ENTERTAINMENTS

Ashburton Guardian, Volume XLVI, Issue 10685, 31 December 1925, Page 7

ENTERTAINMENTS

HIS MAJESTY'S THEATRE. "FINE CLOTHES." "Fine Clothes," which opened at his Majesty's Theatre last evening is human and therefore is entertaining. It is a John M. Stahl production, presented by Louis B. Mayer through First National. ''Fine Clothes" is laid in London. Peter Hungerford, the owner of a haberdashery, shop, is the central character around which the chief action of the story revolves. The part is ably played by Percy Marmont, who is well known to local theatre audiences. Lewis S. Stone and Alma Rubens are cast as importantly as Marmont. The former plays the Earl ofDenham and Miss Rubens presents a charming and Paula.

The story was adapted to the screen by Benjamin Glazer from the play by Franz Molnar. All thp elements of life have been brought into this drama, with its many little tragedies and its joyful moments as well. The sux>ports are excellent.

"SQUIBS, M.P." Whoever created the character of Squibs for Betty Balfour certainly did the job well. She is the very spirit of vitality, whoso every appearance on the screen means another display of comedy fireworks. As "Squibs. M.P.," the latest Master Picture, due Friday and Saturday, and Saturday's matinee, she is both philanthropist and parliamentarian, a little flower-seller who has climber the , social ladder carrying with her a magic 1 box of amusing tricks. Betty laying the law down to father, or masquerading in officer's uniform at a costume ball in Paris, or chopping! no lumps of butter at the Sqnibs' Pure Milk Dairy, or showing P. C. Lee how to make a parliamentary speech, pasting up election bills, white-washing hecklers, pleading the cause of babies before battleships in the House of Commons, or chasing ghosts in a haunted castle, is just the self-same Betty, radiating happiness all the time. "Squibs, M.P.," is funniest adventure so far, and certainly Betty Ralfour's cleverest and happiest performance. It makes one wonder if there is any limit to the amount of fun she can get out of life. The supporting programme includes a comedy, gazette, "Urban Ohat," and at. both on Saturday Charles Chaplin will be seen in "The Rink," an original comedy.

WIRTHS' CIRCUS. FRIDAY NIGHT ONLY. Replete with the very latest and choicest pickings of circus world as it is known in America and Europe, Wirths' Circus will appear in Ashburton on Friday, one night only. The stars featured on the circus bill this season include the Honey Sisters, who appear in a number of acts unsurpassed for grace and skill; Alfred Clark, the world's ridei'; Torrelli's surprise packet of a circus within a circus, with its screamingly funny ponies, mules, dojis, monkeys and clowns; Captain Rett's amazing trained seals; Miss Eileen May and her trained baby elephants, Peggy and Jumbo, and many others—to say nothing of an army of the funniest 'clowns that ever crocked jokes, and the reappearance of Mr P. Wirth, after an absence of ten years. Jealously maintaining the reputation that they have built up through the years that have passed, the Wirth Brothers have spared no expense to preserve the exceptionally high standard that places their show on an unapproachable pinnacle, and that they hiwe succeeded will be amply demonstrated when their huge combination appears here. Wirth Bros. Band is now in charge of Hugliie McMahon. The Menagerie will be open from 4 to 5 p.m. in order to give an opportunity of seeing the wild beasts fed.

AUSTRALIAN SILVER BAND. THEATRE ROYAL—MONDAY. Tho playing of the Australian Silver Baud has recently been likened to that of a symphony orchestra, interspersed with selections played upon a grand organ by a master musician. Such were the descriptions given by the Wellington and Auckland press of the concerts given in each of these cities. Whether it be a Liszt rhapsody, a Chopin .nocturne, a grand selection of Wagnerian melodies, or one of the latest jazz numbers, tho fine tone, technique, brilliance of. ensemble and interpretation, are qualities that shine forth, and plant themselves indelibly in the minds of those who hear this fine combination of Australian musicians. The conductor, Mr Albert H. Baile (whose musicianly and perfect method of control during the tour of the Newcastle Steel Works Band . will be remembered) has a high ideal in view, on this, his second visit to tho Homeland. His ambition is to eclipse the already magnificent record established during the bast tour, and in addition to the two great trophies he brought back on that occasion, to this time endeavour to bring the Crystal Palace thousand guinea trophy away from its stronghold in the British Isles, where it has reposed so many years undisturbed. Mr Baile and his talented combination will appear in tho Theatre Royal, Ashburton, on -Monday night next. Further details appear in our advertising columns. "THE DIGGERS." THEATRE ROYAL—JANUARY 8. It will bo welcome news for amuse-' ment lovers to know that Pat. Hanna's Vice-Regal Diggers, a combination of •J 5 brilliant artists, who have broken all records for the past seven years in Australia and New Zealand, will show here lor one big joy night only on Friday, January 8. The Diggers have shown 11 the Festival Hall at tho Dunedin ■•'xhibition, and are tho only company specially selected and brought from Australia by tho exhibition management, which adds further lustre to the proudest record of any costume comedy in Australasia. They have just arrived

from Australia, where they created an absolute record by playing for 488 consecutive' nights at Cremorne Theatre. Brisbane. Anion e; the comnany art such well known nanvs as Jo? Valli. G-. P. Hanna, Beit. Gilbert, Stan. !/nvson, Jim. Fnran, Jn< k Thomsby. B'-'"r Lawrance. Chris. Kilner. Frank M" Donald, Roy Brinsden. Wallace Lloyd Flo. Crossley, Je«sie Hnnna, Ivn+hletei Lawrance. Vera Carew, Rosette Powell Wynne Thomson, Thclma Pitt-aril, f !wfl Lewis, Venn. I?ix, Olive Biker, Myn Bennett, and the Classical Ballet, witl tho full concert orchestra. The box plai is at The Bristol.