AMUSEMENTS.

Auckland Star, Volume LIX, Issue 247, 18 October 1928, Page 8

AMUSEMENTS.

REGENT THEATRE.

Two of Par amount's most popular star* Esther Ra-!*ton and Gary Cooper, are to? fjfher for the first time in "Half a ride/' - which wQT open as the' headline •attraction of- the-,programme 'for the change at the New Regent Theatre to-morrow. The story is one of an oceaa cruise to core-' a wilful girl, who, while a busy crew fixed a~ c breakdown, stole a boat, -Soon afterwards comes the realication that' she" is mating and achases her, trying-to-bring her bade. Bat scarcely has ( he-reached her than a sod* den storm separates' them from -the boat, and they are wrecked on. an island. Of course the story has the ipual happy ending, but before this is reached there is- a wealth -Of - action. " Miss Ralston and .Cooper prove themselves a strong stsnaag team. The programme will indude aftother big stage presentation, "Cairo Nights" add there will" also be entertaining supports. Mr.- Maurice Guttridge -will play the Warlitier organ, and will conduct the Operatic Orchestra. . "THE TEMPEST.'* * -J!® Shakespeare's play, "The Tempest;? was presented by pupils of the Diocesaa ffigh School .for Girls to a large audience of "parents and "friends in the-Scots Hall last evening. ' All* the' paits were played by "girls, and despite the inevitable difficulty, of handling the male girls acquitted themselves with credit. Miss Althea Parker played Prosperoweßi while Miss' Kathleen Milne portrayed Miranda. Caliban was played by Mils Ruth Wright, and others in the east were: Miss Gwen Kingston, as the shipmaster; Miss Marjorie Lowe, as the boatswain; Miss Marie Conlan, as Alonso, King of Naples; Miss Betty Todd, as Sebastian; Miss Alice Stanton, as Antonio; Miss Joyce Howie, as Arid, the spirit; and Miss Mary Williams, as Ferdinand, the son of 'Antonio. An orchestra of 14 instruments played the music from Sullivan's setting of the play, and «"»g"»g m the first and fifth acts was by a choir under Miss Hoskin. The dances wg» arranged by Miss Searle. Miss Desmond was largely responsible for the successful production of the play, of which the costuming was a feature. The proceeds from the play, which will be presented again this evening, are for the cchoo) playing-field fund. SHURA CHERKASSKY. Fresh from his triumphs in the South. Shura Cherkaseky, the "young genins of the piano, will commence his series of three recitals at the Town Hall tonight. Many of the world's greatest pianists have, appeared in Auckland, but none has beta so young as this 16-year-old TTiiim Ti spite of the extraordinary reports whidl have preceded him, few of have-heard him expected the talent he displays at the keyboard, Tli programme to-night will commence with the majestic organ Fantasy and Fugue in G Minor (Bach-Lisrt), Cherkaseky's into* pretation of which entranced the Sydney critics. The "Appaasionata Sonata" (Beethoven), "Barcarolle" (Chopin); Tf inlpifc Op. 10, No. 3, and Op. 25, No. 12 (Chopis)g "Scherzo in B Minor" (Chopin), ; "Prelude in G Minor" (Rachmaninoff), "Reverie* (Debussy), "Kaleideseope" -fHoffnjan), and the ''Blue Danube Walix"; (Stqtnoa-Schultz-Elver). Concerts will also' be given on Saturday and Tuesday next. Booking is advertised; there are special concessions for students. "THE BATTLES OF CORONEL AND FALKLAND ISLANDS."

To have produced. such a. picture; aS ; '"The Battles of Goronel and-- Falkland Islands/' which opened at the- Strand Theatre last evening ig an a/vnm]iHal>i ment o£ which any film director "might be proud. He film k a, faithful reproduction of the story of a gloriooi defeat -avenged. One flees the of HiLs. Goad Hope -and HM« tf»n.' month by the>„ Qeimui nimtttit commanded, by -Admiral - Ibit.v&ilis the celebrations in Vatiferaiao, at which jVbn Spee'himself refused to drink i» "the eternal damnation or the Brifish \ avj-/' but rather raised hie glass "to a - gallant enemy," and the receipt: of the news of the disaster, in England* Lord Fisher, First Sea Lord, .ia seen 'in " his study in Parliament BuDding3, and iinme* diately he orders the ItiAatiKU andits»~ Invincible, which were to be ready by jSovember 13, to sail by 6 p.m. on \*nwro<~ ber ll—ready or not. Then, comes t&ef Hen are rushed to the joband--work feverishly until, at half a misafe%? to six on the very day, the two-'battle* ships slip out of the harbour and, grimly purposeful, set out to avenge CoroneL »\ith Admiral Stordee in command, th® ships pick up four light cruisers. Reaching Fa Ik land they put in to coal, and are surprised early one piorning by the approach of two German cruisers. But the enemy, not knowing that -tha British snips have not got steam up, put cut again, and some time later, whensteam has been raised, the "British, squadron is in full chase. The German squadron is caught some miles out at sea, and although given the chance to surrender, reiuses, and all the ships are sunk. Ifc is a grim battle, grimly fought, a vengeance which only Britons know how to serve. The film is accompanied at tie strand by a song and dance prologue, an interesting film entitled "The Homes of King George,' 5 which shows views of His Jlajesty*s residences in England and Scotland, a laughable cartoon, and a Strand Magazine. Throughout the entertainment e Benfley s orchstra plays appropriate music. MAJESTIC THEATRE.

Dramatic and mysterious, eccentric as only .Lon Chanev vehicles can be, "The ■Big City,"' ihe latest vehicle of the '"mail .a. thousand faces," opens at the Majestic Theatre with the change o? programme to-morrow. The story of this latest Chaney film has been specially written *° 1 ' the great impersonator. It is a tale ot the underworld, with intimate sc-eces of Xew York night life—a grim mystery of sinister shadows and human earta - Lon Chaney is a police sleuth, pim, mysterious but human, and while ne prowls round the underworld, he finds a glorious love. Marc-eline Da v. that intriguing little lady, who scores a conquest with each new appearance, is the giri. Throusrh the hurly-burly of the underworld Bowery one is led, into night clubs, gilded dives, where one finds sinister hands, but through it all runs this beautiful romance, which is told in f ° laz f„ of mystery. To tell the story of i _ , , Collins. chief of detectives, would be to spoil the enjoyment of those who are sure to crowd the Majestic during the Oianey season. It is best 16 say that "The Big City" is one of L-aaney s best. And to eav that is as big a recommendation as ever a Chaney pict?re nee ds. There will be an appropriately chosen supporting programme on the bill .* are - which will include a scenic, a -lajestic showing the latest, world happenings, and a comedy. The Majestic rcnestra under the governing hand o: ■ "• Whiteford Waugh, will plav their usual delightful music, and will 'render ft M overture "la a Persian Market" (Ketelby). ENTERTAINMENT AT BLIND INSTITUTE. nS.u Tl , le^ a , y the Auckland yrpfcans Club paid its annual visit to the Jubilee institute for the Blind, and gave a deughttul evening's entertainment, inmaa,y na mbens by its orchestra and by members of the Lyric Quartet. Dr. w" -1 , 3lagnire ' superintendent of the Hospital, occupied the chair, and the evening was thoroughly appreciated by -„jl,™ en > women and children of the institute.