"THE DESERT SONG."

Auckland Star, Volume LX, Issue 278, 23 November 1929, Page 13

"THE DESERT SONG."

Another near-capacity "house was delighted with '-'The Desert Song" at His Majesty's Theatre last evening, and t-oted the play one of the greatest musical successes ever presented in Auckland. ( Hie ehow is a most colourful production, , ivhile the music is highly appealing. As ; the Red Shadow, Lance Fairfax, is a new kind of hero, whose " ;ong numbers are excellent. He appears ] n a dual role, and his acting as the mlf-witted son of the French command- , nit calls for considerable praise. As Marmot, Miss Marie Bremner has a dim- : •ult"parti but sne comes thmu S ll Wlth lying coleme. She has a charming personality, and the various moods that she is called upon to play give plenty of scope for her undoubted ability. Like that; of Lance Fairfax, her singing is ol i very lii-h. standard. The burden of providing "the big share of the humour ,f the play is ably carried by Herbert Mundin, as' a society correspondent who lias been pushed into the job of a war •orrespondent. Undoubtedly he is the nest English comedian that has been seen in Auckland for a long time One 3 f the most pleasing features of the plav is the excellence of the ballet, while Miss Marjori Maxwell is well cast as Azuri, the dancer. ST. JAMES' THEATRE. Jim Gerald's latest revue is attracting large audiences to St. James; Theatre. Hie entertainment is a combination of -lever sketches, ballets and ensembles, with a good admixture of solo work. There will be a complete change of programme next Tuesday night. CIVIC THEATRE. h k plans for the opening performance yi the new Civic Theatre are available it the theatre booking office from 10 a.m. laily. EMPRESS THEATRE. "The Wheel of Life," starring Richard Dix, is the current attraction at the Empress Theatre. This film is an niltalkie, and is an excellent vehicle lor Dix's work. , On the same programme there is a well-selected budget of alltalking supports, including a news-reel with scenes of events from all parts of the world, a laughable short comedy, and in interesting travelogue. MUNICIPAL MUSIC. The fourteenth concert of the season will be presented by the Municipal Band iu the Town Hall to-night. The proTraiiiino will include a scries of Wagner items by the band. Instrumental solos will be rendered by Messrs McLennan and-Vavies. Vocalists are Miss Nellie Lingard and Mr. Wilfred Scott. The Municipal Band will render a musical programme at the Zoological Park to-morrow afternoon. Sullivan selections, instrumental solos, bright marches and hymn tunes will be featured. •\n organ recital will be given in the Town Hall to-morrow evening commencing at 8.30. Ihe eitv braanißt, Mr. Maughan Bluett, will play works by Rheinberger, Bach ami Goldmark. Tschaikowski s '■Dance of the Sugar Plum Fairy, Le Cvgne." by Saint-Saens, and a l'antasia on'bid English Airs by Best. DANCING. The Parisian Whitehall Dancing Studio, Upper Queen Street (below Tabernacle), announces that the lloor space measures 1400 square feet. Miss Brookes and Mr. Bentky arc the principals. The Click Clack Cabaret has received another orchestral request for to-night. Dancing to all the latest music will be kept on until midnight.

Dancing will continue . until midnight at the Dixieland Cabaret, Point Chevalier, this evening. Music will be played by the Dixieland Dance Band. Brilliant new decorations have been arranged at Ye Olde Pirate Shippe, Milford, where dancing will be held this evening. Ye Versatile Pirates will play all the latest hits. . Two hours' dancing will follow the picture programme at the Moulin Rouge, Kemuera, this evening. Dancing after the picture programme will be held at the Picturedrome, Milford, this evening. A dance will follow the picture entertainment at the Delta Theatre, New Lynn, to-night. The Grey Lynn Labour Party has arranged another old-time dance for the O'Neill Street Hall, Ponsonby, this evening. Paltridge's augmented orchestra will be present. The Ngaroma Social Club will hold its weekly old-time dance at the Manchester Unity Hall to-night. Mrs. Northover's orchestra will be in attendance. Old-time dances are held every Saturday night in the Municipal Hall, Newmarket, under the direction of Mr. D. Mayes. Hubert Hoffman and his Commanders will again be in attendance at this evening's dance of the Felix Dance Club in the Orange Hall, Newton. Music for this evening's dance of the Ventura Dance Club in St. Sepulchre's Hall will be played by Bendall's Collegians. The usual weekly dance will be held by the management of the Orange Hall next Friday night. The Dixieland Dance Band will again be present. The Point Chevalier Sailing Club will hold a dance to-night. An old-time dance will be held tonight at the Druids' Old Time Cabaret. The Famous Revellers will play all the latest music. The Paramount Dances will be 'continued to-night at Ponsonby (late Star and Circle). Novelties are announced.