ENTERTAINMENTS

Dominion, Volume 19, Issue 155, 27 March 1926, Page 6

ENTERTAINMENTS

WILLIAMSON DRAMATIC CO. On Easter Saturday, April 3, at the Grand Opera House, J. C. Williamson Ltd. will begin an important new dramatic season, which will be notable for the facts that New Zealand is to be honoured by the first production iu Australasia of the famous play success ami the first appearance of an actress who has scored a great triumph in the principal role in America. "Seventh Heaven” is a play of the Parisian un-der-world, by Austen Strong, and lias been running for nearly three years in America, where it has been played by a dozen road companies'.' It deals vividly with the life of Chico, a “sewer rat” of Paris, aud Diane, a waif of the slums. Chico, despite his lowly calling, has ideals and longs for the granting of three wishes, to win a wife with golden hair, to have enough money to ride in n taxi-cab. and to be a street-cleaner, the occupation of street-cleaner the one remove higher than his calling is as a worker in the sewers. The scenes in "Seventh Heaven” between Chico and Diane, who has known nothing but slum life and yet, like Chico himself, simply has’ to respond to the good within her, are said to be very poignant. There is pathos relieved with comedy, and the dramatic tensity about every act that holds audiences in suspense. J. C. Williamson Ltd., will send a very strong company headed by Mr. Frank Harvey, who will appear as Chico. Mr Harvey has seldom had a greater opportunity for a display of his remarkable talents than lie will have in "Seventh Heaven/* Miss Remy Carpen who will make her first appearance as Diane, is a French actress of note, who has, won a big success abroad. She was born tn Paris and has starred there, m French of course, nevertheless, she speaks perfect' English. There will be a very strong supporting company including Mr. Mayne Lynton, Miss Gwen Burroughs, who makes her first appearance since her return to Australia recently, after many success abroad; Miss Marion Marcus Clarke, who also has just returned from America; Mr. George Blunt, Miss Nancy Stewart, Mr. Vivian Edwards, Mr. George Conyngham, Mr. John Fernside, Mr. George Willoughby, and Mr. Kay Souper. Only a limited number of performances can be staged of "Seventh Heaven” as during the brief season the company will also stage here for the first time "Secrets,” which enjoyed a long run in Sydney recently. The box plan will be opened for "Seventh Heaven.” at the Bristol, on Wednesday morning next. G. P. HANNA’S "DIGGERS.” Pat Hanna and his famous company of Diggers will make their final appear; ance in Wellington to-night. Joo Valli and Pat Hanna are responsible for sqme very clever character acting in a real Aussie playlet entitled “Blighty Leave.” This sketch is really the best thing of the show. "According to Plan” is a story of two henpecked husbands and the life they were . forced io lead while at home Jim Foran, Chris Kilne-, Brian Lawrence, and Jock Thompson supply splendid harmony in their Diggers’ Quartet, finishing up with “Why Did I Kiss that Giri?" Vera Carew supplied a good soprano solo, while Pat Hanna made a great hit last night with his clever sketching, which was done in a most accurate and rapid style. Master" Brian Lawrence played the violin well, and also proved himself to be, the. possessor of a remarkably good voice. Jim Foran, who sang “A Tumble-down Shack,” came in for great applause, as did most of the other members of the clever company. HIS MAJESTY’S THEATRE. "A Hot Night" is the title of the latest revue at His Majesty’s Theatre by the popular Phil Smith Company. It is full of clever humorous situations, tuneful musical numbers, and dainty dances. In the vaudeville section Wee Willie Lancet, “London’s vest pocket comedian,” assisted by Edward Avon ana Muriel Dale, provides a chapter ot sparkling comedy in his sketch, "Willie Comes Home.” Wendling and Molloy in vaudeville novelties and Florence and Clifton, brilliant comedy acrobats, cause great amusement, while Queenie and David Kaili, the popular Hawaiian entertainers, earn the whole-hearted and well-merited applause of the house with their catchy melodics. There will be a matinee to-day. EMPRESS THEATRE.

“That Devil Quemado,” has for its chief-character a picturesque big figure on a snow-white horse who plays havoc with feminine hearts, laughs at villains. I ides like the wind, and lives in a mountain fastness from which he occasionally rushes down into town to kidnap a tair maid or right some wrong appears on the screen of the Empress lheatre. This romantic figure is played by I'red Ihomson, the popular Western star. Dramatic incident follows dramatic incident with ■ just the right amount of comedy. Gloria 'Hope has the outstanding feminine role, which she takes to perfection, and a large cast, including Nola Luxford, Albert Briscoe, Bryon Douglas Joseph Bell. Alan Roscoe, and Robert Cantiero are all good. The other big feature is Not So Long Ago,” a Paramount picture featuring Betty Bronson and Ricardo Cortez It is a delightful story of New York life, full of quaint appeal. An excellent supporting programme includes a comedy and a gazette,, while theae is also pleasing music.

PARAMOUNT THEATRE. Marvellous Palm Beach society settings form the background for “The Coast of Folly” the lavish drama which opened at tlie Paramount theatre yesterday. In it beautiful Gloria Swanson as is usua in all her pictures wears some wonderful gowns with that inimitable grace winch is hers alone. The story is taken Trom the novel by Forrest Halsey and shows how a girl, who becomes involved m a terrible scandal, is saved by the devotion and self-sacrifice of her mother The theme is one which lends itself to the realisation of great dramatic heights and the great opportunities presented arc fully availed of by Miss Swanson, and the splendid supporting cast amongst whom arc Anthony Jowett. Alec Francis, and Dorothy Cumming. There is no doubt that Miss Swanson is one of (ho most charming actresses of the screen, and local theatre-goers will be Had of the opportunity to see her again. The supporting programme is also of a high standard. The Gaumont Graphic shown is a very interesting one, and there is a comedv, “Beware,’ and a Mermaid scenic, “The Bottom of the Sea ” Excellent music is contributed by the’ orchestra, one of its items being, “The Pilgrims’ Chorus,” from “Tannh a user.”

TIVOLI THEATRE. Three unusually good films composed tho new programme shown at the Tivoli Theatre last night. Most outstanding was "The Alaskan, in which that sterling actor, Thomas Meighan. has the part of a young Alaskan, defender of the interests of his country against the agents of those who attempt to" strip her of her wealth without workin" themselves. and by underhand methods. Playing opposite .Meighan is Estelle Taylor, while John Sainpolis and Anna May Wong are also prominent. In "Prodigal Daughters, which is also shown, Gloria Swanson is cast as "Swiftie” Forbes, a girl who devotes all her. attentions to jazz, drinking, gniokin <ir and general rebellion to patentai authority. As the result of’ari interesting series of events, Swiftie learns the error of her ways. Vera BeynoMs is given a place in the east as “Swiftie’s” sister, and Theodore Roberts is their father. An unusually interesting picture, especially to those competed with building construction, is “Building a Skyscraper.” one of the components of the programme.

DE LUXE THEATRE. “Wild Horse Mesa." the great action picture which opened at the De Luxe Theatre last night, is from the story of that wonderful writer of Western American romances. Zane Grey, who is without doubt •> master when dealing with the West, its thrills, its daring, and its people Filmed in the actual Western locations of thr canyons, mesas and deserts, the scenery is very beanfi ful while thrills crowd one another off -the screen. Jack Flo't is Hie hero a ha-d riding horse defile,- who is frierdiv' with the Indians- Ril'ie Dove is as beautiful and charmine as ever ar the he-oine, while Nonh Beery is the had man. Others in the cast are well r-hesex.

and are headed by Douglas Fairbanks, jun. The story tells of good-natured Lige Melborne, who runs a store in a little Western hamlet, but is facing failure when Bent Manerube gives him the idea of using a large quantity of barbed wire which he has in stock to fence in a part of the mesa and to trap wild horses. Soon after they arrive at the habitat of the wild horses, (.'bane Weynier. a horse buyer, who has been chased by a gang, arrives in camp thoroughly exhausted and is nursed back to health. A stampede of horses is started, but Chane manages tn head them off, and then the gang makes prisoners of Chane, and the Melhornes. But an Indian chief whose daughter has been wronged by the gang shoots the leaders from ambush and the party is rescued. A comedy and a gazette are also shown, while under the direction of Mr. 1,. I). Austin tlic De Luxe orchestra plays delightful incidental music. KING’S THEATRE. A large audience were thrilled at the King’s Theatre last night, by "The Calgary Stampede,” which is one of the most impressive outdoor productions yet seen. II.R-.H. the Prince of Wales lent his beautiful ranch in Alberta to the Universal Pictures Corporation during their filming of some of the sequences of the picture. Included in this epic of the West are the sports of the cowboy and the Indian, the. packer, the prospector, and te stage coach driver, such as wild horse riding, calf roping, riding of wild range cows and steers, wild cow milking; handling of wild horses and wilder cattle, “chuck” wagon races, Californian cart races, "Democrat races, pack races, fancy. and trick ridin<- and roping, and the famous wild horse race. In fact, the festival includes every kind of amusing and thrillinc sport known to the Canadian Northwest, participated in by genuine inhabitants of the West, not .as a show', lint as a genuine competitive tournament. Altogether it forms one of the most interesting and thoroughly gripping back-o-rounds to an outdoor drama yet presented on the screen, while the dramatic and romantic element goes to mafic up splendid entertainment. A brilliant cast of players is to bo seen in the various roles. 'There is an excellent supporting programme and pleasing music by the King’s orchestra.

STRAND THEATRE Nazimova returns to the screen in "The Redeeming Sin,” which heads the new bill nt the Strand Theatre, as Joan, a member of a band of Apache thieves in the Paris underworld. Joan resents the attentions of Lupin, their leader, and leaves, going to Papa Chuchu’s cafe, when a party of aristocrats see her dancing. One of them, Paul, is attracted to her. One day she sees him attentive to a woman and becomes so jealous she returns to Lupin and tells him of a statue and pearl necklace Paul's mother is giving to the church, and makes him promise ho will get the pearls and kill Paul. Finally the girl real ses that it is Lupin whom she rea-ly loves. Cullen. Landis, and Jacqueline Logan are featuied in “Peacock Feathers,” the other big picture, one of the most thrilling moments of which is the tearing down of the side of a mountain by a tremend ous avalanche. There is a strong supporting programme.

QUEEN’S THEATRE. "Thunder Mountain” is the big attraction shown at the Queen’s Theatre last night for the first time. The plot is a simple one, dealing with the ambitions of an idealistic mountain lad to elevate his people and his unwilling love for a little circus girl who seeks refuge among lie people of the mountains. In the story’ are shown glimpses of the stark poverty, the bigoted beliefs, the superstitions, and the hates of the mountaineers, together with the homely humour which surrounds these crude folk, whose only contact with the world outside comes through the kindly old circuitrider. An all-star cast is headed by Madge Bellamy and Leslie Fenton. A Fox News, a scenic, and a comedy are also shown. ARTCRAFT THEATRE. At the matinee to-day and again this evening the special Paramount picture “Code of the Sea," featuring Jacqueline Logan and Rod La Rocque, will be screened. It is a thrilling sea story, containing some marvellous scenes and photograph ie effects, the storm scenes being beyond description. A gazette, scenic, and comedy are also shown, whilst the special music by James Haydock greatly enhances the entertainment.

ORGAN RECITAL. .Mr. Bernard F. Page (City Organist) will give his weekly organ recital at the Town Hall to-morrow evening, and the programme has been arranged as under: Introduction and Allegro Moderato, by Rcpartz; Serenade 'No. ), by Gouvy-Page; Pastel (No. 3), Op. 92, by Karg-Elert; Cantilene, by Salome; Good Friday Music (from Act HI.), “Pasifal” by Wagner; Psyche-Poeme. Syniphonique pour Orchestre et choeurs, by Cesar Franck (by request). request). .