ENTERTAINMENTS

Dominion, Volume 16, Issue 134, 22 February 1923, Page 5

ENTERTAINMENTS

HIS MAJESTY’S THEATRE. Judicious variety, bright humour, and merit characterise the excellent \ audevillo bill now running at His Majesty’s Theatre. That clever artist, Charles E. Lawrence, who has made himself so popular throughout New Zealand as a member of costume concert companies, provides quite an entertainment in himself. He is an artist to his finger tips, and his humour is irresistible. Beresford and Rennie supply a rich musical treat in their turn. Their concerted work is particularly good, while both contribute numbers of the better order which are a delight to listen to. Leyland Hodgson has a pleasing voice, and his ballads last evening were in great demand. Marzon and Florence are clever novelty equilibrists. Walter George and his Sunshine Players have another revue going, “Don’t Flirt,” and it is as bright and entertaining as anything they have yet presented. Frank Peirin and Al Mack arc worth seeing in their song and dance, while Miss Vera Sewell and York Grey also do some vivacious dancing. “The Bolsheviks,” a nicely-balanced quartet party, sing of strike troubles. EVERYBODY’S THEATRE. “Love Never Dies.” the clever feature subject at Everybody’s Theatre, is a scathing denunciation of lying tongues and scandal-mongering. A very human story is told amongst beautiful settings. Peeps _at many lands are afforded in the interesting Pathe Gazette and Pathe Review shown, while a clever cartoon adds to the pleasure of the entertainment. The- popular orchestra supplies bright music. “THE MOLLYCODDLE.” “The Mollycoddle,” . adapted from the novel by Harold McGrath, is Douglas Fairbanks’s latest screen offering, and it will be screened at Everybody’s Theatre to-morrow. Here the star is seen as the descendant of a fighting line of ancestors, but he is the hybrid of his species, and civilisation has created in him a. fop. But a real girl entered the sphere of things. Then his ancestry took hpld. Ho forged to the front and scouted, as his plainsman grandfather might have scouted; stood up under fire as his revolutionary grandfather might have; rescued beauty in distress as his cavalier father surely did, and fought as his grandfathers would have if rolled into one. Wallace Beery as the “villain” had considerable to do in developing the ancestry of “The Mollycoddle” over his environment, and Ruth Renick, as the pretty girl who starts the turning point of it all, is responsible for many of the thrilling situations. EMPRESS THEATRE. “Rich Men’s Wives,” the brilliant photoplay now holding pride of place at the Empress Theatre, teaches the lesson that men should not allow themselves to become so absorbed in amassing fortunes as to utterly neglect their batter halves. The luxurious life of . the idle rich is depicted in glowing colours, and gorgeous gowns and voluptuous entertainments follow each other in gay succession. The play is splendidly acted, with such renowned stars of the screen as House Peters, Claire Windsor, and Rosemary Theby at the head of the strong cast. The supporting films are varied and interesting, and the music by the strong orchestra is worth hearing. RUDOLPH VALENTINO AT THE EMPRESS. Rudolph Valentino’s rise to international fame as a film star has been the most meteoric Jn record and in the role of the man who fascinated women as a class he is without parallel. In “Stolen Moments” he portrays a man who in pursuit of his desires spares no efforts and is careless of scruple. Opposite to him as his ! victim plays a new star of compelling beauty, Marguerite Namara. The confession of girlish, love in indiscreet terms is written in the fly-leaf of a book given to the heroine by the novelist, and it is with this as a weapon that the handsome scoundrel endeavours to effect his object. The costuming, the acting, and the elaborate settings all conspire to make the play a notable one. In addition a Christie comedy, “ ’Tis the Bull,” starring Bobby Fernon, and an Empress News film will be shown. The Empress Distinctive Orchestra, under Mr. L. D. Austin, will render a programme of special musio. The plan is now at the Bristol. PARAMOUNT AND ARTCRAFT. The “Queen of Sheba” continues to add to her train of loyal and devoted subjects at the Paramount and Artcraft Theatres. The ambitious subject is excellently treated, and the lavish wealth and ostentatious display of the proud sovereign so renowned in Biblical history makes a picture which is spectacular in the extreme. Splendid acting is done by Betty Blythe in the title role. A pleasing prologue and attractive work by the oh cestras round off an entertainment of outstanding merit. “ONE WEEK OF* LOVE.” The management of the Queen’s Theatre announce that the Selznick masterpiece, “One Week of Love.” must positively close its season tonight. The thousands of people who have seen this spl?ndid production, during the past fortnight, have accorded it unstinting praise. Rarely has such a feast of thrills and emotion been offered. The aeroplane smash is particularly convincing; and the scene wherein an express train is precipitated into a raging torrent from a height of over 150 feet, . cannot but maks the most blase picture fan wonder how these scenes are staged. The acting of Elaine Hammeratein and Conway Teu-rle is excellent. Skipper Francis sings his own composition, “One Week of Love,” and wins great applause. Mr. A. Jerome’s special augmented orchestra completes an excellent entertainment.