CURRENT ENTERTAINMENTS

Evening Post, Volume CXXIV, Issue 15, 17 July 1937, Page 7

CURRENT ENTERTAINMENTS

REGENT THEATRE. Seldom have such beautiful photography, interesting "shots" of Mature in its wildest form, and dramatic in : ; cident been combined in one film as in; Flaherty and Korda's uniauo produc-' tion, "Elephant Boy," which is now, showing at the Resent Theatre. Kip-i ling's immortal hero of the jungle be-, comes reality, and not even Kipling' could cavil at the selection of the boy, who filled the part so well and his; friend, the giant elephant Kala Nac. j The story opens in a jungle village. | Peterson Sahib, who is employed by the i Government to trap wild elephants, is j about to set1 out on a great drive in the, wild country to the north. Toomai s overwhelming ambition is to be an elephant hunter, and he sees his chance ■ j when Peterson Sahib selects his father s . elephant Kala Nag to go on the hunt. | Toomai, who has lost his mother, pleads j to go and is allowed. For six weeks; the hunters search for the elephants, | but are not rewarded by even the sign , of recent spoor. Then Toomai s father is killed by a tiger. Toomai is to be sent home, but Kala Nag, enraged by the maltreatment of another hunter, runs amuck, injuring that hunter and breaking down half of the camp. Peterson is about to shoot Kala Nag, when, in one of the most dramatic incidents of the film. ■ the small boy stands in the way of the charging beast stops it, and pacifies it. Fearing that KaJa Nag will be shot, Toomai steals away with his elephant friend during the night and crosses the big river. He discovers the wild herd and sees the herd fulfil the old prophecy -Not till the elephants dance." The final.scene when the boy is acclaimed 'Toomai of the Elephants," is a fitting nlimax. There are excellent supports. MAJESTIC THEATRE. "The Show Goes On," Gracie Fields's latest musical picture, continues to. attract big houses to the Majestic Theatre. The famous British actress is at her best in comedy, song, and dance, and she is supported by a strong cast. The story is said to be based on the life-story of the star, with all its sacrifices and the final triumph. Certain it is that Gracie Fields plays an entirely sympathetic part with "fine conviction. The part of Mac, the man whom she loves, and with whom she quarrels when their ambitions clash, is well taken by John Stuart, talented English actor. Owen Nares takes the part of Martin Fraser, the musician who first finds Sally (Gracie Fields) in a pierrot show, and who trains her to sing his melodies. It is his faith in the ability of English audiences to appreicate good music, and his will to struggle 011 though afflicted with an incurable disease, that paves the way to Sally's success. As his pianist, and Sally's partner on the stage, Cyril Ritchard also gives a convincing performance. Others worthy of note are Edward Rigby and Amy Veness. as Sally's lather and mother.. Arthur Sinclair, as. her manager, Horace Hodges, as a broken-down old actor. and Tom Payne, as Professor Augistino. On the same programme are a fine Australian featurette, "Conquest," newsreels, and a Pete Smith oddity on trotting horses.' ST. JAMES THEATRE. "A Family Affair," starring that grand old man of the American stage and screen, Lionel Barrymore, is now showing at St. James Theatre. "A Family Affair" is not a flimsily-con-structed domestic trifle. It is a gripping and thrilling play.in which Barrymore, as Judge Hardy, is opposed by the whole of the 25,000 members of his town as well as his family, because he upholds the law and will not allow an engineering project, which he sees may prove harmful to the .community, to go through. The little town, in which Barrymore is judge, is a peaceful and pretty little place, and when a company of engineers start talking, about harnessing the waters of the river for a big new aqueduct, Judge Hardy realises that they may . be. "given an inch" and they will soon divert all power from the valley, and, having no power, the mills and power plants will be useless. But the j.udge, in opposing the organisers of the aqueduct project, finds that he opposes his own family, for they seem to have matters of life and death depending on the construction of the aqueduct. Then the project organisers threaten the iudge with scandal if he does not give them the order enabling them to start work Matters become serious, but at the climax the judge, mounting his own election platform, changes all his hearers over to his side by disclosing that the aqueduct project is illegal and harmful to the community. Lionel Barrymore is supported by Julie Haydon.and Mick Rooney. NEW PARAMOUNT. Double-feature programmes have to be well balanced if they are tp avoid becoming ■ tiresome. It was balance in the New Paramount Theatre bill last evening that made the opening of "Once a Doctor" and "Mind Your Own Business" so enjoyaljle; and the supporting programme added the right savour. "Once a Doctor," which heads the selections, is tragic in its way, but-is excellent melodrama. A promising young surgeon, used to covering up the misdoings of a fellow-doc-tor'- does so- once too often and is put out of the profession in disgrace; but 'under the cloak of a "male nurse" he is able to carry on the profession he intended to give his. life to. But he is found out, and when an operation . that not one doctor in a thousand could have performed is not successful he goes to gaol. There is a fine, climax, at sea. Jean Mu'.r and Donald Woods are the stars. Charlie Ruggles has the hilarious part of an inadvertent scandal columnist in "Mind Your Own Business." He is the birds and bees editor, and when things are going (or have gone) wrong his wife (played by Alice Brady) takes a hand in his work, and he rises to uncomfortable notoriety and puts gangland on the chase. It is bright comedy. ; KING'S THEATRE. A very fine double-feature bill is being shown at the King's Theatre. "The Great Barrier" will make instant appeal owing to its virility. The story is woven around the construction of the. Canadian Pacific Railway in the early eighties, one of the world s greatest engineering feats. The leading actors in it, Lilli Palmer, Antoinette Cellier, and Barry Mackay, together with the star of the production, Richard Arlen, and the director, Milton Rosmer, went to the Rockies for this picture. The whole enterprise of the building of the railway is threat ened through funds failing: a pass through the mountains must be found at all costs and at once unless the project is abandoned. The men working .on the railway are already indulging in mob violence, but the pass is found, and ultimately the railway is completed. A delightful romance is woven into the story. Associated with this feature is "Seventh Heaven," a more peaceful but very exquisite story. Itfeatures the French star Simone Simon as Dians and James Stewart as Chico. Chico is a Parisian sewer-man who hopes to rise to being a street washer. He rescues Diane from her evil sister and, to save trouble with the police, Jeclares her to be his wife. Away 'in a small room at the top of many stairs -hese two love and live. Chico achieves nis ambition, but is called away to i war, but he promises to return to Diane in spirit at a specified hour each day. Despite news of Chico's death, Diane continues to keep her tryst. • STATE THEATRE, PETONE. Grace Moore and Cary Grant star in "When You're in Love," which is now screening at the State Theatre. Miss Moore is glamorous as the beautiful girl who bought herself a husband in a Mexican gaol, wooed him with beautiful melodies .. . and won him in a carousing climax. The film is one of the finest Grace Moore has starred in. and her splendid voice has nc-ver been heard to better advantage. Well acted, well presented, and with an entrancing theme, the picture should appeal to even the most1 ' blase. "

CITY AND, SUBURBAN THEATRES

PLAZA THEATRE. With America's sensation-seeking newspaper world as a background, "Love is News," a particularly bright !and adventurous comedy, is now iscreening at the Plaza Theatre. An 1 unusually large number of stars take 1 part in the film, which has as its leaci- : ing figures Tyrone Power, as a news--1 paper reporter, and Lorctta Young, as ', a beautiful heiress of the sort that the '• American public loves to see marrying 'foreign counts. Romance and comedy I are skilfully interwoven, and the plot i moves at a fast pace. The story traces j the battle of wits between the young ,1 reporter and the heiress, two young people who are in love but do not know it Power, who has persistently j featured the heiress in his paper once I more puts her name into headlines i against her will, and as revenge she i announces her engagement to him, telli ing representatives of other papers What she has presented him with <J 1 million dollars. The young news-hawK then gets a taste of his own .medicine, and finds his life made miserable by hundreds of super-salesmen trying to sell him insurance, yachts, and luxurious motor-cars. As if that were not enough, he is almost continually tailing out with his bombastic editor, played by Don Ameche. The battle that rage.between the reporter and heiress gets them into many unfortunate situations, and on one occasion they end up together in gaol. Supporting players who give good performances include bum Summerville and Stepin Fetchit. Th\) short ' features include a traveloguo number, newsreels, and a cartoon. STATE THEATRE. A film which will undoubtedly be classed among the screen's great achievements of 1937, "Bulldog Drumin ond Escapes." the current attraction at the State Theatre, provides plenty of thrills, mystery, and suspense. Witn a cast including Ray Milland, Heather Angel, Sir Guy Standing, and Reginald Denny the acting is naturally of a high order and the story, which is not lacking in any respect, is one of "Sapper's" best. When Bulldog Drummond (Ray Milland) arrives 111 London, has his car stolen by a beautiful woman, finds a body on the roadside, and later discovers the lady's name and address on a visiting card left behind,'he immediately starts an investigation. He visits the old house at which the girl lives and is told that she is out of her mind. He meets the girl however, and learns that her socalled friends have murdered her brother and are keeping her prisoner in order to obtain possession of her inheritance. When Drummond's friendly rival, Inspector Nielson, of Scotland Yard (Sir Guy Standing) refuses to help him the young sleuth attempts to prove the, crooks guilty himself, and his methods provide many thrilling moments. The supporting programme is exceptionally good. NEW PRINCESS THEATRE. A brilliantly written, superbly acted, delightfully directed romantic comedy, Columbia's "Theodora Goes Wild. is now showing at the Princess Theatre. "Theodora Goes Wild" is screen entertainment which combines delightful nonsense with- a plausible story, scintillating performances by Irene Dunne, Melvyn Douglas, and a large supporting cast. The activities of a self-appointed cupid in the person of a romantic highschool girl who believes it her duty to find a wife for her widowed father, furnishes the comedy situations in "Make Way for- a Lady," which is the associate feature, with Herbert Marshall and Anne Shirley co-starred. standing among the featurettes is The Merry Mutineers," a beautiful colour cartoon. " ' ''*■''' KILBIRNIE KIXEMA. For the first time, three of the most famous boys in motion pictures • are teamed in the same screen story. They are Freddie Bartholomew, Jackie Cooper, and Mickey Rooney. The new picture, "The Devil is a Sissy." based upon an original story by Rowland Brown, is now showing at the Kilbirnie Kinema. "The Devil is a Sissy" is the story of three boys who become inseparable pals and, strangely enough, features three boys who are boon companions in real life. One of those intensely human and altogether believable movie stories is "The Great O'Malley," with Pat O'Brien and- Humphrey ,Bogart in the stellar roles, the second attraction. In the supporting cast, are Ann Sheridan, Frieda Inescort, Donald Crisp, little Sybil Jason.- Henry O'Neill, and others. "The Great O'Malley" is a tale of conflict between Pat O'Brien, a hard-boiled cop, and Bogart, the toughest bad man of the screen. CAPITOL THEATRE. Dainty Deanna Durbin, brilliant and altogether charming personality, is featured in "Three Smart Girls, now showing at the Capitol Theatre. The plot is entirely new, and of a type which has an instant appeal. The- vibrant personality and charming soprano voice stamp the film as one well out of the ordinary. She is well supported by Binme Barnes, who has been a star of first magnitude for some years. Alice Brady, Ray Milland, Charles . Wmmnger. (of "Show Boat" fame), and Mischa Aver, who i= rising to stardom as a character and comedy actor. Fearlessly revealing the relentless go-getter methods of Fleet Street's "Murder Gang, a pack of "ace" crime reporters, headed by "Lone Wolf" Heaton. stop at nothing to get exclusive "behind-the-scenes stories to splash sensationally across their front pJJges, in "Sensation, the associate - feature. REGAL THEATRE, KARORI. "Anthony Adverse," starring Fredric March and Olivia de Havilland. is now showing at the Regal Theatre. The picture follows the romantic adventures of Anthony Adverse through five countries, across the seas, and over three continents. For mammoth sets, for colourful and picturesque backgrounds, for dynamic action, for the unusual characterisation of its tremendous cast from Fredric March, the star, down, to the smallest bit player, for the glamour of its romance, its human interest, and sheer, unadulterated entertainment, this picture is unsurpassed. It has a tremendous cast, with 98 speaking parts and 2500 players and extras. Jeeves, that hilarious fictional character from the pen of P. G. Wodehouse, makes his advent on the screen in "Thank You, Jeeves," the second attraction. PALACE THEATRE, PETONE. "Hopalong Cassidy" fights a lone battle in Paramount's "Borderland," his latest screen adventure, which is now showing at the Palace Theatre. William Boyd rides the border alone to capture a notorious bandit. The success of a plan to trick the outlaw depends upon secrecy, and Cassidy. as an under-coyer man for the Texas Rangers, is unable to tell his pals about it. At one turn of the game he is forced to battle his bewildered saddle-mates. A jewel robbery, an excellent mystery story, and gay music arc contained in Para- | mount's "Hideaway Girl," the associate feature. GRAND THEATRE. PETONE. George Arliss in "His Lordship" is now showing at the Grand Theatre. Rene Ray and Romilly Lunge head the supporting cast. The story deals with the efforts of two Englishmen, who were mixed up in an affair in the Near East, to prevent the brother of one of them, Lord Duncaster, British Foreign Secretary, from plunging Britain into war with the Eastern Power. With the , theft of the world-famous "Mona 1 Bella" of Rembrandt as its motivating I them?, Columbia's "Woman in Dis,j tress." a fast-paced comedy-melodrama featuring May Robson, Irene Hervey, .'and Dean Jaggcr, is the second big feature. • " I

TIVOLI THEATRE. In far too few pictures has the world's greatest negro actor and singer. Paul Robeson, appeared. His latest starring vehicle can truly be said to be his greatest—the British Lion-Ham-mer triumph, "Song of Freedom," which is now showing at the Tivoh Theatre. The mighty drama of three continents gives Paul Robeson a unique opportunity of portraying his histrionic abilities on a scale never before seen in motion-picture entertainment. A galaxy of stars supports the great actor-singer, including Elisabeth Welch, Esme Percy, Joan Fred Emney. Ronald Simpson, and Jenny Dean, as well as hundreds of black, and white extras. Paul Robeson sings four new songs in this picture, which were specially written for him by Eric Ansell. They are "Lonely Road," "Song of Freedom." "Sleepy River," and "Stepping Stones." The piquant tale of a beautiful, temperamental heiress who knew what, or rather whom, she. wanted, but wouldn't admit it. and an ingenious and personable college boy whose very impudence broke the barrier she set up, is told in R.K.0.-Radio's mad comedy, "Walking On Air," with Raymond in the title role and Ann Sothern as an heiress, which is the second attraction. RIVOLI THEATRE. Merle Oberon and Brian Aherne present Hollywood's newest romantic team in Samuel Goldwyn's production "Beloved Enemy." a vivid drama of love under fire, which is now showing at the Rivoli Theatre. The story casts Brian and Merle as a man and woman from two warring worlds who fall madly in love and follows their romance, carried on under fire, with both risking their lives to snatch a few hours together. Against shifting backgrounds the story proceeds to a thrilling climax. Karen Morley, Henry Slephenson, Jerome Cowan, and David Niven are featured in the supporting cast, which includes Donald Crisp, Ra Hould, the New Zealand child actor, Jack Mulhall, Pat O'Malley, David Torrence, Wyndham Standing, and Theodore yon Eltz. "Beloved Enemy" was directed by H. C. Potter from a screenplay by John Balderston, Rose Franken, and William Brown Meloney, with additional dialogue by David Hertz. It is released through United Artists. The associate feature is "Polo Joe," starring Joe E. Brown. REX THEATRE. ' The fate of a pretty chorine, accused of murdering her husband, dangles by the slender thread of a sole woman's conviction that she should not hang in "We're on the Jury," co-starring Victor Moore and Helen Broderick. which is now showing at the. Rex Theatre. The comedians are supported by a strong cast. "Crash Donovan," which is the associate feature, is a fastmoving drama filled with intense excitement. Jack Holt portrays .a motorcycle officer who has to face, unusual dangers in performing his task. The part of the hard-boiled "cop" fits him splendidly. Nan Gray, winsome in the leading feminine role, is delightfully provocative as the girl who is loved by two different cycle patrolmen. SHORTTS THEATRE. The stories behind the gripping, headlines of today's newspapers; the jcy hauteur and snobbery of society's elite; the menace of the underworld —these things create the dramatic situations of the enthralling Fox picture. "My Marriage," which is now showing at Shortt's Theatre. With Claire Trevor in the leading role, it tells, of a girl who silently endured the ostracism and persecution of society because of the strange death of her father, but who uncovered secrets to win back the love of the man she loved. Kent Taylor plays opposite Miss Trevor. Tom Walls, Ralph Lynn, and Robertson Hare are seen in "Pot Luck," the second attraction. It is an irresponsible story of a retired Scotland Yard detective who endeavours to recover a valuable stolen vase. ROXY THEATRE. Exciting riding, bucking bronchos, trick roping, and beautiful photography make a perfect background for "Rainbow's End," Hoot Gibson's second starring picture for Film Distributors, which is now showing at the Roxy Theatre. It is a tale of clash of personalities and ambitions between father and son, with the father ably portrayed by Oscar Apfel, being shown the error of his ways by Hoot, which is quite a reversal of the usual father and son conflict. In "Mary Burns, Fugitive," the supporting picture, Sylvia Sidney is seen as a girl hunted by the law, a victim of circumstantial evidence. OUR THEATRE, NEWTOWN. The M.G.M. version of one of P. G. Wodehouse's most popular novels, "Piccadilly Jim," retaining all of the bright and entertaining humour of the original, is showing at Our Theatre. Robert Montgomery appears in the title role, and a stellar supporting cast includes Frank Morgan, Madge Evans, and Billie Burke. It is the story of a young American caricaturist in London who plunges into romantic difficulties by unknowingly burlesquing in a comic strip the family of the girl with whom he is in love. How an American "small-time racketeer" ' reacts to the refining influence of. British Army discipline provides the comedy highlights in "Sally of the Regiment," the second attraction. EMPIRE THEATRE, ISLAND BAY. "His Brother's Wife," produced by Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer, brings Barbara Stanwyck and Robert Taylor to the screen -in a spectacular romance, now showing at the Empire Theatre. Jean Hersholt is featured as a veteran explorer and adventurer in the far and dangerous places of the tropical jungle. Joseph Calleia scores in another of his suave bad-man roles. The daring story of a young scientist who ventures into the jungle to find the cure for a dread malady and returns to the realisation that the woman he loves is his brother's wife, provides a dramatic vehicle for these distinguished stars. The second attraction, "It's in ,he ,Alr'" starring Jack Benny, Ted Healy,. and Una Merkel, is. a roat of fun. SEASIDE THEATRE, LYALL BAY. There are very few pictures the dialogue of which is interrupted by applause or which end to the applause of audiences, but "Three Smart Girls," which is now showing at the Seaside Theatre, is one of those few. It is a delightful picture in every way in it^ appealing story of three girls who aridetermined to end their mother's unhappiness .and to separate, by th>greatest distance possible, their father and his gold-digging lady friend, in the extremely clever dialogue and in the splendid cast, headed by Charles Winninger. of "Show Boat" memory and brightened by Deanna Durbin a new star. Binnie Barnes and Alice Brady are also featured. "Sea Devils," the second attraction, starring Victor McLaglen, Preston Foster, and Ida Lupino, is a stirring story of courageous coastguard crews.

MONDAYS WRESTLING. Will the rugged aggressiveness 'of "King Kong" Cox be able to prevail against the coolly scientific mat work of Earl McCready? Wellington wrestling enthusiasts have been asking themselves this question ever since it was announced that McCready and Cox were to meet at the Town all on Monday. The settling of the controversy is bound to give rise to considerable cxciteinent. McCready has proved his qualities in New Zealand in three different seasons in the course of which he has met with only one defeat, a defeat which he subsequently avenged. In his matches this year he has shown that- he has new moves to bring into play, and also that he is leaner and faster. Another manner in which he has changed is in regard to his tactics, which are more elastic than before and result in his being prepared to answer unruly tactics in a fashion which the latter can readily understand. McCready's capabilities in this direction have not yet been tested to the full, but he will have an excellent chance to show what he can do when opposed by Cox. who has proved.to be one of the toughest wrestlers ever brought to this country. . There will be amateur preliminaries from 8 o'clock.

DE LUXE THEATRE, Two sharply-contrasted films fill the bill at the De Luxe Theatre this week, and both are of quality above the average. The chief attraction, the latest film made by the German producer Fritz Lang, who created "Fury," stars Sylvia Sidney and Henry Fonda. It is -You Only Live Once." It plumbs new depths of irony on the screen,, has its sharp social implications, and is at the same time a fast-moving, exciting story of crime and punishment. A "three-time loser" emerges from his third gaol sentence to marry the girl he loves and embark on a new life. But a new life is not easy to a man with a prison record, and he is forced back into his old circle. That connection, slight as it is, proves fatal; he is wrongly suspected of being implicated in a bank robbery and induced against his own better judgment to await a trial which sentences him to death. But he fights against fate, and the events which rapidly succeed one another aftpr this make up a moving, exciting, and strongly dramatic film. In second place on the bill is the lively comedy, "Let's Get Married," in which Hollywood has gone for inspiration to the weather bureau. It is a type film of the boy-gets-girl-gets-fortune through invention order, but is presented slickly, with much humour, excellent acting by Ida Lupino. Walter Connolly, Ralph Bellamy, and Reginald Denny, takes a novel turn which makes the weather mean something to everyone in the cast, and has plenty of action. It is, till the last minute, impossible to say that anyone will get married, but finally there is a rush to the altar. There are some well-chosen supports, and Mr. Reg. Maddams is at the organ. NEW OPERA HOUSE. Transferred from the Regent Theatre after a successful season, "Call It a Day," which is now showing at the New Opera House, contains all the ingredients of successful comedy. Snappy lines, an unusually strong cast, fine photography, and a compactness of plot are features of a film remarkable for the cleverness of its exposition of the incidents in the day of several people. Chiefly, the incidents deal with the romantic adventures of a married couple on the first day of spring; but subsidiary plots among the children account for a good deal of comedy. To Frieda Inescourt, the wife, and lan Hunter, the husband, there come, after twenty-two years of married life, opportunities of new alliances. The wife's is with a badiysmitten rubber planter, the husband's with a suave, svelte actress. For the youngest child (Bonita Granville) there is an abiding passion for Dante Rossetti; for the elder daughter (Ollivia de Haviland) a hopeless infatuation for a celebrated artist; and for Martin, the son, a cherished ambition, often thwarted, to drive on the Continent until Anita Louise, a prepossessing neighbour, suddenly enters his life. All the themes are skilfully woven into a plot, never too intricate to baffle, always twisting to surprise. And sentiment well handled brings the film to a satisfactory ending. It is one of the most entertaining comedies produced for some time, and the presence of Roland Young and Alice Brady ensures a high standard of acting. Splendid supports make the programme additionally attractive. BROOKLYN THEATRE. Two special features will be screened at the Brooklyn Theatre tonightJoan Blondell and Dick Powell will be starred in "Gold Diggers of 1937." Aviation's greatest drama. "China Clipper," will feature Pat O'Brien and Beverly Roberts. . . SKATING. Record crowds attending the Golden Gate Skating Rink at all sessions prove the popularity of this exhilarating sport. Great care has been taken in equipping the rink, and patrons are availing themselves of the many services provided for their comfort and pleasure. The large and perfect skaling floor has been favourably commented upon. This is understandable, as it is a delight; to skate on. Negotiations are in hand for the holding ,of New Zealand championships in fancy skating, also hockey on skates, and it is hoped that these will be held at the Golden Gate rink '-in Wellington, as this city is central and best able to cater for such events. VERDI'S "AIDA." Verdi was almost 60 years of age and felt he had earned the right to retire when the Viceroy of Egypt was to open the New Opera House in Cairo in 1871 and he wanted a new opera for the dedication, Verdi seemed the logical composer to write to. , A work dealing with the past grandeurs of Egypt was to be the subject to which Verdi's genius for the grandiose seemed especially fitted. When approached, however, he sought to evade the commission by naming the exorbitant fee of £4000; but much to his astonishment the amount demanded was agreed upon. The first production was in Cairo on December 24, 1871. This famous opera will be performed in Wellington at the Town Hall on Thursday, next by. the Royal Wellington Choral Union under the baton of Mr. Stanley Oliver, with a chorus and orchestra of 300 performers, and the cast of soloists equal to anything that has ever appeared with the Choral Society, will consist of Misses Thea Phillips (London), Mina Caldow (Auckland), Muriel Hitchings, (Wellington), Messrs. Lionello Cecil (Sydney), Harison Cook. Russell Laurenson. Ken Strong, and J. O. Bonifant. The box plan opens at the D.I.C. on Tuesday next at 9 o'clock. DON COSSACK CHOIR. In its sincerity, beauty, and virility of vocal tones, General Platoff's Don Cossack Choir, which comes to the New Opera House for a short season beginning on Saturday, July 31, will open up new treasures of song. A genuine Russian artistic product, the rich voices of the members, allied to their individual and- characteristic power.of expression in painting word pictures of emotion, will prove a revftlati'on to New Zealand audiences. The world has acclaimed this combination, which not only makes a signal triumph of singing, but also gives an exposition of Cossack dancing that is inspirational in its appeal and electrical in its result. In voice and in action they turn back the pages of their country's history depicting intriguing legends of folk lore, and a cavalcade of music from lullabies to battle-songs. . The performances of the Don Cossack Choir and the Russian dancers have.taken England, North and South America, and the Continent by storm, and from their successes abroad, their premiere in Now Zealand and Australia is being made under the happiest auspices. Their picturesque attire— Russian highbooXs, loose-fitting troiucrs, white tunics, and scarlet sashesgives atmosphere to their colourful presentation. "ESCAPE." Last night the Wellington Repertory Society again presented Galsworthy s episode play "Escape." "Escape" is a play about a certain Captain Matt Denant, how he goes to prison, and how he escapes, and is hunted through the countryside. It is a powerful play, building to a strong dramatic climax. Mr. R. E.Pope, as Captain Denant, gave a careful and sincere intrepretation. He was ably assisted in several ■ episodes by Mr. H. A. Painter, Mr. Arthur Heany, Miss Pauline Shotlander, Miss Mary White, and Mr..Norman Hannah, who were excellent, in their widely differing character roles. Mr W. S. Wauchop is the producer of "Escape." and he has earned congratulations for the fine work he has done in presenting a difficult _ play. ("Escape" will conclude tonight in me Concert Chamber. EISTEDDFOD FESTIVAL. Tonight at 7.45 the first evening session of the New Zealand National fc-is-teddfod's 1937 festival is being held at the Trades Hall. The classes tp.oe heard are of a varied and entertaining nature, and patrons are assured 01 an enjoyable programme. On Monday the festival will continue, with sessions at 9 a.m., 2 p.m., and 7.45 p.m. All sessions are being held in the Trades Hall, Vivian Street. N.Z. CLUB LUNCHEON. A luncheon is to be tendered by the New Zealand Club to Mr. E. Sailer Davies, C.8.E., M.A., on Monday. .