AMUSEMENTS.

Auckland Star, Volume LVII, Issue 112, 13 May 1926, Page 11

AMUSEMENTS.

NATIONAL AND LYRIC THEATRES.

"The Manx Man," a thrilling picturisation of the noted story by Sir Hall Came, heads the new programme now being shown at the National and Lyric Theatres. The author's stories are remarkable for their vivid pen pictures of human life and tragedy, and in "The Manx Man" there is one of the best examples of his style. In its screen counterpart the tale starts amid the guilt domesticity ot its simple characters, gaining human impetus with every moment, until it rises to the mighty final sweep of pathos, tragedy, and sacrifice. The scenes are the active homes and rock-ribbed shores of Manxland. The cast is described as one of the strongest ever seen in a single picture. Another star offering is "The Splendid Road," a First National attraction offered to patrons by the management as "sixty minutes of marvellous entertainment." The leading players are Anna Q. Nilsson, Pauline Garon, Robert Fraser, Lionel Barrymore, and Edward Barle. The film was directed by Frank Lloyd.

PRINCESS AND TIVOLI THEATRES.

Reginald Denny, whom the L T niversal j Picture Company describe as the emperor of comedy-drama stars, has' another rollicking role in "California j Straight Ahead," one of the two prin-1 cipal attractions which came to the | Princess and Tivoli Theatres to-day, with [ the change of programme. The story is j that of a young man, who, after being; jilted, sets out on a long journey in a! modern bungalow on wheels. He had i purchased the palatial bus, which was! built at a cost of f 10,000, as a honey-1 moon conveyance, but found himself, using it as a means of forgetting his sorrow. He looked for peace, but instead I found trouble galore. There are heaps of funny situations, and many thrilling I ones. Under the latter category come a' sensational auto race, with Denny I flying along with throttle wide open, and! the winning car in flames; and an animal circus running wild. A second attraction! is "The Golden Princess," Bret Harte ' story, starring Betty Bronaon, of "Peter j Pan" fame. "HIAWATHA." Thfs beautiful work, possibly the most popular musical composition of modern times, will be given by the Auckland Choral Society to-night in the Town Hall. The soloists will be Miss Christina Ormiston, Mr. A. H. Ripley and Mr. Sam. Hardwick. An excellent chorus and a tine orchestra will be under Mr. Colin Muston's baton, and a noteworthy interpretation is confidently expected. MAJESTIC THEATRE. The much-heralded picture. "Stella Dallas." of which there is no doubt that everything that has been said in its j favour is true, and not mere extravagant! "boosting," will open a season to-mor- ! row at ihe Majestic Theatre. Belle j Bennett (whose interpretation of the! title role is said to be remarkable). Alice Joyce. Ronald Colman. Lois Moran and Jean Hersholt head the cast, j "Stella Dallas" tells the story of a I woman's heart—is the lens through I which the love life of every woman is ! X-rayed (says one eriticj. It is a photo-1 graphic recital of sacrifice that will tug ' at the emotion* of every mother, every i father, every daughter: for there is a Stella in every community. Henry' King, producer of "The White Sister" j and "Stella Dallas" says: "'Stella Dal- j las' appealed to mc because of its I humanity, the greatness of its story, j and its unusual central character. Stella is the kind of a girl with glamour and ; glow. She can be laughed at and cried : with. Her drama of a life of love has ' a romantic realism about it, full of a > certain vivid, yet imaginative quality' that has the power to pique interest and arouse curiosity. Yet to mc her j greatest strength lies in her weakness, ' a weakness linked directly with her love I life. Stella's mistakes, however, are never of the heart. Her overmastering love, her heroic sacrifice, and her futile attempts to battle against the so-called conventions and against the ravages of time give to Stella an unusual power to j clutch at one's heart strings and sympathy.'' The supports will include a Majestic News, Pathe Review, an Inkwell Cartoon, and an Aesop's Screen Fable. A musical interlude, in which Mr. Maurice Ballance will be the solo-1 ist, will be provided. I STRAND THEATRE. "Xo matter in what station of ilfe oue lives, emotions remain the same," I is the idea of "Lady of the Night," to | be shown at the Strand Theatre to- j morrow. Monta Bell, director for I iMetro-Goldwyn-Mayer, has brought to i the screen a powerful story of society I at its highest and lowest levels. He has filmed the lives of two girls—one at the j top. the other at the bottom of the social ladder, who fall in love with the j same man. That it is love of the deep- j est kind is shown when the spirit of j sacrifice moves both of these girls when j in the climax they have to choose between what they regard as their happi-1 ness and their duty. Brilliant social I balls, receptions and country club dances set with the lavish hand of wealth are contrasted against the I squalid home life of the slums and its' only outlet of pleasure—the Bowery dance halL Norma Shearer, playing the dual role of Molly, daughter of a convict, and Florence, daughter of the judge who sent her father to prison, is said to give one of the finest performances of her career. She is supported by an exceptional cast, including Malcolm McGregor. There will also be featured a Strand Magazine, a nature study film, and a comedy, while Miss Bathie Stuart and her Maori maids, who have been receiving tremendous ovations at the Majestic this week, will provide the interlude. EVERYBODY'S THEATRE. " That Royle Girl" continues to attract crowded houses to Everybody's Theatre, where is has entered upon a_ extended season. The Paramount special production is the first to be made by D. W. Griffith, the famous producer, for the company with which he recently joined forces. The ftlm bears the imprint of the master's hand on every scene, and has been hailed with enthusiasm wherever it has been shown. It tells the story of a great battle between justice and human nature, and provides a very vivid insight into the underworld of Chicago. The rum-running trade of the States plays an important part in the production. The leading i role 3 are taken by Carol Dempster, W. i C. Fields, the famous Ziegfeld comedian, and James Kirkwood. A special dance interlude is provided by Miss Viola Leach and her partner. MUNICIPAL BAND. In the Town Hall on Sunday eveninnext at 5.30 o'clock the Municipal under the baton of Bandmaster Christopher Smith, will give a musical recital. A beautiful programme of solo and band items will be presented.

MTTNCIPAL CONCERTS. Mr. Haagen Holenbergh, the Danish pianist, who created such a favourable impression on a previous visit, has been engaged for the municipal concert to be given in the Town Hall next Saturday evening. The Lyric Quartet has also been engaged for this> occasion, ami with organ solos by Mr. Edgar Randal. acting city organist, an exceedingly fine programme is promised. -GIVE AND TAKE." J. C. Williamson, Ltd.. in conjunction with E. J. Carroll, will present at His Majesty's Theatre on Saturday night. and for a season of seven nights. Harry Green, the famous international comedian, in the Hebrew comedy, "Give and Take," by Aaron Hoffmann (author of "Welcome Stranger"). The play had wonderfully successful runs of fifteen and sixteen weeks respectively in Melboune and Sydney. The "Sunday Times" says: "Aaron Hoffman has given the world a most hilarious Hebrew comedy in "Give and Take," which was staged at the Criterion Theatre last night. The large audience at the initial performance sat serious for one minute, but has not ceased laughing since. The comedy which is particularly appropriate to our times, concerns the working of the Bauer fruit canning factory in California, where the proprietor has been thirty years establishing a name for the ELO. brand. The prospects of a strike bring its troubles, but the crisis arrives when the son of the proprietor and the foreman come to him with the "L onstitution of Industrial Democracy" to eliminate the wastings caused by the illwill of Labour towards Capital. The question of building the Pyramids is always cropping up, and the fun goes fast and furious to the end. Mr. Harry Green created the part of 'Bullhead Bauer' when the comedy was staged in New York. He is a delightful Hebrew comedian, who, just as he gets a lump into the audience's throat, turns it into a chuckle. Mr. Edward de Tisne gets in plenty of boisterous merriment as Albert Kruger, the foreman of the factory. Then comes Jack (Mr. Hal Percy), the author of the constitution full of 'brotherly stuff,' who brings the young element into the play, and is challenged •by the only girl in sight, Marion, played hy Vera Spaull with delightful womanliness. 'Give and Take' is a laugh-ter-maker." The box plans for the season opened this (Thursday) morning at Lewis R. Eady and Sone, Ltd. HIPPODROME AND EMPRESS THEATRES. Irene Castles, famous danseuse and actress, appears again on the screen for the second time in more than two years, in "No Trespassing," a Selznick production, now being shown at the Hippodrome and Empress Theatres. The rtim is an adaptation of Joseph C. Lincoln's novel, "The Rise of Roscoe Paine." The story tells of Mabel Colton, the pampered daughter of a financier, who falls in love with her father's worst enemy— a young man who refuses to sell him certain property. There are a number of exciting incidents, and the climax comes when the hero rescues the financier and his daughter from death. It is then found that the "country boy" is the son of a famous banker. Tn the picture Irene Castles dances, rides, and shoots, and wears some more most beautiful gowns. Ward Crane and Hawana Truesdale head the supporting cast. The second production is "Black Geld." a thrilling tale of the West, starring Belle Bennett and Pete Morrison. JASPER'S CONCERT. The fifth annual concert organised by Rev. Jasper Calder in aid of City Mission funds, will take place on Wednesday and Thursday evening next in the Town Hall. A company of entertainers known as "Jasper's Limited" will present a varied programme each night. Solos will *be rendered by Miss Florence Sutherland, Miss Nellie Lingard. Mr. Robert Nixon and Mr. Garry -Jenkin. Humorous items will be given by Mt-. Charles Massee. Denver and Bud Calder, Messrs. George Ponder. Sam Edwards and Garry Jenkin. A double sextet will sing "Come Tell Mc Prety Maiden." Mr. Calder will play popular airs on the sleigh bells, etc. In addition there will be a fine duet by Mr. Sam Hardwick and Madame Anita Hardwick. Mr. Dave O'Malley's band will contribute some popular jazz music. The whole company will appear in chorus numbers from Carmen and Faust, and also an oldtime Maori scene including a song by Miss Marjorie Hopper, hakas, etc., led by students of St. Stephen's Maori College. Mr. Calder promises a most unusual way of introducing his company to the audience. The orchestra under Mr. Harry Woolley will play the overture at 7.30 each evening. The box plan is now open at Lewis R. Eady and Son, Ltd., Queen Street.