AMUSEMENTS.

Grey River Argus, 24 October 1927, Page 8

AMUSEMENTS.

OPERA HOUSE. SPECIAL MATINEE TO-DAY. ‘‘THE WANING SEX.” Frederick and Fanny Hatton, brilliant authors and playwrights, wrote the famous stage play from which ‘‘The Waning Sex,” Norma Shearer’s new picture, was adapted. It enjoyed a remarkably successful season, and in screen form has even more to recommend it. Witty subtitles, farcial situations, a cleverly developed and unfolded story, and this charming star in the principal part, aided by Conrad Nagel and George K. Arthur, are responsible for an excellent picture. It sparkles with refreshing humour and bright moments. ‘‘The Waning Sex” at the Opera House at the Matinee to-day only. TO-NIGHT. REGINALD DENNY IN ‘‘TAKE IT FROM ME.” If you would laugh until you qui ver and palpitate, see Reginald Denny’s latest farce. It is entitled ‘‘Take It From Me.” It is playing at the Opera House to-night and to-morrow night. Denny, star of many excellent farces, is at his very best in this light and frothy comedy, and dashes through it with an air of serious abandon that would wring laughs from the most solemn of men. Ben Hendricks, Jr, and Lee Moran, as the blundering floor-walkers of Denny’s department store, give the comedian capable support in provoking the risibilities of the audiences. Blanche Mehaffy graces the picture as the feminine lead, with a large stock of personality and an Irish smile that is hypnotic when it is not actually dazzling. Lucien Littlefield, as a dyspeptic business man, and Ethel Wales as a chronically unpleasant business spinster, add much solemn merriment to tES production, as do Tom O’Brien. Jean Tolley, Bertram Johns, Vera Lewis and the other members of the cast. Great credit for the picture must go to William Seiter, who directed it with the unswerving knowledge of the true humorist and tne technical ability of the expert. The picture is based on the musical comedy of the same title by Will B. Johnstone and Will R. Anderson, and was ably adapted to the screen by; Harvey Thew. THE WITCHCRAFT AND SCORCERY OF CHINA. In China there are many Ching Ling Foos. They, like the East Indian, have nothing new to offer. In truth, in the realm of magic—here or abroad —there is lettle new or startling. The science, like music, has seven notes, but unlike music, its harmonies have been exhausted. There arc no new principles, inexplicable or awesome. As with necromancy so with necromancers. So says Carter the Great, who, with his box of tricks, assistants and live ponderous elephant will appear for two nights only Saturday and Monday, 29th and 31st of October at the Opera House. Some old trick is oftentimes dressed up freshly and passed for something new or a small trick is converted into an illusion, the principle whereof is as old as an Egyptian mummy.

But. about magic there is always a new factor, this is, the growing and the new generation. They are more difficult to fool than their progenitors and more imposing apparatus is required than in the days of Anderson, the Wizard of the North, Maskelyn or Carl Hertz, but, they are equally credulous, for the trend of the times makes for credulity and the modernity of thought and innovations of science bring along in their wake the light of heart, the investigator, the thoughtful and erudite hand in hand with innocent and childish wonderment, as personified in this and ever recurrent and successive ages. China, the sleeping giant is awakening. Her present men are boys out of the new age. Her- thought is occidental twisting and turning in environs oriental. 'She labours up hill. Iler magic is potent only in her traditions; there are extant no great exponents of the craft; her face is towards the West; she welcomes the tricks of the. white man but is slow to absorb them whether her preceptors are magicians or merchants. Box plan will open at Webley s on Wednesday morning. BAND EUCHRE TOURNEY. To further aid the Band Carnival funds, a monster euchre tourney will be held in the Band Hall this evening, when three valuable prizes wi-l be offered for competition. Visitors to the' town are specially invited, and an .energetic Committee will do their utmost to make their evening a very pleasant one. BAND QUEEN CARNIVAL BAZAAR. To finalise the Queen Carnival campaign, a grand bazaar is being held in the Drill Hall on Thursday, l’ii day and Saturday, 27th, 28th and 29th October. The campaign for funds to liquidate the Band’s liabilities has been Tarried on by the various Queens, and the three days’ bazaar will conclude, the campaign. A strong Ladies’ Committee has been sowing for some considerable time, and has a large quantity of material to dispose of. The' supporters of the various Queens will have stalls with all classes of goods—eatable, wearable, fancy, etc —and they are appealing to all sections of the community to ren-

der the necessary assistance to make their candidature a success. The main fcatare of the Fair will be the sid< shows, which will provide a good deal of humour and sport, and by making the carnival a success the citizens will consolidate the position of the Band. Special street "and hall illuminations will be “provided, and progress reports of positions of various Queens will be given.