ENTERTAINMENTS.

Hawera Star, Volume XLVII, 17 December 1927, Page 2

ENTERTAINMENTS.

GRAND THEATRE, TO-NIGHT. “EVENING CLOTHES. ’ ’ In his newest Paramount starring vehicle “Evening Clothes,” which will lie screened at thie Grand Theatre tonight, Adolphe Menjou adopts a beard and plays the country gentleman, in the French manner. The story, adapted from the French play “The Man in Evening Clothes,” by Andre Picard and Yves Mirande. two of France’s popular playwrights, is concerned with the adventures of Lucden, a wealthy member of the landed French nobtity and his adventures following his acquisition of a wife who is a ParisianTheir incompatibility, which is the resale of her marrying him, not because of love, but in respect for the wishes of her parents, forms the motive of the action. Germaine, the bride (Vienna Valid), scorns Lucien because of his iincouth country ways. She Qjinnot understand his preference for a life on a farm to life in thp gay .drawingrooms of the capital. The complications of the plot- are finally untwisted to make a strong dramatic climax in which Menjou and Germaine as the object of lus emotion exhibits all- the finer subtetiss of the .acting that lias made him famous. Thei supporting programme includes “The Firefighters,’ comedy, gazette and cartoon. OPERA HOUSE, TO-NIGHT. CHUN YUEN TAT AND “THE WANING SEX.” An additional attraction to the picture programme at the Opera House last evening was a very pleasing Chinese entertainer. Chun Yuen Ta.i, who appeared in a very interesting vaudeville turn, comprising Chinese paper and silk tricks and coloured lightning sketches and cartoons. The performer was garbed in his goregous native costume and he produced a variety of novel effects, with sheets of coloured paper and nillos. The candle and boquet trick was particuarly effective. Sketching on a large board with rapidity, the Chinese performer proved himself a master of cartoon drawings, and he accompanied these, with a running fire of racy comment. His double-handed work, notably the Indian heads, was decidedly novel and clever. The performer will appear again this evening. The picture programme is headed by the Metro - Goidwyn - Mayer comedy, “The Waning Sex,” featuring Norma Shearer. With every picture. Norma Shearer advances steadily towards her •iestiny as the most popular star, and her performance in “The Waning Sex” is a revelation of captivating artistry and charm. Witty sub-titles, farcical situations, a cleverly-developed and unfolded story, and a charming star in the principal role, aided by Conrad Nagel, are responsible for an excellent pi rim-re.

OPERA HOUSE. COMMENCING WEDNESDAY NEXT. “THE CAT AND THE CANARY.” “The Cat and the Canary,” the Universal super mystery drama, starring Laura la Plante, has been booked as a feature attraction by the Opera House management. As a -stage play, “The Cat and the Canary” was considered to be one of the greatest mystery plays ever written, and, according to critics, the film version is even more mysterious than the play. The plot hinge® about a murder in -an unoccupied country residence, where six persons have gone, at the hour of midnight to hear the reading of a will. Any one of the main characters might be the murderer and suspicion falls on first one and then the other. The logical though unusual ending is one that, is impossible for the audience, to foretell. The picture was directed by Paul Leni, noted European director, '1 no all-featured cast, in addition to Miss La Plante embraces such known actors as Arthur Edmund Carew, Creighton Hale, Forrest Stanley, Gertrude Astor, Flora Finch, George S-iegmann, Tully Marshall and Martha Mattox. Alfred Cohn wrote the screen adaptation from the stage play by John Willard.

GILBERT AND SULLIVAN OPERA. “RUDDIGORE” ON MONDAY. On Monday there will appear in Havera the specdally organised J. C. Williamson Comic Opera Company. The presentation will he “Ruddigore,” that delightful burlesque on oldfasliioned melodrama that is regarded by those most qualified, to judge as one of the best efforts of the Gilbert and Sullivan collaboration. “Rnddigore” has sparkling music, is interpreted by an exceptional cast, and is notable for its dressing. The second act is described as a masterpiece of stage presentation, being a brilliant ensemble of notable characters, who emerge from portraits. This entrancing opera, with its haunting melodies, has a decided theme —not usual in modern comic opera —and demands that those interpreting it should be actors and actresses as well as singers. The thraldom of the Baron Murgatrnyd is that he is obliged, by heredity, to commit at least one crime per day; his ingenuity is severely taxed to escape his obligations. Family ghosts descend from portraits to utter protest, with diverting results for the whole Mnrgatroyd family. There are love scenes presented with that delicacy that is characteristic of Gilbert and Sullivan compositions. This is a musical bouquet rarely presented, and should be appreciated to the full by all lovers of good music and witty dialogue. Hawera will be giad to welcome once again the following favourites : Strella Wilson, James Hay, Charles Walenn, Patti Russell, Winifred Williamson, John Ralston, Bernard Manning, John Byrne, and other J. C. Williamson favourites. Mr. Gustave Slapoffski conducts a highly efficient orchestra.