ENTERTAINMENTS

Dominion, Volume 15, Issue 284, 26 August 1922, Page 15

ENTERTAINMENTS

\ "THE BOY.” Musical comedy we have known for twenty years, but of the few farcical musical comedies “The Boy” stands highest as a, promoter of hearty laughter. The notion of transforming Pineau’s "The Magistrate’ was a brain wave, for had it been presented in its original form the majority of the playgoers may have turned it down as something out of the musty past, but in its musical dressing, particularly the whole of the essential scenes in the comedy are retained, whilst the merry music and delightful girls enhance tho inconsequential scenes in a ■mart up-to-date fashion. Indeed, keen observers will notice that during the crisis of the comedy there i<j little or no music. It is simply Pinero —in some instances word for word. The Williamson management has given "The Boy” a most admirable cast, and In view of sporadic criticism anent Weak casts, it is only right that due credit should be given for this consideration. Indeed, to make the performance what. it should be three extra principals have been imported from England via Australia, in Mr. Lance Lister, the most adorable young scamp that ever skipped, across the stage; Miss Rosie La Varde. an experienced comedienne, and Mr. Alex. McPherson. who dances with (stimulating grace with that dainty fay, Miss Jessie Sherwood. Mr. Arthur Stigarit carries the heaviest load as Horatio Meebles, a London magistrate, who is led astray by his giddy stop-son, but in his hands it is a creation in character such as one seldom sees in musical comedy. Clever, too, are the sketches given by Mr. Leslie Holland as Mr. Burridge, the magistrate who dissipates on jujubes, and Mr. W. S. Percy as Mr. Honeyball. the fusty old clerk of the Court. Mr. Anew * McMaster was suited to a hair as the peppery Colonel Bagot. Miss Shida Gale as Diana Fairlle baa chief sinning role and hsr>s6lo “Little Miss Melody.” and the duet “Have a Heart” (with Mr. Sherras) were among the best of th© musical numbers. There will, be a matinee performance, commencing at 2 o’clock this afternoon, and another performance at 8 p.m.

KING’S THEATRE. Captain Frank Hurley’s alluring picture, "Pearls and Savages,” screened at the King’s Theatre last evening, is a film which takes one by fern-fringed waterways to the great wonderland ot unknown Papua (New Guinea), brings one into contact with primitive peoples, and with manners, dress, and costumes in which the horrible and beautiful are strangely interlaced. Captain Hurley conceived the idea of exploring this Garden of Eden that, lies to the north of Torres Strait, when he and the other members of the Shackleton expedition were freezing on Elephant Island, and the picture, educationally and photographically, is a masterpiece that, should be sjen by all. The journey commences at Thursday Island, where the pearling fleet he in the tropical haze. In one of these small luggers they visit Mui ray Island, in the Strait, where live the merriest and most comical black people m the world, who dance, spin tops, play tomtoms, and frolic with pigs in a way that suggested that they could know no care. Then the party went on io . Port Moresby, an outpost of civilisation, and rubbed shoulders with the genuine Papuan, in his wonderful head dresses and hideous pose bars. On to Samurai, '■ too, where civilisation as we know it does not exist—where widows are pipe-clayed from crown to waist for six months After the husband dies, and the young men’s favourite recreation is sleep. Safety razors are unknown there, yet the dandies clean shave by having the in iividuaL hairs tweaked out by the roots with rapidlytwirled twine made of birk. Up the

great waterways, fringed by virgfci forest, slashed by colours, that blazOj the scenery beggars description, the Mylu peop’.o of Northern Papua are also shown in all their naked ugliness. These inhabit a vast region or unhealthy swamp country, where the jolliest times are experienced collecting the heads from enemy tribes which are preserved in vast charnel houses. Captain Pearson delivered a most interesting lecture on the trip, and his coloured slides, which are worked in with the animated pictures, were an illuminating feature. The comedy film, “Tho Rainmaker,” which is full of laughs, is also includ’d in the programme.

EVERYBODY’S THEATRE. “The Single Track,” now being shown continuously at Everybody’s Theatre, is a stirring story of love, romance, adventure, humour, and human interest, filled with striking incidents, with Corinne Griffith in the principal part. The plot is an attractive one. Jennetti Gildasleeve (Miss Griffith), who, on the death of her father is left penniless except for an option for a right-of-way in Alaska, leaves the oaths of civilisation and sets out pluckily for the north country. The plot is contained in the attempt of rival interests to frustrate l.er right to the option. The heroine conceals her identity' and assumes a position as clerk in tho company’s store. The young siraerintendent in charge of the engiiteering plans in connection with the erection of a single-track railway line saves hpr from the machinations of the villianof the piece for a time, but he has his work cut out for him. as well as the girl he is trying to protect. The point about the railway is that unless it is completed by a certain hour tho mines are forfeit. So hero comes in a lino of physical action which provides several thrills. There is a great deal of suspense in the adventurous progress of the play. The rival forces conceive a dastardly scheme of floating a raft loaded with dynamite against the railway bridge. At a psychological moment the heroine drives the locomotive in a mad race and saves the property. It would not be fair to disclose the conclusion of the plot. The costumes worn by Miss Griffith are distractinuly lovely. “The Man Who Wouldn’t Tell” i« the second attract’on, and features Earle Williams and Grace Darmond. It is one of the greatest secret service stories over screened. Tho hero, as an agent for the British Government, foils one of the greatest German plots, and saves a United • States cruiser from a Üboat attack. He is loved by Elinor Warden, just back from the horrors of Belgium, but is snurned in the belief that he. is a slacker and. a coward a« he is not in the fighting line. The picture is teeming with thrills, and mystery until tho misunderstandings are cleared. Another Snub Pollard comedv. “Trv, Try Again,” provides excellent fun, and there are also a Pathe Topical Gaz- > ette and a delightful scenic, “I’ilgriming through the Clouds.” Everybody’s orchestra did excellent work.

"THE THREE MUSKETEERS.” “The Three Musketeers,” adapted from Alexandre Dumas’ famous classic story is scheduled to commence a brief season at Everybody’s Theatre, commencing Friday next. Reporting on the first screening of “The Three Musketeers” in Auckland, the “Herald” says:—“The picture, built up on a colossal scale, contains a strong appeal that is. universal This is a United Artists production of Alexandre Dumas’ classic of the same name, which has a world renown. It forms a chapter of history ret’ld remarkably well in the film. Based on th? marvellous adventures of d’Artagnan and three of King Louis XIII’s musketeers. This photoplay unfolds a tale of France in the earlv part of the seventeenth century. The monarchy was, in those days, dominated

by Cardinal Richelieu, a soldier by training, but a statesman and churchman by virtue of his intriguing. No more vivid and picturesque story has ever been presented for the screen, ‘Tho Three Musketeers’ is a work of art, the costumes and stage settings being nothing short of marvellous. The film is a groat one, and no person should fail to see it.” The box plans for the season are at the Bristol. EMPRESS THEATRE.

'The virile nature of Oliver Curwood s story, “Flower of the North,’.’ is well maintained in the picturisation now showing continuously at the Empress Theatre. It is a tale of the land north of the 53rd latitude, where man is more in touch with nature than in the crowded cities. Fort-o’-God s customs give a touch of the delightful past that is quite new to the present generation and carry , one; back to tlie realism of it. It is a- story of the advance of civilisation with Henrv B. Walthall in the vanguard breaking the trail. Sinister and powerful forces . are surrounding him and retarding his work : ho is a man fighting blindfold. The situation is complicated when he falls' in love with a child of the old regime, Jeanne, of Fort-o’-God, a daughter of . tho French cavaliers. There .is a charming love-story shrouded m an atmosphere of struggle, mystery, an foul nlav. The climax com«s m the terrible' night battle, when the Creo Indians wipe out their white enemies. It w a film of tho big outdoors, stately forests, rushing mountain torrents, and rugged hill country. The. picture itself is wholesome and brac.ng. Another episode of that great serial, “The Blue Fox.” is shown also, A Gaumont Graphic, a humourous cartoon, “Such is life m Volendnin. another episode of the Sherlock Holmes series, “The Solitary Cvclist. and fitting items are given by the orchestra.

HIS MAJESTY’S THEATRE. It is fortunate that there is an entertainment of the quality now being shown at His Majesty’s Theatre, as a change to the many excellent picture theatre programmes. The Milton Bros.’ skating turns are unique, clever, and amusing. There have not been two more entertaining couples on a Wellington stage for a long time than Linden and Berridge and Frn. Delaval and Lilv Vockler. Mr. George Dean is a host in himsMf in descriptive songs. Yorke Gray is. an excellent female impersonator. Signor and Signorina Molinari provide delightful operatic© and other songs. Bahs Pacey is a clever and dainty danseuse, and Elton JJlackis a Scottish comedian in the true sense. A change of programme is to be given on Monday.

SHORTT’S THEATRE. “Saturday Night” has' proved such a draw at Shortt’s Theatre that .it has been found necessary to extend its season for another . week. The story deals with people at cross purposes with each other. Iris van Snydan, a society girl of wealthy ■parents, is engaged to a rich young man, but would rather marry a noor man. Dick Prentiss, to whom Tris van Suydan is engaged, would like to marry the' beautiful daughter of a washerwoman. Shamrock O’Day’s (the daughter of the washerwoman) ideals of the matrimonial estate lie along the paths of some young millionaire. Tom McGuire, the chauffeur of Iris, to whom sentiment is everything, has fallen desperately in love -with his mistress. The problem naturally resolves itself into the question what is each one to do in the matter. How. Fate, wiiTcn is ever uncertain, determines that each dream shall be realised, takes a hand in tho game makes one of the world’s greatest kinema achievements yet presented to the Wellington public. Besides this! masterpiece of .superb ~a cting. of nine, reels, are interesting Supports.-.' such' as'a Gazette and a comedy, while the orchestra provides excellent music.

Daisy Jerome, the piquant comedienne, who eisetvified Australia with her radiant personality some years ago, will shortly make her appearance under tho management of Sir Benjamin and M- John Fuller for a return tour of their vaudeville houses. Miss ..eicme arrived in Australia a few weeks ,ago accompanied by her husband, Captain La Touche,A and has been enjoying a well-deserved holiday.

“The .Four Horsemen of the Apocalypse” is having a great run' in Wellington, and still has a further week at the Princess Theatre.

When Daisy Jerome was sixteen she was offered £8 a week for the nfusical comedy, “The Medal and the Maid, ’ then about to be staged at the Lyric (London).

QUEEN’S THEATRE. Tho Queen’s Theatre has lona been noted for the high standard of the pictures shown there, and the full house last night .thoroughly endorsed that opinion. Eva Novak was tho “star” in an absorbing comedy drama entitled “The Smart Set.” The manner in which she acted the part of one who rose from being merely “a girl in the chorus” to a position in high society, where she beat them all at their own game, stamps her as a great actress. The picture helps to lift the veil from “life beyond the scenes,” and shows that not all life is happy. “The Man Under Cover” is an intensely interesting drama of “crooked life,” and has tho unique distinction of being written by one who lived such a life and is now serving a life sentence in ■ an American prison. Herbert Rawlinson, in the chief part, makes the story seem, what indeed it is. realistic. It is the story of a man who breaks into a bank for the purpose of robbing it, and finds his greatest friend lying on the flood dead, from a gunshot wound self-inflicted, and a not e on the table stating the reasons. The way' in which the story works through to' the capture of two men on whom is laid the responsibility for the dead man taking his life, is very thrilling. Tn support of these two Universal pictures are another episode of “The Winners of the West” serial, International News Gazette, and a delightful comedy, “The Girl with the Smile You Can’t Forget.” The Queen’s symphony orchestra, under Mr. A. H. Jerome, played suitable music.

STRAND THEATRE. Patrons of the Strand Theatre are assured of an entertainment far above the ordinary in the latest* change—at least,, that represents the opinion of the very' large number who were present last night. Mae Murray, who is always a favourite for her vivaciousness and her daring acting, has never appeared to greater advantage than in the production “Peacock Alley,” upon which were' expended lavishness, extravagance, and gorgeousness unequalled. The scenes move from a small American town, to Paris, to New York, and to a quaint old-fashioned village of Normandy. Besides holding the attention by its great daring and the splendour of its setting, the picture has running through it a fine love story. All who have read Defoe’s-“RobinsonCru-soe”—and who has not? —should also see its interpretation in the “movies.” The story lives once moj'e —not in imagination this time, but in reality—as one sees Robinson Crusoe and man Friday solve yet again the riddle of how to live by having recourse to little else but the exercise of their own intelligences. It is a study in selfreliance, and for that alone, apart even from its greatness as a picture, well deserves to be seen. Charlie Chaplin adds to the gaiety of the entertainment in a screamingly funny picture entitled “The Jazz Waiter.” PRINCESS THEATRE.

TE is safe to say that no picture has caused, a greater stir among “movie” enthusiasts than the Metro Company’s production of Vicente Ibanez’s sensational novel “The Four Horsemen of the Apocalypse,” now being shown at the Princess Theatre. Never before has there been seen together in one picture- a more distinguished company of world-famous actors and actresses. The excellence of the acting, combined with the greatness of the thasne and ■ the splendour of the production, makg “The Four Horsemen of the Apocalypse” one of the greatest pictures ever shown. The verdict of everybody fortunate enough to witness it is a truly wonderful picture, splendidly acted. .It is n. long picture —l2 reels—yet it passes before the spectator from the beginning,■ to its close holding him deeply enthralled with its great truths, underlying and working through a skilfully woven romance. There is no need to tell the story of it, for that has been the talk of Wellington for two weeks past,

nortian any description do the picture anything like justice. It is tho greatest indictment of all war wo havt yet seen with its symbolic representation of the prophecy of St. John the Divine in tlie Book -of Revelations. GRAND THEATRE, PETON’E. x To-day’s big attraction at the Grand Theatre, Petone, is the .First National seven-reel super-production. “Polly of the Follies,” featuring popular Constance Talmadge. On the same bill First National presents Katherine Macdonald in a charming society drama, “Her Social Value.” On Monday and Tuesday the new bill will present John Gilbert in “Arabian Love, a Fox production, and also showing is the Selznick feature, “Getting Mary Married,” featuring Marion Davies. The complete change on Wednesday ' will present Ruby de Remer and Lewis Stone in “Pilgrims of the Night, ‘ and beautiful Alice Calhoun in. Vitagraph’s “The Charming Deceiver.” whilst “Peacock Alley” is booked to commence on Friday next.

HUTT BOWLING AND TENNIS CONCERT. An outstanding musical event of the year is the annual concert held under the auspices of and for the. benefit of the Hutt Bowling and Tennis Club. Fcr ten years past these concerts have been given under th« direction of Mr. E. J. Hill, and never is the programme less than first-class. The first of the series given ten years ago, saw the first appearance at the Hutt of Miss Rosina Buckman when last here. Miss Buckman promised faithfully that she would again visit the Hutt at the end of the year, and sing for the club, if that were managerially possible. The concert to be given on Monday fully sustains the excellent repute they have. Tlie singers will include Miss Winnie Fraser (Tim-aru), Miss Mabel Esquilant, Messrs. Howard Foster and R. R. Orr, and E. J. Hill and the Melodv Four. . Miss Ava Svmons will charm in violin soli, Mr. Alan Fuller will supply humour, and Misses Isohel Halligan, Madge Shearer and Barton Ginger will contribute elocutionary items. Mr. G. A. Chapman is stage manager and Mr. M. C. Rowe secretary. A bus will leave the ißank of. New Zealand corner at 7.10 p.m. for the conveyance of performers.

PEOPLE’S PICTURES, LEVIN. Mr. A. Cassie, who for the past seven years has had control of the Grand, Empire, and Palace Theatres at Petone, has purchased the interest of the People’s and Cosmos Theatres, Levin, and assumes control on September 2. Mr. Cassie’s past experience in the entertainment business should assuie the public of Levin of the best in pictures and music. It is intended to inaugurate an efficient orchestra, and special musical numbers -will he features of each evening’s programme.

Signor Antonio Notariello, who visited 'Wellington a year ago, made his re-appearance in New Zealand with the Royal Italian Opera Concert Company at Auckland on Wednesday evening. The manager is Baron Nicola Truda, announced in the north as the late conductor at the Paris Opera House.