ENTERTAINMENTS.

New Zealand Herald, Volume LVI, Issue 17348, 20 December 1919, Page 11

ENTERTAINMENTS.

MUSICAL COMEDY SEASON.

"Yes, Uncle," the initial production of the musical comedy season to be introduced during the Christmas holidays by the J. C. Williamson Musical Comedy Company, -will be presented on Tuesday next at His Majesty's Theatre. Writing of the play, a critic says —"Yes, Uncle," has had a phenomenal run in London for two and a-half years. The success of the play is due, not only to the story, but also to the delightful environment and compelling humour of the play. Ludicrous complications and irresistibly funny situations follow one another with great rapidity, while throughout the piece runs a great deal of clever dialogue. The costumes are on a lavish scale, and designed with an eye to effective and unique appearance. Some specially fine expositions, of the scenic painter's art axe in evidence j throughout the production. The comedy j of the play is in the able hands of Mr. i Alfred Frith, Mr. Field Fisher, and Mr. William Greene. In fact, the cast is an excellent one, and such, names as Messrs. Fred Maguire, George Willoughby, Jack . Hooker, Cyril Ritchards, Harry Wooton, Grade Lavers, Cecil Bradley, Marie Eaton, and Madge Elliott should spell sure success to any musical comedy production. The play will be staged under the personal j supervision of Mr. Harry Bnrcher. The! box plans aTe open at Wildman and Arey's. DANCE RECITAL. Variety and originality are characteristic of the programme which Miss Cecil Hall and her dancing pupils are presenting at His Majesty's Theatre. The performers last evening were accorded an enthusiastic reception by the large audience present. The orchestra, under Mr. S. Green, played some very choice items for the accompaniment of the various dances. The recital will be repeated this evening. The proceeds will be devoted to the funds of the Auckland Ladies' Benevolent Society. OPERA HOUSE. The popularity of the current programme at the Opera House remains undiminished. The aeroplane act by the Kenna Brothers is unique, and contains clever patter. The De Baker's living models are faithfully presented in a manner which is realistic in the extreme. The Correlli Trio provide an excellent musical programme The new programme to be presented on Monday includes Paul A. Stanhope's Musical Comedy Revue Company in a production entitled "Pick-a-dilly." SISTER ESTHER'S CONCERT. A most enjoyable concert in aid of Sister Esther's Christmas Cheer fund was held in the Town Hall concert chamber last evening, there being a good attendance. Two hundred and fifty hampers are to be sent by Sister Esther to the needy homes of Auckland this Christmas, and the services of some of the most popular of local artists were given in this good cause. A choir of 50 vocalists and instrumentalists, under the direction of Mr. A. Mudgway and Miss V. Burden, rendered some exceptionally fine items, concluding with Haydn's "The Heavens Are Telling.' Quartet and choir items, with recitative airs by Messrs. F. Boutrke and H. Jessop, were also given with good effect, vocal solos were contributed by Misses Cora Melvin, Laura Stone, Messrs. H. Jessop and: F. Bourke, these being well selected and i appropriate to the season. Mr. T. Harris delivered several fine recitations, which were warmly applauded by the audience. Miss Thelma Gallaher as accompanist and I pianist, and Mr. S. M. Yailop as organist, contributed greatly to the success of. the entertainment. "THE MESSIAH." Handel's oratoria, " The Messiah," will be rendered at the Baptist Tabernacle on Monday evening under the condnctorahip of Mr. A. E. Wilson. The following soloists will- take the principal vocal parts:Madame Bella Russell Miss Laura Stone (contralto), Mr. _E« Dennis (tenor), and Mr. A. OHedge (bass). Mr. E. G. Craston will accompany on the organ. Admission will be free, but a collection will be taken in aid of the Manurewa Children's Home. " THE KIWIS." The initial performance of " The Kiwis" will be given this evening in the concert chamber, Town Hall. The box plan is at Messrs. Richardson's Music Depot, Queen Street. CITY BAND RECITAL. A band concert in aid of the instrument fund will be given in the Opera House tomorrow evening by the Auckland CityBand and well-known artists. The programme includes vocal and instrumental items. NATIONAL THEATRE. The double programme shown to-day at the National Theatre includes Tom Mix in " Fighting for Gold." The story deals with the old mining days of the far west, when men endured great hardships to wrest the treasures from the earth. Peggy Hyland appears in " The Girl With No Regrets." Writing of the film a critic says "In no role which Miss Hyland has undertaken in her remarkably successful career has she achieved greater heights than in 'The Girl With No Regrets.' From the moment she appears on the screen until the climax is reached she runs the gamut of varying emotionsand in every scene her sit records a triumph. As the lone girl seeking a sister's protection only to find a den of criminals; as the fugitive from contamination who finds shelter in honourable employment; as th good angel who rescues her rich employer from the curse of strong drink; as the hunted prey of unscrupulous enemies; and as the vindicated and triumphant sweetheart of the rich man sh e has —throughout the moving story she steadily ascends the drama*? scale in thrilling effect until the picture fades from view." STRAND THEATRE. Maurice Tourneur's new ParamountArtcraft picture, "The White Heather," will be presented to-day at the Strand Theatre. " The White Heather" is adapted from the Drury Lane melodrama. Indirectly, the title comes from the goodluck flower of the Scotch Highlands, the white heather. Yet Scotland is the background for but a —and a minor part of the melodrama. The action centres around the recovery of a marriage record from the hulk of a destroyed yacht, called the White Heather. The big scene of the melodrama takes place at the bottom of the sea, where the hero and the villain, in the weird costumes of deepsea divers, fight to the death. The story is as follows :—Donald Cameron, heir to a Scotch title, would marry a woman of the peerage for family reasons, but his secret marriage years before to the housekeeper at the castle is an impediment. He repudiates his wife and child, depending upon the peculiar circumstances of the marriage to make impossible any proof of a legal ceremony. Years before, during a trip on his brother's yacht, the White Heather, he had acknowledged Marion Hume as his legal wife, before twof witnesses, the skipper and mate, who had j signed a contract of marriage in the yacht's log. Subsequently the yacht was j sunk near shore. To prove her'claim, S9,ve her good name, and secure the rights of her son, Marion goes to court, but in the absence of proof is defeated. Cameron decided to make sure of his position by getting possession of the yacht's log. Also, Alec McClintock, an admirer of Marion, decides on a like expedition. Both men don diver's suits and descend to the wreck intent on recovering the record. They come together under water and there is a struggle. In his effort to cut the pipe which brings air to his rival's helmet Donald severs his own and is drowned, while Alec recovers the marriage record, and wins Marion. GLOBE THEATRE. A ~ five-act Metro drama entitled " Once To Every Man" is the attraction of the Globe Theatre. The story is of a man in the luraberwoods who fights against the drink craving to be worthy of the love of a noble woman. Surprising her lover in suspicious circumstances, the girl discards him and leaves the man to prove his worth. He wins honours in the

professional boxing «mt«sfe,^ma~'^tgt ni ally gains the world champiorJU H Sin 3 the^^V* *° with the girl, -who is now wilWto accept his proof of an upright career.

ORCHESTRAL CONCERT. The Cremona Orchestral Family, a versatile troupe of musicians, singers, and entertainers, will give a concert in the concert chamber, Town Hall, on December 29 and 30 The selections to ba submit ted are of a widely diversified character comprising string quartettes, trios, violin solos, cello solos, songs, solo dances, acd humorous sketches, a special feature beinjr full string orchestral renderings of Brahms "Hungarian Dance" and "Tha Bohemian GirL" The family consists of ten periormers, the youngest being a gifted little girl of five, whose playing dancing and reciting are said to bo delightfully artistic. The company appears for two nights only.

EVERYBODY'S THEATRE. The great melodrama "The Silver Kin-" ! appears at Everybody's Theatre. The role ! D X er , is P U >' ed b y William i Faversham. All . the sensational incidents of the drama-the race for the Epsom Handicap, the murder of Geoffrey Ware "ie train smash, fjie reported death of Denver and his dramatic returners infortv v m The P la y » »**>«* forty years old. I fc was written in 1882 Til™ aJT 1 ? 0 '* 11 En«U* playwright, Henry Arthur Jones, in collaboration with Henry Herman, and in the same year was | produced, and ran for 12 months at the it^wh, There ' ndon - ln tha t period atf W-Y en^ anced th « reputation of the ** Wilson Barrett and E. S. WiUard, who created the title role and the part of led°£l s>l*i5 >I *i *• res P ectiTCl :'- AcknowJS at the toe to be the best melodrama ever written, that distinction has never been wrested from it. PRINCESS THEATRE. Paramount picture - Little Miss be the P'koW attraction 5 «f Z; m enmno commencing to-day HJ^ 6 ..P™ 3 .Theatre. "Little Miss Hoover is described as a twrougbly enjoyable, wholesome play with many strong scenes, containing a delightful love story, many humorous incidents, and many scenes of compelling interest The popular and dainty little screen actress Miss Margeurite Clark, is in the leading role, and is foremost in making the picture a pronounced success. A Alack Sennett comedy and the Paramount Gazette form, the supporting portion of the programme. TIVOLI THEATRE. Elsie Ferguson appears at the Tivoli Theatre to-day in a society drama entitled " The Marriage Price," The actress is everywhere admired, and her talent is seen to distinct advantage in this production. The story is strong and the set- ; tings lavish. On the same programme ap- ! pears a comedy entitled " Bunkered," with Mr. and Mrs, Sydney Drew in, the leading roles. QUEEN'S THEATRE. The principal attraction on to-day's pro- ; gramme at the Quean's Theatre is "Mandarin's Gold," with Kitty Gordon in the leading role. The picture is fujl of surprises, and presents the actress in one of her most successful parts. Miss Gordon is seen in tie role of Betty Cardon, a society woman who is very badly hi need of money, and who in a surprising manner is given the opportunity of securing the money she needs. The second episode of the serial story, "The Silent Mystery,'' will also be screened. - — «■•-.. LYRIC THEATRE. Constance Talmadge appears today at tile Lyric Theatre in "A Lady's Name." The story deals with an authoress who • wanted a nominal husband for a character ' in her new book.' She advertised, and got both a husband and a surprise. Constance Talmadge acts the part in a convincing manner, and adds to the role her . own daintiness and charm. i GRAND THEATRE. * The holiday programme at the Grand j Theatre presents the charming actress 11 Bessie Love in " The Dawn of Understand- '; lag-" . The lighter side of the enteraaa- . ment is catered for by Charlie Ghapliri.