AMUSEMENTS.

Auckland Star, Volume LIX, Issue 305, 26 December 1928, Page 3

AMUSEMENTS.

"THE MIDNIGHT FROLICS."

This evening at His Majesty's Theatre the J. C. Williamson management will present the "Midnight Frolics" in a complete change of programme, which has been specially selected for the holiday season, and will embrace many of Clem. Dawe's outstanding successes. The new sketches to be played are "The Man Down the Hole," "Advertising," "Dutch Finale," "Neighbours," "Not Allowed Speaker," "The Last Cabby" a real gem, and one of Clem Dawe's side-splitters, "Waiters." The jazz band has a most suitable lot of numbers, and will repeat Clem Dawe's masterpiece, his brilliant burlesque of Sousa. Oscar Beck, Lillian Crisp and William Perryman have a delightful selection of new numbers. The dancers of the dhow, Phyllis Amery, John Robertson, Les and Dorothy White all appear in holiday items. Eric Edgley assists Clem Dawe in most of his fun-making, and Gregory Ivanoff will be heard in a fine selection on his violin. The box plans are at the Theatre Kiosk for to-night's performance.

NATIONAL THEATRE. Besides the pantomime attraction ("Mother Goose") for Christmas week, the management of the Xational are screening that masterpiece of Cecil B. de Mille's art, "The Ten Commandments." which, theatre-goers will remember, established a record for a long run season when it was first released in Auckland. "The Ten Commandments" is divided into two periods. _ The first half of the story is in the ancient period, and depicts the Exodus, when Moses led the Israelites from Egypt. The theme draws to a close with their idolatry of the Golden Calf, In the second half, a parallel is drawn, the setting being a» modern one. The principal players are Richard Dix, Rod La Rocque, Nita Naldi and Leatrice Joy. "Mother Goose," which is produced by Mile. Valeska, is played by a strong cast of over sixty performers. Many of the brilliant scenes in this delightful entertainment lend themselves admirably to pretty stage settings, and it is obvious that these have received careful attention in even the most smallest detail. Of conrse, humour is outstanding throughout the production, but there is also some clever dancing and acrobatic work by Mile. Valeska and her partner, Mr. Len Wilson, and by Wilson and Millar. EVERYBODY'S THEATRE. "The Big Killing" and "The Heart Thief" are the two big pictures that have been arranged for the change of programme at Everybody's Theatre to"The Big Killing" is the last picture in which those two clever Paramount comedians, Wallace Beery and Raymond Hatton, will appear together. It is a story laid in the mountains, where a feud has been in progress between two families for several generations. Beery and Hatton are seen as two sharp-shooters with a travelling carnival show, who, when they reach a village near the homes of the quarrelling families, are engaged by one party to help kill off their enemies. Of course their act has been nothing but a fake, and when they are handed real guns and bullets that are not dummies, they are very frightened. Instead of carrying out their duties as killers then, they manage to make peace between the two families. "The Heart Thief" is a P.D.C. production, which stars Joseph Schildkraut and Lya de Putti, who, it will be remembered, produced such splenj did work in "Variety." HIPPODROME THEATRE. "The Girl-Shy Cowboy" and "Silk Legs" form the programme which opened for the change at the Hippodrome Theatre to-day. Rex Bel], Fox Films' new Western star, is featured in "The Girl-Shy Cowboy," a story which contains a little less Western action than most of its type, but which makes up for any that is dropped by adding an unusual amount of romance. Bell captures the heart of a schoolgirl who is travelling with a party of friends in search of fossil beds. However, he has' a hard fight to win her and his struggle is vividly recorded on the screen as one of his best characterisations to date. Comedy is an important feature of the theme, and at this, Bell, though he has been in pictures less than two years, proves himself admirable. Madge Bellamy is starred in "Silk Legs, the story of the rivalrv between a girl commercial traveller and a rival. Both travel for manufacturers of silk stockings, and at every town where they meet their rivalry becomes more intense. James Hall plays the male lead. WEST END THEATRE. "The Play Girl," featuring Madge Bellamy, is being screened at the West End Theatre. The story deals with the life of a little shop girl, tired of work and hungry for beautiful clothes and amusement. Johnny Mack Brcwn plavs the male lead. PLAZA AND TIVOLI. ' "Waterfront" and "The Wi IgM I I i." which have been attracting large and enthusiastic audience* t., the PJazi and Tivoli Theatres during the past week. w:ll finish their season this evening, and tomorrow the attractions at these two popular houses will be •"The Barker" and '"'Finnegan's Ball." '•'The Barker" is First National's latest starring vehicle for Milton Sills. It is a delightful story of a travelling carnival company. Dorothy Mackaill and Betty Compsoji p] a v important roles. "Finnezan's Ball" is a Cniversal production, with Blanche Mehaffey and Cullen Landis in the priueipal Voles. There a merry mix-up between the Finn---gans and the Fiannigans at the ball Good, clean Irish humour is crammed into the theme from end to end. YE OLD PRIATE SHIPPE. The officers of the Danish expedition aboard the Dana will be the guests at. this evening's entertainment at Ye Old Pirate Shippe, Milford. A carnival has been arranged, for which the Pirate Orchestra"* will render a special programme of svneo pated fox-trot hits. Special boat and bus servicers axe advertised*