ENTERTAINMENTS

Dominion, Volume 18, Issue 223, 20 June 1925, Page 16

ENTERTAINMENTS

GRAND OPERA HOUSE. Mr, Maurice Moseovitch added further laurels to his successes last night, when he treated a largo audience at the Grand Opera House to another masterly interpretation ot the famous S|iyloek of ,Shakespeare’s ' Merchant of Venice.”- The Shylock of Mr. Moscovitch is a natural portrait of the miserlv Hebrew usurer the playwright delineated. Miss Joan Robertson scores vet another triumph as Portia, ami the re-t of the company does all that is required of if- ~ , , , To-ni-hf and on Monday and Tuesday the last three nights of the season Moscoviteli will bo seen in "The (treat Lover.” in which the star will be seen as Jeiin Paurcl, his original character which ho played for over two years in London Moseovitch is said to give a wonderful performance, in this production, . the plans for the season are at the Bristol, and day sales may be obtained at the Theatre’ Confectionery. paramount THEATRE. Those who have experienced the thrills of big fishing as practised on certain parts of tho New Zealand coast will, to some extent, be able to enter, mtn the excitement of landing a UO-ton bull, whale, which is but one of the graphic, scenes in “Down to the Sea in Ships the screen sensation which opened the new season at the Paramount theatre last night. Few motion pictures have, found their way to the Dominion that portray such breath-taking dramatic incidents ns this Hodgkinson super-special production. The story; has its locale in the tempestuous waters where the mammoth whales resort, and the principal character is a monster that has been enraged by the biting sting of a harpoon driven deep in its flesh. The excitement reaches its height when the

whale, realising the impossibility of escaping, turns on its captors and does considerable damage. Then, at wonderful speed, it makes a determined dash for freedom, and .the thrills that follow are almost without parallel in the history of Hie screen. Beyond the reach'of the main ship, and with 3000 miles of ocean before them, the crew stick to the boat until the whale gives up the fight. The entire action takes place before the eyes of the audience, and every moment is filled with the dangers of the sea. Delicately interwoven throughout this great picture of i narrow escapes and virile manhood is one of the most charming love stories revealed on the screen. The principal roles are enacted by Raymond McKee, Marguerite Courtot, William Walcott, and Ada Laycock. The picture was produced by Ulmer Clifton for tho Whaling Picture Corporation There are excellent supporting pictures, and appToprinte musical selections are played 'by the Paramount Orchestra. GALLLCURCI. No singer _who has visited Australia has made the impression created by Galli-Curci, who is to give concerts at the Town Hall, Wellington, on June 30, July 3 and 4. tn Melbourne and Sydney no fewer than nine concerts were given by Galli-Curci, ami Press and public praised the amazing tone that the singer has made a. world-wide artistic commodity through the agency of the gramophone. Her initial appearance on the platform is ever the signal for remarkable demonstrations. In Los Angeles she sang to an audience of 20,000 people, and was acclaimed in a scene of unparalleled enthusiasm. Tho same generous welcome was accorded her everywhere in America, and in Loudon night after night, she filled the great Bova] Albert Hall with audiences that acclaimed her as the foremost coloratura of the day. Messrs. J. and N. Tait were able to secure Galli-Curci for a tour of tho antipodes, only by her foregoing her usual summer holiday. The ordinary box plans will open at the Bristol on Tuesday next, when seats will be offered at three prices, viz., dll Is., 155., and 10s. fid., phis tax. As, after tho 'big booking that has already taken place, the accommodation is necessarily limited, intending patrons' are advised to be on the scene as early as possible on Tuesday morning. EMPRESS THEATRE. “Cornered,” an eight-reel feature picture displayed for the .first time at the Empress Theatre yesterday, is bused on a famous stage mystery play. The film version is a melodrama of breathless suspense and thrills galore, but cleverly interpolated of force make it stand out in bold relief amongstpictures of a similar melodramatic type. The story is about Mary Brennan, an inhabitant nf Chinatown, and her strange resemblance to Margaret Waring, an heiress. Mary uses this chance to gain admittance to the house of Miss Waring and pose as the heiress during her absence from the city. The clever ruse is discovered when Margaret returns unexpectedly, but, tho authorities are unable to determine which is the real Miss Waring. Mary saves herself by her mind-reading ability, Then comes the climax, with the discovery that the girls are twins. The cast includes John Roche, Rockcliffe Fellowes, Raymond Hatton and Cissy Fitzgerald. The double role is taken 'by Marie Prevost, who, as the twins, deserves a large share of the honours. A Mack Sennett comedy, “Wall Street Blues,” adds attractive humour to th? entertainment, and the Pathe Gazette contains recent scenes of interest, including the "University boat race, the Liverpool *Grand National Steeplechase and advance fashions in natural colours

from Paris. A special attraction for the evening sessions is Signor Prehoni Han-en, tenor, of the Danish Imperial Court. Last evening his numbers included "Vesli la Gnibbe " (Pngliacci) and "La Donna Mobile" (Rigoletto). Signor Hansen was enthusiastically received, and In's singing added greatly to the enjoyment of the programme. The same pictures will be shown continuously to-day. DE LUXE THEATRE. Gilbert Frankau’s vivid story of a purchased society woman, "Gera’d Cranston’s Lady," has been picturised by William Fox. and was shown at the De ’ Luxe Theatre last night to a delighted audience. James Kirkwood and Alma i Rubens head a cast, of exceptional merit, I and Emmett Flynn, tho director, has succeeded in transferring to the screen all the colour and spirit of this remarkable story. "Gen’d Cranston’s Lady" deals with a titled lady who, impover- | ished. sells herself in marriage io an ambitious financier. The union is purely one of convenience, Cranston using his newly-found position to further his busiI ness interests, and I ady Cranston usine his money io educate her child and maintain her position in society. But Fate intervenes, and Cranston is faced with business disaster through the man oeuvres of Gordon Ibbotsle’gh, a man who had ’oved Lady Cranston, and who was trusted by her husband. Cranston becomes infatuated with Angela, his wife’s cousin, and in an effort to break with her. dee’des to visit. Paris, but to his surprise finds her making the trip with him. Later comes the climax, grinning in its intensity, when Cranston and his lady find love as they face the future together. Mr. Kirkwood and Miss | Rubens do some of the best work in ' their enviable careers in this picture. I Wa'ter McGrn-’l nml Marguerite de la Motto, in the roles of , bbotsleigh and I Ange’a. are very convincing. Gibers in • the cost are J. Farrell MacDonald, Lucien T ittlefield. and Templar Saxe. The sunnorting pictures are also of a very high standard. A feature of tn* entertainment is the plens : ng inusica’ score submitted by the orchestra, under Mr. L. D. Aw=fin the overture selection "Rigoletto” (Verdi), and "The Wedding Festival" (Bnnrmef").' nlnved as an | entr’acte, proving specially delightful. ' KING’S THEATRE. Colleen Moore has hitherto been known on tho ■ I’-een as a smart little flapper, but "So Big." the Fir t National picture shown nt tho King’s Theatre Inst evening, gives one a glimpse of bigger things for this clever actress I It brings her into the realm of big i dramatic stars. Nor is she dramatic | only as a child-woman, for a the story rolls along so doos Colleen Mooro as Selina Deiong, change, until she is

an aeed mother, battling against odds for the peace and happiness of her adult son. Could any test of histrionic.’ be more severe than that of having to portray the same character in three i generations? Yet. (his young actress I does it well. Selina is left poor, and whilst toiling as a school mistress in a rural district near Chicago she mnrrie Purvis Deiong, a poor farmer. "So Big” is their son. Dirk, who, through the death of Dojong. becomes her solo, support. Th rough an old chum Selina is able to borrow money to improve the farm, and prospers sufficiently to send Dirk to college, whore he works well and in time becomes a successful architect. Selina, now fifty, ha-- removed to Chicago, and in tho social swirl Dirk 'becomes involved with a Mrs. Storm. She persuades Dirk to elope with her, but. Selina, a fighter all her days, intervenes and saves her boy for a better fate. Wallace Beery and John Bowers are strong in support of the star. In addition to this excellent picture, there i= a laughable comedy, "The Golf Bug” (which al) golfers should see), and one of the latest topical gazettes, Mr. A. Jerome presides over a satisfactory orchestra, which plays a wide selection of good popular music. There will be .a full orchestral matinee this afternoon Box plans are at the Bristol. QUEEN’S THEATRE. Thomas Meighan, the popular screen star, scored another success in his latest starring vehicle, "Coming Through,” wh’’ch was screened at the Queen’s Theatre for the first time yesterday. The story is from the novel, “Bed Rock.” bv Jack Bethea, and deals with the thril's that are experienced in coal-min-ing. Meighan p'ays the part of a clerk in. the offices of a big steel corporation. His fafher-’n-law, tho president of tho corporation, sends him down to one of the roughest of mining camps, hoping to get n : d of him in a pre-arranged accident, but Meighan win through in characteristic style, and gains a bride. Meighan finds on arrival at the mine, that tho men are rebellious and spend most of their tim> drinking and gambling. One of his first moves is to shut down the. salnon, and in doing so he sets Shackleton against him. Realising that he has a big job on hand, Meighan enlists the aid of several men he thinks he can trust, but he is b'oeked | at every turn by the mine manager, i and he narrowly' escapes with his life ' on a’number of occasions. The. young j wife believes that her husband is a ' coward and a failure, and holds herself ; aloof. The miners turn again him. but , ho proves that their foreman has swindled them out of thousands of dollars in their pay. and pacifies them. Then I the. mine manager attempts to kill Mei- I ghan. and in a gripping encounter, the I former drops sixty feet to rocks be’ow. The climax is skilfully arranged, and I p rives a pleasant surprise. Lila Lee 1 plays the part of the young wife, while the role of the. misguided father is taken by John Miltern. There are excellent supports, and the Queen’s orchestra renders a. specia’ly selected musical programme. There will be a speo’a! matinee performance this afternoon, when children will bo given free cakes of chocolate. STRAND THEATRE. A double-feature programme was presented nt the Strand Theatre yesterday. "Behold This Woman.” a story ' off the beaten track, heady! the bill. Hollywood, always a spot of interest for tho world’s picture-seekers, its studios, its pleasure palaces, its home- life, and souje of those Western open snnees. form ’ tho background for this life-like tale of real folks written bv E. Phillips Oppenheim. who knows human passions and paints them in a convincing and logical fashion. Miss Irene Rich has tho star role, and she is supported by Harry Myers, Charles Post, and Marguerite de la Motte. The second feature. "Brothers Under the Skin.” is from the versatile pen of Peter B. Kyne, of "Cappy Ricks” fame. Its thesis, that .all mon are brothers, is one that permitted Mr. Kyne to weave a story about two househo'ds, ono in a flat, tho other in an apartment house, that lent itself to veracious comedy treatment. The cast is a perfect one’. Helene Chadwick and Pat O'Malley playing the leading roles. An excellent comedy and a gazette complete the. programme. HIS MAJESTY’S THEATRE. Tho attractive bill of faro provided by the Fuller artists at His Majesty’s Theatre Ibis week was again greatly appreciaied bv a lull house hist night, the vaudeville part of the programme comprises some excellent items. Bon Beno, trapeze and balancing artist, provides the audience with several thrills, and B'arbarina, tight-rope walker, gives a. clever turn. Musical items by Aspden and Upsione, grand opera singers, A’ince and Courtney, song and danco specialists, James Budd, concertina player, and Queenie and David Kaili, Hawaiian singing, dancing and music, add considerably to tho enjoyment of patrons. The Gayle Wyer’s Band Box Revue Company appear in a musical farce, "The Honeymoon Trail," which contains pleasing musical numbers and clever dancing, and with the assistance of a capable and tastefully arranged ballot score" a. decided hit with tho am ienco. To-day there will be a matinee performance in addition to the usual evening show.

ARTCRAFT THEATRE. I "Orphans of the Storm,” tha D. W. Griffith production, starring Dorothy and Lilian Gish, will be screened this afternoon at the Artcraft Theatre for the liust time. To-night "Name the Man,’ Victor Seastrom’s production of Sir Hall Caine’s novel of life in the Isle of Man, "The Master of Man," which recently had a phenomenal run in Wellington, will bo projected. The picture is remarkable for tho number and power ol its dramatic incidents. Tho chief ' characters are tho young Deemster of the Isle, and a girl whom he has befriended. Tho man is tho cause of the girl's downfall, and he later, in his official capacity, is in duty bound to sentence her to death, but, in a tense scene, ho confesses and discards his robe.’ of cffico in public, after arranging Tor her to escape from gaol. Conrad Nagel, Mae Busch, Patsy Ruth Miller, and Creighton Hale are entrusted with tue most important parts. Fo’lowing the policy of this theatre to change the programme three times a week, this picture will give place on Tuesday to an entirely new programme. TIVOLI THEATRE. All who enjoy a fine dramatic picture on a subject worth while, are advised to eeo “The Elusive Pimpernel,” an adaptation of Baroness Orczy’s famous novel "The Scarlet Pimpernel.” "Tho Scarlet Pimpernel" literally steps forth ' from the pages of this famous cook to entertain the public on the screen in six reels of de'ightfully breathless romance and intrigue. Ccoil Humphreys faithfully portrays the part of the Pimpernel, Norman Page gives a. fine interpretation of the evil Chauvelin, and Miss .Marie Blanche makes a charming Lady Blakem-y, wife of the Scarlet Pimpernel. The second attraction is a society drama entitled "Ti'l We Meet Again,” featuring Mae Marsh, supported by Nori man Kerry, Martha Mansefield, Julia | Swayne. Gordon and J. Barney Sherry. ’ Wonderful dancing, and fascinating cabi aret scenes, delightfully mounted, are features of this offering. There is also ; an excellent comedy, Pathe News, and i a very interesting little fi’m entitled i "Boys.” The programme will be screened twice daily, at 2 p.m. and 7 p.m. The plan is at the Bristol. ORGAN RECITAL. Mr. Bernard F.’ Page (city organist) will give his weekly organ recital at the Town Hall to-morrow evening, and tho fol'ow'ng items will lie played:—Concerto in D Minor (No. 10) by Handel; Romance Op. 118 (No. 5), by Brahms; (a) Meditation-Prie"e (Op. 90), No. 40; (b) Conzona (Op. 90) No. 35, by Guilmant; Sicgfried-I 'yll, by Wagner; Pt-nsee D’Alltome (Op. 47 No. 2), by Jongen; Concertstuck (Op. SO), by Lemaire. EGYPTIAN MARKET. The Rev. Fielden Taylor’s Egyptian Market in aid of some of the needy children’s homes is to be opened at the Town Hall to-day by Iler Excellency Lady Alice Fergusson. The doors will open at 2.30 and the official opening is to take place at 3 p.m. After the opening ceremony there will bo a grand parade of Egyptians followed by a programme of musical and other items. A jumble sale is to be held in the second floor corridor of the Town Hall at 2.30. The attractive programme arranged for the night is advertised.