AMUSEMENTS.

Auckland Star, Volume LVII, Issue 135, 9 June 1926, Page 11

AMUSEMENTS.

NATIONAL AND LYRIC THEATRES. "Irene" will be shown for the last time at the National and Lyric Theatres this evening. To-morrow the principal attraction at both theatres will be a Fox special production, "The Johnstontown Flood," which is said to outclass any previous film of its type ever shown on the screen. The plot is a thrilling one, and it reaches a great climax when an entire town is inundated by a terrible flood. The scenes of this are claimed to provide the most remarkable examples of cinematography yet achieved. Huge buildings are swept away when the surging waters come down the hillside bringing with them tons of felled timber. Hero and heroine meet amid the ruins of the flood, and there is a sensational episode when the man. in his attempts to save the girl, is swept away from her and manages to return, only after a terrific battle. The story contains the moral that all doers of evil meet their just rewards. A second offering will be

"The New Commandment." a First j National feature starring Blanche Sweet ! and Ben Lyon. In this film, too, there ■ are many thrilling scenes. The picture [ is adapted from the sensational novel, I '"Invisible Wounds," by Frederick ! Palmer, the sequences of which are laid '■■ in Xew York. Paris, and, lastly, in a ; military hospital. ' TIVOLI AND EVERYBODY'S : THEATRES. : '■Griffiths i= a marvellous comedian, : and the picture good," was one of the '■ innumerable good things said about '"A i Regular Fellow," the new Paramount i production to be shown to-morrow at j the Tivoli and Everybody's Theatres. In ! this comedy, Raymond Griffiths is said < to cap all the previous excellent features i in which he has appeared, and he has ' tie support of pretty Mary Brian, i Tyrone Power and many other screen j notables. The star is shown as a prince, i who proves that the son of a king is' not a gentleman of leisure. As proof, the I opening gcenes show him on daily j stunts of opening bazaars, launching warships, laying foundation stones, etc. ! The prince tires of it all and asks his ; father the king to have him relieved of i a lot of it. The king laughs. What's a prince for, anyway? In the grounds he meete a party of tourists, and, being told by the guide that walking sticks j are not allowed, gives him an idea. Persisting in doing things not allowed, the tourists are ' thrown out of the Palace grounds. He meets a girl and falls in love. In a neighbouring principality where he is not recognised, he has a series of adventures, but his love affair is rudely stopped by the advent of the prime minister with the news of the king's death. Rather than become kins, he arranges with a revolutionist to change the government, but they put one over on him by electing him first president. He is happy, however, as he gets the girl. HIPPODROME AND EMPRESS THEATRES. "My Own Pal." the latest picture in which Tom Mix appears, came to-day to the Hippodrome and Empress Theatres. It will be shown for a week at the former and for three days at the latter. The story, full of action and thrills, shows the famous Western star as Tom O'Hara, an Irishman, who forj sakes life on a big ranch to become a member of the mounted police force. He falls in love with Alice Deering, the niece of the chief of police. The young I lady is thoroughly modern and is a constant source of worry to her important uncle. It is really through her that the hero becomes a full-fledged policeman, for he saves her life in a runaway and is offered a position in the force as a reward. Olive Bordern plays the part [of the heroine and Tom Santsehi is the j chief of police. Little Virginia MarI shall also appears as a circus waif who 1 is rescued and adopted by the hero. Good I supporting programmes are shown at I both theatres.

PEINCESS THEATRE. Lovera of pictures in which tliere is a laugh in every scene are advised by the management of the Princess Theatre to see ''Behind the Front/ Edward Sutherland's latest production for Paramount, which will come to the theatre to-morrow. Wallace Beery and Raymond Hatton are the principals and are credited with giving humorous performances of a particularly high standard, but at the same time the pair nerer betray the fact that they know they are expected to be funny. That adds considerably to the fun of the thing. In the opening scenes troops are shown departing for the front and then, in France, the comedians come into the picture. From then on there is not a dull moment. The tricks of the two "diggers' , are screamingly funny, and they reach the very height of absurdity when they lose themselves in "~So Man's Land" and wander into both German and Allied lines, putting , the query, ■•YThose enemy are we?" The sub- J titles in themselves are worth seeing for their subtle wit. Tom Kennedy is cast as the sergeant and pretty llarv Brian., of '"Peter Pan' , fame, is there, too. COMPLIMENTARY CONCERT. There should be a crowded house at j the Town Hall this evening, if it is pos- j rible to jado-e by the booking- and the number of tickets sold for the benefit ] concert which is to be for Mr. , ! John \V. Ryan, the popular member of j the Lyric Quartet, who is seriously ill. Mr. Ryan, when lie was well, sang before I Auckland audiences on hundreds of! occasions and. with his colleagues, srare \ much of his time to assistinz charities.! It is hoped that hi s work will receive a j fitting tribute from the public this; evening , . A long programme "will be: submitted by most of the leading artists : of Auckland. The entertainment has been i arranged riv the combined Orphans' and c ava<re Clubs. "THE NEW ALADDIN." From the ol ! Arabian Nights story, "The Xew Aladdin" pantomime.' which opens this evening at His Majesty's Theatre, is said to be presented in a new and startling form. The role of the

widow Twankev. Aladdin s redoubtable mother, will be taken by Brace Green, who will eive an entirely new version of the popular role, and will wear some j startling Paris "creations." !Mr. Green has appeared with great success in a larje number of similar parts, and is described aa an artist of -wonderful' versatility, with the ability to amuse the audience every minute ha is on the stao-e. Miss Floie Allan, who has a fine musical comedy record, is making her debut as principal boy in the production, and to her singing and personality is credited a great deal of the sueess of the show. Gu* Bluett is the chief comedian, and one of his best numbers is "I'm Afraid to Love." The Auckland season will be one of eisrh? nights. There will be a matinee on Saturday next and another on the iol- ] lowing Wednesday. The bos plan i= at j Messrs. Lewis R." Eadr and Son. Ltd., iand tie day sales at His Majesty = j Theatre confectionery eh-op-

THE DON COSSACKS. First, a discipline of quite remarkable precision, and second an unusual range of vocal compass, were the characteristics immediately brought to notice at the first appearance in England of the Don Cossack Choir—a relit , of the war, named from the Russian River. These thirty-six ex-officers of the ''"White Army' , possess suberb bass voices, to

whom it is nothing to descend to the B anxi A sharp below the bass cleff —a note or two below the 'cello? lowest sound: while others can utter a treble falsetto. But the virtue of their performances of religious and secular songs, given throughout in Russian, lies in their musical expression. In this country we are accustomed to aim at a mezzo-forte tone as the average strength; the Russian intertwine ff and pp with swift and picturesque gradation, but never without an artistic excuse. '"The conductor, M. Serge Jarov, has. in four years, brought them to extraordinary proficiency, without sacrificing the illusion of spontaneity." comments the "Morning Post" of London. New Zealand will soon see and hear this remarkable organisation, which is bein2 brought to Auckland under the direction of E. J. Carroll, on June 15, at the Town Hall. MUNICIPAL CONCERTS. The Municipal Band and the actingCity Organist. Mr. Edgar Randal, will combine their forces in the concert to l>e given in the Town Hall on Saturday next. Mr. Drayton Venables, with Mr. Leo Whittaker at the piano, will contribute vocal items. A splendid programme will be presented. The Municipal Band will play "Merry of Heart* march. "The Bronze Horse" overture, "Humoreske"' i Dvorak), selection "I-a Boutique Fantasque," dance interlude "Moresque/ , and gTand selection "Reminiscences of Wales." Mr. RandaL will play March in C (Welyi, "At Twilight (Stebbins). Serenade (Archer), and Carillon 'WheeldonK Mr. Venables will sing "Oberon in Fairyland," and "Fishermen of England.** Booking is at Messrs. Lewis R. Eady an! Son.