AMUSEMENTS

Auckland Star, Volume LXIII, Issue 121, 24 May 1932, Page 5

AMUSEMENTS

ttOXY THEATRE. Creepy drama, with just about as much inexplicable mystery as it is possible to include in a film, forms the backbone of "Behind the Mask," which commences a season to-day at the Roxy Theatre, together with Sydney Howard's latest hilarious comedy, "Almo; t a Divorce." In the mystery film, .Tack Holt, the famous "he-man" actor, takes the hero's role, that of a detective fighting to destroy the greatest menace that had existed for many years, ail unknown but all-seeing monster that worked his own gruesome will upon those of his followers or enemies who dared to incur his displeasure. "Mr. X" they called him, but none had succeeded in solving the riddle of his identity. The Secret Service was powerless to "bring him to book —until Detective Hart was put on the job. He went into the most fearful dangers to achieve success, but it was only at the hands of a beautiful girl that his life was saved. This character is played by Constance Cummings. Boris Karloff (the "Frankenstein" monster), Claude King. Willard Robertson and Edward Van Sloan are also in the cast. The Roxy'e other film was made at Elstree, England, and has all the welcome attributes that should be associated with that class of production. Sydney Howard is supported in his screamingly-funny antics by Kenneth Kove, who was last seen in "Mischief," Margery Binner, Eva Moore and Nelson Keys, the new-style comedian who helped to carry the original film of "Splinters" 011 to its successful conclusion. MOISEIWITSCH SEASON. Box plans will open at Lewis Eady's at 9 a.m. to-morrow for the approaching season of Moiseiwitscli at the Town Hall, commencing with a concert next Saturday. June 1 and 4 will be the occasions for his only other recitals here. Moiseiwitscli has" already given an immensely successful season in Wellington, and it is believed that bis Auckland visit will be 110 less significant. Report has it that he has a crispness and clarity of stvle equalled by no other musician who has played to local audiences. There is certainly 110 doubt that his programme consists of the widest variety of popular and difficult composers, and Saturday night's audience will also hear a number of novelties (mainly written by the composer Chasins), which have not been played here previously. SOCIETY OF ARTS EXHIBITION. The exhibition of the Auckland Society of Arts will be open from 7 to 9 o clock this evening, and will, close to-morrow. This display of local work affords an unrivalled opportunity for Aucklanders to see what stage Art has reached in the more or less isolated Dominion, and a comparison is all the more interesting in view of recent cabled remarks from don on the scarcity of talent in £>ew Zealand. NEVILLE CARLSEN REVUE CO. The Neville Carlsen Revue Company o-ave a farewell concert to Messrs. Geo. Gussey and Phil Eva, two newsvendors, who are leaving Auckland on a round-the-world "hike" advertising New Zea-land-made goods. An excellent variety programme was submitted to an appro ciative audience, little Joan Tucker proving outstandingly popular in her song and dance numbers. Others who contributed were: Era Parkinson's string band, Mesdames V. Paskell, J. Holt, Misses Sylvia Povnter, Zoe Madigan, D. Lawson, Wilma Lockwood, Mavis Rielly, Nelda Aslulown, Messrs. Jack De Rose, Jas. O'Kane, Lai Torter, Jack Holt, George Davies, Jack Davey, Jack Rielly, Neville Carlsen and Master Albert Parkinson. Mrs. J. Holt was the accompanist. COMMUNITY SINGING. Community singing will be held at the Town Hall to-morrow from 12.30 to 1.30 p.m. The leader will be Mr. Matt. Guthrie. The collection will be in aid of unemployed relief.