ENTERTAINMENTS

Dominion, Volume 15, Issue 12, 8 October 1921, Page 2

ENTERTAINMENTS

“THREE WISE FOOLS.” The delightful comedy “Three Wise Fools" is at present being staged at the Grand Opera House, and is attracting crowded audiences. The comedy is without a dull moment. As the irritable banker, one of the three fools, Air. John D. O'Hara’s performance is finished to a degree. Mr. Frederick Esmelton as the Hon. James Trunibeli, Justice of the Federal Court, is impressive, particularly in the second act, when, after a severe cross-examination, he obtained a confession from Sidney Fairchild (Miss Dorothy Seacombe). The third wise fool is an "eminent psychologist,” one Dr. Richard Gaunt, whose theories about ruts and the living dead are put to the test. “Three Wise Fools" will be repeated to-night, and there is a. treat in store for those who witness the play. "LYING LIPS.” A very good index to the quality of a picture is the name of the producer. High among the best of tho artistic engineers ,of screen architecture are David Griffith, Cecil do Mille, and Thomas Ince. “Lying LipS," at the King’s Theatre, is an Ince and it is worth while. Apart from its opulent dressing, its wonderful crowds, and exquisite gift for grouping, romance glows and tragedy starts from tho screen in no ordinary manner. - If one would see how an Atlantic liner behaves when she butts into a mine, see this picture. The incident and the wreck scene which follows are splendid in their realism. It is, too, a gripping story. Nancy Abbott, the pretty pampered daughter of a grasping mother, has "landed" Willie Chase, the gilt-edged catch of the season, a hopeless bhggy-eyed roue. She tires of his attentions, and' invents an excuse to visif an uncle in Canada. There she meets Blair Cornwall, a man, and propinquity a Canadian canoe, and jnoonlight do their deadly work. But on viSiiting his. rough homo on his ranch, Nancy shudders at the thought of o life spent in a log hut, and her selfish little heart repenting of the moonlight folly, she tells Blair of her engagement. It- is back to the gay, soft, scented life she would go. She travels saloon in the Vesta—he in the steeUage. A floating mine, an explosion, a mad fight for the boats, and shb and Blair of all the gay company are left upon the waters. The bulkheads have kept the after part of the ship afloat, and it means a respite. There, with death grinning at them in tho gurgling waters, tho artificialities of life drop away, and they become human. As the end draws 'near, a ship heaves in sight, bearing down on the derelict. Nancy, of the lying lips, seeing rosy life reappear in that gray smudge upon the waters, at once repents her love—her marriage in Heaven —and deliriously doclares that they must not be found to* gether. Ho says that will not ho necessary—and disappears. The smudge is a warship. Blue Jackets rescue Nancy—who says naught of Blair —and she goes back to the easy slipways of life. Her fiance gives a great festival in her honour, at which Blair as Charles boaton appears. Nancy endeavours to induce Seaton to confess himself as Blair Cornwall, but ho only sees in her n degraded imp of selfishness. She is not all that.i for at the altar stops she remembers tho oath on the derelict repudiates tho marriage sensationally. In the meantime Blair lias decided to leave for Australia, when his lawyer, hearing of tho scene at tho church from the papers, seeks Nancy out and induces her to board the same steamer at tho last moment —and so to a nappy ending. Florence Vidor as Nancy acts a difficult and unsympathetic role very clevcrlv, and House Peters, a plain, rough "actor of great strength, with no nonsense about him, makes a stalwart Blair Cornwall. There is aso a Gaumont Gazette, the King’s Orchestra and Charles Mooro. who lifts a tuneful baritone in "Como io.the Fail” and Jogging Along the Highway.”

QUEEN’S THEATRE. There is light and shade skilfully intermingled in the new programme of motion picture screened at the Queen s Theatre last evening. Comedy and drama are always best when placed in juxtaposition; no matter which is assimilated first by tho audience, the result is equally good. So in the Quee-n s new bill. For the first time at the Queen’s a big Universal feature photoplay is shown, entitled "Roped,” with the inimitable character actor, Harry Carey, in tho principal role. Tho story blonds ruggedness and flatness, strength and weakness. Carey ("Cheyenne Harry," ae he ie known in the picture) takes tho role of a millionaire cowboy, who goes to New York to find the girl who answered his matrimonial "ad," taking a chance with him, although he had admitted in cold newspaper type that he was no good about the house, and played poker well. Of course, there are few millionaire cowboys, as there are few good poker players and. one fails to find, in a prosaic world, society demoiselles marrying wild Lotharios who come out of"tho West with a revolver in one hand and a wedding-ring in the other. But,'all things considered, if there is no romance, at least let there bo "makebelieve” romance; and for that reason alone the picture is excellent. Universal films can be said’to have scored a big success with it. Realart Corporation produced the other big picture, entitled "Judy of Rogues’ Harbour.” It is a dour‘film, brightened only by the presence of Mary Miles Minter, a dainty morsel of humanity, who carries a smile ns a trade-mark; but it is good, .strong drama, with the necessary “punch." The theme —and in real life there ara such motifs, running in devious ways—is greed for gold, and not even tho heroine can possibly prophesy the climax before the unexpected happens. It is far-fetch-ed, this picture of tho Underworld, of Bolshevism, and of hatred; yet it is. withal enjoyable. The Queen’s Orchestra plays good numbers, classical and. otherwise, . ... EVERYBODY’S THEATRE. A subtle air of mystery pervades the majority sof Wilkio Collins’s works. Perhaps his best-known novel in this respect is “The Woman in White,” the highly dramatic, essence of which was screened at Everybody’s Theatre yesterday, in tho shape of ja diverting plioto-play entitled “Tho Twin Pawns." The picture mot with a very favourable reception at the hands of local theatregoers yesterday, all. sessions being well attended. Apart from the enthralling natare of tho theme which the author has so cleverly evolved, much interest attaches to “The Twin Pawns" on account of the fact that it -provides- Mae Murray with a congenial role in which her winsome and attractive personality is allowed full play. Incidentally she lias every opportunity to display her varying moods as she is cast for tho dual role of the twin sisters whose respective environments are strikingly diversified. A. less experienced artist might easily have over-acted the roles, whereas Miss Murray adds hut another success to her brilliant record. Locations and settings in "Tho Twin Pawns" arc effective in their verisimilitude io tho scenes demanded by the story. Costly furnishings and deaneries are used with a lavish hand in tho wealthy steel magnate’s home, while on tho other hand thsordidness of slum dwellings is in striking contrast, accentuated in tho poverty-slricken flat in tho first part of the- storv. Warner Gland, who has so ablv sn.-lnincd the villain in numerous dramas—his Oriental impersonations rpado him famous—is well to tho fore in tho picture. Henry G. Dell is (ho hero, and J. W. Johnston takes tho part of the stool magnate—altogether a. very strong cast. Included in tho change ' of programme aro a rollicking -Patho I comedy, “Pinning It On," and the latest English "Gazette.” |

EMPRESS THEATRE. Lovers of melodrama were completely at home nt tho Empress Theatre yesterday, when tho photo-play, “Saved from the Sea," was put through its initial screening. Tho picture ij; .a Westminster Gaumont production, adapted from a successful stage play, and it is interpreted by a strong cast, headed by Phillip Anthony and Nora Swinburne. As its title suggests, tho picture savours strongly of tho Bea, and provides ample scope for some magnificent scenic effects. The heavy typo of drama unfolded ' is relieved by a simple story of a woman’s faith which triumphs over adverse circumstances. As to the story, it mainly concerns Nancy, tho unidentified survivor of a shipwreck, who blossoms into womanhood under the care of her rescuers, two fishermen, Dan Ellington and "Surly Jim" Weaver. Both grow to love the sea-waif, and her ultimate marriage to Dan sees Surly Jim settle down, to brooding for vengeance. His opportunity comes when two crooks arrive on the scene. Ono of the newcomers seeks to secure tho death of Nancy, who all unconsciously is standing between him and. a fortune, he being tho alternative heir. Events move swiftly, and a climax is precipitated when Surly Jim, in seeking to’do away with his r.ival, is himself murdered. Circumstantial evidence points an accusing finger at Dan, who is tried and found guilty. Reprieved at the scaffold steps, Dan is sentenced to life imprisonment. He escapes from prison, and after uiideigoing. a remarkable scries of adventures his innocence is established through the death-bed confession of the murderer, tho alternative heir to hie wife’s fortune. Tho scenes at the trial are dramatically depicted, as are also the happenings on the threshold of tho scaffold, which are perhaps a trifle too realistic. The supporting films comprise an excellent picturegraph, the "Gaumont Graphic,” and episode seven of tho jungle serial, "The Lost City.”

ROSEMARY REES ENGLISH COMEDY COMPANY.

Miss Rosemary Itees, who will open her five nights’ season at the Opera House on Tuesday with Hubert Henry Davies’s delightful three-act comedy "The Mollusc," is said to have been, exceedingly fortunate in. selecting her cast. Harold Moran, who is playing Tom Kemp (the part in "The Mollusc” originally played by Julius Knight at the Aldwych, London, with Rosemary Rees), is stated to have refused a tempting offer to star in U.S.A., in order to remain for a few months longer with the Rosemary Rees Comedy Company. Tho part of Tom Kemp, full of breezy humour, is stated to be particularly suited to Mr. Moran’s personality, and his performance is spoken of as charmingly natural and sincere, and at the same time intensely amusing. Mr. George Broad has been greatly praised for his performance of Mr. Baxter, Hie tender-hearted but easy going husband, and the critics all agree that Miss Eileen Clifford as Miss Roberts ia, delightful. Miss Rosemary Rees herself received as much praise from the Yress in tho Dominion as she received in London. The “Otago Daily Times” says:—“As Mrs. Baxter the Mollusc, no finer presentation of the. part could be made thau that by Miss Rosemary R*ees. Tho company leaves many friends in each' town visited, and return perform* arices are sure to draw bumper houses." Returned soldiers especially will be glad of the opportunity of renewing acquaintance with Miss Rocs, who was responsible for much of their happiness during the war. Miss Rees in charge of the' entertainments provided for. the "boys"' in hospital and behind the lines in France, and did yeoman service to keep up' the -“pecker" of the soldiers.

ORGAN RECITAL TO-MORROW NIGHT. Mr. Bernard F. Page (city organist) will give another organ recital at the Town Hall to-morrow evening, and the programme is as follows-. —Sonata (No. 2) in C Minor and Major, Grave-Adagio, Allegro Meastoso E Vivace, Irinale-Fuga (1809-1847), by Mendelssohn; Melodic, by Rachmaninoff; Air and Variations (upon a Theme of Handel's), by Karg-Elert; Pastorale (Op. 131.)., by Silas; Das Rheingold (The Entrv of tho Gods into Walhalla), by Wagner (1813-1883). GRIEG CONCERT NEXT SATURDAY. Intending subscribers to the Society of Musicians’ season of three concerts are reminded that booking will commence at the Bristol this morning. Arrlingements have been made so that patron* may pay their for the series at the box office when booking for the first concert. The plan will open to the general public on Tuesday next. A public meeting in connection with the society's new concert project will bo held in the Town Hall on Monday at 3 o’clock. Details will appear on Monday. The first concert on Saturday next will . bo devoted to the works of Grieg, and the second (Elgar) concert will take place in November. SUNDAY CONCERT. Tho Professional Orchestra will give its seventh concert of the season at Hi-s •Majesty’s Theatre .to-morrow evening, under the baton of Mr. H. Moschini. Among tlie principal items on the programme will be Berlioz’s March Hongroise, Mendelssohn’s “Ruy Blas” overture. and the great tone poem “Fin-landia,”-by Sibelius. Ollier items will include a prelude and polonaise by Tscbaikovski and "La Poupee Valsanto" by Poldini. A silver coin collection will bo made at the doors. COLOSSEUM RINK. Skating is still a popular pastime.. At all sessions nt the Colosseum Rink there are largo attendances. - There are trained instructors at all sessions to guide those who have not yet mastered- the art of roller skating. A balcopy cafe is among the attractions, and in the evening an orchestra adds to the enjoyment. Wilkie Bard, the famous English character comedian, is to commence a tour of - New Zealand, at Auckland on. October 26. M-r. John Farrell will manage the tour. Wilkie Bard is one of Mr. Hugh D. MTntosh’s importations, and was taken over by Mr. Harry Musgrove, junr., tho sublessee of tho Tivoli Theatre in Sydney and Melbourne. An organ recital by tho parish organist (Mr. Cecil Hayes), in aid of the organ fund, was . given at St. Mary's Church, Karori, on Thursday evening. The attendance was good and. the artistic rendering of the items was much appreciated. A vocal item bv Master Clark was capably rendered. Tho Rev. G. F. Woodward, vicar of the parish, presided.