ENTERTAINMENTS

Dominion, Volume 18, Issue 219, 16 June 1925, Page 6

ENTERTAINMENTS

GRAND OPERA HOUSE. Another enthusiastic, audience witnessed the presentation of “The Outsider” at the Grand Opera House last night. Hr. Maurice Moscoviteh lias the title role, and his interpretation is natural and convincing. The plot is simple, but the situations it creates arc dramatic in the extreme. It tells of an uncouth fellow, a surgeon genius whom birth and circumstances have deprived of the orthodox means of acquiring the knowledge necessary to pursue his course us a benefactor of mankind. His studies uro made at the abattoir, and he evolves operations which cure hundreds of cripples with novel instruments he himself has invented. The climax comes when he restores to health, the maimed daughter of the president of the Uoyal College of Surgeons. It is not surprising Unit the girl finds the real man beneath the rough crust of the self-made doctor. “The Outsider” will bo presented for the last time to-night. "THE MERCHANT OF VENICE.” To-inorrow evening, and the two following nights, Air. Aloscoviteh’s celebrated prodwtion of “The -Merchant of Venice” will be staged. Mr. Moscovitch’s .new interpretation of Shylock created a marked impiession on London. In six countries in Europe, where he played it in as many languages, it was, conceded that no greater performance of the role had ever been given. The whole production, it is stated, will be presentedon a complete and elaborate scale, embodying the original and new conception of the play by this great actor. It will, it is said, appeal by its power, its beauty, and its novelty, not only to the Shakespearean enthusiast, but to every patron of the theatre. This famous actor’s portrait, as Shyloek, was painted bv the Polish arb : st, Pi’lchowski, and hung at the Royal Academy, Ixmdon. It was subsequently purchased by the Dutch Government for the National Gallery at The Hague, being consrdercd the representative Shylock. A feature of the production will he the staging and lighting. For the last three nights of the season. Saturday, Monday, and Tuesday, .lune 20, 22. and 23, Moscoviteh will' ho seen i'« Jean Paurel, fn “The Great Lover.” the role ho created in London. The plans for the two productions are open at the Bristol. KREISLER FAREWELL ON THURSDAY. What promises to be the best of the Kreisler recitals in Wellington is that set uowu for the great violinist’s farewell at the Town Hall on Thursday next, which, by Hie way, will eummenee at 8 p.m., ami not 8.10 as herelotore. The progianiihe will include Isehaikovsky’s Concerto in G -Major, Greig s Sonata into Alinor: (a; Negro Spiritual -Melody, Dvorak-Kreisler; <b) La i'ille Aux Cheveux De Lin, Deoussy’-llartmann; fe) Waltz in A Major, Braiuns-Bectistein; (cl) Pale Moon, Hogau-Kreisler; (o) Spanish Serenade, Chaniinat.e-Kreisler; also two or three of the numbers which found most favour during the recent ruuiuub; and hi aUuitioi) a jiinilcd nuiiiber ot special reqiiebt items. Kreisler has requests tor dilierenl items at. each recital, which, ot course, it is quite impossible to accede to, but lor this farewell occasion he has promised to include as many as time and the programme will allow. Requests should he addressed to the manager of the Bristol' Piano Company b'eiore noon on Thursday. ' Kreisler is now in Ct.Tistchurcii, but will return on Thursday, and ba will leave for Sydney by the .Moeraki on I'riday. The box plans and davs sales are open respectively at the Bristol and the Bluebird, where there appears to be every indication that Kreisler’s sond-ofT will lack nothing in comparison with his welcome. PAFiAMOUNT THEATRE. Two plots occur within the main plot of “The Dancers,” the adaptation of Gerald du Maurier and Viola frees play which is. being .screened *it 'jj ,c Paramount Theatre this week. the subsidiary plots illustrate the diucicnt effects a craze tor dancing may have on various people. An Englishman living in the Argentine, is loved by one of the dancing girls in the publichouse ho owns, but he cannot reciprocate for he is already engaged to a girl in England. When ho is wealthy enough ho goes homo io bo married, but his sweetheart, after confessing that through her love of dancing she had been 'led astray, commits suicide. Brok-en-hearted, the lover returns to. South America and forgets his sorrow in dancing. A comedy, a scenic and a gazette are screened as supports. At the Paramount Theatre on Friday there will be shown “Down to the Sea in Ships.” This picture includes what is described as one of the most thrilling and original scenes ever conceived for the screen’. A whale boat from the ship Charles W. Morgan is seen chasing aft 80ft. whale. Finally the monster turns on its assailants and with its flukes smashes the boat to matchwood and throws the crew into the water. The monster used in the picture was estimated to weigh 90. tons. The screening of “Down to the Sea in Ships,” which is an Elmer Clifton production, will be awaited with interest. DE LUXE THEATRE. A romance with unique features forms the plot of "The Price of Pleasure,” the attraction at the De Luxe Theatre. It is a story of a millionaire who befriends a New York shopgirl and satisfies her longing for a “good li*ie. ’ The picture contains many very realistic scenes and magnificent sets and has several highly dramatic situations. Virginia Valli’and Norman Kerry fill the principal parts ably. There arc also shown an International News and a comedy. “Gerald Cranston’s Lady,” which opens at the Do Luxe Theatre on Friday, is a powerful story of a business man who finds that a certain social ' position is necessary for him to advance his business and increase his wealth. To obtain that position ho marries a wo-man-who can give it to him and installs her in a beautiful homo and wirrounds her with every luxury. Their marriage is merely an exchange— his wealth for her social position. The result is not what ho expected. Events do not follow one another with the precision he had planned, and the result is a catastrophe. Such a theme cannot: fail to grip the imagination of the audience. A special supporting programme has been arranged, including a musical programme of great beauty. A matinee will be held on Saturday. The box plans are at the Bristol and Aitken’s Book Arcade, or seats may be booked by ringing telephone 23—050. EMPRESS THEATRE. E. Phillips Oppenheim’s famous novel “The Bill Alan” has been dramatised, and is now appearing nt the Emprvss Theatre under the title of “Behold This Woman.” The picture vividly portrays the life and work in the motion picture colony of Hollywood. The plot deals with ths affection of a Ca'ifornian cattle farmer for a movie actress who had to take shelter at his farm one night. The occurrence would not have been strange had the man not bsen a womanhnter, for the girl was strikingly beautiful. The programme includes a Alack Sennett comedy, “Black Oxfords,” as well ns the usual supporting films.’ Commencing on Friday next, a distinctive feature of the programme will he the appearance of Air. Preboni Hanson a Danish tenor of repute, who.has toured Vjith great success Europe, United States, and Australia. His programme consists of selections from grand opera. Air. Hanson is said tn bo the possessor nf a fine robust tenor voice with a remarkable range and purity. Born in Copenhagen, Denmark, lie received his training from his father, who is court singer to the King of Denmark. AVhe.'rever he has anpea'-cd he has been accorded most enthusiastic receptions. and «nusic lovers in Wellington are promised a great treat. KING’S THEATRE. Richard Dix. the star who won fame in “The Ten Commandments',” has the lole of a newspaper reporter in “A Man Alust Li'-e.” the picture being screened at the King’s Theatre. Before the war he meets a girl and is smitten with love at first sight. After the war he returns to Now York nnd takes a position on a “yellow” paper. One of his first assignments leads him to a series of adventures. which are ext’emely rvciting and which bring him back tn hi s sweetheart besides giving him fame and happiness. A lively comedy entitled “Savage Love.”

a Burton Holmes Travelogue, and a gazette are also screened. (In Friday “So Big,” First National's adaptation of Edna Ferber's novel, will lie screened at the King’s Theatre. ]t describes a mother’s struggle lo raise her son above the sordid narrowness of a Dutch farm settlement in America. Colleen Moore will bo seen as the mother, and the cast includes Hen Lyon. A\ allaco Beery, Ford Sterling, Rosemary Theby, and Phyllis Haver. QUEEN’S THEATRE. Bright entertainment is now being pro-' vided at the Queen's Theatre. The feature production, “Success,” is a Ralph Ince masterpiece, and depicts a story most intensoly interesting, with a human ajip.-al running through the narrative. The production concerns the life of the theatre, and it is written by people who know the stage and stage folk. Its 'dramatic interest is heightened by the theatrical flavour that pervades it. The story is a rare combination of tense drama, relieved by Hashes of bnnd humour. Situations of r.-al excitement follow each other in rapid succession, and through it all is interspersed laugh-provoking episodes and delightfully human “bits.” The. strong climax, in which an aged actor is forced to assume his old role of “King Lear,” playing opposite big own daughter as “Cordelia,” is gripping in its pathos. Brandon Tynan, the famous American stage actor, appears In the role of the old actor, nnd Alary Astor gives support. Another featured production is “The Fidlint Doll,” and there uro good supports. Aliss Una Smith, a delightful child vocalist, sings in changing manner, “Wake Up” (Phillip), and “Pipes of Pan” (Elgar). Delightful music is played by the Queen’s orchestra under the leadership of Aliss Eileen Dennehy. HIS MAJESTY’S THEATRE. A pew vaudeville group and a now revue company were proof against the stormy weather lust evening for His Majesty’s Theatre was well filled, and those present were rewarded with one of the strongest bills presented for some months past. The Gayle Wyer Band Box Revue Company made, a ilistinctly favourable impression, through the. verve and all-round brightness and ability of its members, ns disclosed in “The Honeymoon Trail,” a lively little musical play well packed with smart dialogue, distinct characterisations, half a dozen excellent actors, and a bevy of attractive and clover dancers, who lent animation and beauty lo the various musical numbers. “The Honeymoon Trail” whirls round beans. Jonothan Juniper, as a bean merchant,’ has only one formidable rival, and it is the live wire of that, firm, Harry Hopkins, who chances to fall in love, between speeches on “Boston Baked Beans,” with pretty Jane Juniper, who is all for her Harry. Great fun is born of the strained relations between Air. and Airs. Juniper, both irascible Ib.y nature, but Jane heals the breach and a.'so is the medium through which the bean firms come together. Mr. Gayle Wyer, a smart snappy comedian, is Harry Hopkins, who talks 300 words to the minute without taking a breath, and makes love in the same way that he sells beans. Mr, Walter Conioek is Jonathan Juniper, who cans beans, but cannot can hk- temper. A riotously effective performance is given by Air. Billy Bovis as Peter Somtnerville, a rube without a roof to his mouth, and Air. Harry Abdy is prosily amusing as Dr. Schultz, (he proprietor of the sanatorium where the bepn feast happens. Aliss Vera Benson, a dependable soprano and actress, figured attraetivelv as Jane, and Aliss Ethel Hartley was quite in the picture as her mother. Numerous vocal numbers brightened this snappy little. revue. Among the rarest tit-bits was the philosophical likening of life to a game of poker by Air. Gayle Wyer; the neat clog dance by Aliss Elsa Scott, and the dancing of the Bean Ballet in a variety of distracting confections. On the vaudeville side, the programme included two acts of super-excellence. The one was the delightful performance of Queenie and David Kaili, two Hawaiians (who were the star performers of Henry Kaai’s Hawaiians), and are easily the best of their type wc have seen in AVellington. In duets their voices blond perfectly, and their “Hawaiian Lullaby” and “Alomma Loves Poppa” proved their versatility in romantic and comic singing. Mr. Kaili plays the steel guitar like another Kreisler.' The C'her star turn was the daring act of Bt'n Beno, it trapezist, who, suspended 25ft. above the heads of those in the stalls, does some amazing and breath-catching balancing acts on the bar of the swinging trapeze. Barbarina, who perforins to the air of “Bambalina,” is a chubby little lady who prances rhythmically on the tight wire, gives a clever display of her powers as a contortionist, and also has a clever performing poodle of marked intelligence. Budd, a dancing concertina player, and burlesque artist, also found favour with the audience. Air. W. J. Aspden, baritone, and Aliss Constance Upstone, pianist, contributed a musical act in which the former sang “The Fairy Tales of Ireland.” “The Two Grenadiers,” and “Shipmates o’ Aline.” A'inee and Eva Courtney, a song and dance team, also appeared. TRINITY COLLEGE CONCERT. The Concert Chamber of the Town ITa.ll was crowded, and many stood for the concert of excellent instrumental and voca-1 items given last night by Trinity College examination pupils. His AVorship the Alayor (Air. C. J. B. Norwood) presided. The programme was as follows:—Piano solo, “Rondoßtto” (Nid<lell). Nita Collins (Aliss Aloore), (preparatory); piano solo, “Petite A'also” and “Alusiciil Box” (Pouishnoff), Betty Alackenzio (Miss I. Hoare), (junior medal); song. “Ave Alaria (Luigi- Luzzi), Ima Scholium (St. Alary’s Convent), (senior mesial); piano solo. Rondo from Sonata Op. Li No. 1 (Beethoven), Phyllis Grey (.Miss Heinemann), (senior); piano solo, “Caprice” (Vogrieli), Joyce Downing (Airs. Mac Kay), (intermediate medal); recitation. Scene from “Alacbcth,” Act 111 Scene I, Constance Thoel (Mr. Culford Bell), (licentiate); piano solo, Eileen Bradley (Petono Convent), (higher local modal); song, "Slow Horses Slow” (A. Mallinson), Agnes AlcDavitt (St. Mary’s Convent), (associate); piano solo. Presto from Sonata Op. 10 No. .3 (Beethoven’), Herbert Burton (Miss Moore), (higher local); song, “Vissi d’Arte” (Puccini), Veronica AlcKonzie (St. Mary s Convent),(associate); piano solo, "A. a sc' A - sacienue” (Joseph Holbrooke), Edith Hill (Aliss Pinfold), (higher local);, song, “Hoar Ye, Israel,” from “Elijah (Handel), Myra Clegg (Miss Lamacroft), (licentiate); piano solo, “Caprice (Rubenstein), Edna Sneddon (Airs. Alackay), (associate).