AMUSEMENTS.

Auckland Star, Volume LVI, Issue 192, 15 August 1925, Page 15

AMUSEMENTS.

MERCHANT OF VENICE." r As Sbylock:. "In « r Thp. MW«ianJ:vpfc Venice," which will open at His Majesty's Theatre this evenUuy. Maurice #pscpvttch is said to he at his best." He lives the parti and, according to critics, gives the great-, est interpretation or any actor of the.sqay. " Moscbvltch's Sbylock.' l says an English critic, "Is a figure: pf inteuect. dignity, and power among a rabble or shallow pates. -He is the qr *rain obsessed by a lust to uphold intellect in a thoughtless world." The one great-error, the one indignity' he commits, is to stoop tQ revenge. In the trial scene Moscovitch makes the audience feel that <he .real; tragedy of Shylock is.notthat'he has been robhediy a quibble Of his pound of nosh, but that he'should -never" have'put Ms racial pride at the mercy of those who. spat upon him and spurned him, and rpr these courtesies request he'll lend them so much moneys.' Moßelvltch's appeal teto the intellect.' There is a ploasure in his technique,'in hisjg-esjure, in his voice, in" the sense of his personality on the stage. And all these atecdnsclously being used as any great and sincere artist uses the technique of his art,.to make clear ms thought and his reason, his vivid, proietrating .analysis of the . character." Mr. Nat Madison, 'the-sort or Moscovitch, has : the part of Lancelot Gobbo. and gives a masterly performance, while the charming Miss Jean Robertson unakes an appealing Portia. • "The Merchant of -Venice will be continued for -five nights. STRAND THEATRE. Two most entertaining pictures, each of a distinct variety, 'are being screened at> the Strand Theatre this week, while an added and considerably-attractive feature Is the jazz band of.the U.S.s. Mississippi. The"pictures are "Southern/Love," star: ring Betty Blythe, and " Squibs, M.P;, Jn. which Betty' Balfour, Britain* own nlrn star, makes a welcome-reappearance. The storyof " SpUriierh vJlove '* tells of the rise and faU-of a great dancer. It is a story of gipsy passion and Spanish vengeance. Dolores is" one or a troupe orglpsy' players. very beautiful she te an exquisite . natural dancer. Another leading member of the troupe is Pedro, who is endowed -with a wonderful voice. He loves Dolores with all the sombre passion of his type. A young English artist sketching in Spain sees the beautiful Dolores, and persuades her to pose Tor him. The acquaintance leads to love, but Tennant Is called home, and Dolores Is lert to the wooing of Pear o , whom she fears and hates. Meanwhile,, Count de Sllva, who hftS tired or the beaiitirul heiress he married, endeavours to persuade Dolores to allpw him to make her ramous as a dancer in Seville. When Pedro forces their betrothal she -flies to the Count, who secures a start for her at ■the loading theatre, where she speedily becomes the furore of the town. A dramatic climax follows. . ■; " Squibs, M.P." Is the .sequel t° " Squibs Wins the Calcutta Sweep," jamv is said to be Betty Bairour's runniest mm. The-usual supports are Shown, whue. Miss Bettlna Edwards provides a Spanish interlude. ■ The Mississippi jazz band Js one of the best, and provides a great ten minutes.' TIVOLI THEATRE. "The Slanderers," a Universal special attraction, heads the programme at the, Tivoli Theatre this week.. T h e ot^"° n characters are -portrayed by an all star cast or which Johnnie Walker of Up, ■ Gladys Hulette or "The Family Secret, - and -Blliy Sullivan -of -Pu3hers and "Fast Steppers" rame, have the feature roles. The .character roles are taken care or" by George -rvichols, Edith -Yc-rlce Phllo McCUUough, Margaret Landis, Jackie Morgan'and Turner, Savage. Nat Ross directed, and.Jhe short story .from which the picture play was adapted, was -written "*y Velma Clark -and published as "Judgment or-West paradise." The story telis in drama*!* manner the sonvows that came -inj.o :a happy (amilyas the result pt circumstances that , warp the minds pf. bigoted residents; or -jhe.Htt.le village -near, which the- ■JramHy in.question eked put an existence. -Game;, -.the ;tjme -when the.;, younger $on' ,could ho. longer endure the hrutallty and abuse to which an : uncled subjected--the'Tamiiy. Tie lad was; going tb war but he made a final appeal 40 the uncle and there was a quarrel that resulted, unknown to the youth, in the death or the man. It was not until the. youth returned -acclaimed a hero that he learned the f-uHness '.o/ the bitterness; endured by those, whom he loved. Then' there came a dramatic denouncement or the bigots, arter which happiness .comes to' .the family.' Other attractions are included on the bill. PRINCESS THEATRE.

To step from the role ,of heroic Western} hero and become a velvet clad English highwayman of -the #arly .ehjfateenth. century Is a -radical"departure itor. Tom Mix, but' Dick Turpin'S amazing feats or horsemajisbJiD, plcturasaue .performances and cheerful methods of rascality in the picture "Dick Turpln" now belnff. shown at the Princess Theatre, make his life an Ideal one for a Mix portrayal... Gifted In horsemanship to ?n even higher degree than was the redoubtable Dlcs himself, Tom Mix has given a tP.uch to the work .of Director John Blystone £bat makes the character x>i Turpin a .classic. The splendid role of Tom King Js admirably done by the famous "heavy" Alan Hale, Kathleen Myers, beautiful young woman, reaches fame by taking the leading feminine role, Philo McCullough and James Marcus inject the 'needed vllllany In ,a finished manner, and Buli Montana and Scowling- Sid Jprdan aire" .also teaturcd. One of the most pleasing feature? of the jproduction is the almost total absence or .tedious .explanatory ,tifles. It is frequently the case tnat jne spoken or printed wor.d works -faster than' visualisation, but it ido.es not so quickly .carry .forward the tempo of rthe picture. Many historical romances have been burdened with long- and wordy titles. It was necessary for the -director, J. G. Biystone, .either to Bet forth the situations in titles or to eliminate as many explanations as possible. The latter plan was decided upon and the fchriUls start early, follow fast, and are not interrupted by many needless words. On the same programme is "Oh, : •Jloctor," a .Universal prpduction starringReginald Denny. HIPPODROME THEATRE. "The Shooting of Dan McGrew," a I Metro production adapted from the wellknown poem, "The Spell of the -Yukon,"! by Robert \V. Service, is .the .chief ;attrac- j tion now being .shown .at' .the hippodrome Theatre. 'Percy Marmont plays the part' of the husband of "the Lady -Known asj Lou," a-part taken by Barbara La Marr. j Mac Busch and Lew Cady, also , noted. Players, ar,e iln the supporting, east. The; picture was directed hy Clarence Badger.; The story tells how J.im and his wife are, stranded in the .South Seas whore they; have been with a travelling; musical com- j edy company. Lou goes to New York -with Dan McGre-w and is led to believe (that her husband does not care for her. Jim; rollows and finds her, but is left to die; in a burning builfling. He is told ,of. McGrew's duplicity by a former admirerand follows Lou and Dan .to the Yukon; Where he finally finds -them. He -Buds his; revenge by IciUing Dan McGrew. .and -Loui and Jim are reunited. One of the outstand-; lng- features is the skilful handling- ,of the' adaptation or the poem. The tense melodramatic situations .are brought .outi rorcibiy, working- to a stirring climax. Not only this, hut a wide variety of setting's are shown. The audience is carried from the languid lure of ,the tropic seasto the Jazz palaces of Broadway, and .then 1 to the snow-swept wastes .of Alaska. Theusual supports are shown, while or special interest in the fact that J. J. Hajnos, or the U.S.S. West Virginia, who Is .described as the strongest man -in the American Fleet, proves his great strength during the; interlude. SUNDAY ILLUSTRATED LECTURES. TJie ,elg-hth of -the series or Sunday 'lee- • Sures will be .continued .in the Town HpU Concert Chamber to-morrow evening. The," subject will he "lHolland and Belgium,''! the rascinatlng- -Netherlands, at once the' "Garden" and the "Cockpit" or Europe.The lecturer will be .Mr. E. HeaUlom Greenhow. By means of wonderful -i coloured lantern slides the audience will •be transported .through the ibeauty spots and view the antiquities ,of -the Low; Country. A piano recital will .precede the; lecture as usual. THE MUNICIPAL BAND. j The Municipal Band, with .the assistanceor Madame Veta Gorhwall and -Miss Nellie Lingard, will give a .grand .complimentary' concert to the men of the American Fleet' In the Town Hall, -to-night at 8.15 ' The splendid programme to be presented will, include the overture " William irell," tonespoem ".Finlandla;" seleattqri "iohenftnin ; '; a grand nautical fantasia <" Sea' Songs and. Chanties," -arid many .other charming numbers. Instrumental solos will also'be included. Madame Veta (Cornwall, soprano 1 wl £ 1591 IK* '■N'KhtJngaleiahSl theJlose ° ! and "The Little-Damozej >•; Miss Neilia Llngard, contralto, wjll -sing Saint-Saens Softly Awakes My Heart" and' the I "iHabenera" from "Carmen." Anothe? (brilliant concert 'Will he Riven at -the 1 zoological .Par-k on *sun,oXv, W§ #clook' and .win include the "iSShfc <Cavalr.y;» a grand selection! «;ReminT ! sconces or T S ohiu*ows&"7 "rMerrh? ;England,»^Thre«-*ale-l>anci3i" MtUotber tuneful-items, W?>

RIALTO THEATRE. Described as Cecil B. de Mine's most gorgeous production, " The Golden Bed," a Paramount re&fure. Is. now being shown at the'Rlatto Theatre. " The Gplden Bed *! . iß_.ji..story or Adman ("Candy") Holtz, risen t0 trash": " Candy" Holtz is Infatuated with Flora' Lee Peake, alluring beauty and hope of a •Tprrtly Tviitch' is-.decaying hec*^# 6 of * ts ■ f6r'a-*reat name father than u"seful~tba. Margaret peak.c, equally arrogant at first, learns the emptiness or unearned wealth and high" social position, and works Tor the regeneration o,f Admah, after'the young fellow is brought to ruin by" a sister who accepts luxury from a husband while sneering and flirting' behind his back. As Flora Lee and. Admah, Lillian Rich, He Mine's new " flhft,'.' and" the popular Rod La~ Rocque" have two" characters Which book reviewers called " outstanding pen" portraits," following publication or Wallace Irwin's novel, which Jeanie Macpherson adapted Tor the screen. As Margaret, Vera Reynolds, whotn D,e Mille introduced to the picture-going' public in " Kept ,6r,Clay,"i roje. Famous names are -.hr the r c.ast'; which' includes Warner Baxter, Tbeodpre Kqslorf, Julia Faye, Henry Walthall, Robert Cain, and Robert Edeson. "Ah 'exhibition of eurythrhics is giyen by pupils pr Miss Daphne Knight. ' • " EVERYBODY'S THEATRE: Ethel M; Dell's'well-known' stdry, "The Top or the World,". Is'now being shown as a Paramount picture at Everybody's Theatre. With the T Veldt of South [Africa. as a background, it teUs of a young gin's struggle Tor happiness. Sylvia Ingletbn leaves her home in England, and goes to South Afrlca-to marry Guy Ranger...: But pn her. arrival she finds her. lover a mental and physicaL effects 1 of liquor. In her4rouile:she>turus to' Guy's eouslh, Burke, and."marries, 'Then Guy learns what has happened ■'aiur'shoots hlmSelf.- Sylvia, nurse's ,Jiim. and -be regains his .health,' and with his recovery the 'difficulty'in" which the'three peVsons- ■ find 'tKe'mselves is solved. There fc - comes- .a dramatic time,, when Guy, in league with his doctor, robs Burkes sare, gambles with the money, and ■Wins enough 'to keep- himselP.and SylVia for i,life.. however, refuses to desert, her husband. v The Story calls for abundant dramatic acting,, but the: principal" parts are in -the capable hands of" Anna ,Q. Nilsson, James Kirkwopd 'and Raymond Hattpn. On the same' programme arc the usual supporting features. GREY LYNN LIBRARY COURSE. " Reptiles " is the subject of the lecture to be delivered by the Rev. Jasper Calder a,t the Grey Lynn Library on Wednesday, August 19, in connection with the course of lectures, etc. The lecturer wiU ideal with his .subject in 3 comprehensive manner, commencing with the amphibians and earjlest r.e'ptiies, the mighty ' saurians, lizards; and snakes. "Special attention will be given to the- snakes, of Australia and jthe methods pf extracting their venom. About fifty lantern slides will be used to illustrate the lecture.