AMUSEMENTS.

Auckland Star, Volume LVIII, Issue 121, 25 May 1927, Page 11

AMUSEMENTS.

NATIONAL AND LYRIC. Pictures telEng of the little known lire* of the actors and actresses who entertain us. have always made an appeal, and "An Affair of the Follies."' which will head the programme at the National and Lyric Theatre* to-morrow, should not b«" an exception. A brilliant drama ot the stage, this First National release tells of a follies dancer who retire* from the theatre life to settle with her husband in a small country town, and illustrates its theme with beautiful and gorgeous scenes of the splendour of the footlights. Excellent ballet scenes are a feature of the picture, and many of these are enacted in glittering settings of dazzling light, delicately blended with gay festoons and decoration*. Th<* cast which interprets the story in an exceptionally strong one. and includes s<ich well known First national stars as Bilhe Dove. Lewis Stone, and Lloyd Hughes. Billie Dove is well cast as the dancer who marries the poor clerk. Lloyd Hughes has the part of her hu-sband. and Lewis Stono is seen as a wealthy broker, who. not knowing that the girl is married, tries to win her for himself. Intriguing situations abound throughout the story, which has lost none of the glamour it held as a novel. The photography and technique are excellent, aod the production is indeed a credit to the director, who has evidently given all due attention to the smallest details. A second feature picture. "The Isle of Retribution." will accompany "An Affair ot the Follies" at both theatres. Filmed in the ice fields of frozen Alaska, the picture tells of the good-for-nothing son of a wealthy man, who is called upon to prove bis courage in order to escape from the cruel treatment which he know* will be meted out to him at the hands of the brutal ruler of the island. Lillian Rich. Robert Fraier. and Victor McLaglen have the leading roles. Good supporting numbers will also be screened. AEOLIAN ORCHESTRAS CONCERT. There was a large attendance in the Concert Chamber of the Town Hall last evening, where the Aeolian Orchestra of sunie -">0 executants gave its initial concert of the sixth season. An attractive programme of British music was presented, and generally the items were rendered with considerable success. Specially noticeable was the line quality of tone secured by the strings, but in some places the brasses were inclined to overpower the other divisions of the orchestra. The wood-winds, save for a little timidity by the reeds, acquitted themselves distinctively, and the timpani was suitably manipulated. The concert opened with a bright performance of Grafula's "Washington Greys"* inarch, wherein the trombones took a prominent part. Edward German's "Morris Dance"' an«i "Shepherds VaUe" was gracefully executed, strings and winds uniting in securing a pleasing ensemble. Elgar's "Chanson de Nuit ? ' was presented in a style delightfully depicting the graceful music. The strings played with fullness of tone in the forte work, and in the delicate portions with the wood-winds, created a good impression. Specially commendable was the shading and tender phtasing. The musicians were warmly praised at its conclusion. Wallace's melodious overture to his opeta "Maritana"' received a performance which brought out its varied solos and concerted numbers to advantage. The opening section was nicely sustained, whilst in the subsequent part the strings produced a good tone. In the third section, winds, brasses and strings and choir created a pleasing ensemble. The reed solo in "Scenes That Are Brightest* , was not altogether a success. A brilliant reading was given of the Finale, and the

] p'aj ers received irarm applauw at its termination. Percy Grainger w*« reerel sented br his eettine of Irish folk dance mueic. ~Molly on the Shore." which rfceived a and rivaciou* delirery. The same author's "Londonderry Air" wae plea*ingiy presented by the "violins. ceMoa and viola*. Homes' "Jonre Passes" was delicately I handled by «trin£* and wind*, and was I much appreciated. A colourful performI a ° c « tr " SB-ten of Sullivan's motives from i "The Mikado." , and Myddelton"* arrangement of popular air* was tastefully Played. Mr. W. Edsar Webb coodiictcd in an authoritative manner, and Mr. F. M. Price made a capable chief of orchestra. j After her impressive sanans of Sulb- ! ran • "Lost Chord" and effective delivery o: Elpir* "Like to the Damask Rose." Miss Phyljie Gnbben was warmly eneored. A sjmiiar compliment was extended to Mr. A. Hxhards. after he dehvenes „• Adams "Ails- Mine" and Squire* Like Stars Above." Miss w inured Cooke acted capablv a« accom- ' panist. PRINCESS ANO TIVOLI. An excellent double featuie propramme wjll be screened for the change at the 1 nnrese and Tivoli Theatres to-morrow I Headinc the bill of fare will be "The Popular Sin. * a Paramount release, with ; Horence \ idor in the leading role The picture is a comedy of the jray Paris life, filled with intriguing situations and clean humour. The story deals for the , most part with society life, trat ia interwith the glamour of the stage. and exciting incidents in the life of an a u UeS *' A fciture the production is . the strong cast which interprets the «■»'■ Among the brilliant players who , support M«.« Vidor are Clive Brook, who J is seen as the hero, and who was seen •j with Florence Vidor in "You Xever j Know Women." Grita Nis>en. trho had , the feminine lead in "The Wanderer," . Andre de Beranger and Philip Strange. I Florence Vidor herself is by no means ; a new star, her previous vehicle* being j "The Grand Duchess and the Waiter."' , "Sea Horses"' and "The Trouble With I\\ ive*." Malcolm St. Clair directed the 1 making of the film. "Mv Lady of j Whim*.' , with Clara Bow in the star , role. L» the second attraction at both 1 theatres. An Arrosr production, the film j has met with popularity wherever it has ; been screened, and is expected to draw 1 large audiences to Auckland theatres. j Miss Bow has been starred in a number o: other pictures which have been preI sented in this city, but critics declare that this, her latest vehicle is quite her best effort to date. She i« seen aj a wealthy society Lady who left her palatial home in a fashionable quarter of Xew lork. u> take up her residence in a small country village. The story, which J* delightfully told. i« filled with good J humour, and is interpreted by a strong I cast of players, among whom are Donald i Keith. Carmehta Geraghty. Lee Moran I and Francis McDonald.

"THE BIRTH OF A FLOWER." Sometimes it is forsrotten that th* flowers all round ere living, breathing conscious entities. living their lives and even dying dramatically, bat all in such slow motion that only throuzh a miscrosoopic lapse-time clockwork camera have th«r life secreU be*n revealed. The •iiecoveiT was made bv Mr. A C Pill*bury. of Yosemite Valky. California. Tho result in motion pictuie* j« 4 *The Birth of a Flower." an astoundins film whici wa* recently showti throusfa the Unit«>i Sute*. Mr. Clarke Irvine, a former new»paperman of Honolulu, has brought the photoplay here as an educational offeriaz. It will commence at the Strand Theatre to-morrow. The picture i# taid to be the latest and most graphic- lesson in boUnr and psychic flower life. One sees the snbtV mysteries of plant growth, learning in a few minutes on the screen what cannot

be found in book*, collection*, or erea actual planting* and experiment*. beraess th« rio* motion camera reveals r-erhap» a *"eek * growth and blooming in a few •eeondf. All ed-orat:ona!i»t« and botanist* bare taken a keen interest in the film, end special amusement* hare been made fvr ate prewatataoo here. EVERYBODY'S THEATRE. "Michael Strogoff." which has born screened i* the attraction at the Xrw Kegent daring the past week, will be presented for an extended *ei*oo at hveTybodVs Theatre. A Universal production, the film has born de*cnhod a« one o: the greatest ever to have rmlM Auck.and. Lavish menes of the luxurv of the court of Czar Alexander I! otitic*;*, about the middle of tae nm*Wnth i-entury. aie a feature of tbe pirtuie. and present an ideal contian with .the barWic eplendnar of the pa'aUal home of the Grrat Khan of Tartar. Reviewing the production, a mtif *a*s "as a spectacle. "Michael Strogoff" cndoubtedlj holds irc-ord* for stage magnificence. Filmed with a cast of «x thousand, on a scale of unparalleled magnitude, it has become the sensation ot th» season. A great and beautiful production of unequalled grandeur." No doubt 14a be entertained a* to the trnth o: the critic'* words, iar the lavi»ane*» of several of the krn.> j* ahnost Srrr>nd <redenr-r. The story itself -.-4* -mitten by .JuJe* Verne, thf t-opnlar •β-nter of fiction of the type which appeals ma:tily to bojs. "Michael Strocoff" » as produced by the novelist, in play foim. over fifty jears and has *.rur \x*-n one of the rco*t widely read rtmio oi the world. A rtronz cut o; European artist* interprets the theme, and the actmz of all player* is the best. On the same programme w;TI be "I*ro»lers of the Nisht." a tense dram* of the West, with a strong cast, headed by a newcomer to the lank* <>? st*nJotn. Fr«-d Hume*. Another Itinnsal relcaw: the juctare holds the ot the audunre thioujboul. ?nd should *ppea! *tion?lr tn theatre pan on. •who are fond of the Western t* r^ , of film. Kititins situations abound through tS» s-top. -ehnii i« enaciod cs.-rptiona "\ well. A Sfod mpTVKtjas prc-iTamme ha* also been auan?«i. " CREATION.* , Ha.tdn's mastc-ipi«T. -Jhr C'ication." will be Kivcn by the Auckland I'bo'al Society at th< Town Rail to-morrov Q«:ht. Those who heard Miss Xaonn Whalley at the fcnal rch«areal «i» unanimous in that tliie chintim; vounit singer is one oi the n'nest eoptafto? heard in Auckland lor many a day Mi BirrriJ OMiller and Mi A. G. College will be the tenor *ad bass soloists. Mi. Colin MuaOon will have under the baton a line chorus and orchestra, and an eice , i>tionally fine pciiormance thould tollow.