ENTERTAINMENTS

Evening Post, Volume CX, Issue 122, 20 November 1930, Page 5

ENTERTAINMENTS

PARAMOUNT THEATRE. "The Cuckoos," : at the Paramount Theatre, has'proved so-p opular that the season lias ljeen extended tor one week. Its spectacular dauce and chorus numbers, technlcolour sequences, and song and dance features make ii .splendid musical comedy. Robert Woolsey and Bert Wlieeley dominate the film with their uproarious comedy. Onp of these two has fallen in love with Anita, aiT American who has lived with a band of-gipsies, and Julius, leader of Hie baud, swears he will, kill the pair, of quack American mystics, Baron' de Camp wishes to marry Ruth Chester, who has been brought there by her aunt, Fannie Furst, to separate Ruth from Billy Shannon, an aviator. The climax is an amusing one. ST.-JAMES THEATRE. "Under the Texas Moon" will finish its Wellington season at the St. James Theatre tonight. The. story of Don Carlos, the handsome Spanish devil-may-care. Is excellently presented by Frank Fay In- the principal role, and a largo cast of players. The supporting subjects "«re distinctly pleasing. "Show Girl in Hollywood," to be shown at "in St. James Theatre to-morrow, is said to <ell the truth, and nothing but the truth, concerning the vicissitudes which beset a girl who seeks her fortune in the studios —the land of allurement, of foibles, hopes, heartbreaks, tinsel, and sometimes thrilling comedy. This singing, talking musical romance is said, to strike a new note in screen plays, and It Includes some of the most gorgeous scenes ever photographed in technicolour. A' striking feature is the'strength of the cast of actors-and actresses concerned in the portrayal of this "play within a play." Popular Jack Mulhail, as the hero, has scored v distinct success, while Blanche Sweet is stated to have won, at this, her first attempt in talkies, the high popularity she enjoyed on the silent, screen. iFord Sterling has a strong part, and .John Miljan, the fine actor with the unusually good speaking voice, is tho "noavy villain" of. the piece. Alice White- shows in a most important role and there is an auxiliary cast which rims well on to the hundreds. An especially worthy selection- of featurettes will form tho first part of the programme. . Box plans are at the Bristol and early application for seats is advisable. REGENT THEATRE. "Alf's Button" screens finally at the Regent Theatre to-night. Alf is busy polishing a button on his tunic at a rest camp. To the aecomotr'lment of a sound of thunder, a Djinn appears, and explains that ha is one of the slaves uf Aladdin'? lamp, which has since Keen melted down to make hnt'ons for soldiers. Thereafter Alf and his friend Bill :ire figuratively in clover. "STRICTLY UNCONVENTIONAL." "Strictly Unconventional." Metro-Goldvryn-Mayer's all-talking adaptation of W. Somerset Maugham's stage success, "The Circle," will open to-morrow at the Regent Theatre, with -a i-ast which includes Lewis Stone, Catherine Dale Owen, Ernest Torrence,, Alison Skipworth, Tyrrell Davis. Mary Forbes, and the English actor, Paul Cavanagh. The story, which has been called a classic of satire, depicts the amusing recurrence of a domestic situation in the second generation of an aristocratic English family. A woman deserts her son to run away with a man whom she loves more than her husband, and returns"thirty years later to find that the wife of. her son contemplates , a similar procedure because her husband is more ' interested in antique furniture than in her charms. The. value of this travesty on marriage and divorce is said to rest on the highly • musing .characterisations of: the various inviivlduals of the two'generations as-well, as on Maugham's brilliant dialogue. Particular pains had to ■ be' taken" in constructing the sets for "Strictly. Unconventional," inasmuch as most of the. action takes place in the interior of ■ the Champion-Cheyney home, which ■ places it.in constant scrutiny of the audience, necessitating the utmost- attention in regard to detail as well as .in getting the correct environment lor the home, surroundings of tho British nobility. Other attractive settings include a bridal path through' a forest and a formal sunken sarden on the estate. Advance reports of this picture have it that, the combination of tho marriage , burlesque situations, the extremely clever: characterisations, and the brilliant dialogue make it stand out. as one of the worthier efforts, of the screen.. QUEEN'S THEATRE. "Hish Treason" screens finally at the-Queen's Theatre to-night.- ■ "The Trial of Mary Dugan," an all-dialogue screen version of Bayard Veillers stage success of the same name, .opens a popular-priced return season to-morrow night at, the Queen's Theatre. Directed by Veiller himself, the film retains all of the demerits that made the drama a world-wide hit.- Box.pls.ns are'available at tho 8ri5t01....--. KING'S THEATRE. "So This Is .London," starring Will Rogers, ■nill be shown finally at the King's Theatre to-night. ..',•. Commencing to-morrow, a Fox Movietone musical romance, "The.Gay Caballcro," from the1 story "One Mad Kiss," will be the attraction at the King's ..Theatre.,, This production serves to introduce to the screen a scintillating new star.. Don Jose Mojito.. He is said to have a lyric, t/lior ■ voice, magnetic personality, and .good.Jooks, that, establish him as perhaps the handsomest man ou the screen to-day. There are a dozen songs, including ■ several typical . Spanish numbers written by Mojica and Troy Sanders. Songs which seem1 certain of popularity-are "One Mad Kiss." "Oh! Whero Arc You," and "Behind the Mask." KILBIRNIE KINEMA. "The Delightful' Rogue." an all-talking Radio picture, featuring Rod La Itocque, which comes to the Kilbirnie Theatre to-night, presents; a pirate ship -. with machine-guns. Automatic guns,: tear bombs, and a mate in an immaculate dress uniform supplant the type of pirates and their arms Howard Pyle made famous, on"The Golden Rule," the stolen yacht, in which La Rocque, as Lastro, the Latin bandit, preys on ; a tiny group of tropical Isles. Excellent- sound featurettes: will also be screened. Keserve at' theatre .and Bristol. ARTCRAFT THEATRE. "The Storm,"' starring Lupe Velez and William Boyd, is" being shown at the Artcraft Theatre. The story'deals with the love of two men for one woman, tho three being marooned in a : cabin during the winter. It is featured by natural effects, including an avalanche, :a blizzard, and the shooting .of the rapids of a.raging, river by canoe. When it is revealed that the woman really lores one of the men, the other walks off alone into the blizzard. . There are good supports. . SHORTT'S THEATRE. "Woman to Woman" is screening N at. Shortt's Theatre. The story deals with an English officer, who falls in lore with a cafe dancer,1 but loses his memory, and marries someone else. A child Is born to his Parisian sweetheart,-but be does not find out till. years later, which forms the rlimar of the film. The leading, roles in this picture are- played 'by- Betty Compsen,' George Barraud, and • Juliette. Cqmpton. There are good supports. BRITANNIA THEATRE. Lape Velez sings a, delightful little song, "Chansonette of Pierrot and Pierrette," in "The Sto^n," at tho Britannia Theatre. Tho story deals with the eternal triangle of two men and a: girl who aro snowbound In a cabin in the wilderness of western Canada. Paul Cavanagh and William-Boyd are featured, and Alphonz Ethlcr and Ernie SI Adams also have important parts. There arcgood supports. REGAL THEATRE. KARORI. "Strange ■ Cargo" is showing at the Regal Theatre. The story deals with a man who invites guests for a cruise upon his yacht and then tries to forco his attentions upon one of the lady guests. Ho is later murdered and the most mysterious happenings occur. Charges and counter charges are levelled and the nlimas is exciting. A Mickey Mouse cartoon ts included in the programme.- "The Unholy Night" will'be shown on Friday and' Saturday, 'bat at-a children's special matinee- on Saturday Jackie Coogan will be seen in "Johnny, Get' Your Hair. Cut." OUR THEATRE, NEWTOWN. "Night Parade," Radio Pictures' all-talking drama, featuring Hugh Trevor and Dorothy Gulliver, is showing at Our . Theatre. The theme has to dp with a young boxing champion,' who is the idol of the world and the object of devotion, on the part of■ his father. A plot is hatched which threatens the love, honour, and standing of Bobby Murray, played by Hugh Trevor. .How it works.out forms strong drama. There are excellent sound supports. ; . NEW PRINCESS THEATRE. "Slightly Scarlet," featuring Evelyn Brent *nd Clive Brook, is the principal picture at the New Princess Theatre. In addition, there nre audible short features, a comedy, newsreel, and a further episode of the "Jado Box" serial. HEW aUALITY THEATRE, ISLAND BAY. "The Unholy Night".will have its last showing at the New Quality Theatre to-night. It centres . around the gradual elimination ■by murder of ■ the surviving officers of a famous British regiment, and features a cast of eighteen famous stage and screen stars. There aro excellent supporting featurettes. "On With the Show,", a technicolour production, commences to-morrow night. EMPIRE THEATRE, ISLAND BAY. "Blackmail," at the Empire Theatre,: concerns a girl who meets a handsome stranger, who discloses his intentions in his flat. A blackmailer turns to the girl and her lover, a detective, who is assigned the case. He succeeds temporarily in gaining his end, but a new witness goes to Scotland Yard, and they discover him to be a blackmailer wanted on several charges. He is brought to bay, but falls through the roof of the British Museum. SEASIDE PICTURES, LYALL BAY. "The Virginian." starring Gary Cooper, Richard. Arlen, and Mary Brian, will be screened at the Seaside Pictures, Lyall Bay, to-night. The story is an outdoor romance of the early pjou'eer days, and there are .many thrilling- and spectacular scenes. A comedy, "When Caesar Kan A- Newspaper," find a cartoon, "I've Got Rings On My Fingers," will. also be. screened, Scats may'lfO reserved ' by telephone.

MAJESTIC THEATRE. "Rich People" screens finally .at.-the..Ma-jestic ■ Theatre to-night. Constance Bennetts performance •of the rich girl who determines to marry Kegis Twooniey; a poor man, with or without his consent, delights her audiences.Dorothy Mackalll, the English .ictrcss, who has made "good In pictures-lu America, and who created a decidedly favourable impression when last seen here in "The 'Flirting Widow," will reappear to-morrow evening at the Majestic Theatre as tho star player in "Strictly Modern," an all-talking play that is said to bubble, over with comedy dialogue and laughter-creating .situations. The story deals with the efforts of an ultra-modern woman . writer of -novels, to live up to her stories in real life. .She tries to-make other people mould their lives from her boole characters Instead of< taking, fiction from life, and everything and everybody thereafter get lno a highly exciting and comical muddle. Hie pa. cularly strong coterie of players responsible for the principal characters includes Sidney Blankner, who will be seen for the first time In Wellington and who brings will him in excellent reputation. Warner Richmond, Julian Johnston, Micky Bennett and CaUierrao Clairo Ward. The story of "Strictly Modern is based on the successful stage play Cousin Kate," which is credited with a run of eighteen months in New York. Five special!} selected sound novelties will be screened beture the main feature. The usual ate shoppers session will commence at. 5 o'clock to-morrow and finish at 7 p.m. Box plans are at the Bristol, and also at the theatre. GRAND OPERA HOUSE. "They Learned About Women," at the-Grand Opera House, will conclude Us session to-night. Charming Bessie Love gives an admirable portrayal of a girl who. is loved by. two friends. HUMPHREY BISHOP COMPANY TO-MORROW. Commencing to-morrow evening at the Grand Opera House, Wellington will fall into line with the latest, development in the amusement world in Eugland, America, and Australia, by providing a flesh and blood show in conjunction with a featured talkie. A northern daily, commenting on the present company, says, n would be very difficult to imagine a more capable combination with which to Inaugurate the new type of entertainment than the Humphrey fflshop Company. - These clever people are old friends. "Under the direction of their gifted leader they have built up a reputation of which any company might be proud, and the label 'Humphrey Bishop1 has become synchronous with good entertainment. The personnel may change a little at each visit, but the quality remains as high as ever. • Last night several of the old-favourites were seen again and some new performers were mc udefl. All did their best to uphold the prestige of the company, and succeded" admirably. A-feature of the entertainment was the happy way in which a I worked together, and »%. ex(*'?"' snap, sparkle, and speed with which the show proceeded. This, of course, was due to the personality and leadership of Mr. Humphrey Bishop, who .welded his force Into a very complete whole. The dressing was charming, the lighting very effective, and nothing was left undone to make the entertainment a success, where as again Mr. Humphrey Bishop has justified his reputation." The box plans are now open at the Bristol and the Berkeley. DE LUXE THEATRE. "Loose Ends," now at the Do Luxe Theatre, has had its season extended until Tuesday next It is a controversial and original film, fuil "of excellent entertainment and some iood for thought. Famous' figures' of English stage and screen, such as Owen Kares, idna Best. Adrianno Allen. Miles Mander, and Donald CalthTp, form the cast. The seaond production is "Not So Quiet on the Western Front." It is a burlesque of wartime experiences. Ihe characters are soldiers and Trench girls, but that is practically all this ' hilarious comedy has t° do with the war. There are, some bright songs and dancing., England's favourite comedian, Leslie Fuller, has the principal role and he is well supported by a superlative comp.mj. A. British gazette and Wurlitzer organ selections complete a fine programme.. CAPITOL THEATRE, MIRAMAR. "Lovin* the Ladies" concludes its season at the Capitol Theatre to-night. "The Iwb Parade," a brilliant screen operetta starring Maurice Chevalier, supported bj fl e»*| Mac Donald, Lupino Lane and L.l liar.Roth commences to-morrow night. Jumoi Coghlan in "Marked Money" will be shown at the Saturday matinee. JOY NIGHT No. 10. ■ The matrons and inmates of the various homes vhere sick and orphan children are kept will be looking forward to the result of the commercial travellers'" "joy-night" effort on l"Uaj ni"ht, and by present indications they will not be disappointed. The commercial travellers are disposing of tickets throughout the Dominion all being armed with substantial quantities, and the sales of tickets are reported as excellent. There will be plenty of room for dancing awi amusement at'the Town Hall on.Friday night, as all available parts, of'the building have been secured and everything has been done to make the night an enjoyable one. Joy-Aignt deserves to be well patronised, as it is for a weildeserving cause. SCHOOL ENTERTAINMENT. The annual, concert, given in the Concert Chamber of the Town. Hall last, night by the. boys of the "Star of tho Sea" Preparatory College was a delightful entertainment. The large audience was most appreciative, and the juvenile performers plainly showed that the young >-ew Zealanders could hold their own on the concert platform as well as on the playflclds. The musical items—piano and violin —which, were all memorised,-were given with artistry and finish. Songs, solos, duets, and choruses wore sweetly and. tunefully rendered. A display of' physical culture gave proof ot Captain Iluffy's. skill as instructor. The Japanese Jantasia gave a charming and vivid picture.of most graceful eurhythmies. A playette "Molly and .the Milliner," acted by four small boys, evoked hearty laughter. ORPHEUS CONCERT TO-NIGHT. " The final practices for "Merrio England." to i be given by the Orpheus Musical boclety m the Y.W.C.A Hall this evening, were held last evening, and show that a very fine and enjoyable performance is assured, there are some very tuneful numbers in this opera, probably the best known being the baritone solo by Essex, "The Yeomen of England," which eminently suits Mr. Blow's robust voice. .In delightful contrast to this number is the contralto solo, "0 Peaceful England," sung .by Mrs. E. J. Coppock (nee Miss Lily Maelue), who is cast for the part of Queen Elizabeth. Mr. Vf. Hoy niU is sustaining the tenor role of Sir Walter Raleigh.- His numbers will include "The English Kosc," a particularly delightful one. Mrs. Alice Harris is the soprano soloist (Bessie-maid to the Queen), and hei clear, sweet voice will bo- heard: in the wellkiicVn waltz song, "Who Shall Say That Love is Cruel?" The chorus-work is well up to the high standard- already set by the Orpheus under Mr. Harison. Cook, and with those able accompanists, Miss Hazel Kowe and Mr. H. i.. Brusey, the success of the performance; is assured.- Owing to copyright restrictions, the > concert will not be broadcasted.' The box plan is at the Bristol.