AMUSEMENTS.

Auckland Star, Volume LIX, Issue 173, 24 July 1928, Page 5

AMUSEMENTS.

REGENT THEATRE.

"A singer who acts, or an actress who singe." this is the difficulty that confronts critics after hearing Dawn Assheton, incomparable interpreter of character and folk songs, who will be seen at the Regent Theatre on Friday next. She is said to captivate her audience not only by the sweetness and flexibility of her voice, but by the witchery and vivacity of her presence and by her absolute abandon to the theme of her varied numbers. Through her art, the spirit of the nations lives, for Miss Assheton has studied folk-music at close range, and whether in plaintive Eastern, or vivid Occident, 6he translates to the stage all the emotions expressed in the racial melodies. Costumes appropriate to each song, further accentuate the appeal, and her feminine sense of dress enhances the vocal message. The violin solos of Laszlo Schwartz are fraught with eloquent meaning, and his Hungarian temperament finds release in the exhilarating rhythm of the Magyar music. Remarkable unity to effect is achieved by these brilliant artists in their attractive act.

EMPRESS THEATRE. An item of outstanding merit at the Empress Theatre this evening will be the appearance of Ed Warrington. He is being re-engaged owing to his success at the Hippodrome. He is a comedian, and the producer of the late "Dip]ornate," and will present his own original military comedy sketch "On Guard." In addition Delroy and Delaney will give an entertainment of song, patter, story, and dance*. They are direct from English and South African theatres. Delaney is known as the man with the ''India rubber face." The picture to be screened is "Flesh and the Devil." The featured players are Greta Gar bo and John Gilbert, who play so well in combination. It is a gripping drama of a soulless woman and two men whose love for each other she wanted for herself. The woman has the face of an angel and a heart of stone. It is a powerful story of European life prior to the world war. The vagaries of human nature were never more graphically portrayed. European social conditions are startingly revealed. The love theme which is developed drov* a man to darkest Africa, and when he returned he wished himself back again. This dramatic love story with the screen's two greatest lovers is splendid entertainment.