AMUSEMENTS.

Auckland Star, Volume LIX, Issue 258, 31 October 1928, Page 11

AMUSEMENTS.

"THE GIRL FRIEND."

To-night at His Majesty's Theatre J. C. Williamson present their new musical comedy company for the first time in the Dominion, in the latest London musical comedy hit, "The Girl Friend." The company Jb headed by the popular English actress, Annie Crott, and the cast includes Keginald Sharland and Leo Franklyn, two comedians with .London reputations. Others to appear are Uus Bluett, already a big favourite here, Aiay Beatty, Billie Lockwood, dam«s Hugiies, last here as Seigeant-Alajur in "Koee Alane." Katie .lowers, _L.es Donagney, Winnie late, Jack .Uuiine and iiunny Beatty, together with a lascinating cnorus and uaiiet of youth and beauty. Annie Croit iiao been described by aii Australian critic as "the rarest and lanest oi leaumg ladies," and he goes on to cay: "When -Aume Croit smuts all the world smiles, too.'' "Ihe <jirl i'riend'' k said to be lull of light, brightness, sparkle and zip. Keinarkaojy success! ul seasons have Deen played in Sydney and Aleioourne. 'ihe play is in six scenes. Ihe nrst shows a train held up temporarily in a beautiful gorge. 'Ihe heroine (Annie Craitj goes ior a str •*1 wiiiie repairs are being eliected, accompanied by a chance-met traveller (Keginaid &nariandj, and, returning, discovers tnat she had dropped her puise con taming ail her money. Her cavalier rushes back to seek it, and in his a'osence the train starts. Ihe girl, arriving at her destination, goes to a Canadian hotel penniless. Driven by fear sne iaioricates a story which leads to complicated and diverting events. Her plot .becomes much involved and the novel situations are exploited to the lull by a auuiuer of comedians. HIPPODROME AND EMPRESS. Two films of exceptional quality come with the change ot programme at the tLippourome and impress Iheatres today. "Woman Wise,' starring William rtussell, is one of the big attractions, and "Ihe ligrese," with Jack Holt in the title role, is the other. "Woman Wise" is said to be one of the most entertaining comedy-dramas produced by Fox Films in recent months. William Kussell, cast as a happy-go-lucky, ne'er-do-weil, rides into .Persia and out again, loving and laughing and losing like a gentleman. I here is a ; delightful love story running through the ' picture, with the winsome June Coilyer as the lady. Sprightly comedy, and a i touch of tender pathos here and there ' opupled with a plausible and fast-moving plot ore the outstanding feature* of the tilm. It is a story packed with human interest. Described as a vivid drama oi gipsy love and life, "The Tigress," with the popular Jack Holt who has Dorothy Kevier as his love, is said to be a beautifully told story. Jack Holt has a new type oi role (he has given up the cowboy garb). In this film he is an adventurous nobleman, who combines brawn and brain, and finds plenty of excitement matching his wits against savage cunning. This new Holt vehicle is a modern romance in a setting of the dark ages, a beautiful love story imposed on a background of bitter hate. The programme selectedby the management for the two theatres this week has been carefully chosen and must be regarded as one of the best presented for a long time. There will be the usual fine supports, including comedies, gazettes and travelogues. EVERYBODY'S THEATRE. Exclusive Park * Avenue meets the Bowery—two men die when Barbara Fiske visits the rough captain of a tramp steamer—and a "lark" ends in her learning undreamed truths. Such, in brief, is the central situation of "Vanity," Leatrice Joys latest starring picture, which opened at Everybody's Theatre to-day, "Vanity" deak with a debutante reared to regard life as a carefully matched pattern witKJ.'certain standards by which all people may be judged. Always she has done the correct thing, but ten the eve of her wedding she follows a mad impulse, believing that nobody will ever know. Unpleasant results follow and Barbara learns the futility of vanity, finding that human nature reacts according to environment. Even murder becomes understandable to her. Charles Ray, who plays the male lead, is a very different individual from what he has seemed in previous characterisations. A debonair man-about-town has replaced the rural lad. Alan Hale has the featured villain role. 'Adventure Mad." which is the chief support, is a UFA production, starring the popular British player, Lillian HallDavis, and featuring Nik Asther and Nina V anna, a well-known Continental artist. It is a thrilling story, with action and romance well blended. PLAZA AND TIVOLI.

Leaping on the back of a galloping horse with a huge sabre clutched in his teeth i 6 the feat every Cossack must perform before he is considered a real man. This strange feat is among the sensational horseback tricks staged by the troop of Cossacks, brought from Europe for the picture, who play with John Gilbert in '"The Cossacks," his new Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer vehicle now showing at the Plaza and Tivoli Theatres. Gilbert plays a Russian Cossack in a wild adventure, and Renee Adoree is the heroin®. Ernest Torrence and o I hers of note are in the cast._ Huge settings and hundreds of people form a background for the romance. "Thanks For the Buggy Ride," Laura La Plante s latest comedy-drama, accompanies "The Cossacks" at both theatres. Co-starred with Miss La Plante is Glenn Tryon; such a combination is indeed unusual, and it will probably be some time before picture fans have another opportunity of seeing such a clever pair of mirth-makers together. The supports are well varied. STRAND THEATRE. Edelweiss, specially imported from Germany and shipped in hot-houses, and apple blossoms, forced to bloom, were among the many details that went into the making of an authentic background for "The Student Prince," the Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer production coming to the Strand Theatre to-night. The new picture is a lavish screen version of the famous musical play, and co-stars Ramon .Novarro in the role of the Prince, and Norma Shearer as his peasant sweetheart Kathie. A talented cast including thirtylive well-known players headed bv John Hersholt, Gorge K. Arthur, Phillippe de Lacj. and Edward Connelly, and several thousand extras take part in the many spectacular scenes. The supports include "The \ irgin Queen." a subject in technicolour. a Strand Magazine, and an atmospheric prologue. Eve Bentley has arranged a first-class musical score, a feature of which will be numbers from "The Student Prince." CHORAL SOCIETY'S CONCERT. A first-class programme has been arranged for the Auckland Choral Society's Maori night concert, which will be held in the Town Hall on Thursday. The Maori cantata, "Hinemoa," will be the principal item. In this the legendary characters will be played by well-known Auckland artists. Miss Alma McGruar will appear as Hinemoa. Mr. Lambert Harvey as Tiki. Mr. Barry Conev as Tutanekai, and Mr. Frank Sutherland as Tohunga. They will be, supported by a full chorus and orchestra. Besides several Maori singers, pupils from the two colleges will appear. The National Anthem will be sung in Maori. The society's _ orchestra will be under the baton of Mr. Colin Muston. Booking arrangements are advertised.