AMUSEMENTS.

Press, Volume LVII, Issue 17123, 19 April 1921, Page 10

AMUSEMENTS.

OPERA HOUSE. On Saturday night Walter George's. Sunshine Comedy Players concluded their Ghristcnurch season, and in the new programme et the Opera House last night thero were mostly new artiata. The wannest reception was accorded to tha "Mimi Diggers," av trou? of real "dinkum diggers," who after several years' service under their Empire's flag have now won renown on music hall and theatre platforms. The "Mimi Diggers" wtire for some time under engagement to Means J. and X. Tail, and they have come to New Zealand on the Fuller circuit after most successful seasons in Melbourne and Sydney The vaudeville programme opened with Eddy Martin, who is announced as a 'Hanglefoot" dancer, but ho was quite neat in executing several walking "stunts" in imitation of various characters crossing a street. Haagen Eoldenbergh, a Danish pianist, made his first appearance before a Christchurch audience, and he very soon proved himself to be a master of the piano. His introductory number, Chopin's "Grand Polonaise in A," was splendidly played, and his' delicate execution of Mendelssohn's "Spring Song" and the great contrast shown in "The Devil'B "Wild Rido" (Godard) soon convinced all that they were hearing a pinnist who was a masteT of techniqueHe .also played Greig"B "Wedding Day," and an old. Viennese dance. Wendy and Alphonse, a merry duo, were heartily welcomed back to Christchurch. The costumes worn by Wendy veto greatly admired. The musical numbers, which had a good deal of French "snap" about them, wcro a pronounced success. Miss Gladys Verona maintained her popularity as a soprano, and last night she was warmly applauded for' all her songs. Her contributions were "One Fine Day" (Puccini), "Waltz Song" (Gounod), "Prince Charming" (Lehman), "By the Waters of Minnetohka" (Lieurance). Huley and Bent again supplied a lively turn with their comicalities and patter. A newcomer was Suihas, a novel musician, who, playing simultaneously a mouth organ and a small harp, gave .very creditable imitations of a fife and drum band and the bagpipes. Ho also introduced one or two songs, which should become popular.. , Tho "Mademoiselle Mimi Diggers" occupied .the whole of the second half with a musical comedy offering. The seen© was an estamanet, presided over by Mimi, "Somewhere in France." Lindsay Ksmble as Mimi, acted the girl to perfection, and ho used 'a fair contralto voice to help him through. George Jennings, who first was seen as an inebriated "digger," was tho principal funmaker, and later, when ho appeared as. a. Swiss mountaineer, he had the house in continuous roars of laughter. Paddy .S'aundtrs, a lightning charcoal cartoonist, Vav© a performance much above the average in-thia line, but with such a fine selection in • the company his performance could have I'tjeen slightly curtailed without disadvantage 'to tho-enteitainmeut. He also made a good hit with his song,."Oh, Oh, Start the War A»ain." Eoy. Gleniflter sang "That Wonderful Mother of Mine," and Lorne O'Brien aave the recitation, "On the Staff/; "Muni' was loudly applauded for the singing of I ■Xevcr Knew," and gave a clever exhibition ■of lady impersonation in the duet, What Do' You Mean by Loving Someone Else,' 'sung with Boy Gleniater. The "Mimi Dig~rs'" contribution, which was bright all through,, concluded with the company singih<* "Live for all Your Worth."

GREATER CBYSTAT, PALACE. On several occasions recently patrons of Greater Crystal Palace have been provided with super-excellent programmes, but yestor-tluyV'-acw" bill constituted a veritable, cm-bii'-rassment of 'riches.'' The headlinors, in addition to the marked excellency o£. production, and "presentation, were, in thcar lespectiyo classes, fine examples o£ romantic and healthy, rollicking fun; either, with the Supporting' films, would have been an entirely satisfying bill. In' "Risky Business" was presented a society, drama highly sliced with romantic adventure, tinctured with wmsaderably moro than a soupcon of comedy. The principal incidents happen at Mrs Fans-haw Kenwick's "little place" in Santa, Barbara California., o. luxurious mansion set amidst most beautiful surroundings. To the house-, hold, consisting of Mrs Renwick, who to passionately fond of her matchless rope of pearls, her stately mother, her married . daughter, and her tomboy.youngeat daughter, comes an ,English-oaptaiii, wounded in the great wax, acoompanid by his •'man." That Captain Cihahtry, with; his perfeclt manners, is a ' f crdok," well known in two continents, is not "ait first apparent. It is ie, with ' the assistance of his man, who steals Mrs Ronwick's priceless rope of pearls, but it is he, . wio rcooues tho flapper daughter from. •' tito-'WO* of a designing foreigner, and who, regenerated by the love inspired by the girl, ' decide* to redeem his.past. 'There are two "WmarkiMe,:incidr*B/ in. a film. which abounds . with novel happenings*. ,• "Theinusjiw; tail. ia "'«" finely ispectaole. : The rich, , aha', jh some instances, striking costumes; of the women dancers, represent the last word '•in ike 'art' of the modiste;' they are''.calculated to dazale the feminine mind, and to ' £hm.' andvamaaethe : mere man. Tha <-ther 'outstaudihg'ieajttire is the fight m-.the caibin of'a. yacht Between the English captain and, i the/ rich breaker of homes .and. rumex of .hearts. . There is no apparent make-believe uiiiihM struggle .of two,paesionate, determinJetl'men;' the "fur flies" in grim reality, and the contest' is 'fcUbwed with breathlessi in'tenseness., , Gladys "Walton, the mischievous flapper, is admirably cast, and wms all beholders by .her youthful.freshness, her madcap abandon, and her piquant: blossoming beauty- . The other characters ore in, the .hands, 'of. able actors and .actresses, and the film, as a whole, is-'one of the finest cd art. Greater Crystal Palace. "Once a Plumber," featuring Lyons and Moraa, who niadio such' a decided hit in "La. !•» liucflle, is h. perfect riot of. humour, _ which never . flags throughout tbe development of an admirably constructed story. Joe Martin, the ** almost imiman monkey, contributes great rner-, ximeniim "The Baiby .Doll Bandit." The Selections' by the Symphony Orchestra, under '"Mr Alfred Bunz's baton, were most appropriate. The overture, "Gloaming, 'is a ■mm& fbo fitted to .introduce.» programme, so full of gaiety and •tun ""', : rThe entr'acte, was the third movement •/,f ''Concextstuck," in which .the inasterly technique of the aolo.pianist, .Mr Howard, ' -Moody* was pleasingly manifested. -.The other selections;were:—Fantasie, ,I*. -.Bo- '' heme" (Puooind); "Dream Dance No. 2 (eoleridge-Taylor);. Incidental Musac, MantSJeuD .Beauoaire" . '/HuHo, America.•(Stock) v and "The Whispering of the Flowers" (Blon). The same programme will bo °iven during the remainder of the week. ■

'. ;:■'■ •;: . -EVERYBODT6i THEATRE. ... i'-To those' 1 who : have seen, on the speaking •;Stage, the , of :'"JL'he Prince Uhub," as. well' as those who have.not, the 'motion picture version of the piece will ap'peal as one of the: most ' fascinating of stories.' : 'yeaterday's 'large audiences • at Everybody's Theatre showed keen delight in ' following the adventures- of. the American sculptor, who gde& to London to seek fame and fortune, and who at -the..same " tame.' find* the , love of his life. lhe film is av'Paramount-Artcraft Royalty Masterpiece, and is ib» first produced by William D© Mille; ;it 'is to be hoped that it is tie forerunner of many others, for in every detail it 13 an excellent example of. the highest standard reached by cinematography. Thomas Meighan; Swho plays '"lhe ±"rinoe Chap," is an ideal hero, hot only, in appear-ance-but also, in His unforced and natural acting. " ; The character is one that might . easily be *poiled by "staginess," but Mei'*ha»'a interpretation is.free from that fault, •" and pleases by its Bfontaneousness. Lila Jt/so 'and Williams share the honours as 'the leading women characters, and both are •charrhingiy. unaffected, and admirably suited ..to ib*.; personages they represent. .A fine minor study is that oi the butler, Ranion. The scenes in the Soho studio, including, the Christmas party, are excellently reproduced. Of equal excellence is the second attraction, "'The • Frisky ..Mrs Johnson,-' starring the charming 1 and popular Bilhe. Burke, in a -.character, somewhat different from the roles in which she has previously appeared. There is comedy in the story, and Miss Burke contributes' much' to it, but there are also intense dramatic scenes, and it is in these that Miss Burke shows her capacity and 1 versatility,as an- actress. The scene is laid in Paris, and the story is of the gay, fashionablo' life of that gay city. Mrs 'Johnson is a charming American widow, and being of a happy, care-free disposition, is found guilty by the gossiping.elderly dames of friskiness. When, however, her married sister is upon the point of making a faux pas the seemingly gay and irresponsible widow shows that she possesses desjier feelings that lead her to endanger her own happiness to save her' sister from disgrace. It is un admirably constructed drama of hi#a society and it* development proceeds on intensely interesting lines. Ward Crane, the leading man, is the perfect embodiment of the popular hero. A vivacious portion of the Sim-, pictures the gaiety of the carnival, with its: grotesq-ae characters and its showers of confetti. The selections given by Everybody's. Select Orchestra, under the direction of Mr W. J. Belh'ngharn, were appropriate j and excellently ' played. The smae bill , will, be given during the remainder of the week..

LIBERTY THEATRE. The double programme of musio and pictures provided this week at the Liberty Theatre is one which c*n satisfy the moat exacting-.of tastes in entertainment. Las* night* it-again attracted a crowded house, and the audience time and again demonstrated its delight at hearing Miss Carrie Lanceky and her "Merry Maids." lffea lianceley previously won for herself on enviable position with Christchurch audiences «s a soprano, and: the welcome; given hex ea

this occasion is by on moans less warm. She is akly assisted in contributing an exceptionally fin© concert by Miss Irene 'Watte, pianiste and monologuist, Mis 3 Cecile Stevens, violiniste, and Mise> Doris Middleton, 'celliste. The picture programme is headed) by the love drama "The Forbidden Woman," featuring Clara. Kimball Young. Supporting" films are a P&the Gazette, Topical Budget, "Don't Blame the Stork" (comedy), and an episode of the serial 'The invisible Hand."

STRAND THEATER. The star pictures showing at the Strand Theatre this week are two splendid productions with a world of difference, in setting and plot. The first, "The Challenge of the Law," deals with stirring incidents in the great North-West Territory of Canada, and tho other, "The Little Grey Mouse," reveals how s> talented woman, with a quiet and lovable nature, suffering the trials of a hapless marriage, leaves to carve out her own career, and succeeds in attaining woman's triumph—happiness and love. There are also several supporting films.

GRAND THEATRE. A Selznick production, "The Daughter Pays," heads the current programme at the Grand Theatre. The cast is headed by Miss Elaine Hammerstein. The second feature, "The Purple Cypher," shows Earle Williams in one of his best roles. The theme deals with 'Frisco Chinatown, and the picture is full of interest. Another instalment of "The Moon Eiders" is also shown.