AMUSEMENTS.

Auckland Star, Volume LII, Issue 72, 28 March 1921, Page 7

AMUSEMENTS.

'SINBAD THE SAILOR." No wonder the panto people look upon Auckland as the best show town in the country, for Tils Majesty's Theatre was packed jammed and crowded from the gallery' of the gods to the hist seat of the bai-k "stalls on Saturday night. Such a magnificent In.use evidently spurred on the company to do its best, and the show went with a swing. The many pretty ballets, the bright action and Hie clever comedy touches were eagerly applauded. Bookings are heavy for the matinee this afternoon, and there will be another matinee on Werincfidav and Saturday, besides the evening performances all the week. KING'S THEATRE. The production "Uncle Tom's Cabin" has] at all limes been made welcome lv all parts of the world, and it was a foregone conclusion that It would meet with a good reception at the Kings Theatre, but when it wus stated for the first time at this house on Saturday it had more than au appeal, and I took a firm grip of the audience. The company was specially augmented, and new s.-enerv was used in presenting this stirring tale of the negro's life on the plantations, humour aud pathos and cruelty and the tragedy of tlie slave traffic being brought out in a manner that ran the gamut of tbe emotions. Ceorge Cross as Uncle Tom "lived" his part, his style being most convincing, while Kenneth Carlisle in a role just tlie opposite to the foregoing—a slave, driver—likewise carried his part off well. , As little Eva Miss Meena Lubbe captivated! the audience, while Miss Nellie Bramley, as , the wile of the runaway slave, depicted by | John i.lway. again had many admirers. The humorous strain, supplied by Dorothy Cope and Walter Cornock, repeatedly moved the audience to laughter and kept them In good humour. Miss Ella earrington, as Miss St. Clair, and Mr. W. McGowan | as Sambo, a happy negro, who is forced to carry out disagreeable duties, likewise give a' good account of themselves, the prodnc-1 tion being in the hands of a cast which i makes the best of their opportunities. j OPERA HOUSE. Fullers' Opera House was crowded with I a holiday audience on Saturday night, and the matinee to-day was wel] attended. A new programme will be put on this week the contributors rncludiug:—Evans and Deen. song and skating artists; Emerol and DupreV Phil Per-lvai. Va.ide and verne, Sumas, Lllas Blrt. and Connor and Hall. A matinee will be given to-morrow afternoon. THE lIIPPODKO-ME THEATRE. A double role is sustained by both Tom Mix and Miss Eva Novak, -the latter of whom makes a charming leading lady for the Fox feature "The Feud," which, is now running at the Hippodrome. The story is one that carries the spectator past the time of family hatreds in a cultivated country to fresh scenes lv an adventurous land, where another generation live their lives , with love, minus the hatred, as the culminating passion. "The Feud" treats of a .young nun who slew in a quarrel his ; sweethearts father. lie went away, they were estranged, he lived an adventurous life, and married another woman. The former sweetheart also married, and their off spring met as lovers a?ain. The Hippodrome orchestra is not the least of tne siiplHjrting features. THE NATIONAL THEATRE. Nothing quite like "The Devil's Pa-* Key" can be seen this week in Auckland. This picture the feature of the current programme at the National Theatre, deals with a stury of Paris, where beautiful women, clothed In gowns that arc the envy and despair of the less fortunate, are lured into Indiscretions because of the expense ennlltsl lv Hie matter of dress. The story Is a particularly good one. for the whole 1 point of "The Devil's Pass Key" lies in the wav the husband uses what is fast bei-omlug a public scandal for his own purposes. He is. of course, ignorant that his wife Is the central figure, and it is his discovery of this that creates the first of a series of powerful scenes. The later proof that the whole story is false, or rather that rhe wife N an innocent party, brings the climax. The mush- at this theatre is a feature of the entertainment. Till' STRAND THEATRE. A bright form of holiday entertainment is now current at the Strand Theatre, where a picture based on an adventurous book Is now running under the tiile "The Courage of Marge O'Dooue." The scenes are set first on the fringes of civilisation, and later the scttinss an- still wilder. In comparison with whar appears in the maJority of <.:her pictures, iti-re is material for two or three adventure stories here, nesldes a problem play. The leading ■ haracters arc Pauline stark and Nlles Wel.-h. The hero travels a long way to find a mysterious girl. He -discovers her in the midst of a great trouble, and together they encounter a series of dangers that are peculiarly interesting. Tbe Stratiri orchestra anil the topical supporting 'pictures complete the bill. THE TIVOLI THEATRE. The outstanding film ar the Tivoli is one called "Held hy the Enemy." a picture story interpreted by such nrtists as Miss Wanda I I.i v. ley. Jack Holt, and several other stars. There's a good deal of love and similar sentiment in the make-up of this drama, but these soft things are well contrasted hy the hardness of men's deeds. The best parts of the picture _ire its beginning, which presents some beautiful scenes of peaceful life in a beautiful country, an,l the ending, which is conventional, but rather surprising in the way It Is developed. The latest Voinedv vies with topical pictures among the sufiports, and the orchestral music is grand. TIIF LYRIC THEATRE. Maurice Tournenr is responsible for another film production which is now running at the Lyric Theatre under title "'! he Country Fair." It is a rural racing drama, but there is more to It than the mrill of racing. In addition there is a quaint element of humour and a good deal of l,.ve. Intermixed with scenes that appeal lv something the same wav as Mark Twain used to do. There is a good allround programme of supports. THE GRAND THEATRE. To those who love mystery, und whose hearts arc set ou a strange detective story, "'['he Purple Cipher." a film now being screened al the ilrand. will appeal. This picture deals with a mysterious band or Orientals. wliosi**only sign Is a couple of written words. These come lo a man as a warning. The plot traces the methods of detecting these criminals, and it lears Earle I Williams, the her,,, through some Intricate adventures. lv addition there Is another chapter of the serial. "Smashing Harriers." ' EVERYBODY'S THEATRE. I At Everybody's Viola Dana is the leading lady, and "Dangerous to Men" la the film in whtch she appears as a perfectly i innocuous hut intensely captivating little ' vampire. An unfortiiua'fe fellow is bewaili lug his fate because he has to chaperone a I girl, but wheu the girl "heaves in sight.' ias the sailor wou:,: say. he changes his mind completely regarding the vagaries of j Dame Fortune From this point ouwards irhe snoi-y nVikes ni_te a pretty IK tie romance. A Ll'ille lopsided perhaps, hut still ; entertaining. Ihe musical and film supports are interesting. THE PRINCESS THEATRE. Under the Princess banner "An Old i Fashioned l'.ov " is infolding his virtues by 'medium of the sen en before au admiring public. The 1.-.y is Charles Kay. and he gets in'o trouble because he anticipates the j verdict of a soclrev bell;-. She ou her part 'does not like the' idea, but it all comes right In the end. The whole bill Is a good entertainment. -THE WAYBAC'KS." Next Saturday night "The Waybacks " will appear at the Princess Theatre, and since everybody has made friends with the quaint characters of these delightful stories the farcical comedy-drama that has been built round I hem "on the screen should prove aa unusual attraction. THE QUEEN'S THEATRE. •• The Speed Maniac," a film that feature; Tom Mix. of Ihe Fox studios, is a storj that is rather incoherent, maluly because o its speed of a.-tiou. Tlie hero does nol even d.'ign to take a 81*11 after a fen ,-'oleut rounds in the hoxiiii.- ring, but goe; straight ahead with his rusulng motor can and other contraptions, which eventually kauri him at the winning post with a gir iv his arms. THE BRITANNIA THE VTRE. William Farnum, in " Wolves of thi I Night" is tho headliner a: the Britannia Theatre, and a Sunshine comedy called "Jazz llandlis " is the chief support. VICTORIA THEATRE. At the Victoria Theatre. British production "Under Suspicion « being screened this afternoon and Tomorrow and the next day the GeoW* ''arpentler film "The Wonder Man *U be presented. " JOY LAND." " Joyland." at Karangahape Road. U cures, "including athletic bouts, and a list of | varied diversions.

a CITY ORGAN RECITAL. Leon Boellmann's Suite Gothlque. Op. 25 was the principal solo submitted by Mr Burnett at the municipal organ recital ou Saturday evening. The foundation stops _nd reeds 4, 8. and 10. on all manuals, proclaimed the rich harmonies of the choral whilst the Menuet Gothlque was executed in a non-lcgato manner suiting tne character of the movement. The tender -Priere a Notre Dame was played on a viola dl gamba and vox angelica registering, on the swell organ, flute and stopped diapasons ou the great manual, with soft eight and sixteen pedal, which proved a tonal-blending adequately fitting the impressive style of tbe music, whilst the "Toccata" received a brilliant rendering aud one which displayed the splendid 4 "8 Hi and 32 notes of the pedals, the b'l" 'registers of the manuals and choms reeds. Wolstenholnie's -Serenata /erved well to display the stringed and Ante family of pipes, and the powerful .tubas and diapasons were judiciously united during the rendering of Bossi « -Alleluia and Rubinstein's Wedding March. Mr. Hubert Curter gave with marked success. Donizetti's "La Donna Mobile." Mendelssohn s •The' Sorrows of Death." and Elliot * "Spring's a Lovable Lady," gaining hearty encores after each number. The accompanist was Mr. Leo. Whlttaker. THE ENGLISH PPERROTS. The musical fare of the .English Pierrots underwent a complete change on Saturday ni" _t A concerted number hy the whole troupe opens the performance, which runs smoothly along for two short hours, and scuds the audience away in thoroughly delighted spirits. The company has -two fine soloists In Miss Eva Gordon (soprano) and Mr. .David J. Lyle .tenon. The former _ye a sympathetic rendering of ChriUna's Lament." and was subsequently b _rd in "'Barcarolle,'-' in company -with Mr Roy Cooke. The possessor of a powerful and rich voice. Mr. Lyle was encored for his rendering of "For You Alone, and, was equally -pleasing in "My Hidden Rose. A lighter element was introduced by Jir. Chas Lawrence, in company with _LUs iza'Crossle., in the skit "The Flapper and the Knirt," and this was sustained by Mr I iwrence's modernised interpretations of'"Come Into the Garden, Maud.' and "Alice Where Art Thou.' He .made excellent "rag" from these well-mown songs. Mr Harry Schofield. in Highland cjnttune, was assisted by 'the company similarly attired, in a bright number "Highland \l_rv " Mr. Edmund Warrington brought out ' the necessary «£ ara « er l st „ CS _i n interpretations of an .English hall artist, a. German mariner, and a souhrette rendering a popular song. Miss Lillian Colenzo is a _e_Xe comedienne, and had the •«•«*»« lv constant laaghter in her chaJweter studies. The male quartet san" honmonlouslv and were much appreciated in "Moonlight Bay." and a recent rag "Swanee." "Camouflage' and a Dud Dream" were two amusing skits. The rormer Illustrates a modern way of regaining the a.Uniratlon of an indifferent husband, while the latter is a real khaki hallucination PleaFantlv rendered numbers by the •ompnnr and violin solos by MLss Mora Crossley complete the programme, which will be repeated nightly. THE WEST END THEATRE. " Three Green Eyes" is the name of tV headliuer at the West End. June Elvir. • is the pretty heroine of this inter.--: _ drama. ________________