ENTERTAINMENTS

Dominion, Volume 19, Issue 296, 10 September 1926, Page 4

ENTERTAINMENTS

I’A It AMOU NT THE ATI! B. "Kiki.” the film version cf David Bclasco’s big stage success, looms nn as a successor to the original . ntertainment. It gets over with Unfailing zip and unbounded merriment, provides Nonna Taltnadge with a role in which that noted star appears as a comedienne. It is being screened at the Paramount Theatre commencing to-day. It is stated that audiences will never get tired of watching the antics and artful plotting of this Paris street girl heroine, who gradu ates from the status of rewspaper seller to chorus girl, fixes her somewhat, tiger ish affections on a. theatre manager, ousts her rival with impish uniting, and swarms into the final with her marital quarry safely ''hooked.” Miss Talmadge is said to prove that she is good, not only as an emotional t ctress, but also as a comedienne; and to .mpersonato a voung girl very well, despite her ago. The picture is full of comedv from the besrinninK to the end. of the light sort mostly and of the side-splitting occasionally. Mr Clarence Brown directed it. The supporting cast consists of lionaid Colman Gertrude Astor. Mare McDermott. Mack Swain, and Frankie Darro. A good supporting programme is also included, and the Paramount orchestra can be relied on to render a first-jiass musical programme. The box . plan is at the Utility stationery shop, next to the theatre. AHTC.BAFT T.HEATHE. It is doubtful if any production, film or otherwise, has been so unanimously praised by the critics everywhere as D. W. Griffith's picturised version •of "M ay Down East.” which will < eminence a three night’s season at *lie Artcratt Theatre to-night. "Way Down East" is one of the biggest productions Griffith nas made. Several Griffith innovations are seen, including a thrilling snowstorm and a New England ice freak on tho river. Griffith has provided an idyllic tale of plain and honest people, and there is a distinct moral impressed—that of a single standard for conduct of men and women. The poor disconsolate girl who is turned out into a terrific storm is a pathetic figure, mdcod, and when she is seen lying helpless on an ice floe, drifting toward a menacing fall, there is a thrill that gets i aeh onlooker in its grip. In the nick c.t time she is saved from death, and then pent up feeling comes forth in overwhelming applause. LilliaA Gish has the leading role. Hichard Barthelmess, Mrs. Morgan Belmont, a social leader; Creighton Hale. Kate Bruce. Vivia Ogden, Mary Hay. Burr Mclntosh, George Neville. Edgar Nelson. Lowell Sherman. Porter Strong. Florence Short, and others aro seen. As usual with a Griffith production. there is a thematic tcore played bv the talented James Haydock. and the music is a succession of delightful melodies and impressive compositions. Owing to its length <l2 teels). the serening will commence at 7.45 n.m. This picture will not be shown at to-morrow’s matinee. CHALIAI’IN. Box plans for the two Wellington converts of the celebrated singer Chaliapin will be open at tho Bristol this morning at 9. Judging by ‘he treat interest that has been shown in the visit of tho famous artist, the booking is sure to he very big. and the Grand Opera House on Thursday night should Do a memorable sight. Chaliapin will nut keep to a set programme during his Wellington season. lie will follow his original plan of announcing each item from the platform. or rather the number of the song on the programme. Consequently there is always a spice of adventure about a Chaliapin concert, for one really does not know what he will choose to sing. There arc certain established favourites that, will be heard more than once. Words of sones will be included : n the sonve. uir programme at the concert which will mark the opening of tho Chaliapin season. Chaliapin is described as tho greatest singing artist of the world. His facility in his art is largely instinctive, since the tuition he received in youth was fragmentary and haphazard. An engagement in an ecclesiastical choir as a boy marked alike the beginning of his musical career and his education in music. Tho meagre payment for his services being quite inadequate for his needs, he also worked on a inilwav and the steam bouts on the Volga. The evidence of tho artist supports the view that the life he had to lead then, to keep his art, played an important part in stabilising his priceless possession of personality. ami in making him take narticular note as he went, along, of how to make the most of his gifts. EMPRESS THEATRE. ‘‘Let’s Get Married.” a I’arnniount. screen version of the popular play, “The Man from Mexico,” heads tho programme which commences at the Empress Theatre to-day. Richard Dix and Lois Wilson are the stars of this fast-moving comedy, wherein Dix has the part of tiie son of a wealthy man who, after painting the town red,'is set by his father to sell hymn books to a certain J. W. Smith, who turns out to bo an extremely chariniug young lady, who desires to be taken to tiie cabaret most noted for roughness in the town. Dix takes her there, and then tilings begin to move. The main supporting feature. is “The Eleventh Commandment," starring Fay Compton and Stewart Romo. It is Hie story of a household domesticated by the influence of family .tradition, represented by a “die-hard” parent, who pays the penalty of bigotry b.v seeing one of ills daughters go on the stage and the other breaking tiie commandment, "Thou Shalt 'Not Be Found Out." KING'S THEATRE. Picture-goers throughout lhe world know and love the dog Peter the Great. Through tiie pictures in which he has appeared in the past, he has become a symbol of loyalty, nobility, heroic exploits and gratitude—qualities in which the silent friends of man surpass their masters. “Wild Justice'’ is a drama in which all humanity is summoned to witness with tender emotiou one of the most beautiful stories of .log devotion. Nothing, except nerlians the love of a mother or sweetheart, can be termed finer than a dog’s devotion. Hie public never tire of reading stories cn this subject, nor will it tire of seeing them on the screen. “Wild Justice” is a human story with human characters, struggling against the forces of rhe wild nortlj country and human avarice. Dominating the fate of these characters, like tho force of avenging destiny, is the dog star. Peter’the Great is claimed to be champion of all European police dog champions. In “Wild Justice” he has human support in George Sherwood, as the young doctor-hero cf the play, and Frances lieague. “Wild Justice” commences at the King’s Theatre to-night. A gazette and comedy are the sunports, and they will be enhanced bv music by cue orchestra. HIS MAJESTY’S THEATRE. The Veterans of Variety head tliis week’s entertainment at His Majesty's Theatre, and charm the audience with their old-fashioned songs and humour. Mr. G. Campbell leads off with "The .Man Who Broke the Bank at Monte Carlo,” Miss Florence Hinton sings pleasingly, “Good-Bye, Mignonette," and Miss Lily Burnand, "Two Little Girls in Blue.” Mr. Arthur Slater captivates ills audience witli his "Whistling Bowery Boy," while Mr. Jake Friedman, burlesque comedian, keeps the audience in roars of laughter by frivolling through an imaginative opera, in which he impersonates ail the characters, chorus, ballet, and conductor, most comically. In the first half, Miss Rayna, contralto, is a dainty Russian singer, who meets with the approval of tiie audience. Miss Robe Kesslova, tiie gipsy violinist, gives a talented performance, and Drew and Romaine sing and patter amusingly. Lorna, Lance, and Company provide a clever music turn, while Signor Palmetto, Danish tenor; is heard to’ advantage in several well received numbers. DE LUXE THEATRE. “Watch Your Wife,” a Universal-Jewel production, starring Pat O’Malley and Virginia Valli, will bend the programme at the De Luxe Theatre to-nigl t. Pat O'Malley plays an author with no oilier thought but’for his work. Miss Valli is his wife who, as the picture opens,-seeks to tear him from Ids typewriter in order that they may not lie late for (lie theatre. Hence the quarrel. Following this there are frequent quarrels between the two. A divorce results. Much comedy comes out of entanglements that follow, helped along by the well-meant but misplaced efforts of a lawyer. “Watch Your Wife” has been staged in a most lavish manner. Among the players arc Helen Lee Worthing, Nat Carr, Albert Conti, Aggie Herring, and Nora. Hayden. There are to he gooil supports and incidental music by the orchestra. QUEEN'S THEATRE. Heralded as remarkable in story and gorgeously enacted, in settings and backgrounds of exceptional splenitour, “Hell’s Four Hundred." a Fox attraction, is to open a week's season at the Queen’s Theatre to-night. It Is an adaptation of Vaughan Kester's powerful novel. "Tiie Just, and tiie Uniust.” which tells in fascinating manner of a. little cabaret entertainer caught in tiie whirlpool <>i Broadwav. Instilled witli the desire for luxury, she decides to get it in the easiest wav. and decides to “marrv money.” The drama of her disillusionment should make for an intensely human picture. .A flue cast lias been assembled, in support of .Margaret Livingston, the principal. In it is Harrison Ford. Wallace McDonald 1 Henrv Kollter ami Marceline Day. A well selected supportin'- programme is to bo a feature, while the orchestra will lie | beard in a fine programme. There will be a matinee to-morrow afternoon at 2.50.

The box plan will be at, the Bristol uutil 530 daily (noon on Saturday), and after at the. theatre, or scats may be reserved by ringing telephone 22—212.

YMC.A. GYMNASIUM CABNIVAL. The’ spectacular aspect cf massed physical culture and gymnastic work is one that has an’ instant appeal to every member of the community The grace nnd beantv of human motion is seldom more exemplified than in a performance such will he produced and shown by the well known physical expert Mr. J. \ Duffy, and 350 members of the Wcllinrton Y.M.C.A. Central Gymnasium, at the’ Grand Opera House next Saturday nnd Monday nights. The past performances of the Wellington I Gym. liaie always drawn crowded houses and are now well known. The combination ineludes 350 nienibers from the mens, Indies boys' and girls’ classes, each seclion being skilled in its own particular work Altogether 22 items will be prescnled and the physical director has guaranteed that from the time the eiirtiin Vises to the finale, the stage will not be vneanl on any period for more than 36 seconds, nor will there be a dull moment. Bis Excellency the GovernorGeneral will attend tne carnival on Saturday night His Worship the Mayor and Lady Mayoress will be present, on Mouday. ' The box nlau is at the Bristol.