AMUSEMENTS.

Press, Volume LVII, Issue 17117, 12 April 1921, Page 9

AMUSEMENTS.

OPERA HOUSE. Tbonjrh,' iione of tho artiste waa a Granger ■ to Chnstchurch, the now programme presented at the Opera Hou«e last night was eagerly watched by a good attendance, and I it proved an excellent oi:c, well-halanced anor replete with good turns, particularly in the vaudeville section. A welcome return, afte* an 'absence of months, whs mado by Eddy Martyn, one of the neatest dancers that luw appeared on the Fuller circuit. His clog interpretations of old-time daness. "Tho Siranee River," a cleg waltz, and au American "buck wins" were splendid, aa wa«/a clever ccoen'trio danco given as an encore, »which made cno wonder whether his ankles aro not devoid of bonce. Ho varied his turn with a *ong and a number of storio3, and completely crfablkhed himself as- a favourite In Miss Gladys Verona Messrs Fuller haw gooured a soprano of grand opera calibre, and her's was certainly tho inort classical turn of the evening. Seldom is euch a fmo voice, jplendidlv controlled, heard in vaudeville. 4 jf?r number* included "Caro. Xomo," from n " Tenli'a fino opcro, "RiKoletto." Gany's "S'idz Sweet Bird"—a really nut> effott is "Down in the Forest," and the tuueful "My Hero," from tho "Chocolate Soldier." with which New 'Zealand's own Miss Amy Murphy mada such .jcliit somo years ago. Miss Verona, is an oeffuisition not only to vaudeville but to bigh- ■ class musical circles. The Le- Brans, a, 'daring Australian skater, and n dainty and extremely vivacious young singer and dancer, •■''' -with whom he joined forces while eon-ing in - France, repeated their lenfertaining and amaz- ■ jn ? act. Huley and Bsnt coiitributed afsreical sketch, "Lord Brighton," and MiUor. ■'■■ and Raincy made a big hit with their oleyer . absurdity, "Joys of Shopping," in which Mr llainey wa» a "scream as tho parcel-laden husband with an -unquenchable thirst. Miss Miller sang nioely, and Mr Rainey gavo a number of tuneful selections oil tno trombone. The second half was occupied by tho ■Walter George- Rovue Company,' in an old j • favourite, "Grand Hotel." The company wan 1 ,' handicapped by the nbeencc of the principal '■':'■ Mr Georgo Storey, and by other :-■- defections in tho caste, most of its menibeia having to play double Toles, hut nevertheless -. the "piece went off quite well. Mr Reg. .Hawthorn© took tho part of the Bell-opy, . une of Mr Storey's best roles, and acquitted -. 'himself Very creditably, though he is much mote of a liaht thnn a low comedian. Tho : piece waß produced in Mr Geoieo'a lavish ind finished manner. Amongst the musical ' item* wore."AU Kuta," tung by Miss Georgio .'. Martin, "I Wonder If It's. Truo," by Miss ' Hylda Shannon, "Which Switch" and "Jas- ■ M ta" by Mr Reg. Hawthorne, "Jack in the !J «Bos," bv Misses Martin and Polly _M.ee- » litren, "Major Pott," by Mr Frank Hawing, ; '('Beautiful Girl," bv Harry Ross, andr ' Seaside Promenade," by Miss Martin and Mi - Miss Dulcio Milner, who was ■ v adverely shaken in tbe motor accident which • iKid Mr Story low, was loudly applauded for ' : ? tf*o >ongs and eblo danco3, all medy given. ''•:"■'■-alt'Albert'Bidgood'a orchestra, as usual, did v vtfoqd work, and particularly noticeable was i-iSiHr.-sympathetio accompaniment of- Mias songs. Tho programino will bo , Vvyfabeated to-night.; | ■' GREATER CRYSTAL PALACE. -' ! Ilaiy baa been the caso very frequently, tJio :' v.MWing capacity, of Ureater Crystal ralace ; ' '■' : - w -iniioequutc tor the accommodation of iT.l'mvioto who sought admittance- last night. SU''isjj^ , -dia*ppd'inted nave tho consolation that double «tar attraction programnw wiU ? ;v ? 'l-Un iter the remainder of tne week, and - !: 'fbeiilg. Vtho real goods" will keep, and lose !V noho ofits- attractiveriess; It is rarely, exat..the- Greater Crystal Palace, that i'-S\tarors-,0l motion pictures nay© such exoellc-nt ; '? > "' ! -fi» provided as Was tho caeo last night. W i: "ls!L Metro' Supcr-ftaturo, "The- Brut." _with Sfe'tie inodmparaule and -Lnap'inoachablo ftazi#'mbv» starred iu tho title role, waa sufficient evening's critettainment; but '-superimposed on this rich dish was -West #» West,'' » Universal teaturo or .sterling -r-'Workmanship, ;a*d palpitating ' w i t 'L. lll J l ma " i ''■Kmfetvi.' Of Brat*',it is dnlcult to l-< 'speak oaiepV in'-superlatives. As s/sdieen ,i ijrodiictfon it ranks with Hire best thatvhafi interiors.-.though not oft ; -\th» mignifioant ecalo of some. wocut pto-;';V-«d«lctiana'atilGrtater Crystal Palaoo, aro adReproduced; whilo ; .the tain-.effecta ifj<JH» : *onderrul in,th>ii realiam. Tbo wtistry S; \)< the photographer,, though of the/highest sinks almost, into insignificanceK :; thfi' truly' .:remarkable and of Niilmova. The chtitftcter foi>ita ombodimant on p. |i*vi'«io : combination of facial.expression;and of ifilawWr'aV' and , - fitting to tlTo character. r *xui, facility in .tie .expression of shaded emotions," alternated with ,those Sj'W'i' oroadir chai-adter, .arei.'.butatandingj.aitd '•^wfe*orihy :i ' ft»tinwf''-"df NwimoVa's art f 'S^miitwS* o * however, xs the complete 'thd'-'individuality of tho actreas S^lwhe.<ihaiacteri ; portrayei. -Never for on« iWf®Wnhidoe»ithoi-.beholdeA ee» anyona.but girl" was "fired,' %Mlafl>^9-eel«cted: by »n. author.m n. study of S#«>?«irl:-'c* thO.'ohderworW. . The. story. is art i?i^MtatovConsJiril9ted,«no,-. .*ei developimont. by incidents-, that nrfr of film lection. r ot "Weat'is W<at,» it'will aufflc* Mho W wild Weit,-but..shorn of many of Ifctha-«tffa>agaac<)i. thijt' often ; n*ar the enjoyIfemeni p| pictures that ,d>l with that romantic MJtfgion. 'HarrytCarey' ia> tho star, shows SWW-^inttlutlad . "9 *« ■ the.. ■ featunnff #l:»fop'M»«]n3h«'prohibition jnonkey. ) (jetettioJjrbyitho Symphony Orchestra, Ifiiidtt' - the 'coiianctpwhip of Mr. Alfred- Bun?, Noteworthy was the wsS»if!«S<;*:;' ! Eccontnc Danoe,' (R.,A. Horn*),#fe"*lib'''ov>rttrf»,-. (Caffdt), ':rs*lectibfts' tifflmttfylfrmM :;' Ballet -Music^'EW' i ft i'*Myiia'fi'Aiho»6' <uid aerenajella-';. fg«w): ■;■ ; ' ; ' SylbVawbfe'Sill!wikh'-roriitjtutefr. the lisw present wef t ::at l^eryKeafrV'ia':*^ o** 0 ** attractive one, and ; ( witnesaed -.' th« of X'TBe-ld by thfl Enemy" i46Wifa*htoncd Boy''.' found ,tb«m tautftblo.v' Tb* motion picturo- Vor-well-known .play- j* yHprodnced.'.aiid shwa jsiany;signa ttca.te9t-.&i«' havih/rbetn taken in; wiofccoattSiea, and pettirigs. The reata* vividly ■■*'* stirnng times |icai.':Cavii;vWar, and:,gwc« realisitio .the iTh».'atbryi.; which, -is familiar : to \j-;i* <m that grips tlie attention by n*l4- : -at?ldve''«nd 'ATari-'and'its exaraatHotism>'• ihtarfiiitaiig aio tli* costumes" of tha -women, characters, jo amplo. flcniticed.' dresiics: that were the days'wli'cri tho orinoHho was in ;€Aftne's; -Ayrcs' wakes 'a* very cbaimk. ne;.ani|"l* ; »bly suppdrted by NVinida, to.Jhei' flster.- -.;■ TM male paxts are iiit. Jiands,. Jack Holt, malcius a fine «rd;i; .: .fun is., I;-and end-all of "An o>4-Fa3hioned wlucaCliirles B*y is.starred. Much r -has been shown by' the attthoresSj. (hristinS.LJojinstoMi;, in con»tnictJng y^!^iW; : .tbdugh ; ingeiiious, it never tho j bounds of .possibility. • Th» which,the taffy'' with, his d« ; ■!»»%. o( three—roaginfr from a ;tftni's'npwards--is side-splitting,'and plications that ■ arise.'/ owipg u> tiho the qiiarantihed for comrrtnwnt." Tiho house that the "old' I "boy!* built for wifc-to-bg is just ' •»>{ 1 iMttt h that - most : y ounp • couples and thd : "thrw«i-on«" article of furit .has to be. -s»en operated. by !feCJ|rle», Ray' to 'obtain an idea of its <\utcTbo*, ~s>lectloii» •:- by:. ,Everj:boUy'< Oichestca w«« varied- and app. ro * iSj|!C''finit«'>'T!io.same-bill wu7 bo given (hiring week.,; v% . ■: •' - M^ rt '"LIBEaTT THEATRE; ;"' . ' '•'■ _', *-%'« Th« lYctndM Man," heading tbjs weols's at tba Liberty Theatre, tb.er«. is mm i stfjeddJd demonstration of cinomatogmphio nearly every inoveuwrct in .a fight between- two f»elnonable. clnbimra, 1 of whom -is- Georges Carpoutier, tho t||i^st'fcsiS' 1 ' .chawpion-of Eu»ope : > "Th«t '* . an '' " * -pi?ro»'which is tot all |^fls^tj-"li'is a well-constiucted story hanging - -,-.■;. ' .',-'. ' /

on a. mvsterions' murder in diploma*« ""J? in Washington. "Snooky," fto key.'actor,--is featured in "The HoVo," which heads the list « film*." At the evening performances Wyatt Hadland, the- English tenor, sings erai , popular songs. STRAND THEATRE. "Cbeckers," a Fox production, heading tho current bill at the Strand Theatre, »-one , or the liveliest racing dramas producer. i& : contains as features an exciting horse race, a train wreck, a fight in a box car, atw a thrilling encounter in an opium t'cn. -ine ; ettviw.'ing items aro a Sunshine corneay, Australian Gazette, and World's News, a , Mutt and Jeff cartoon, and a lord fcduca-j lional. CRAXD THEATRE. - "The Invisible Divorce," a thrilHn? story of tangled lives, and "Tho Eternal Trumgie, was enjoyed by a full house, at uiniu Theatre last nigbt. "The Oouc'.y -r a" » a-Wgr feaUire weil worth eeemjr. inej« « also screened another eeraational episode- ot "Tho Moonriders." MADAME STRATHEARN'S RECITAL. There was a very large and very enthusiastic attendance, at tho Choral Hall las* night, when Madam© Strathearn gave the tecond of her recitals. Madame. Strathearn i 3 devoting six months of her time to ine interests of tha West Ham dockers. Mio U realty a. wonderful entertainer. She given a whole concert absolutely by herself, Singing soprano and contralto eolos, giving recitations, and mimicking various musical 111etmnients with equal ease, and incidentally playing her own accompaniments. Last night her programme included, such operatic gem* as "When AH Wa« Young," from "Faust," "Habanera," from "Carmen, and "Poor Wandcrinv One," from "Pirates ot Penzance," "Killamey," "Land of My Fathers." "Crooket Bawbee," and Home, Sweet Home" were samples of tho ballads ot tho various parts of tho British Empire, and tho programme includodi many other bwnclass, as well as popular, numbers. J-hj Bos-ary," an imitation of a comet eolo, and a. recitation, "Tho L-and of the Might Have Been," vk/Jks also splendidly given. Dunns tho interval, an interesting lecturetto on "Slumland," was piven by Sister Kathleen, of the West Ham Mission. Madame Strathearn will give- her final recital in St. J. am s Church to-night.