ENTERTAINMENTS

Dominion, Volume 19, Issue 44, 16 November 1925, Page 7

ENTERTAINMENTS

HIS MAJESTY’S THEATRE. Still holding their place in the forefront of the entertainment provided nt His Majesty’s Theatre, the five OldTimers," under the collective name or the Veterans of Variety, have lost nothing of their charm. Their songs, thirty years old though they arc, come to the audiences of to-day as something fresh and bracing, and one of their most pronounced effects is to reveal by parison exactly the amount ot ait that is to be found in the manufactured, syncopated, spasmodic, and freakish combinations of noises that go to niake jazz and its kindred preparations. Ihe old song holds its place and can awaken sentiments that could never respond to sjncopation. Opening their third week tonight, the Veterans, George Campbell, Arthur Slater, Jake Friedman, -inly Burnand, and Florence Hinton will present a complete change of programme, uliicli is said to maintain the wonderfu. standard of its predecessors. Included in the new bill are such old and P°P l J*h* numbers as “Knocked ’Ein in the U < Kent Road,” “You’ll Be With Me All the While,” "AVhistling Rufus, _ Maggie Murphy’s Home,” “Strawberries and Cream," “Where Did You Get That Hat?” “Ask a Policeman,’ Ain t a-oo-inv to Tell,” and many others that will be" remembered by all but the youngest of our theatregoers. In the supporting vaudeville section there are six acts, all of very high standard. After a prolonged tour of America, Murfayne, the excellent xylophonist, returns with a new act that is said to be something exceptional. Farrell and Massey, billed as the “Stylish Steppers," and Miss A lolet t ictoria, lady soubrette, .have new programmes to offer. Johnny Moore, the popular Scottish baritone, departs from his usual line of work in presenting a song scena entitled “Rip Aan Winkle. In this he is assisted by his charming partner, .Miss Jenny Roy. A clever entertainer at the piano is Charles onerman, whose offering always pleases, tonight he promises an entirely new routine of song and story. In their delightful musical act, the Harris Family are to present an entire change of musical numbers. The new programme is a particularly strong one.

STELLA MURRAY. Miss Stella Murray, the New Zealand contralto, wh*> won distinction in London. wilkgive a recital in the Town Hall next Thursday night. Miss Murray will return to England in December, to continue her concert carver there. W nting of her Christchurch concert a critic said: “Miss litiirray is perfect in her singing methods, and she has an attractive personality. These are two reasons why sh-.- must he accounted an artist, Put there are many others besides these. She has evidently taken infinite pains with her work, and the labour has been more than justified in the result. humour and charming personality she is able to bring herself close to the people, and in so doing makes herself tin- perfect concert singer. Her voice is a rich contralto of extraordinarily wide range and power, and she has developed it completely. Her lower register is beautifully mellow and sonorous, and tli- middle and upper are just as deliehtfnl in their way. The voice, has flexibility, and is splendidly controlled. In addition to an excellent vocal equipment, Miss Murray has a fine dramatic sense; she does interpret her songs m their proper spirit. 5 ’ Ihe concert is exacted to make a wide appeal to Miss Murray’s admirers among local musicovers. She will be supported on this occasion by Mr. Harold Whittle as acomnanist. The box plan opens to-day at the Bristol.

EMPRESS THEATRE. Harold Lloyd, the famous comedian of horn-rimmed spectacle fame, is appearing in “Girl Shy," one of his best productions to date, at. the Empress Theatre this week. The story, which is full of the usual Lloyd fun from start to finish, deals with the adven- < ures of a tailor’s apprentice in a small town, who is afraid of all women, though in reality loves almost everyone of the opposite sex he comes in contact with. When, however. Lloyd meets the one girl-in. all the world his shyness fades aitry. and instead of the usually bashful hoy the tailor’s apprentice is suddenly turned info a dashing hero of the dare-devil kind, who stops at nothing in order to create a good impress'on. For good, pure, wholesome fun, “Girl Shy’’ is hard to beat. Besides Llovd there is an excellent supporting cast, including dainty little Jobyna Ralston, who plays the captivating girl; while Carlton Griffith, Richard Daniels, Dorothy Dorr, and Prismlla King are also in the comedy and help to make things lively. The other sup. porting attractions are very good, especially the gazette, which shows various scenes at Wembley. A clever cartoon nnd merrv-making comedy are. also shown, while splendid music is provided throughout by an excellent orchestra. DE LUXE THEATKE. “The Spaniard," now showing at the De Luxe Theatre, is a great story based on hates and passions in Spain. The story commences with a visit of Don Fedro de Barrego to London, and one is shown the way in which some of the most beautiful society women in the Empire fall at the feet of this handsome man, who has the mystery of foreign lands about him. When, however, ■ the Don returns to Spain he meets his equal as a heart-breaker in a noted beauty, Dolores Annesley, who is regarded a« one of the most attractive women in English society. When in Seville, Dolores goes to see a bull-fight, and she is very much humiliated indeed to find that the hero of the hour is Don Pedro de Barrego, who a short while before she has scorned. Then again when caught in a blinding storm durirfe the ascent of dangerous mountains, she is forced to seek shelter in an old castle, only to find that the host is Don Pedro, who turns up once more. The Spaniard threatens to .holds Dolores prisoner in the castle. A battle of wits ensues, and Dolores is captured by a band of bandPs who kidnap her from the castle, bur the Spaniard comes to her rescue once again. Eventually the girl gives way to the wooings of D’on Pedro, only to di<--over that she has > really loved turn after all. Tn the cast are Ricardo Cortez (Don Pedro), Jetta Goudal (Dolores), Noah Beery, and Matilda Brundage. Be sides the star attraction there are. supporting pictures and a'very fine musical programme quite up to the usual De v- standard.

KING’S THFATRE. A great story full of hitman power is notV showing at the King’s Theatre, anti al' who go to see "Any Woman” will v.niloubtedly bo much wiser in many ways at the end than when they went. In this Paramount attraction beautiful Alice Terry is witnessed amidst captivating scenery nnd surrounded by romantic colours, going about as a lady of the world until she is suddenly thrown at the mercy of all and left to fight the battle of life without a penny. This does not daunt the beautiful _heroin, e however. Without any real idea of a certain position she sets about to look for work, and ah last secures employment in which two married men, both partners in a firm, fall madly in love with her, and many complications arise. Everything comes out right in the end, and the heroine finds happiness in the arms of Tom Galloway, the man she loves. Some very well-known artists appear in the cast, including Ernest Gillon, Margarita Fischer, Lawson Butt, and Henry Koike. There is also a gazette, a travelogue, “Lapland,” and a comedy that keeps the audience in fits of laughter. A fine orchestra provides excellent, music.

ARTCRAFT THEATRE. . Showing for the last time to-night at the Artcraft Theatre is the excellent picture, “The Man Without a Heart,’ a story of a woman’s indiscretion, a brother’s sacrifice, and a girl’s devotion. The supports are excellent, the comedy, “Starving Beauties,” being highly amusing. James Haydoek’s music is delightful. Constance Talinndge, with Ronald Colman, appear in to-morrow night's feature, “Iler Night of Romance,” one ot the greatest comedy hits she has ever made. It is said to be one long laugh from beginning to end. The supporting pictures are also well abovJ the average, making a very strong bill.

QUEEN’S THEATRE. “Women Who Give,” the attraction now showing at the Queen's Theatre, is adapted from “Cape Cod Folks,” and is the finest and most exciting screen play Reginald Barker has ever produced. A battle with a giant swordfish, a realistic shipwreck, the tiring of a bglithousekeeper’s home, and a ship dashed to pieces on the rocks, are a feiv of the thrills. Barbara Bedford, Robert Frazer, Renee Adorce, Frank Keenan, and Joseph Dowling enact the more important roles. An added attraction is the film of the 1925 Melbourne Cup, together with an hilarious comedy, and the grand final chapter of “The Riddle Rider.” “Samson of the Circus” is coming to the Queen’s shortly, and a special bicycle competition to be held in connection with it. In this children are eligible for entry. All inquiries regarding competition may be had by inquiring at the office, Queen’s Theatre. PARAMOUNT THEATRE. "Enemies of Women,” the star attraction at the Paramount Theatre, comes from the the pen of that famous Spanish novelist, Vincente Ibanez. The picture, which has a great cast, including Lionel Barrymore, is a talc of fierce passion and sudden fumes, with beautiful women and .romantic men, all of whom are seen in the happy bunting ground of Monte Carlo. One of the great scenes in this film is a duel between a prince and a Cossack, in which the Cossack dies and the prince is wounded. Alma Rulrens plays the part of the lovely girl who causes nearly all the trouble, while Lionel Barrymore takes the role of Prince Michael Lubinoff. Mario Maiesoni, well known in Australia and New Zealand, is in the cast, and has the part of the Duke de Delillo. A comedy and splendid gazette are also on the programme, which is carried out to the aeeiimmin - ment of excellent music from the Paramount orchestra. ORGAN RECITAL. The Town Hall was fairly well attended last evening when the weekly organ recital was given by Mr. Bernard F. Page, city organist. The programme comprised:—Minuet in D Major (MozartPage); Toccata and Fugue in D Minor (Bach); Andante from String Quartet (Debussy); Serenade No. 5 (Couvy-Page); Fantaisie in A (Cesar-Franck); Prelude to Act 1, Tristan and .’soldo (Wagner).