AMUSEMENTS.

Auckland Star, Volume LIX, Issue 267, 10 November 1928, Page 21

AMUSEMENTS.

NEW REVUE AT ST. JAMES'. One of the b'est little revue companies that Auckland has seen for many a day opened its season before a packed house at.St. James' Theatre last evening. The newcomers are Geo. Ward (the original "Little. Hermie") and his Whirl of Jlirth Company. The new revue is high in entertainment value, and has many admirable point* to commend it. Of course, "Little Hermie," with his grotesque figure and his incongruous make-up, is responsible for most.of the comedy. His is clever work, and there were always fits of laughter when he was on the stage. His gags were put across in delightful style, and he has lost none of his cleverness and humour, which made him such a popular figure last time he was in New Zealand. From a bright and snappy opening, the programme moves along in rapid and surprising fashion. There- were all sorts of clever little "stunts" and in those Geo. Ward, Frank Moran and Charles Sherman figure, always to be given an excellent reception and a better send off. Alme Valdor and the ballet girls, attired in Dutch garb, gave a delightful song and- dance number entitled ■"A Little Dutch Girl," which was.followed by a comedy interlude by Al.-Maurice, "England's Vest Pocket Comedian." Patsy Hill and Vernon Sellars combined attractively in "Old Sweetheart of Mine," their voices blending well. : One of the bestnumbers of the evening was the item presented by Kathleen Ward and Charles Sherman. Their double number, in which each played on a grand piano, was a clever piece of work, and Kathleen Ward proved herself to be a brilliant pianist. Bell Barnes and Peggy Sharpe, two of the ballet girls, showed their versatility with a song and dance number, "Beautiful/ and. Vernon Sellars was applauded for his "Cloze Props." As a conclusion to the first half of the programme, the Charleston Symphonic Six rendered new numbers, the best item of which was "International Songs." Besides the excellent execution of the orchestra, there was the equally excellent dancing of the ballet girls, who appeared in frocks representing the nations. Gus Dawson and the company opened the second half of the bill of fare with a a fine chorus, which was followed by one of the whirlwind dance numbers presented by Gus Dawson and Jean Keith. ' "Sunshine," presented by Patsy Hill and the girls, was a pretty little number; then came a farcical interlude, in which'Al. Maurice, attired as a prima donna, persisted to interrupt the attempts of the opera singer, Alme Valdor.. The ballet girls • again .'showed their cleverness and versatility: in We are the Chorus," besides playing miniature xylophones'strapped on their backs. "Sing Me a Baby Song" was a number by Jean Keith,' : which won her applause. came ■ "Sailors' Knots," in which the ballet, together with Geo. Ward and Charles Sherman, took part. Geo. Ward, in his role as a sailor, was a scream. All through the show, the settings were elaborate,- and. the frocking was both hovel and delightful. There was an excellent finale, in which the-whole company combined,'•-■;

NATIONAL AND LYRIC. The story of "The Great Well," which opened at the National and Lyric Theatres last- evening, opens' in India, where a mother and her daughter are staying at a fashionable, hotel. men, one an engineer and part owner of an. oil well in the East, and the other an army major, are both courting the daughter. the major being a poor man, . the ■• mother warns the girl against encouraging him, but she, being in love withjijm, resents her mother's persuasions. Ihe...major proposes and is accepted, but it is decided to keep the match a secret until his pros.pects improve. ..The scene,then changes to England'; where'tlie girl eventually marries the engineer. Frorii-here, the theme moves 'quickly towards a dramatic climax. 4.t IbotU theatres, the accompanying attraction is "Wickedness Preferred, another Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer, .starring vehicle Lew Cody aud-Aileeii Prmgle. This isa spicy burlesque on cave-man love —the actual application of that theory. The story revolves round the author of highly coloured island stories, and his cave-man reputation causes a furore among the ladies second only to the sensation created by his arrival at a summer resort hotel, where a particularly romantic young wife vamps him unmercifully. Gossip and the strenuous objections of the biisband lead to complications. But. the couple decide ■to sail to an island—and into a typhoon of unforeseen troubles. George K. Arthur and Bert Roach are also in the -cast. There are also entertaining supports on the programme; these include news reels, a short comedy and a travelogue.

\ ". ■ ■ PLAZA AND TIVOLI.. There is real scope for imagination in the film comedy field, and "Vamping Venus," a laugh-feast at the Plaza and Tivoli Theatres, takes advantage of it. Imagine starting the story in New lork in 1928, and going back for most of the action-to Greece in the days of Mars and all the other gods. Charlie Murray and Louise Pazenda head a great cast m this refreshingly new comedy from First National Pictures, and Thclma Todd, .in the Grecian episodes, is Venus. There are giggles galore in the New .York scenes, but laughter gets really hysterical in the Greek Jperio'd. Murray goes to a night club to escape his nagging wife, and gets a rap on the 'head which precipitates him rifht in to the middle of Old Greece. There he meets all the' characters of the New York days /in different roles; the .. wife, ■■ <for, instance, is ' Oiree! .And, of ' course, .with his knowledge of -modern inventions and politics, he becomes dictator of the land, war, wins * Venus—and comes to New York, with' someone pouring water on his head! "The'-Wheel of.- Chance, in which Richard- Barthelmess. plays ; a dual role, is the accompanying-attraction at each treatre. This'.'is, the ..dramatic story of twin brothers,-separated in childhood by relentless, fate, who meet after they have grown 1 , to. manhood ma' court where a murder trial is being held. It is difficult to decide which role Barthelmess plays the better; he invests'both with a sincerity that caniiot but plaese audiences. Entertaining 6upports\are'.-alsq shown.

EVERYBODY'S..; THEATRE. Even after itswignatly successful'i'un at the Plaza arid*Tivoli,'-'. "The. Cossacks, which is at-Everybody's for, an extended season, is drawing capacity, audiences. Ihe proof of the high .'Standard "of. entertain-ment-which it represents is certainly contained iu the popularity .with.'which it has'met in this city." The film, which is set in'mvsterious Russia, with the tempest of war for its .background,, brings' John Gilbert and Rcnee Ad'oree '-, together, in starring rojes' for . the\; first-. time sl nce their .never-to-be-forgotten The, Big Parade'."'- Gilbert appears.as a swaeh.buekling Cossack; and Ernest Torreiice has'.the-role of his father. Nils Asther is also iu the cast. A : band of Cossack riders' was'b'rouglit especially from Europe to take part in the production, and that touch of realism which- they add to it proves that'if was worth the, expense, ."The Grip of'the Yukon," a story of the frozen North, with Neil Hamilton Fran"cis X' Bushman, June Marlowe, and Utis Harlan in the featured roles, is also s'cfeeried'at Everybody's.

'*.'. . .?. . "W T - THE DECK." .. . The J. C.' Williamson,. U<\... Musical Comedy Company,- including -Miss- Annie Croft, Gus Bluett,. Leo irauklin;. May Beattv-and Reginald Sharland, will-.appear in 4'Hit -the, Deck'i this afternoon..at 2 o'clock and this evening, at 8 o'coek. The filial two'nights'.of tlie _season.-will happen on Monday-'and"Tuesday,:-next, and on \Vednrsdav and Thursday'the company u-i'.l -pi-csnnt "The Girl Friend" and "Hit tliq ]>-ck" to playgoers of Hamilton.-"Hit; '■ Deck" ; is attracting' even;.-larger auaicnees to' His Majesty's Theatre than "Jiie .CM Extend.."; t.. ........,,

MAJESTIC THEATRE. Imagine the hefty Karl Dane as a hotel detective and the diminutive George £. Arthur as a'bellboy in the same fashionable establishment; place then in the midst of a grim mystery plot and let them pursue the master crook and you have -Detectives," the latest picture for ths rr e^r S^»^^ : far above the standard of most comedy dramas; its situations are cjeverb.thought out; and its many surprising t«i=te mtro duced without any trace ° . wande ""? f f c ° t " the main theme-and all are peifcctlj believable. It is not necessary to comment upon the manner in winch the two stars perform-the clumsy, ciant and his rival for the girl, the impish, even mercurial George AiW" they Play the story m the same naturalness that was suctt afeature of their previous pictures. There fs a lot of fun provided by the sinister chemfng of Dr. Orloff, »M«* noses as Egyptologist, and who, to make £ bis co\p, brings'two or three mummies to the hotel. After Dane and Arthui have annoyed one another beyond all leason the scene of the story moves to the ouiitry house of Dr. Orloff, •Mm" panels, trap-doors, ce.is which, Kari Dane finds, have ceilings about a foot too low. doors that open and shut like Sesame, and arm-chairs that-simply open and■£•»»» anyone who. sits on them, - frighten the two heroes more than ever. One of the most laughable .sequences is provided when, to enter OrlotE's room at the hotel and regain a rope of pearls which that pleasant gentleman has stolen, Gem go Arthur dresses as a maid, and Dane, though hardly a wooing Romeo makes love to the entrancing little ; lady. itn the film there are entertaining supports. Especially interesting is.the Fox News, with scenes of happenings all oyer the world. A scenic, "Beauty Land, which is produced in colour, is an enjoyable number, and the bill is complete With a good \eson Fable cartoon and a Max Wiidson comedy, from which anyone can learn how to escape a murderer bent cm revenue Mr. John. AVhiteford Waugn has arranged enjoyable incidental music and "Lilac Time " (Schubert) is played as an interlude, with brilliant stage and colour effects.

REGENT THEATRE. , , Clara Bow's followers have the opportunity of enjoying their.favourite motion .picture star in a charactensa ion abso ; lutely new to her in "Ladies oLthe Mob, the Paramount picture now at the Regent Theatre. The dynamic red-head plays the part of a girl of the underworld, a follower of "the mob" as a gang is called in the'parlance of the underworld. Mi&> Bow's part is pure drama and she .is declared to rise to new heights. _ Richard irlen who scored such a triumph m "Wiii"6,""has the supporting lead opposite the star, and the direction was in the hands of William Wellman, the youth; fiil-director who made the epic, Wing=, and "The Legion of the Condemned. Batik robberies/ gang fights, escapes through the ■iiMit and dramatic, the little star and her gangster lover abound in Ladies of the Hob." The feature of the supporting bill is the stage presentation, which introduces 'catchy musical, selections, by the orchestra under; Mr. Maurice: Guttridge, and clever .dancing by artists from Australia. An interesting Paramount News, and a laughable short, comedy complete the entertainment, throughout which Mr. Guttridge s Operatic Orchestra renders enjoyable music, Light Cavalry" (Suppe) being played as an entr'acte. •■',■'. " . ■/ f ■ ■

TUDOR THEATRE. . •• The .new- 'programme at the Tudor:: Theatre, Remuera, is: headed by Warner.< Brothers' aviation' romance, -with Monte.-; Bhie r as the hero. "Across the Atlantic is adapted from an original story by John Ransorae, and'. shows a • war ace who : is. shot 'down and loses his memory and .is reported 'dead. .His sweetheart refuses, to believe him dead, but finally agrees; to marry the brother, after a visit to. the French village where herlover last wrote from.' In the'meantime, Monte Blue re-, gains his memory, escapes and flies a new 'plane acre;i to France .single-handed, arriving just in time to prevent the-mar-riage. He is ably supported by .Edna Murphy, and Burr Mcintosh. The second feature is "A Reno Divorce," starring May McAvoy, a comedy drama dealing, with modern society and the adventures, of a divorced couple,' a young society girl and an artist. The supports, include a comic and a very interesting Pathe Gazette. On Tuesday "The Battles of Coronel' and Falkland Islands" will be shown; also Adolphe Menjou in;'. His Tiger Lady." Next Friday, Ramon Novarr'; will appear in "A Certain Young Man,' and there will also be a new Fox production, "The Great Well." '■','•'

.. BOHEMIAN ORCHESTRA. The fourth concert 'of the Bohemian Orchestra will be held in the Town Hall on Thursday, November 22. Among the selections chosen' for the orchestra, which will be undel- Mr. Colin Huston, are. "Rosamunde" (Schubert), the Prelude to Act 111. o£ "Lohengrin" (Wagner), a symphony and two aubades. A trio, piano, flute and violin, played by Mrs. McAndrew, Hiss Simpson and Miss E. Whitelaw respectively, with strong orchestral- accompaniment, will play '"Concerto; No. 5" (J. S. Bach). Mr. Barry Coney will sing "AUelulia" (O'Connor Morris) and "The ; Wanderer" (Schubert). ." '• :.;■ BAND AT THE ZOO.- .. '' The' Municipal Band -plays at the Zoological Park' on Sunday afternoon at 3 o'clock.' A'splendid programme will include the chorus "Worthy is the Lamb"; overture, "Mariharella"; suite, "William Byrd"; selection's, : "Bhahms' Melodies" and "Kip Van:; Winkle," and a special number—an original suite for military band by Gordon' Jacob. TECHNICAL COLLEGE CONCERT. ' The' concert presented' by the pupils of the Seddou Memorial : Technical College in the College Assembly Hall.last evening, will be repeated this evening. The entertainment is "May Day in Welladay," a musical play in, three acts. The production iff played with a large cast, and a full orchestra plays the music. • The whole 'production is staged and presented by the staff and students of the college. DANCING. . There will be another enjoyable dance in the Dixieland Cabaret, Point Chevalier, thi6 evening,: when; the Dixieland Dance Band will render a selected score of syncopated fox-trot hits. There will be novelties.' Dancing will continue until L a.m. next Wednesday, when a non-stop carnival will be held. i '.; . '•'Dancers are assured of an;> enjoyable entertainment- at the Click Clack Cabaret, in the'Rialto Buildings, Newmarket;,this evening.; Clyde Howler's Internationals will-provide Ih'e music." ; . j ' 'The usual Saturday night dance wfljlbe 'held; in the Mission Bay Cabaret, Kohi--riiarama, this. evening. ~ ' ' . v '- ' j Old-time ..dances are held every WednesJday and Saturday evenings in the.Municipal' Hall, Newmarket, "under tliei' directtion of .Mr. D. Mayes. - , '■■ ' - j The'.Regal Orchestra of six. will provide the music for this evening's dance.'of the Sfgaroma- Social Club in the Manchester Unity Hall at the corner of Victoria; and Streets. r '•'...■ i ;• The Masonic Hall, Belgium- Street/.' should : attract a large crowd of merry-' makers this evening, when the Premier Dances will "hold'another carnival entertainment. Favours will-be distributed, and there will be novelty numbers.: Last Saturday's Carnival at the Parisian was such a success that the patrons voted as one that it should be repeated this week. Another fine selection of paper hats will be given, away, together with streamers, balloons, and other novelties. Birtley's Society' Orchestra-will provide 'a w!ell-ihosen programme of syncopated dance music, and ' dancing will be conjtiaugd jurJaJ lL3ft. .