ENTERTAINMENTS

Dominion, Volume 22, Issue 70, 15 December 1928, Page 6

ENTERTAINMENTS

REGENT THEATRE. A unique vaudeville turn entitled •‘Dancing nays," staged by a company ol Continental artists, made a first appearance at the Regent Thealre last inght, and created an instantaneous hit with a welltilled house. The company included a iazz band ot twelve peri ormers, two Continental dancers, a bright ba let ot seven frim the J. C- Williamson’s Theatres, Australia, and a singer ot dainty songs, tn a lavish stage setting baud and ballet were first heard and seen in "Rag Pollthe successor to the "Doll Dance,” which was a particularly vivacious perlorniiiuee. Porter aud Carue, Hie Continental dancers, charmed and delighted the big house with rlipir novel and eccentric steps in tlieir . mibpr “Crazy Words, Crazy Tunes. Ba d mid ballet made distinct hits in the ballet, "Side by Side" mid "Down. Kentucky way." Stella Lamonde, who possesses a light voice of rare eliariu, scored instantaneous successes with her numbers 'l' ll Be 1 , ll !“ l , !l Grand and Glorious heeling, and Ihat s \IV Weakness Now.” So acceptably ''e> e ihese sprightly songs submitted Ilia Miss Lamonde had to respond to bc'cial t<nils The whole turn was lull of colour and brightness, and was thoroughly miioved "Dancing Days," in this era ol hm, should enjoy a most popular rim. it is the very essence of jazz, and the whole cuinpanv, baud, bullet, and soloists, enter into the colourful perlorniance with beau and soul. The master ot ceremonies, Lester Sinclair, is not only an able conductor, but a vocalist of merit. „ His singing of "Laugh. Clown, Laugh, was one of the best tilings of the evening. The outstanding feature on the picture section of Hie new programme was a big Paramount drama, "Forgotten laces, which tells how a crook takes 1H ? "“a" 1 . ,laughter from his degraded wife mid leaves her on the doorsteps of a w-ealthy family. Years later the vengeful wife traces the whereabouts of her daughtir, but the father obtains a position as butler in the wealthv home, and frustrates all Mforts" of bis ’wife to meet the da ugh er. who lias been adopted by the wealthy rn.nilv After a sequence of the most ex?llverlv?XtHieted story. A I'aramomit IS,™” orXs'tral attractive programme at -A re noon, of Harold Lloyd ’■ • lw " “speedy” hat.

n H^l O l?>vd’s O l Y ggeM comedy "success. .. c Ha o r ,?v ” win >e the Christmas attraction in conjunction with the accom. stage I’ r “ c, !J, i . l / p lo ;. I llil < ; i n r en are being speciillv‘?Xed o’r P during "he afternoon sesC wfith a festival l—me L ttl< lish dame, better s,nc \ v<if “SDPedv vcar-old boy wonder, Little A .it. 1 novel. Ami iiXg more could be asked ~a"S aiiTa ton’’of laughs in this one The king of mirth will give yon Ml ] H e thrills and laughs you will wan : this ) ar. TTurnld KIIOWS the UTOWd <1 fLW ’ Li a s'-rap gives yon the time of yotW Me at Conev Island. America's tamed amusement park, and shows you how to mala love between laughs. Funnier and spee>Mr. mid peppier than any picture Harold Lloj d C^. i sti? d i e s Hw°demu’e mi'dl-retty lemllng ladv that Harold lias with him this time. The plans will open far Tuesday next at the theatre and Bristol.

DE LUXE THEATRE. Everything that can be desired for the makings of a wonderful programme is contained In the new bill at the De -Luxe Theatre this week. From start to finiim there'is not one dull moment, the films being of the best and the music beaut it . The orchestra has been strengthen ed by the addition of Mr. H. G. Glaysher, a harpist of exceptional abilitj. It is sur prising to hear the difference this silyrtoneil instrument makes to the orehesti i which is now better than ever. !■ or tin overture last night, the orchestra, undei the aide direction of Mr. Emanuel t Aarons. was heard in a selection from M gnon, which was cnthiisiastteally applauded. Ih entr'acte was the ever-popular “Barcarolle from the "Tales of Hoffman, in '}hiHi the harp accompaniment was beaiitifullv nlaved. An interesting gazette opened tin picture programme and was followed by a most interesting picture showing episode, from the life of Balfe, the famous composer. More than amusing was a corned? starring “Snookunis," the <l' ialnt .p l '' l ' actor whose antics never fail to Please There was also a cartoon, the musical effects for which were rendered on the Wurlitzer organ by .Mr. Aarons. Last, but not least, was “Home, James, the latest offering ot that piquant Universal star. Laura La Plante. She is seen as Laura Elliot, a small-town artist, who goes to New York, partly tg win fame, and partly to get awav from her boring, stilt-necked step-mother, and deplorably plain stepsister. The latter says that pretty girls should not go to New York alone for you never know what was going to happen to them. Laura does not make a success of art, but earns a position In the art counter of a department store—and the hatred of the floor walker. After being caught in the rain one night she falls in love with the son of the owner of the store. Her step-relations, believing her letters regarding her success in the world of painting, decide to come to town, and arrive just in time to see her going into a wonderful limousine. They dash after her and demand to be taken to her home. She is in a quandary, but the supposed chauffeur helps her out and takes her to his mansion, where the guests are entertained. Laura, her little brain in a whirl, thinking she might as well be killed for a sheep as for a lamb, blindly follows her Jim’s directions and keeps up the deception Meanwhile Jim's father arrives home •ind then the fun starts. This is undoubtedly one of . Miss La Plante's best films, and her supporting cast, including Charles Delaney, and George Pearce, are quite up to the standard demanded for the picture There will be a matinee to-day.

STRAND THEATRE. Vivid, unforgettable scenes of martial history joined with a love story of poignant tenderness make “Two Lovers.” the film which opened at the Strand Theatre yesterday, a really brilliant farewell appearance for the co-starring team of Ronald Colman and Vilma Banky “Two Lovers” is an adaptation by Alice Miller from the famous Baroness Orezy’s novel “Leatherface.” Vilma Banky is entrancing as “the flower of Spain.” As the niece of the barbaric, scheming Duke of Ayar. she is forced into marriage with Mark Van Pycko. son of file High Bailiff of Ghent. ' This marriage seems intended to pacify relations between tlie opposing countries, but its real aim is to provide Lenora (Miss Banky.) facilities for spying. Her forecd marriage is made doubly unhappy, soon after, when she learns that her real sweetheart lias been murdered bv tlie unknown Leatherfaee, and her embittered spying yields a list of tlie names of the conspirators who are plotting to oust tlie hated Spaniards from their beloved Flanders. How she discovers tlie identity of Leatherfaee. how she eventually comes to. love tier husband Mark (Ronald Colman), and how she makes a desperate and successful effort to give the Flemish their freedom from the Spanish whom she represented— all. this is told in a series of colourful, swift-moving. - and charming passages. The dramatic and important events are in strict sequence, and the action is never halted for any extraneous spectacular episodes, the love scenes fitting in especially well, and with line restraint. The acting of Ronald Colman and Vilma Banky is beyond reproach, and tlie two stars have never been seen to better advantage than in tin’s their latest and last picture together. Paul Lukas. Nigel de Brulier, and Eugenie Bcsserer do excellent work in tlie character roles —exceeded only by the brilliantly sinister interpretation of Noah Beery as the butchering Duke of Ayar. Tlie supporting programme is a well-chosen nnd wellvaried one. and appropriate music is excellently played by the Strand orchestra under the direction of Mr. Frank Crowther. PA RAMO U N T THEA TR E.

“Lost in the Arctic," tlie star feature on tlie Paramount Theatre's programme for tlie present week, which commenced last night, is one of tlie most notable offerings of tlie year. It forms a dramatic record of the Snows' Arctic Expedition, which resulted in tlie discovery of tlie fate which befell eight members of the Stefnnsson Expedition in 1913. Great photography brings all tlie awe-inspiring grandeur of the great white wastes where tlie lee king rules before one’s eyes. There are tlie storms, the blizzards, tlie great snowslides, and all ths birds, animals, and fishes which have their homes in the farthest north. They are not only seen—they are heard, for the picture Is a movietone accompaniment. Tlie camera nnd tlie microphone have given an amazing record of tlie hazardous life which brave men lead when they venture into tlie grand unknown. Amazing scenes in tlie picture show a party capturing alive a huge polar bear, which fought for one nnd three-quarter hours, and then lilt through four ropes. Tills animal, which weighed only a few pounds short of a lon was brought back safely, nnd is now in Oakland Zoo. Then there is a thrilling

walrus tight, and line snapshots of the greatest Ueniaens of the deep, and the gigantic kulcr whales. It is no makcbclitve; it is reality. Several times during the trip the camera leases were toon'.u bv the breath of the infuriated subject.. The supporting film is which has Sue Carol and Dai id Rollins leading Hie cast. The story centres around a "football feud which has three generations between two taniilits. The Paramount Orchestra, which is unde the baton of Mr. B. K. Caulton, renders an accompaniment which is both acceptable aud appropriate. QUEEN’S THEATRE. “Metropolis” is a master him. In this age of machinery we,may well ask whether ever a machine man will be ever made. On this theme the plot of "Metropolis, j'' l '*-* 1 commenced screening at the Queen s Iheatre last night, is built. The equipment toi the staging is most elaborate. Joseph MeElliott, iu the New York •'UMB’, ’ said: “A super city, in which the Moolworlli building would be dwarted, in " there is more life underground H au above, in which modern machinery, modern economic systems, would be considered primitive—is ‘Metropolis.’ The sets are the most astounding 1 have ever. seen, io describe them properiy is impossible. Huge buildings rise miles into the air; there aro streets on all levels for all kinds of traffic, the machines underground are as larg-e as our public library. One scene is particularly impressive. The master machine ot the city is let run loose during the revolt. Powerful electric discharges flash .back and forth, until the machine is destroyed—to the glee of the prancing mob. It seems' to me it would be wise for American studios to take lessons from U.F.A. For, from the technical viewpoint, this European company's methods are far ahead of any .seen in this .country.” The supporting picture is "The Adventurer,” starring Tim McCoy as Jim McClellan, the gold-mine manager, the hero of a South American revolution. Russians incite the people to seize the gold mine aud overthrow the Government. During the fighting Jim McClellan carries the mine president’s daughter to safety at tile mines. Sauiarolf, one of the. insurgents, searches the mine, but Jim passes off Dolores as his wife. One ot the hirelings, recognising her, advises her to intercede for her father with Tornado, the insurgent chief. The Tornado agrees to spare the father upon Dolores marrying him, but plans to have the father shot after the ceremony. McClellan, w’ho meanwhile has been gaoled, escapes, rescues Dolores, and informs the mine Guards. A surprise attack upon the revolutionists follows, during which the Tornado secures Dolores and escapes with her as his captive. McClellan again effects a rescue, and eventually marries the delightful Dolores. J. C. WILLIAMSON MUSICAL COMEDY. The season for the J. C. Williamson New .Musical Comedy Company, headed by the popular London star, Annie Croft, will be ojiened at the Grand Opera House on Boxing Day (December 2G) with a matinee. The opening production is the latest London musical success, “The Girl Friend,” which will be followed by "Hit the Deck.” Annie Croft conies to Wellington at Hie height of her career. ' Sydney and Melbourne theatre-goers spoke in the highest terms of lier acting. She scored an instantaneous success and established herself as one of the most popular actresses seen for many a day. The eompanv supporting her includes Reginald Sharland aud Leo Franklyn, both of whom come with London reputations as firstrate comedians. Les Donaghey, Jack Dunne, Gus Bluett, May Beatty, aud her daughter Bunny, James Hughes, Mary Rigby, Winnie Tate, are others in tlie cast, and the fascinating chorus and ballot of Australian youth and beauty. Of "The Girl Friend” a Sydney critic says: ‘‘Plainly, Hie nice things said about ‘The Giri Friend’ preceded her to Sydney. It is full of amiable qualities. First, of course, is Annie Croft, graceful, tall, and most divinely fair.” Of "Hit the Deck the critics also said many nice things. This play is something in musical comedv that is really new, for it is a naval musical play Hint lias a story written around the many (alleged) sweethearts that a sailor has—one in every port. Both productions will be staged complete in everv detail as in Sydney and Melbourne. The * box plans will be opened on I’nuay morning next at the Bristol.

“THE MESSIAH.” Handel’s immortal masterpiece. The Messiah,” is to be given in the Town Hall to-night at S by tlie Royal Wellington Choral Union, under the direction of Mr. John Bishop. The performance promises to rival some of the best concerts tlie union lias given. Last evening tlie chorus and orchestra of 300 performers rehearsed tlie oratorio at tlie Town Hall. Their regard to the finer points of music showed that Mr. Bishop’s coaching has -iven them an artistic conception ot the great work, and it is little wonder that the musical director expressed satisfaction at the excellence of the final rehearsal. The soloists taking part are: Soprano, Mi<s Christian Ormiston; contralto. .Miss Mina Caldow; tenor. Mr. Hubert Carter; and baritone, Mr. William M afters. The doors will be opened at 7.10 p.m.. and the performance conclude about 10.1 a. lire box plan can lie inspected at tlie .Bristol till noon to-day, where 2s. tickets will also be available.

ORGAN RECITAL. Mr Bernard F. Page (city organist) will give liis weekly organ recital at tlie Town Hall to-morrow evening. Tlie programme lias been arranged as follows:—Choral Prelude by Bach; First Movement from 1-ittti Symphony in C Minor (Op. 67) by Beethoven; (a’) Kccit du Peeheiir (The Fisherman’s Song). (I'l Pantomime by Manuel de Falla: Psvehological Poem by Reblkoff; (a) Lento and (b) Andontlno in E Flat by Cesar Franck; Tocfata iu F by Cesar Franck.