AMUSEMENTS.

Auckland Star, Volume LVIII, Issue 89, 16 April 1927, Page 14

AMUSEMENTS.

"DON JUAN."

"Don Juan." What a production! John Barrymorc. perhaps the most brilliant of all American screen actors, commenced his season of love-making and sword-fighting as "Don Juan" at the Majestic Theatre on Thursday n.ght. There is a wealth of detail in this film ; it is elaborate; it is brilliant. And what photography! America has given us something new. a film that will live. "Don Juan*' is by a long way the best American production that has been seen in Auckland for many a long day. It is the story of a gay and care-free Spaniard whom men feared and women loved, an arrogant man who went to Rome and who captured the hearts of all the women of the city. It is a romance oi Italy at the time of the Borgias. First we see Don Juan as a little boy playing in his ornate home. We see his father, Don Jose, go away on a mission for the King. We see his mother, a demure *onora. in golden dalliance with her latest lover. Unexpectedly her husband returns. The sonoia is cast from the house forever. Old Don Jose, made cynical by His wife's deco.t. live* in a whirlpool of merriment and artificiality for some years. Then he is killed by a jealous woman, and as he dies he says to his son, "Destroy women .... or they will destroy you." Then we *ee Don Juan, little more than 20, reigning in a luxurious villa. High in power ard the infamous Borgias-Caesar and his haughty, heartless sister, Lucrctia. All Kome courts Don Juan. Across the years he hears his father's dying admonition. All Rome is at the feet of Don Juan, except the Borgia. She summons Don Juan to her palace. Scornfully he obeys, but on the way—alas for Lucrctia Borgia—he sees a vision of such surpassing beauty that he pauses spellbound. Adriana leans from her *-osegrown balcony. Lucretia's haughty command is forgotcn, and lightly Don Juan climbs to Adrian*'* side. With the unreasoning anger of a woman's scorn Lucrctia pans revenge. When in the sudden lierceness of his embrace Adriana swoons, his soul is changed. Through Lucretia's machinations war is declared on Adriana'* kinsman. Don Juan is cast into a dungeon. He escapes, crosses swords with Donati and kills him. He rescues Adriana and rides off with her to a new world—Spain and happiness. Mary A6tor, who plays Adriana, triumphs, besides this technically brilliant production the Majestic has arranged an excellent programme of support*. A topical budget of pictorial review and a comedy balance the programme nicely, and tne Majestic ballet i* -ecu in a delightful divertissement called "The Farmer's Dream." On the stage U a gigantic Easter egg and 15 of Auckland's tiniest little "clucks" appeared a* "The Chicken Ballet." Tho ballet includes Essie Pcllola, Doreen Davis, Dorothy Weller, Dorothy Gill, Juno Dyer, Betty Adams, and the lonesome chicken, Dorothy Katipo. The baby chicks are Mavis Healdon, Koanui Simeon, and June Fowler, while the rooster i* played by Gladys Brown and the lien by Joyce Phillips. Mr. George lair plays the part of the farmer. 'I his attractive Easter ballet was produced by Mllc.~Yaleska. BTRANO THEATRE. Seldom has the programme at the Strand Theatre reached the high standard of entertainment now being presented. A double star programme is being screened, the two main attraction* being "The Call of the Wild," and "Rose of the World." The first is an animal picture, being the adventures of a giant St. Bernard dog, as recounted in the novel of the same name by Jack Loudon. The settings arc in the Klondike district in North Alaska, where wolf packs rove over the vast fields of snow. The acting of all players is said to bo of the highest class, while the uncanny intelligence displayed by Buck, the dog. is reputed to be unparalleled. "Rose of the World," starring Patsy Ruth Miller, is an entirely different type of film, and the two are ideally contrasted. Mis* Miller is seen as the daughter of a family whose social position ha* fallen. She is in love with the richest boy in the town, and only alter many trials dc the parent* of the boy consent td the match. Noteworthy among the number* on the supporting programme is the appearance of the Harris Family in an entirely new item. This laughable band of humorists has been delighting audiences for the past week, and their new number is in no way less appreciable than tho last. The Strand Magazine, an Aesop Cartoon and a hilarious comedy arc also billed to be screened, while the enjoyable music rendered by the orchestra, under the baton of Eve Bentley, is a feature of the entertainment. MUNICIPAL BAND AT THE ZOO. The Municipal Band plays at the Zoological l'ark on Sunday afternoon at 3 o'clock. The fine musical programme to be rendered includes the stirring marches "Urvullers," "Strike Sure," and "St. Nigel"j hymn, "Christ the Lord is Risen To-day '; overture. "Hungarian Comedy"; suite, "Three Woodland Dances"; gavotte, "lphigcnio in Auladc"; selection "Maritana"; humoresquc, "A MusicaUSwiich"; idyll, "The Dying Poet"; and a ballet movement from Massenet's "Hcrodiadc." ORGAN RECITAL. The city organist, Mr. Maughan Barnett. will give an organ recital in the Town Hall to-morrow evening, commencing at 8.30. His programme will include a number of pieces suitable to the season. DANCING.

Dixieland cabaret, at Point Chevalier, will he the scene ot' a large gathering ot (lancers this evening, when a long carnival night will be held. The decorations which have been arranged should render the function the more enjoyable, while the cool surroundings have always tended to make the cabaret popular. Balloons and other favours will be distributed, and with the music in the hands of the wellknown International Seven, the evening pi onuses to be one of the best yet held there. Monday night will also be a carnival night. Attractive novelties, and the atmosphere of a Japanese garden will be the features of the Click Clack Cabaret's dance to be held this evening. Xo pains have been spared to make the dance-hall as attractive as possible, and the numerous paper lanterns which adorn the walls add a very artistic touch to the decorations. The Regent ballroom continues to attract a large number of merry-makers at the enjoyable dances held every evening. This evening a carnival night will be staged, when the decorations will be a feature of the entertainment. A special long night will be held on Monday, when dancing will continue until 1 a.m. The usual Saturday night dance of the Parisian Dance Club will be held at the Society of Arts Hall in Kitchener Street this evening. The music, which will contain a special Easter novelty, will be in the hands of Mr. Kay Marson and his band, and will be a feature of the dance. The newly-formed Musical Box Cabaret in Beresford Stret has quickly gained popularity with dancers. A good floor and delightful music have assisted greatlv in this respect, while the decorations have also added to its rise to favour. Another popular dance will be held this evening, and on Monday afternoon and evening. Patrons of the Burlington Dance Club's entertainments are assured of an enjoyable time this evening, when the usual Saturday night dance will be held at the Dominion Hall. Music will l>.« supplied by Bendells Collegians, who will play the latest dance hits. The dance arranged by Mr. D. Mayes will be held in the Municipal Hall. Newmarket, this evening. Old-time dances are also held every Wednesday night. SUNDAY CONCERT. To-morrow evening the Strand Theatre will open its first Sund.iy concert, when a liigh-clas« programme o; vocal and instiunient.il items will bo rcndei etl inleading artists. The Strand will open every Sunday evening, string regular 'ugh-class Sunday concerts.

"NO. NO, NANETTE." \t S o'clock this evening the J. C. Williamson. Ltd.. management will present the second production in Auckland (there was a matinee this afternoon) of the musical comedy triumph "No, No Nanette." which has just enjoyed a record season in Wellington. The box plans were on view from nine o clock this morning at His Majestv's Theatre confectionery shop, where tickets for the early doors, stalls and gallery may also be bought Matinee performances will also be staged on Easter Monday and Wednesday aiternoons. "No. No. Nanette" will be sung. acted and danced by the New London Musical Comedv Company, which is said to be the strongest combination of its kind which has ever toured New Zealand. Dancing is a very strong feature of "No. No. Nanette." and other delight* are its cyclonic comedv. its alluringly beautiful settings, its happy novelty numbers, haunting melodies and rich and fascinating frorking and the dazzling beauty chorus and ballet. Great interest centres in the first appearance here of Miss Elsie Prince, who. it is said, has filled the breach in the musical comedy world of Australia and New Zealand created by the departure of Miss Maud Fane and Miss Dorothy Brunton. "Miss Prince." wrote a Wellington critic, "a petite figure, an excellent dancer and vital comedienne, and a charm of personality that engages everyone's favour. Added to her winsome ways, her naivette. and innate cleverness. she has a voice of admirable quality that is exactly suited to the intriguing nnm-be-s that fall to her.'' Mr. Jimmy Godden, it is said, is quite an exceptional comedian. He has unction, snap .inexhaustible bv-play. and a pood singing voice. Mr. Charlton Morton, slim, debonnair, and light of heel, is said to be admirable in the role of Billy Early, the Iving lawyer, and he greatly assists Mr. Godden in the funmaking. Miss Nellie Dean, as the dashing Lucille Early, has a part that may have been created for her. A big feature of the production is the dancing of Alma Mackie. whose big feature acrobatic dance created a furore in Wellington. Mr. Royston McDonnell. Miss Gladys Dcvercaux. and the Misses Allison and Kathleen Fallow are other solo dancers. The brilliant ensembles, it is said, are beautiful, and so are the ballets. A full operatic orchestra and chorus are under the baton of Mr. Harry Jacobs. GRAND THEATRE. "The Road to Mandalay." which has already had a most successful season at the Strand, is being screened as the main attraction at the Grand Theatre for an extended season. Lon Chancy, who has been described as "the man of a thousand faces.'' has been entrusted with the le.-d----ine role, and is exceptionaly well cast. He will be remembered for his dramatic sneceses in "The Phantom of the Opera." "The Hunchback of Notre Dame." and "lie Who Gets Slapped." Supporting the great character actor are Lois Moran and Henry B. Walthall. The story concerns the life of a ruler of the Chinese underworld on the Singapore waterfront. The beautiful daughter of this tyrant is in love with a former naval officer of whom her father docs not approve. A thrilling climax is reached when the daughter, who does not know her father, kills him with a knife. The settings of the film are in an entirely Oriental atmosphere. The supporting programme l>eing shown in conjunction with "The Road to Mandalay" is also very interesting. MAJESTIC SUNDAY. Besides other leading arti«ts. Miss Phyllis Gribbin. a leading contralto, is appearing to-morrow evening at the Majestic. A special Twister programme has l>cen arranged.