hi 3 father's begrudged ad- '• luiration. Alter years' of study, hnally raised to fame His suoceES enables, tho Kantors- uemove from the scene of Boualor to the famous Fifth avenue. ' The story then takes a dramatic turn, following the artist's appearance'in a grcai hall, the Hitdience being composed of his own people. ' His playing Uirills His heavers, who d«inuud that Ik* should play "Humoresqus/ He accedes to the request,,and thon saciihces his wonderftd art for a cause wortiiy of his noble .■• and unselfish character. The photography of the piece is superb, and tho acting of Bobby Connolly as the boy, and Gaston Glass the itrtist splendidly done. The character of -little Vera • Ginsberg is a ieature or the piece, Miriam Guttesta tor^ty ttto wm : ■ some child s IB© in the 3-uiua with unusual skill.- The comedy, "A Full House, a th? supports. Everybody s "^lect :.' Orchestra play 3 a<)propriatc music at the Slight sessions.

~.. GKAND THEATItE, Constance Tnlmadge is tho'&t*r in "Two. V.«eks " which it.-now showing- at the Grind .'ilißaiic. "Tiie Diivis Cup" film ia proving si jjresit draw. ■ '',-•-. LIBEUTY THEATT.E. ' The -Maivfrom Snowy Biver" was repeated l*fcre Urge audiences restord-ay at U» j.iiwriv Theatre, In addition to the usual supporting films Miss Lily Glover sang » • jjumber'-or e*>ngs. ■' QUEEN'S THEATRE. "Darbv and Joan" ia now being screened at the Queen's Theiuro iu addition to * nice lot - of lesser films. .STBAND THEATHE. <& ta'e of the West, "Sunset Sprague," «tarrii>' Buck Jones, heads th* current procrutnme at- the Strand Theatre. -The Husband Hunter!', is another good picture. ..-, LAWN TENNIS ON THE SCREEN. Attention is drawn to - tho announcement m ade; to tennis' playera jay the _ Canterbury ' Lawn Tennis Association concerning the motion pictures of the tenni? matches fox the Davis Cup, lately played iu Auckland. This ■Win is particularly interesting to Ghrist- ■ church-players, for, coart from the value of ' tb<; pictures or the gauw-3 £roai an instructivo and educational point of view by portraying stroke by fitrok* the interesting rallies -where the ball can'be plainly followed, it

will be remembered that it was a Christcburch player, tie late Anthony "Wilding, who, "wifh Norman Brookes, woe the crip for Australasia, in 1907, successfully defended it in 190S and 1909, and re-won it again in 1912. The film is being screened at the Grand Theatre during the week.