ENTERTAINMENTS.

Hawera Star, Volume XLVII, 4 August 1928, Page 2

ENTERTAINMENTS.

“BUTTONS.”

JACKIE COOGAN AT THE GRAND. SCOUTS’ BENEFIT PROGRAMME. The special benefit programme in aid of the. Haw,“fra Boy Scoufc at the Girand Theatre last night was wall natvon.iised. The first half of the programme was giveii by the Scouts, and Jackie Qoogiui’s latest picture ‘‘Buttons” filled the second half. in tihiis story the young picture, ist®r is seen at his best as a lad, practically homeless, who sets out to make his name in the world,. Keen to go to isea,, lie tries to stow away on board the is.s. Queensland, bound from Southampton to America, but is discovered be,foil3 the boat sails. Ho attracts the attention of the captain - however, who sends him to a training scliol to be taught the duties of ship’s page. The lad is next seen aboard the Queensland as a fullytrained page under the captain, who had given him lii.s chance in life. It is from then on that the story commences'. Life “below stairs” on the ship provides, some excellent humour. “Buttons, ’’ as the lad 1 is known, has two staunoh friends in the retired pugilist, in charge of the gymnasium, who was “always ecming back, but had never been anywhere,” and a stewardess, who .“had left- her brains behind because they were too weak to travel.” The humour of the story with such characters can readily be imagined. There is a good plot running through the story and at the conclusion there :i,s a line: Boenp of the sinking of the Queensland after striking an iceberg. The audience showed its, appreciutbiotn of the scouts’ display of drill, every item receiving wall-merited applause. The programme by the Scouts, and Cubs included fire drill, first aid l , ropeknotting and drill. The, boys, under Scoutmasters Cowie and Hitchcock, carried out tehir parts excellently, and a,, considerable amou.nifc of admiration was expressed regarding the part played by the votung members of the troop. The display should do much to give the nubile an idea of the usefulness of Scout drill. The profit from the entertainment will bo devoted to the Boy Scouts ’equipment fund.

OPERA HOUSE. TO-NIGHT. JACKIE COOGAN IN “BUTTONS.” Jackie Coogan, the juvenile star of “The Rag Man,” “Old Clothes,” “Johnnie Get Your Hair Cunt” and “The Bugle Call” gives his countless admirers a new thrill in “Buttons” which will be screeened at the Opera House to-night. The story of “Buttons” revolves around the fickleness of Captain Travers’ fiancee, this being discovered by young Coogan as the captain’s page, nicknamed “Buttons.” The consequent drama is impressively portrayed, and blended witli some rare comedy, thrilling adventure and lavish settings. The thrill is a sensational shipwreck, w'hen a modern, palatial, deep-sea, liner plunges headlong to a watery grave—and hundreds of passengers struggling in the dark waters are rescued by searchlight on life rafts! It’s a tremendous spectacular ending to a fascinating magniliciently - presented story. Lars Hanson makes a striking captain, while Gerturde Olmsted plays the role of the fickle sweet heart with excellent restraint. Polly Moran and Roy D’Arcy are also included in the cast. Other films of interest in/the. programme are Comedy, Fox Variety, Fox Topical News and N.Z. Scenic.

GRAND THEATRE TO-NIGHT. “BLOOD WILL TELL.” ’ Known for the variety of his roles and the rigor of his acting, Buck Jones, the Fox cowboy actor, is showing in one of the best pictures yet to Ins credit at the Grand Theatre to-night. It is a novel tale of the daring west called “Blood will Tell ” and it goes to prove as the title indicates, that the finer qualities in man usually come to the surface.

Kathryn Perry plays the principal feminine part, that of a girl from the east who is duped into the belief that she has bought a ranch. Arriving in the west, she encounters a lone rider who “joins up” with her outfit as a cowhand. This is Buck Jones, and in reality he is the owner of the ranch. Amused by the girl’s naive acceptance of her role as a ranch owner, he discovers gradually that she is being victimized by a gang of hard-boiled rustlers. That opens the way for Buck to settle affairs, and he does it in his characteristic fashion with the aid of Silver Buck and a pair of convenient six-guns. There will be a fine supporting programme, including the serial, “The Trail of the Tiger.”

“LEAGUE OF NOTIONS.”

FULLERS’ MODERN REVUE COMPANY.

On Tuesday next, at the Opera House, John Fuller and Sons, Ltd., will present Mike Conpor’js and Queenie Paul s “League of Notions” Company in modern revue. This organisation, during its brilliant run of ten weeks at His Majesty’s Theatre, Wellington, was declared “the ultimate in revue production.” Prior to opening at Fullers’ magnificent new St. James’s Theatre in Auckland, a short tour was arranged for the provincial towns, as the firm was desirous that all should ' see what was undoubtedly one of the finest revue companies ever brought to the Dominion. According to Wellington Press reports, the “League of Notions” is not only the finest, but biggest and best equipped organisation on the* Fuller circuit, each presentation being most lavishly staged. “The League of Notions” has one of the greatest laughter-provokers in Syd Beck, whose success in Wellington was

phenomenal; but, in addition, it has a cast of performers who individually are star artists. Another great attraction, which universally appeals, is the jazz band headed by Linn Smith. Since these brilliant harmonisers were last in New Zealand, about four years ago, \vben they proved exceedingly popular, they have been in constant demand in Australia and elsewhere, with the result that the wide experience gained has added materially to an already brilliant company. Considerable interest attaches to the comedian of the company, for, apart from the Wellington season, it will be liis first introduction to New Zealand audiences. Australia acclaims him as the greatest burlesque and singing comedian presented in that country, and his Wellington popularity assures him a like reception wherever he goes. Exceptional dancers are also included in the “League of Notions” company—both specialty dancers and balelt.

“A CUCKOO IN THE NEST.”

J.CI.W. COMEDY COMPANY

BEN TRAV ERS’ DELIGHTFUL

FAROE.

O'n Friday next, for one night only, at the Opera House, Hawera, J. CL Williamson, Ltd., will present their new English comedy company in “A Cuckoo in the Nest,” which unfolds a unique and very interesting plot, turning on the suspicion directed against a husband who is really guiltless. Peter Wykehiatm has left a train in which he is travelling with his wife to a country house, and has faled to- return. Missing the train, and finding that Mrs, Maragret Haekett, whom he l doe-s not know, has also missed it he obtains a motor car to take them towards their destination. But the car breaks down miles from anywhere and when the travellers at last find an inn it is one in which there is little accommodation. There it is. discovered that there is only one bedroom unoccupied, and through a series of misunderstandings they are mistaken far husband and wife, and compelled to spend the night in this room. The dramatist has shown in liis treatment of this situation that it is quite possible to write a bedroom scene without becoming offensive. There was cause only for boisterous merriment in the plight of Mr Lynn ais the hapless Wykeham, prevented by the vigilance of -the landlady from sleeping in the parlour or on the stairs, and trying to gain some rest, as, wrapped in a- blanket he sprawled clumsily upon the floor beneath a shaky washstand on which the jug and basin reeled ominously, while Mm Hickeitt sitting in bed and treating the whole situation as a joke, gave liian fuifcile advice, peremptorily called liira up t-qi maise. the window and finally sent him out into the rain to rescue her howling dog, imprisoned in the stables by the adamantine Mis Spoker. . “You keep complaining because you’ve nowhere to sleep. Sleep on the floor,” commands Mrs Haekett, as this scene opens. “To any decenbminded person there’s nothing wrong in your sleeping on the floor of my room is there?” ‘ ‘But where’s the decentminded person?”, queries Wykeham, a rejoinder which won the chief applause of the night. Wykeham s mother-in-law, Mrs Bone, suspecting the worst, hurries down to the inn, biinging the good-natured Major with her, to fax her son-in-law with his perfidy, and as his wife and Mrs Hickett s husband arrive larber on complications continue and the fun is uproarious to the final fall of the curtain. The box plan opens on Tuesday at the Opera House confectionery.