AMUSEMENTS.

Auckland Star, Volume LVIII, Issue 108, 10 May 1927, Page 5

AMUSEMENTS.

» REGENT, EPSOM. : At the head of the attractive bill of fare to be presented at the Epsom Regent this evening, is "The Dice Woman," starring Priscilla Dean. The plot is a good one, and centres round a girl who is stranded in a small principality without money or friends. .She i≤ forced to take a position in a gambling room iu the hotel at which she is staying, in order to pay for her hotel bill. She attracts the attention of the prince who rules the small kingdom, and exciting episodes follow. when he has her kidnapped and taken to his palace. From tbeii on the plot unfoldsitself with such rapidity as to leave the audience dumbfounded. John Bowers has the male lead. A strong supporting programme has also bec-n arranged, and will be screened iu conjunction with the" main feature. "THE BEST PEOPLE." Under the direction of Mr. E. J. Carroll, a remarkably successful comedy by the joint authorship of David James and Avery Hopwood. with the title of "The Best People/' will commence a six ' night's season at His Majesty's Theatre on Saturday evening. The story of "The Best People"' is a reveiation of the willfulness of the young generation of an aristocracy which shudders at the thought of any member marrying beneath its • social strata. The son and daughter of wealthy parents select as tbeir respective mates a chorus girl and a chauffeur and." the efforts of the distracted parents and relations to break off these "horrible' , engagements provide situations for delightful comedy and pert and piquant dialogue. Most of the members of the company are making their first visit to this part of the world. The newcomers are Mr. Robert Adams. M:si Marian Lord. Mr. William Macauley, Miss Helen Aiidirlred. Mr. J. B. Rowe, Miss Marion Sterly, Mr. Dick Elilers, ia association with whom are Miss Beatrice Day, Mr. Laae-Bayliff. Miss Eileen Morris, Mr. Reginald Collins. This same company played a three and a-half months' season in Melbourne and at the conclusion of the Auckland season retura to Australia where lengthy return seasons are booked. One special matinee of ,; The Best People" will be given oa Saturday, May 21, and the box plan for all performances will be opened at Lewie R. Eady and Son., Ltd., to-morrow mors* ing. ZIMBALIST. The first appearance here of the celebrate! violinist, Efrem Zimbalist, will be made next Tuesday evening at the Town Hall. The Auckland season will be limited to three concerts, which will be given oa Tuesday, Thursday and Saturday evenings, May 17, 19 and 21. Much is expected of this artist, who comes with a European and American reputation second to none, even in this age of prodigious violin technicians. Zimbalist is one of the most famous pupils of Leopold Auer, the greatest modern teacher of the violin, who numbers amoug his students and All of these three player* were exponents of the phenomenal Auer technique as mere children, and it is of great interest to compare the development of each as an interpretive artist. Zimbalist is considered to have evolved a classic style unequalled in our day. With a fine breadth of tone, intent oa interpreting even the lightest music with reverence for the composer's meaning, he, comes to rely less and less upon mere; technical display, although he has at command when required. The box' plans will be opened to-morrow morning. ! EMPRESS THEATRE. I Hector St. Clair. whose appearance at : the Hippodrome last evening, was the 1 cause of much interest and amusement, I will head the list of artists at the Empress Theatre to-night. His turn will be ; marked by a number in which he intro- ; duees the penetrope, a new form of violin J accompaniment, which is claimed to be louder than a gramophone. Several duets I by Mr. St. Clair and Mrs. Clarke, a well--1 known Auckland soprano, will also be presented, and their turns are said to ba * most amusing. Twelve other acts are . to be stajred, and at the head of the 1 picture programme is "The Bi<>ude Saint/' 1 starring Lewis Stone and Doris Kenyon. \ A First National production, the fiirn has for its locale, the Mediterranean. The heroine is seen stranded oa a small I loneK island with the man she hatfrs. Finally, after threatening her life, he ; saves her from a certain death at the J hands of a mob of savages, wild with I fear. The acting throughout i= said Iβ . be of the best, while the and technique are pood. The excellence of : . . the supporting cast, which includes Tully - , Marshall, Gilbert Roland, Ann Rork and ' I Malcolm Denny, i≤ a feature of the production.