ENTERTAINMENTS

Dominion, Volume 16, Issue 171, 7 April 1923, Page 11

ENTERTAINMENTS

GRAND OPERA HOUSE. There was another very good attendance at the Grand Opera House last night to witness the last performance of “Lucky O’Shea.” Mr. Doone, as usual, played the name part to perfection. This evening a change of bill will be made, when the very pretty ladies’ play “Molly Bawn” will be presented. The story deals with the fortune of Lord Amherst, an aged Peer, and the disposition of his fine estate, Herst Royal, and his money. Mr. Doone will play the part of Ted Luttrell, and Miss Keeley will be Eleanor Maseereene, otherwise “Molly Bawn-” The production, it is stated, will keep the audience thrilled throughout the evening. During the course of the play Mr. Doone will be seen in the character of Robert Emmett, the Irish patriot, and he will sing many of his pretty songs. The piece is a fine comedy-drama, and allows Mr. Doone ample scope tor his quaint witticism, and his talent as an actor and a singer of Irish songs. The plans will be at the Bristol up to 1 o’clock to-day, and after that hour they will be at the Grand confectionery store at the Theatre. •

EMPRESS THEATRE. Douglas Fairbanks’s spirit of adventure finds another illustration, “One of the Blood,” a chronicle of daring and amusement that was.screened for the first time at the Empress Theatre yesterday. To drown his sorrow not having ever seen his mother, he seeks experience in Mexico, where, in the lawless village of Murdero.he encounters the Mexican bandit, Francisca Villa, and, after a bout with the latter’s ruffians, ducks him in the village pond, and sets off for Europe, where his mother is, in answer to a mysterious summons.. The scene changes to one of the little principalities at the foot of the Alps which forms a delightful background for the lives of the peaceful dwellers of those parts, only to be turned into an angry, disgruntled community by the traitorous acts of an ambitious Minister of War. Fairbanks’s capabilities find full vent in his efforts to elude the whole of the Palace Guard, on his way to meet his mysterious friend, who turns out to be the aged King. Plots and counter-plots lead to the discovery that the hero is really the missing heir-apparent to the throne, who times his arrival to meet the mob in the act of revolting against the reigning dynasty. In a desperate effort to evade his pursuers, the hero leaps over a wall into a stately garden, where a beauteous maiden serves him afternoon tea under the trees; the author kindly disposes his parts to that the maiden and the hero promptly fall in love. A long series of hair-raising adventures ends in the King’s renunciation ci his crown to the new-found heir, who promptly executes a vigorous clean-up of all the enemies of law and order. There is a rescue from a six-story fire, a fight on the stairs, a leap over the swordsmen, a hold-up on a bridge, and a mad gallop, pursued by soldiers through beautiful scenes that would make a fine tourist film in themselves. The star film is supported by a motor tour of real thrills in “Endurance,” and a Mermaid comedy.

EVERYBODY’S THEATRE. There are film-pictures which rank amongst the classics and make known to the community happenings in epochs far removed from the present-day world, and such is the drama “Manslaughter,” now being shown at Everybody’s Theatre. It is a Paramount production by Cecil B. de Mille, whose cinema creations, “Joan tho Woman,” "Male and Female,” “Fools’ Paradise” and “Something to Tell,” are all excellent. Leatnce Joy and Thomas Meighan are the principals and amongs others in the cast are Lois Wilson, John Miltern and Carson Ferguson. Tile story concerns Lydia Thorne, who is a speed maniac constantly craving for excitement. She narrowly escapes death by speeding into the path of a locomotive. O’Bannon (Thos. Meighan) arrives at a party Lydia is giving as she is auctioning a kiss to her mas online guests. Then Lydia’s maid, having no money to get medical attention for her child, steals one of Lydia’s rings and is arrested. She tells O’Bannon her story and he gets Lydia to intercede on her behalf, and Lydia has the maid released on probation. That night Lydia has a party likened to the orgies of ancient Rome with a patrician hostess. There is a gladiatorial combat, and the spectators are brought back to the. present by two young girls boxing in a ring for their .amusement. The next morning l Lydia .fails to attend the Court and her maid is sent to prison. While speeding on tho highway Lydia is arrested by a motorcycle policeman, and bribes him with a diamond bracelet to let her escape. Ho decides to return it and goes after her; her machine skids and he crashes into it and is killed. Sho is prosecuted by O’Bannon for manslaughter and is sentenced to three years’ imprisonment. She finds herself doing scullion work under her former maid, and blames O’Bannon as the author of her troubles. O’Bannon goes to the gaol to see Lydia, and she is about to attack him when she collapses and fever and delirium follow. She finds out that Sho loves O’Bannon, and when released opens a coffee kitchen in the slums with her former maid as helper. The picture finally shows O’Bannon nenniJess and dissipating, rescued by Lydia, and becoming tho Governor. of the State. He resigns that position to marry her. ns a Governor could not wed an ex-convict, and the drama ends happily. The costumes are marvellous, the scenes are lavishly beautiful, and the plot full of interest. The supports are good, and there is a special musical score of novel beauty.

PRINCESS THEATRE. Few programmes could have greater attractions for the picture-goer than ♦he one to run at the Princess Theatre for the coming week. Two of the world’s most famous screen artists, Dorothy Dalton and Rudolph Valentins, are to be seen together in “Moran of tho Lady Letty,” one of the most wonderful presentations ever filmed of the life of those who go down to the sea in ships. The story is crowded with incident. The rescue of the girl from the burning vessel by the man who ]oves her, and his fight in her defence against pirates are particularly fine scenes. “A great drama, well acted,” is the only possible verdict. Humour is introduced in the burlesque, “Mud and Sand, featuring one of the finest of America’s comedians in a series of ludicrous and absurd situations parodying the hair-raising adventures of Rudolph Valentino in the famous “Blood and Sand.” Pictures screened in addition to those mentioned are:—A Mack Sonnett comedy, “The Village Smithy one long scream from beginning to end —u Topical Gazette, and a scenic.

VIOLIN-PIANO RECITAL. Much, interest is being evinced in the violin-pianoforte recital, which is to bo given in tho l Town Hall Concert Chamber by the Misses Frances and Eudora Henry on Wednesday next, April 11. The violin solo (by Miss Frances Henry), will include numbers from Massenet, Chaminade, Vieuxtemps, and, with Miss Eudora Henry, Mozart’s “Concerto in D Major. Miss Eudora Henry’s pianoforte numbers will include numbers from Brahms, and Grieg’s “Sonata, in G Major” (Op. 13).

HIS MAJESTY’S THEATRE. Another largo audience thoroughly enjoyed the bright programme at His Majesty’s Theatre last evening- Lane and Howard, banjoists and vocalists, again made a jwpular hit. Nell and Braddy Shaw were in great demand for their tuneful singing and amusing eccentricities. Tire vivacious dancing of Russell and Frost earned numerous encores, while the Recce Sisters also scored strongly with their graceful dancing and singing. The fun was kept merrily going by Sam Stern and Conway and Beecham, who arr a trio of artistic merrymakers, who simply compel laughter. The second part of the programme was supplied by the Hurle and Evans Revue Company, which crams an abundance of bright dialogue, tuneful singing, and clever fooling into its musical comedy,. “Special Mixture.” The programme will be repeated today.

PARAMOUNT AND ARTCRAFT THEATRES. Life on Broadway has long been notorious, but how much its reputation is deserved may be seen in a spectacular production, “Broadway Rose,” featuring Mae Murray, one of the greatest of popular favourites. In this production Mae Murray excels herself. New York society is presented in all its war paint, under conditions that can only be characterised as extravangantly luxurious, whether the scenes be of a polo match, a reception on the lawn, or a dance in an immense and expensivelyfurnished residence. The picture relates how the son of a millionaire falls in love with a dancer. The course of love runs by no means smoothly, owing to the efforts of the young man’s parents to prevent what they regard as a mesalliance that would disgrace them. A prologue in keeping with the magnificence of the picture deserves more than a casual word of praise. It is a thing of rare beauty and brilliancy, in which two clever dancers, . Misses Joyce Julian and Ngaire Phipson, very cleverly catch the spirit of the photo-play. In addition to the dance, there are a “Living Statue Tableau” and sweet songs by Gertrude Burgor. The orchestra plays . excellently a special selection of music. ~~ SHORTT’S THEATRE. Dorothy Dalton, Jack Holt, and Mitchell Lewis are names in the movie world to conjure with. When these players join forces, as they have done in “On the High Seas,” now showing at Shortt’s Theatre, the public has a reliable guarantee that the picture they offer possesses merit. Never have the dangers attendant upon life at sea, with its ■ “crowded space of glorious life,” where the purpose of men is to “sail beyond the sunset and the baths of all the western stars until they die” been so ; vividly portraved. The most terrible spectacle of tho great waters, a line on fire, far from the land, is presented in this film with a realism that is amazing. Never have the three principals risen to greater heights than in this picture, which breathes the very spirit of the sea. Equally great, but in a manner totally, different, is “Anna Ascends,” featuring Alice Brady, Nita Naldi, and David Powell. The story is powerful, and the action sweeps forward breathlessly to a conclusion quite unexpected yet absolutely appropriate. “Anna Ascends” is a fine love story, unusual, and abounding in thrilling situations. “Torchy’s Feud” is a most laughable comedy. There is also a Travelogue Gazette.

QUEEN’S THEATRE. The change of programme af the Queen’s Theatre brings in two big attractions. Mystery plays that aro really mysterious are. rarities, but “Love Without Question” (based on the novel, “The Abandoned Room”) is intriguing enough to satisfy the most exacting taste. Everything hinges upon a murder committed in a room with doors and windows locked. The mystery of who committed the crime defies all but the most ingenious speculation. The plot abounds in thrilling, incidents, which keep the audience on tenterhooks, while the romance, threading its way through a series of baffling situations, is delightful and absorbing. One of the most vivacious and fascinating actresses of the screen, Viola Dana, is to be seen at her best in “Home Stuff,” when she personates the leading lady of a theatrical company, creating astonishing successes, with their attendant embarrassments. *Tie Queen’s is also exhibiting the latest Topical Gazette, Selznick News, and a comedy. The symphony orchestra, under the leadership of Mr. .A. H. Jerome, plays a pleasing selection of music.

STRAND THEATRE. The programme submitted by the Strand Theatre management this change is one of exceptional merit. The principal picture, “East is West,” stars the brilliant and fascinating screen favourite, Constance -Talmadge. It is a story of unusual interest—a presentation of that “touch of nature which makes the whole ■, world kin.” The scenes shift from the port of Shanghai, that city of queer Oriental customs and habits, to the Chinese quarters in San Francisco. Constance Talmadge, as Ming Toy, by acting little short of wonderful, breathing infinite humour and pathos, makes a picture that is in all respects a human document and one to be remembered. For lovers of light humour the Strand provides a Mack Sennett comedy, “Love, Honour and Behave,” featuring all the stars of a favourite company. The comedy is a most amusing skit on certain aspects of married life. Ingeniously contrived, it provides the maximum of fun without hurting the susceptibilities of any, wives, husbands, or divorces. There is another comedy “The Counter Plot,” and the latest Pathe Gazette.

GRAND THEATRE, PETONE. Nazimova, in the United Artists’ big feature, “A Doll’s House,” heads today's big bill at the Grand Theatre, I’otone. On the same bill Harold Lloyd will appear in his super-comedy scream “Haunted Spooks.”. Monday’s change will present Tom Mix in his latest production “Do and Dare,” a thrilling tale of romance and adventure which grips, holds, and thrills. A big. Sunshine comedy, “Haunted House,” is also on this bill. The new bill for Wednesday and Thursday will present Jack Pickford in an engrossing tale of business and boodle, “Just Out of College.” The big special, “East is West,” featuring Constance Talmadge, will commence next Friday.

SONATA RECITAL. Miss Ava Symons (violin), and Mr. Bernard F. Page (piano) will give a sonata recital on Friday evening, April 13, in the Concert Chamber of tho Town Hall. These two musicians have already become known to Wellington by their recitals together last year, and their efforts on behalf of chamber music in this city have had the support of all who profess any love for music. The sonatas to be performed are the Handel in D Major, Elgar in E Minor, and the Lekeu in G Major. Tho box plan is open at the Bristol Piano Co., Lambton Quay, where tickets can be reserved for 3s. 3d., including tax.

ORGAN RECITAL. Mr. Bernard F- Page (city organist) hao se'ected the following items for his programme for to-morrow night’s organ recital, to be given at the Town

Hall;—Sonata in D Minor (Faulkes), Debussy’s (a) Prelude from “La Damoiselle Elue,” (h) Prelude from “L’enfant Prodigue” (this item is by request). John Ireland’s Elegiac Romance. Humoreske, Op. 101 (Op. 7). by Dvorak; Toccata Fugue in C Major, by Bach.

JANET ROSS HECTOR’S RECITAL. An Art Gallery with its walls hung vjith excellent paintings ia nab at al"l an uncongenial setting for a pianoforte recital, and that given by Janet Ross Hector there last evening was thoroughly enjoyed by an audience which comfortably filled the place. Mrs. Hector is a pianist who deservedly commands respect, and who, if she may not plumb the poetic depths of the master musicians, is always reasonably aa-tistic. Her programme showed a nice catholicity in taste, ranging from Scarlatti, the pioneer, to the late lamented MacDowell, of U.S.A. The former was represented by his “Suite in G Major,” which includes a fanciful variety of tho lighter moods. The “Sonata in C Minor” of Mozart called for a fuller exposition of the inner graces. Two night studies by Schumann were nicely contrasted, although tho touch in the second one was rather too percussive for the size of the hall. Chopin was represented by the studies (No. 9 in Opus 10 and No. 2 in Opus 25), and the familiar “Fantasia in F Minor-” The alien character of Grieg’s harmonic scale always makes for variety, and it is charming in his “Humoreskou,” which were well played. Finally the MacDowell “Polonaise” was strongly played.