AMUSEMENTS.

Auckland Star, Volume LXIII, Issue 264, 7 November 1932, Page 3

AMUSEMENTS.

PLAZA THEATRE. A department in which a great advance has been made by British film producers is the making of musical films, as instanced in the Plaza's current attraction, "Sunshine Susie." The flood of undistinguished song and dance stuff thrown up by the first wave of musical talkies merely confused the issue, leaving everyone heartily sick of chorus girl heroines and backstage themes. But while Hollywood sacked its song writers and sent its chorus girls back to New York, two men went on working oiit ideas which were destined to demonstrate, the proper use of music in films. These men were Ernst Lubitsch and Eeno (Jlair. The former, with "Monte Carlo," elaborated the method of musical treatment lie introduced in "The Love Parade." The latter dazzled the critics and set the film directors of two continents thinking by the brilliance of his invention in "Le Million." Thus it comes about that, although 1931 saw relatively few musical "talkies," it carried this type of film from unbearable weakness to new-found strength. "THE BARRETTS." After having been seen by an estimated total of 2,000,000 persons in London and New York, "The Barrette of Wimpole Street" will come to Auckland for a lengthy season next Saturday, when it opens at His Majesty's Theatre. The star of the play ie Margaret Rawlings, who scored London's most impressive triumph for many years in. her role as Elizabeth Barrett Browning, wife of Robert Browning, poet and lover. The play, which netted a huge fortune for its author, Rudolph Besier, was also played throughout the United States with Katharien Cornell in the lead. The current New Zealand tour marks the end of a protracted etay in Australasia.- Miss Rawlings secured great triumphs in the Australian centres, particularly in Melbourne, where her new English company also received most enthusiastic notices from the critics. The male lead, the role of Robert Browning, is taken by Barry K. Barnes, a noted English juvenile actor, while the part of the heroine's bullying ami narrow-minded father receives excellent interpretation >by E. Bellenden Clarke, a character actor of distinction. Box plans open on Wednesday. The play, which is a mixture of love, tragedy and comedy, will be played for one night only next Friday in the Hamilton. Theatre Royal.

MUNICIPAL BAND. The Auckland Municipal Band, under the conductorship of Bandmaster Geo. Buckley, gave an interesting programme at Albert Park last night. Mendelssohn's overture, "The Hebrides," and Verdi's "Lit Traviata" were probably the most favoured. The lighter portions of the programme, consisting of xylophone, piccolo and cornet solos, were much enjoyed. The band also gave a programme at the Zoological Park yesterday afternoon. SCOTS HALL PANTOMIME. The pupils of Miss Cecil Hall gave a successful performance of the pantomime, "The Further Adventures of Alice in Wonderland," on Saturday evening. The action in the seven scenes was kept moving in pleasing continuity, while dancing and singing were entertainingly introduced. Particularly worthy of mention was the work of the younger members of the cast, who never flagged throughout, the evening. Stage and dressing effects contributed not a little to the success of .the presentation, providing many scenes of undoubted beauty. INFIRMARY CONCERT. A very enjoyable concert was given at the Infirmary by the Misses Bcrcsford last week. The programme was much appreciated, the items consisting of songs, duets, pianoforte and violin solos, dancing and many other items, all the artists being in fancy dress. Those taking part were: Misses M. Jaffray, J. Walters, M. Zimmer, I. Corbett, P. Knowles, N. Knowles, C. Over, V. Jackson, P. Basham, V. Goffin, V. Young, Messrs. A. Turner and A. Hamlblin. The Misses Beresford acted ae accompanists. Messrs. Turner and F. G. Jackson provided traneport. The old people passed a hearty vote of thanks to the concert party.