AMUSEMENTS.

Auckland Star, Volume LXI, Issue 281, 27 November 1930, Page 11

AMUSEMENTS.

CIVIC THEATRE,

The amusing comedy-drama, "Lawful Larceny," will end its season at the Civic Theatre this evening. The story tells of a young married woman's successful effort to ruin the woman who stole her husband's affections. There is a notable cast, at the head of which are Bebe Daniels and Lowell Sherman. To-morrow's attraction will be, "On Your Back," the tale of an ambitious dressmaker who throws her scruples to the wind in an effort to achieve success for her son. When her son becomes mixed up in the scheme, however, the self-sacrificing mother suffers a good deal of unhappiness. Irene Rich gives a polished performance as the mother. The means She uses to entice wealthy customers to her salon bring her much wealth. The theme is a dangerous one but has been well handled and this fact, coupled with the unusualness of the story as well as with appealing human situations, make the picture a good entertainment. Irene Rich has never done better work than in her role in this picture. Marion Shilling is an excellent heroine, and Raymond Hackett does well as the hero. NATIONAL THEATRE. To-day is the last,-.day of screening for "The Nipper," the" British production ■which has enjoyed a successful season at tlio National Theatre. Betty Balfour, the vivacious British actress, is cast as a mad-cap who is caught in'a thrilling adventure of crime and romance. The second picture is "All Riot on the Western Front." Commencing to-morrow is "Strictly Unconventional," adapted from Somerset Maugham's stage play, "The Circle." The story tells of the amusing recurrence of a domestic situation in an aristocratic English family. Tho appeal of the picture rests in the highly amusing characterisations as well as on the brilliant dialogue of the author. The notable cast include* such well-known players as Catherine Dale Owen, Lewis Stone and Paul Cavanagh. STRAND THEATRE. The brilliant British comedy, "Rookery Nook," which has convulsed audiences at the Strand Theatre during the past week, will be shown for the last time this evening. The picture is adapted from Ben Travels' farce and is acted by the original London principals. "The Runaway Bride" is to-morrow's feature, a good melodrama in which the heroine is a society girl and the hero a wealthy young bachelor. The heroine is shown to have eloped wth a young man of her set, but at a wayside hotel she is startled by burglars and eventually finds herself in the hero's home in the 1 capacity of cook. There is a maze of thrilling adventure before the picture reaches its predestined end. Mary Astor is the heroine and Lloyd Hughes makes an excellent hero. MAJESTIC THEATRE. Dorothy Mackaill is responsible for a great deal of the humour in "The Flirting Widow," the Majestic Theatre attraction which will be screened for the last time this evening. The picture was adapted from A. E. W. Mason's story "Green Stockings." Dorothy Mackaill first appears as an elder sister i to whom the rest of the family always ['turns, and who affects mannish clothing. Later, however, she becomes a thoroughly modern young lady, and in each role she is perfectly at ease. To-morrow's feature, "Not Damaged," is a sparkling comedy-drama of modern life in two different social sets in New York. The two principal characters are employees in a large departmental store, and the romance that springs up between them seems to be happy until the influence of a wealthy man about town changes the course. Lois Moran is cast in the leading role, and give? a brilliant performance. She is assisted by a notable cast, including Robert Ames, Walter Byron and Ernest Wood. PLAZA THEATRE. A varied double-feature entertainment is now being provided at the Plaza Theatre by the screening of "Around the Corner" and "Soldiers and Women." The former is a hilarious comedy "featuring George Sidney and Charlie Murray, the inimitable comedians, in one of their funniest pictures. They appar in their well-known roles of a Jew and an Irishman. The latter picture is a dramatic story set against the military background of Haiti. The leading players arc Aileen Pringle and Gran% Withers. ROXY THEATRE. The boisterous - comedy of Victor McLaglen is contrasted with the subtler appeal of Fifi D'Orsay in "On the Level," the principal' feature at the Roxy ( Theatre this week. Victor McLaglen appears as a structural steel worker who thinks he is irresistible to girls. He has numerous romantic adventures, but ends by beiti" sadly disillusioned. The sec- j ond attraction is "The Three Sisters,'; a] picture of motherly love in which Louise Dresser, Addic McPhail and Kenneth Mackenna take the leading roles. CRYSTAL PALACE. A splendid double-feature programme will be shown at the Crystal Palace this evening. Heading the bill is "Mamba," a dramatic story with its locale in Africa. The chief actors are Jean Hersholt, Ralph Forbes and Eleanor Boardman. "Beau Bandit" Is the other attraction. Rod La Rocque is the leading actor. EMPRESS THEATRE. - r Norma Shearer, the brilliant actress, plays a difficult part with ease in "The Divorcee," a dramatic picture of modern married life, which is the chief feature at the Empress Theatre. There is also an excellent programme •of short ieaturettes. THEATRE ROYAL. The Theatre Royal at Kingsland has been-closed for the past few weeks to enable the latest De Forest talkie equipment to be fitted, and the theatre remodelled throughout. On Saturday evening it will reopen with "HiglvSociety Blues," with Janet Gaynor and. Charles Farrell in the leads. A full talkie supporting programme will also be scieened. "PETER PAN." At His Majesty's 'Iheatrc, staiting on December 10 for a season of four nights, the Little Theatre Society is presenting "Peter Pan." There is hardly a child in this city who will not receive this announcement , with the o-reatest happiness. To know that they will have an opportunity of seeing Peter Pan and Wendy, the Lost Boys, Captain Hook and his pirates, the crocodile, a dog, wolves and the hundred and one other things so affectionately remembered, must be a delightful contemplation. The society has spared no effort to present "Peter Pan" in a manner worthy of J. M. Barrie's famous Christmas fantasy. Booking arrangements are advertised and it is anticipated that the season will' be a very successful one. "THE MAN FROM TORONTO." The St. Cuthbert's Old Girls' Association will present Douglas Murray's play, "The Man From Toronto" in the Town Hall concert chamber on December 5 and 0. : . ;

ST. JAMES' THEATRE. "Song of tlie West" will be screened for the last time at the St. James' Theatre this evening. "Spring is Here" will commence a season to-morrow and should prove a popular attraction. It is a light comedy of youthful love starring Alexander Gray and Bernice Claire. Alexander Gray is ably suited for the main role in "Spring is Here," and appears as a rather fast-living young man looked on with disfavour by the .parents of the girl he loves. Things arc complicated by the advent of a stranger, and the heroine becomes attracted by him. The hero is advised to make love to other women, but this fails. Meantime the heroine's father decides that his daughter shall marry the wealthy stranger, but he is too late, for the hero and heroine, having made things up again, are already married. The comedy element of the picture contains its main appeal. This phase is supplied by Ford Sterling and Louise Fazenda, who have parts eminently suited to their kind of comedy. The picture is good entertainment, and should prove popular. REGENT THEATRE. The famous gentleman cracksman Raffles, comes to life on the screen in the picture version of E. W. Hornung's well-known stories, which is now showing at the Regent Theatre. The.personality of Raffles is faithfully transferred to the screen by Ronald Cclman, who gives one of the best performances of his career. Although he is influenced by his love tor a society girl to give up his nefarious calling Raffles is brought hack to it by the urgent need of a friend. His final adventure proves to be the most thrilling, and he is suspected by a Scotland Yard detective whom he finds almost too strong for him. At the last minute lie evades the law and leaves England to start life afresh aided by the society girl, who him through thick and thin. Ivay Francis gives a charming performance as the heroine. There is an excellent supporting programme fully in keeping with the high standard of the main entertainment. ' SUNDAY SCHOOL CONCERT. . A musical programme and a cantata entitled, "Soot and the Fairies," were presented by the Sunday school children of St. Andrew's Presbyterian Church, Otahuhu, in the church hall last Tuesday evening. The cantata, which was produced hy Miss May Gardiner and Mr. Ingram, was most successful. It was presented by the junior members of the school, who received support from a chorus of fairies and a black brigade. Pianoforte solos were given by Phyllis Pctrie and Hope Russell; songs, Jean Morton, Elva Parr and Edna Jones; recitations, Miss Lawson, Cassie Cook and Jean Payne; character dances, Jean Gardiner and June McLaren; elocutionary items, Kathleen Patrick, lima Nield and Cathie Moffatt. Miss Jessie Webber and Mr. R. Airey were the accompanists. At the conclusion of the programme the Rev. A, 51. Elliffe, 8.A., thanked the producers of the cantata and all those who had assisted to arrange the function. PUCCINI MUSICAL SOCIETY. A grand operatic concert will be presented in tlio Town Hall concert chamber this evening by the Puccini Musical Society under the baton of Signor Costantini. Assisting artists will be Miss Ida Lockwood, violin, and Mr. Martin-, engo, violoncello. Miss Gabrielle Eraser will be at the organ and Mios Kathleen O'Leary will be the pianist.

SKATING. , Hockey on skates has become a novel feature of the skating entertainments at the Dominion Skating Rink, Three Lamps, Ponsonby, and on Saturday evening a thrilling contest is promised. Teams from the H.M.s. Dunedin and Ponsonby will be matched against each other, and the result should be a keenlycontested match. The Dunedin team is the champion team in New Zealand, having been unbeaten in the othc; centres.