AMUSEMENTS.

Auckland Star, Volume LVIII, Issue 276, 22 November 1927, Page 9

AMUSEMENTS.

GRAMOPHONE RECITAL.

The monthly meeting of the Auckland Gramophone Society was held last evening, the president, Mr. Karl Atkinson, presiding. The first portion of the programme was devoted to a lecturette by Mr. A. Fairburn on the life and work of George Frederick Handel. The speaker briefly sketched the life of the master from the time when, as a boy in Germany, he and his mother fought against the elder Handel's absolute dislike for music, until he died blind in his old age, a naturalised subject of England, and was buried in Westminster Abbey. Special reference was made to the "Messiah." The lecturette was illustrated by the following records:— "And the Glory" and "Hallelujah Chorus" from the "Messiah"; "O Sleep, Why Dost Thou Leave Me," from Semele, sung by Alma Gluck; "Paasacaglia," played on the harpsichord by Anna Linde; "Love Sounds the Alarm/' from "Acis and Galatea," 6ung by Tudor Da vies; "Harmonious Blacksmith," played by Mark Hambourg; "Ombra Mai Fu," from "Exerces," by Dame Clara Butt, and "Where'er You Walk," from "Semele," by Alfred O'Shea. The second half of the programme consisted of a demonstration of new records by Mr. C. B. Plummer. EMPRESS THEATRE.

A splendid all round bill of fare lias been arranged by the management of the Empress Theatre for presentation this evening. The first" part of the programme will be taken up with variety vaudeville, at the head of which are the Zono Marimba Trio, "wizards on the xylophone and cathedral chimes." Others on the programme include Vera Vane, mezzosoprano, Jack Hawke with his phonofiddle, the Dixie Trio, eccentric clog and step dancers. Twelve specially selected amateur artiste in song, dance and comedy will also appear. The headline film attraction is "Framed," starring the popular Milton Sills. As a fighting Frenchman, Silk is drummed out of the French army during the war as a result of a false accusation. He repudiates his native land and goes to Brazil to become a foreman in thf diamond fields. There he is again "framed" and sent to penal settlement, where he is finally vindicated. It is a story of thrills, and has a fascinating background. Xatalie Kingston is leading woman and the supporting cast is a fine one. RIALTO AND EPSOM REGENT.

There is a strange theme in 'The Fourth Commandant," the headline attraction which starts at the Rialto, Xewmarket, and the Regent, Epsom, to-day. It is the story of a wife's jealousy of the affection her husband 6hows for his mother. A time comes when a mother has to realise that her son has grown up and that his affections are no longer entirely for her. Such is the situation that evolves into a sensational climax in the film. Belle Bennett, as a wife and mother, is 6aid to. give tlie screen a fine characterisation, for her emotions are real and probe deep into the heart. Mary Carr appears as another mother. "Arizona Bound" will be the supporting picture at the Rialto, while "Subway Sadie" will be showing to-day at the Regent, Epsom. On Wednesday and Thursday, "The Fourth Commandment"' and "Arizona Bound" will be shown at both theatres. AEOLIAN ORCHESTRA.

This evening the fourth concert of the ' Aeolian Orchestra will be held in the Town Hall. A popular request programme has been arranged, and many attractive features are included. "THE VANITIES." To-night, at His Majesty's Theatre, Miss Cecil Hall's long-promised production, "The Y anities,'' will take place at a quarter to eight. Some beautiful ballets, 6olos and clever dance work will be presented, and in addition there will be songs by Miss Myrtle Burns, Mr. Edward Churchouee, Miss Beryl Nettleton, and others. Included in the cast are Miss Bettina Edwards, the well-known dancer, Mrs. Nicholson, Miss Winifred Crosher, Miss Doreen D'Autherau, and Messrs. Tom Barter, John Plummer, Robert Fenwick, and 11. Bragata. Vocal items will be contributed by the weil-known chorus from Jaspers, Ltd. -In addition to the foregoing, Miss Cecil Hall will appear in two beautiful nuajbers. The whole of the proceeds will be given to Jasper Calder's City Mission Christmas funds. The performance will be repeated to-mor-row night and Thursday.