AMUSEMENTS.

Auckland Star, Volume LVI, Issue 55, 6 March 1925, Page 10

AMUSEMENTS.

NATIONAL AND LYRIC THEATRES. In the double-feature programme now being shown at the National and Lyric Theatres is "The Broadway Madonna," winDorothy Revier and Jack Connelly in the principal roles. It tells of Vivian Collins, a beautiful young woman, who Is dominated by the superior will or her husband, who assumes the name of Dr. Kramer. The pseudo physician intrigues against a wealthy and impressionable young man named Tom Bradshaw and persuades his wire to help him in his plot. The wife, who IS also a dancer in a Broadway cabaret, admires the young man against whom her husband has plotted, but is so completely dominated by the latter that she weakly lends herseir to his scheme. The victim of the intrigue responds up the wires advances. Unaware of her part in the plot and of her marriage to the physician, he seeks to make her his wife. Subsequent events are replete with thrilling drama. The other production is "The Story Without a Name," a Paramount picture, in which Agnes Ayres and Antonio Moreno are featured. The picture has the unusual title on account or its being adapted from an original magazine story, berore that story had been named. It is an exciting and romantic tale, and has the modern radio craze as a background. "The Punch of the Irish," one of the special First National comedies, and the latest Topical Budget are also shown. STRAND THEATRE. "Where Lights Arc Low," a dramatic love story or a prince rrom the Far East, who finds happiness in America, besides being a notable picture, also marks the return to the screen after a very long absence of Sessue Hayakawa, the JapaneseAmerican actor, who. In the old days, was a firm favourite with picture enthusiasts. In "When Lights Are Low" he is shown as a highborn prince, who loves a lowly maid. Custom bade him marry a woman of his own degree—a woman he had never seen. But his love made him loyal to the other woman, and although his roes took her away, he searched Tor her and finally round her in a roreign land. There he saved her rrom a terrible fate and then he toiled Tor her through years of anguish which followed. Just as victory was in his grasp fate seemed to snatch it away, but in the end he conquers and gains his heart's desire. The story was written by Lloyd Osborne, a stepson or Robert Louis Stevenson. The usual comedy, British Gazettes and Pathe Review are also screened. Claude Dampier, the "Cheerful Idiot," provides an hilarious interlude this week. There are few Aucklanders who do not know Claude, while those who have not seen him on the stage possibly saw him in Beaumont Smith's mm, "Hullo, Marmaduke," which was shown at. the Strand a lew weeks ago. With him is his graceful partner, Miss Hilda Attenboro. HIPPODROME THEATRE. "Men," a Paramount picture, in which Pola Negri, the beautiful roreign actress, appears, is the principal attraction at the Hippodrome Theatre this week. It is the story of a young waitress in a waterfront cafe at Marseilles, who, after a varied experience with men, becomes a reigning stage favourite. Then men still seek her, but she scorns them. A man whom she had known in the old days then comes back into her life, to tell her of his love, but she rejects him, at the same time asking him Tor money. To get this he robs his employer's bank and is arrested. To save film the girl makes a bargain with the employer, who, however, relents, and leaves the lovers happily united. The supporting cast sets a new mark for big names. Robert Frazer has the principal male role, with Robert Edeson and Joseph Swlckard in equally important parts. Monti Collins has a great character role, Gino Corrado is the suave villain, and Edgar Norton an unscrupulous baron. "Men" is an original screen story written by Dimitri Buchowetski, who was brought to the United States l'rom Europe to produce it. The supports are the latest Paramount Gazette, a comedy, and a Burton Holmes travelogue. On Monday evening the fourth vaudeville night will be held. EVERYBODY'S THEATRE. Betty Compson, the beautiful Paramount actress, has the leading role in "The Female," a screen version of Cynthia StocKley's Soufa African romance, "Dalla. the Lion Cub." As the many readers or the authoress' novels knows. Miss Stockley has a great knowledge of the country, which she uses as a setting tor her stories. Her novels are always roll of the romantic, and mysterious atmosphere of the Dark Continent, and they have, been found to be exceptionally well suited for screen adaptation. "Pongola" and "Pink Gods" have already appeared on the screen here. The story concerns a beautiful girl who is called the "lion cub" because, as a child, she had once strayed rrom home, only to be found with a lioness and her cubs. The girl marries a man she does not love, on condition that he allows her to go to England, so that she might become a cultured society lady. As such she. returns to South Africa, snubs her husband, and plunges madly into the social whirl. Then she meets again the man she had always really loved. The subsequent action *is full of excitement and romance, ending in the girl finding happiness with her lover. Dorothy Gumming, Helen Butler, Pauline French, Noah Beery and Warner Baxter are also in the cast. Other attractions are screened. TIVOLI THEATRE. "K." the widely read romance or hospital lire By Mary Roberts Reinhart, is now being shown at the Tivoli Theatre under the title "X, the Unknown." The story concerns a young probationer nurse and a man whom she knows simply as K. Le Moyne. X is a clerk in a gas office. The young girl's early days in the hospital are tedious, but she finds wonderful encouragement from the stranger. Into the story comes a young and successful doctor and a youth. Both the latter love Sydney, and she knows it; but she aid realise that the man who always kept in the background loved her too. Then came a tragedy or jealousy—the youth shoots the doctor, who is taken to Sydney's hospital. There the skilled surgeons are helpless — only an operation can save the man, and that is the Edwardes operation, which can only be performed by Dr. Edwardes himseir. He had disappeared many years before because or some hospital scandal. But at the crucial moment a nurse recosrnlses in X, who is sitting in the passage, the famous surgeon. He performs the operation his name is cleared, and then the amazed Sydney realises what X means to her. On the same programme is a comedy, "Sherlock, Junior," in which the smileless comedian, Buster Ke.aton, appears in a burlesque or the ramous creation by Sir Arthur Conan Doyle. PRINCESS THEATRE. It is not orten that a screen star.writes a story ror picture purposes. Barbara La M.arr, however, is an exception, and her My Husband's Wives" is now being shown as a Fox production at the Princess Theatre. Shirley Mason has the leadingrole. "My Husband's Wives" is one or the llction novelties which rarely tlnd their way to the screen. It has to do with the matrimonial mix-ups which are always liable to occur when a divorcee takes unto himself another bride. As it happens in this case, the two women are intimate friends until the ex-wire pays a visit to the home or the newlyweds and her successor learns the truth. From that point on thrill follows thrill as the second wife strives to extricate herseir from the entanglements of suspicions, doubts and various other thoughts which lead to desperation. Climacteric conditions come when a third woman seems to enter the husband's life. The second attraction on the programme is "The Super Sex " the plot or which revolves round the eternal felturedf Ual COmC(ly 3nd ffazette GRAND THEATRE. «,£**, *?•?. Gr l nd Theatr e the third heat of the bathing beauty competition is in progress. The final batch or competitors is screened each day, and voters are urged to record their votes as early as possible The interest shotvn in these competitions has been most gratirying to the management, who expect that, as the event draws to a c i?,? e ' m , the „ Merest will become keener still. The flrst prize will be a flrst saloon trip to Sydney or its equivalent. The chief feature on the picture programme is Honour Among Men," a Fox production starring Edmund Lane. The usual supports are included. - - ° MADAME GALLI-CURCI. At the present moment there is considerable doubt whether Madame Galli-Curci will be heard in New Zealand. A gentleman interested in music, cabled to Australia toa Mend to ascertain the position, and the reply was that he had seen the promoters who lnrormed him that they should like very much to have Galli-Curci give con certs in New Zealand, but that concerts given by artists whom they had sent to New Zealand have been s6 poorly sun ported that they were not a paying proposition, and that they could ill afford to ?^? h GaIU " Curcl unless the y were assured that her concerts were going to be liberally supported by the New ZellandpuWi Ir they can be assured that the concerts are go ng to be well supported they would not have any objection to sending her in which case they would give three concerts in Auckland on 18th, 20th and 23rd June ZLFISPW on -~~ e 27 -l* and 30th June' and possibly one in Christchurch and Dunedin. It would appear that without a guarantee there are no famous artists cotnlne to the Dominion. artists

"THE O'BRIEN GIRL." The reports from Australia regardincthe merits or "The O'Brien Girl," probabiv the most talked or musical production lor many years, have evidently had a marked effect on the box plans, which are most heavily booked for the nrst six nights or the season. "The O'Brien Girl," which might be termed a great dancing- extrava ganza, will have its Auckland premiere this evening at the Opera House, ana tha llrst matinee will be held to-morrow arternoon. Throughout the play there is colour and movement, whilst the story told is a romantic one and unique from every point of view. The company gathered bySir Benjamin Fuller and .Mr. Hugh Ward is almost entirely new to New Zealand the title role being enacted by Miss Mamie Watson, a charming" young- English actress rrom the Gaiety Theatre, London, who is said to express the sentiment demanded by the author. There are many fresh personalities, notably Mr. Mark Daly a brilliant comedian from the Shaftesbury Theatre, London, and special interest v attached to the appearance or Miss May Beatty, who may be regarded as New Zealand's own comedienne. Another dispenser or comedy, who will inevitably Become a popular idol, is Mr. Ireland Cutter. Miss June Roberts is a brilliant dancer rrom the famous Mew York Zleg-feld Follies, as is also her sister Dorothy. Leyland Hodgson is a beau ideal juvenile lead, and. two more famous dancers from NewYork are Miss Hazel Harris and Mr. Westley Pierce. Other popular principals are Miss Maudie Vera, Miss Belle Beilchambers, Mr. Lou Vernon, Mr. Erie Masters and Mr. Royston McDonnel. The ballet and chorus are a special feature in the production and there will be a full operatic orchestra under the baton of Mr. Willy Redstone, the eminent English conductor and composer. Other features in the comedy are the wonderful dressing, scenery, and lighting effects, which, it is said, will be a revelation to local theatregoers. "The O'Brien Girl" has been described as a rainbow-hued pageant of arresting beauty. The company specialises in dancing and eccentric and acrobatic and graceful dancing will illustrate the skill or a number of members of the company. ETHEL OSBORN CONCERT. Before an appreciative audience in the Town Hall last evening, Miss Ethel Osborn, the brilliant Australian soprano, gave her second concert. The performance was a very enjoyable one and the soprano ana her company received hearty plaudits ana recalls at the close of each appearance. Meyerbeer's famous shadow song "Ombra Leggiera," from his opera "Dinorah," was the cantatrice's initial scena, and a clever performance was secured oi' this exacting: number. The embellishments were vocalised with lluences and the semiquaver scales were given with vivacity and tenderness, whilst due expression was thrown into the andantino "A'on sai tv," the soft cadence floating through space with much sweetness. The singing of the Allegro was a line piece of bravura work the sequences were freely vocalised and the intervals, lithe modulating cadenza were true and mite like, whilst the high D and E flats rang out with piccolo-like timbre. After this capable performance the artist was heartily encored. Rimsky-Karsakov, founder of the Neo-modern Russian School, was represented by his famous "Hymn to the Sun," from the "Golden Cockerel." This is a most exacting solo and of an entirely different nature to the Valse by Meyerbeer. However, by clever voice management, and a cultivated ear the soprano was able to sing its difficult degrees, and modulate its various cadences in a musicianly style. Puccini's "In quelle trine morblde," from the second act of "Manon Lescaut," was tenderly expressed and charmingly phrased. Pleasingly rendered were Oliver's "The Moon," and "The Jolly Old Sun," Miss Osborn concluding a delightful concert with a bright and flowing performance or Del Acqua's "Villanelle." Violin solos by Paderewski, Wieniawski and Hubay were successfully given by Mr. T. Williams. Mendelssohn's Andanto and Finale from the E minor concerto, was creditably given by Madame Borman and Mr. Williams, and the pianist was heard in Chopin's "Prelude op 28. No. 20," and poldini's "Doll's Dance." Longfellow's "The Death of Minnehaha," was graphically and impressively recited by Mr. A. Stanley Warwick, and he also gave a humorous performance of "After Marriage." In the same hall the closing concert or the series will be given this evening. SEYMOUR HICKS SEASON. The Ilnal performance of "The Man in Dress Clothes" at the Opera House last night was attended by another crowded and enthusiastic audience, which at the close, of the play insisted in its recalls until Mr. Hicks made"' a little farewell speech. The talented actor and his charming: wife. Miss Kllaline Terriss, thanked their Auckland friends lor their hospitality and the warmth of their appreciation, declaringthat they would carry away nothing hut the happiest recollections or this beauti/W country and its people. Miss Terriss ana the lady members of the company were the recipient of numerous tributes in the shape of bouquets and boxes of bon-bons. MISS DOROTHEA VINCENT. With reference to the pianoforte recitals to be given in the Town Hall Concert Chamber on Wednesday, March IS, and Saturday, March 21. by Miss Dorothea Vincent, it is interesting to note that siio was a pupil of Howard-Jones, the famous English pianist. Miss Vincent has frequently played under the baton of Sir Henry Wood in promenade concerts at Queen's Hal], London, and -with other wellknown London and provincial orchestras. She has appeared in chamber concerts and many recitals. Among other works Miss Vincent has played is. the concerted piece for pianoforte and orchestra by Manuel de Falla, the modern Spanish writer, "Nuits dans les Jardins d'Espagne." (Nights in the Garden of Spain)—three most attractive and characteristic dances. Miss Vincent has been closely associated with the younger group of British composers, and is desirous of showing as much as possible or their work, including sonatas for violin and piano as weU as solos, CAPITOL THEATRE. "The Trouble Shooter," a William Fox feature starring Tom Mix, with his wonder horse Tony, and "Why Men Leave Home," with Heiene Chadwick and Lewis Stone la the leading roles, are the main attractions now being shown at the Capitol Theatre. In "The Trouble Shooter," Mix plays the part of a wire repair man for a western power company. Daring scenes follow one another in rapid succession and the story is replete with humour and romance. There are many thrilling incidents in which the horse Tony plays no small part. In "Why Men Leave Home" the story covers a little more than a year or the married lire of the John Emersons, during which the man turned trom an attentive lover into a disagreeable "old wretch." However, at the office he displayed such a pleasant nature that his pretty stenographer began to lay covetous eyes upon him. Thus, aided by a series or unrortunate circumstances, fate gave John Emerson another wife—and a whole lot of trouble. The usual supports are also featured.