ENTERTAINMENTS

Manawatu Times, Volume XLIX, Issue 1273, 15 July 1925, Page 5

ENTERTAINMENTS

KOSY. “This Freedom” is an A. S. M. Hutchinson story, meaning' it was a best-seller long before over it found its way to the screen. “This Freedom” is a picture of distinction and the quality should be reflected In your exploitation. While it deals with to-day. there’s nothing of the drab or the commonplace about it. It’s a drama without a villain, romance without a breath of sex suggestion. It teaches a powerful lesson without preaching. It’s sheer entertainment. It has romance, suspense, touches of comedy, thrills, human interest. It’s live, pulsating, interest-compelling; logical, yet replete with unexpected situations but above all it’s intensely human. “In Love With Love,” a 6-reel “flapper” picture, is also showing with four short subjects. PALACE. HAROLD LLOYD. “Why Worry,” the title of Harold Lloyd’s newest Pathe comedy production to make the world a merrier place to live in, gives a splendid idea of just the type of picture it is. When he made “Safety Last,” Lloyd sought to produce a picture that would shake the spine with thrills and laughter. How successful ho was in his efforts, picture followers know by this time. The pictm-e has become established as the greatest thriller in screen annals. In “Why Worry,” Lloyd set out to make a light farce, with a little romance and plenty of action. Again he has triumphed, for “Why Worry” is a laugh from start to finish. The chances are that there arc more “gag” laughs in this attraction than in any picture Lloyd ever made. There is little that is serious in the production. It is just what the comedian aimed for—a laugh picture. The story is laid in a romantic atmosphere, with carefree senors and dancing senoritas, fighting hombres and pompuous generals. Throughout this farce runs a little vein of satire—a jibe here and there at the blood-curdling pictures of South American revolutions.

PARAMOUNT. GALAXY OF STARS. James Kirkwood, Doris Kenyon. Robert Edeson, Mary Carr, Edmund Brccse and Russell Griffin are all starred in the picture, “You Are Guilty,” now showing at the Paramount Theatre. The story is most diverting. Would you accept the promise of a confessed thief and allow him to induce you to take his guilt on your shoulders to save from shame those you loved? This is the problem that confronts Steve Martin (played by James Kirkwood). The fallacy of convicting a man on circumstantial evidence is clearly shown in the picture. In conjunction with the all-star picture programme was a bewildering performance last evening by Chun Yuen Tai. His performance with silks, dice and other paraphernalia was very startling, an ( i the Eastern atmosphere of his act was never absent. Chun Yuen Tai has had great experience in the world of mystery, having for years been associated with the leading magicians of the Far East, so that ho ranks among the greatest now. Those seeking' an entertainment full of mystery, merit and magic should avail themselves of the opportunity of witnessing this great perfo.rmer. Special music is rendered by the Paramount select orchestra. The box plans are at Swallows.

Agnes Ayres’ first work in motionpictures consisted in sitting up at night helping her mother make over one oI her dresses into an evening frock. The following day she was to make her debut before the camera and she had told the director that she had an evening gown. Miss Ayres was in her first year in high school in Chicago. Quite by accident, the casting director at the Essanay studio saw her and engaged her for a part, believing she had had acting experience. The ambitious young actress and her mother worked on the dress until midnight, when little Agnes was sent to bed. but her mother continued sewing until three in the morning. The. next day tho director was pleased with the girl’s appearance, but decided that a wrap -would bo better. Tho wardrobe department could supply none, so Miss Ayres’ mother took a motor coat with pink silk lining and reversed it right at the studio. To-day Miss Ayres has one of thp finest wardrobes in motion pictures, and > a noted for her excellent taste in dress. The Paramount star's newest production is “Worldly Goods,” directed by Paul Bern, which comes to tiio Paramount Theatre for a three days' run to-morrow. Pat O'Malley, "Victor Varconi and Edythe Chapman play in support. The supporting films provide a distinctive feature of the show and comprise a Jimmy Aubrey comedy, Paramount Gazette and interest “Prospecting for Gold.” Music of a high standard will lie provided by the Paramount Select Orchestra, under the direction of Mrs. R. S. I>aw. Tho box plans arc at S. G. Swallow’s. LONG TACK SAM. Te-morrow evening for one night only Long Tack Sam and a company of J. C. Williamson vaudeville will appear at tho Opera House. A critic of the “New Zealand Times,” Wellington says:—“Patrons at the Opera Plouse last night had one of the, host vaudeville programmes placed before them that has appeared in Wellington for many a long day, every minute of it full of excellent music, dancing, or good fun. Arthur Mayes, London’s basso cantante, led off with a delightful trio of songs, and his magnificent but weil-controllcd voice evoked the greatest appreciation, especially in. “The Wedding Morning” and “When Lights Are Low.” Chris. Charlton, the royal illusionist of London, gave an entertaining display of conjuring tricks, some old friends and some quite new and mystifying. He does some wonderful tricks with handkerchiefs, and poured all sorts of drink out of his mysterious kettle. Ho said he would serve any drink usually ok a wine list, and did, from the froth« ing glass of ale to a sherry and small port, but when some one asked for a glass of milk they thought to trip the conjurer, but the drink was forthcom-

ing. The samples were all consumed and pronounced to comply with the order. His finale was the disappearing lady, who entered the bathing machine, and was then hoisted some feet from the floor. A crash from the orchestra, and she suddenly disappeared —how, the audience is left to find out. No more superb danch:s has been scon that that given by Addison and Mitrenga, fresh from London to Niew Zealand, and the audience would have watched them five or six times as long without tiring, the Russian solo apd duo effort, bringing down the house. They have earned their title as England’s foremost dance delineators. They are artists in every sense of the word. Moran and Wiser, the hilarious hat-spinners from Now York, in “All in Fun,” gave one of the most novel turns seen on the vaudeville stage, spinning hats in the air from where they returned in boomerang fashion to the owner. The pair then threw hats to the audience, inviting t.hera from the pit, dress circle, and gallery to throw them back. They did so, and Moran caught them on his head—those which reached the stage. Some throwers were better than others, and some—ladies worse. It kept the house in a continuous roar of laughter, for they entered thoroughly into the joke. Next cam e Novelle Brothers, the musical acrobatic clowns from Paris, doing somersaults backwards and forwards, all sorts of tumbling, each the while playing violins and keeping time with the orchestra. They concluded with an excellent, clever woodland courtship, imitating the whistling and chirping of a couple of birds with wonderful faithfulness, and this Item is a most enjoyable entertainment in itself. There is the wooing, the squabble, the reconciliation, and the mating, and the generous measure of applause accorded their turn was well deserved.” The box plans are at Oates’ Music Stores.

VISIT OF FAMOUS ACTOR. MAURICE MOSCOVITCH. Great interest centres in the first appearance in Palmerston, at the Opera House on Friday night week, July 24th, of the world-famous actorgenius, Maurice Moscovitch, and his splendid supporting company, who will commence their two nights’ season with a production for the first time, of the phenomenally successful drama, ‘‘The Outsider,” described as a play with a strong and virile theme. This play proved such a wonderful success in Australia, that the J. C. Williamson firm were compelled to postpone this great artist's visit to the Dominion till now, the original intention being to present the play in Wellington at Easter. It had the wonderful run of nine and a-half weeks in Sydney, and eleven In Melbourne, being the longest run of any dramatic production staged in those cities for many years. In Wellington recently, it was played to capacity houses for seven nights, hundreds; nightly being unable to obtain admission, and has just terminated a phenomenal season of ten nights in Christchurch. ‘'The Outsider” will afford playgoers the opportunity of seeing this celebrated actor in one of his greatest modern roles —that of "Anton Ragatzy,” the Outsider who defies the whole Royal College of Surgeons, and provides many sensational and thrilling scenes in a drama that grip ls and enthralls from beginning to end. "This play has been written with blood, not ink, by a person who has gone through the experience,” said the famous actor in Wellington recently, "but though the dramatic sections are so tense that they hold you breathless, it is chiefly comedy, and screamingly funny comedy, too.” On the following night playgoers will see Moscovitch’s world-famous and original production of “The Merchant of Venice,” in which the great actor will appear in his wonderful role of Shylock, stated to be the finest the world has ever seen. The two productions will serve to introduce to local theatregoers several artists who will be making their first appearance here. The box plans for both productions will open at Oates’ Music stores next Wednesday morning at 9 o’clock. MOTHER MACHKEE, Denis Kchoe and his merry associates who arc coming to the Opera House on Saturday night next, has been tourihg the Australian Commonwealth since Easter 1919, during the most of which time Mother Machree has occupied a prominent place in his repertoire. He has even put his company and the production on a Murray River steamboat and toured it down that great inland waterway, playing to the public of three States, New Sontn Wales, Victoria and South Australia in turn. There is a diversity of character about the play that gives every artist individual opportunities for distinctive work. The incidental songs and harmonised numbers add variety to the performance and several of the artists arc singers of no mean order. Denis Kehoe’s numbers, include "Arc You Half the Man your Mother Thought You’d Be,” "Mother Machrec” "There’s a tip-top Tipperary over there,” and “Endearing Young Charms,” sung to the accompaniment of the Harp. Francos Kayher has a sympathetic contralto and Lester Carey has used his fine tenor to good account in musical comedy and revue. The harp used has an interesting history. The work of Terence O’Neill the cider, of Abbey St. Dublin, known as the Stradivarius of his day, it was orignially the property of the beautiful Lady Dufferin and many years afterwards found its way to the colony of Van Diemen’s Land, now known as Tasmania, as the property of Sergeant Major Roger O’Mahony of His Majesty’s 94th Regiment of Foot. Finally it fell into the possession of Mr. Turner, an antique dealer, of Hobart, and from him was purchased by friends and presented to Denis Kehoe. The box plan for Saturday’s performance of “Mother Machree,” will open at Oates’ Music' Stores this morning. MANAWATU COMPETITIONS. Elsewhere in this issue attention is directed to the forthcoming musical and elocutionary competitions, to be held at the Opera House, commencing July 30. In connection with the com. petitions the public, arc urged to be->

come members of the Society which, for a membership foe of, one guinea, provides each member with a double ticket for the entire season together with the usual demonstration concert, etc. Competitors’ membership tickets carry the same privileges except that the fee is half a guinea. Payments may be made to the secretary, Mr. H. Tj. Bowden, P.O. Box 7, Palmerston North. SKATING. Tim skating rink will open its season in the Zealandla Hall to-night. Sessions will bo run day and night while the season lasts. A special band has been engaged for the occasion. EUCHRE TOURNAMENT. In connection with the euchre tournament held on Tuesday evenings in the King Street Hall, card players i are asked to note that aggregate prises I will bo awarded at the end of the season, points to count from this evenling.