AMUSEMENTS.

Auckland Star, Volume L, Issue 67, 19 March 1919, Page 6

AMUSEMENTS.

"OH! BOY." — • The J. C. Williamson Musical Cnm~i Company Introduced "Oh! Boy" &T* crowded and liglit-keartcd audience at tii* Majesty's Theatre last evening, and aid! most of the ample opportunities in the S te frivol and carol tnrough Its tw<rhPJfJ* and entertaining acts. The dtanSS* basis or the tuneful farce ta ? litX?2sS than is possessed by a revue, but it rISSJI harmoniously with merry nonsense from thi pistol to the tape, and achieves. Its without effort—that of keeping the SeoSl before the footlights In a continuous bubbb Icf cure-killing gaiety. The plot U«5 merest apology o n wuich to hang"the iui rags of piquant conceit, and the »J • so overladen at times that one wond. whether the glittering and merry *£SuS* neas has not dispensed with *■ aitAVVT 11 * There are certainly sundry occaJlo" 1 *?- ---when one might exclaim "Oh!" for h..^?' laughable whimsies smother ~ gSXdLfiS Uvexv morality. it belongs, lamiliar order of musical farce JhtJi eavours unashamedly of red wln e aid lo«S ! easily degenerate it'less'accomplished KjfJ* either In book or music, "Oh! Boy " *„.,* down the torrent of lun light as » hf-u bark canoe, happy in each 'momeV existence, and apparently careless whi2 tlie next may land it. Musical farce of S! modern blend is usually built withl uj?! rake, and "Oh! Boy." smacks sauciness without stint, bat being a JoC£ hearted rogue, it breeds laughter .S oi-nzenly denes analysis. ■"* Mr. Fred. Maguhe distinguished himuMt as the Boy, and with the help of one oTtSf aicely sung musical numbers and « 52 sonality which ntted the part to the mjC borii, contrived to turn his welter of nuDtLu trials into a fountain of pure delight to Si audience. Mlse Grace Layers, is bis isi genuous and conndlug young bride, wae aha at her happiest, playing and singini hS prettily appealing part in a manner wuS clinched her popularity as an actress of th« fresh and inuocent role. Miss Cecil Bridkr made a dashing and de ii-inay-care JackS Simpson, the malaprop incorrigible of plot, acting with vivacity and apruthU, aplomb and singing in excellent voice tta numerous attractive numbers In her een» Mr. Alfred Frith, as a very novel and w. \ conventional detective in search of a lad* J with a mole on her back, extracted the mo»t ; from an egregiously farcical study, and with j Mr. Held Fisher kept the scream at the ! comedy at high pitch. Aβ a valet of faded palate and wide experience, Mr. Fisher m* a masterpiece of dry drollery, and afforded SK**" SySSffi ,,, °, f his delightful verit tilitj. -Mr. William Gre&ne contributed his share towards tne general hilarity as the irrepressible friend of the Boy. in which character he had plenty of opiortunltrtS exercise he voice, wnile Mr. Gorge WU° oughby looked and acted the role of a judge with a secret yearning for the lighter ways of life with a whole-hearted genUUt? that would move a stone. Mias SuiS Beatty was cast as a Quaker aunt, and Mrformed decidedly uuquakerish interludeilii a way which quite atoned for the quaint lapses of tbe book from the straight road of probability. The chorus work «* ensembleswere bright and snappy, the staging of the piece harmonised pretuS gay atmosphere, and some dandmt introduced by Miss Madge Elliott and Messrs Jack Hooker and Tom Preston wu clever and enjoyable. The season has been extended for three nights and will now end next Wednesday! "Oh! Boy," will be played to-night anSril Monday night; to-morrow and ou Tuesdiv "The Three Twins" played, aidoS Saturday aiid Wednesday "You're la Love.' *

THE NATIONAL THEATRE. Attractive Indeed Is the feature film tU« week at the National Theatre. It is entitled "The Heart of a Lion," and has foe its star the celebrated William Farnum Iα i? h e ( SK hl .* " bl ? e sUlrt " characters, tot which he is so famous. It is one of thoie thrtl'n^ 7 tlllS P hot ° : P la rß, fuU Of thoK thrilling incidents so dear to the hearts ot picture lovers. In this, one of his greatest achievement*, WUltara. ,**m»ni finds out that his own brother has robbed him of the girl he loves. He determines to foreet everyone, and rethes from surroundings pleasant and dear \. him to live anions the lumbermen. There he discovers hli brothers presence, but keeps hi s own presence a eecret until, big-hearted, he coma »h the . as f Stance of his brSther at a time when he is being attacked by the leader «f the woodsmen. In this way the tw» mn^ erS , are bT ,°, u s ht fsether. Special' Pr ° Vided by an ~™S™*& OPERA HOUSE.

Bright and entertaining is the current programme at the Opera House. lathe numbers are heartily applauded by the week a « eD 5? ! are a"endin| thi. i mfit H,? r A 1 Bnces n ew production i» quite different fronl the others. Mr Bruce scores Heavily as the funny man of the piece. In addition there is a fine budget of vaudeville turns by artiste who reany know how to entertain. Bomaine, violinist displays abundant ability to engage the attention of his followers with splendidly Played selections. Miss Bessie Lester cm* tinues a favourite with a large section ot the audiences, and is nightly called upon to give extra numbers. Murfayne, jrbh phonist; Pollard and Jackson, operetta artists; and Hay and Gray, patter com* dians, are on the same programme. I THE TIVOLI. An entirely new programme is to M ■ presented at the Tivoli Theatre, commencing at this afternoon's session, when Wμ: . Vivian Martin, a popular star, will tppete lin a comedy-drama entitled "Molly Entangled," which is said to be a wholesome ■ , and refined etory. In this Miss Martin , j scores a distinct success, and is engaging throughout the many episodes that make I the photo-play such a fine production as It j is. Miss Martin is given every possible advantage to display her wonderful ability. I and the tried star makes good in a manner . ■ that leaves nothing to be desired. Another 'fine production appearing under the title of "Camouflage" appears on the same programme. It is a comedy of great mlrtn* provoking qualities. The latest American : Gazette, showing views of the gathering on j the Domain on Saturday last, completes a fine programme, which is screened to the music of the Tivoli Symphony Orchestra. EVERYBODY'S THEATRE. A good programme is being screened it Everybody's Theatre this week, the main: film being 'Tie -Firefly of Faince." : It is a photo-play that tells of the exploits of an aviator in a manner that cannot fail to ■hold the attention of the audience. The flying man is decorated for a very worthy action, an account of which he relates to his mates, the story at the same time appearing ou the film. This fine production is supported by films varied and inter* esting. THE PRINCESS THEATRE. • Madame Olga Petrova has registered • . 'big success in "Tempered Steel," the stellar attraction at the Princess Theatre this week. The story concerns life in anil about a Tenderloin Theatre in New York. Madame Petrova's interpretation of toe role ,of Lucille Caruthers is characteristic ,o£ i this star's ability to regteter the right emd- ; tiou at the time. Her Lucille i Caruthers is au animated young person foil 'of life and hope, who, when tragedy stare* her in the fuce is able to maintain her equilibrium in an amazing fashion. A fine supporting film is "A Dog's Life," the first of the million-dollar exhibits. It is a , screamingly funny production, that htm at« traeted large bouses to this theatre dutr ing the week. THE STRAXD THEATRE. A new picture of a type and quality thlt is uttractiug a lot of attention is '-Peek* Bad Girl,' , at the head of the programme at the Strand Theatre. Much of its charm is drawn from the fact that the attractive personality and graceful figure of Miss .Mabel Normand plays an important part In the story. "Peck's Bad Girl" is a new< Goldwyn release, and, apart from the ii«l> standard of the acting, the settings are on a magnificent scale, and the comedy moves forward with brisk action, sustaining the Interest at v very high pitch. The story . tells of a girl, first as the rowdy element of the town, and later as an industrious shop assistant. A good supporting series is also tshown. THE QTTEEX'S THEATRE. Featuring Bessie Bari-iscale. "The Castoff. • now showing at the head of the programme nt the Queen's Theatre, is proving decidedly attractive. A cirl sets out to earn a livelihood as a 3 hop assistant, but before long v desire comei over her to become an actress, and. inil.iied with the wen she seeks an engagement, mid is successrui. Starting at the bottom rung, she puts Uer heart and soul into the tack >efore Jier with encouraging results, and llnaiiy emerwes a famous actress. An Xti flue 6ertu appeare •» tuesan,.