ENTERTAINMENTS.

New Zealand Herald, Volume LVII, Issue 17574, 13 September 1920, Page 6

ENTERTAINMENTS.

PICTURE THEATRES. •

The possibilities of the cinema-drama are well exemplified m this week's offerings at the Auckland picture theatres. Modern history is screened in one direction, ancient history in another, and the works of brilliant English and American authors supply the themes for two at. least. of the attractions which come under the heading of fiction. In both acting and staging a very nigh standard is set, denoting the advance that is ever being made in film production. The etory of the feat performed by Sir Boss Smith and Sir Keith Smith of flying from Britain to Australia mas -.recounted at the Strand Theatre on Saturday Sir Keith Smith to a very large audience. The narration of the various incidents of the journey was most fascinating, but the colour given to the story by the slides and film screened was such that it had a thrilling effect upon those to follow the lecturer's description of the course flown, covering a distance of 11,340 miles. In fancy the audience accompanied the aviators from the beginning of the flight from Hounslow on November 12, 1919, to Lyons, thence to Borne, [ Crete and to Cairo, which was reached five days later. -The narrative becomes absorbingly interesting as the machine hovers over the pyramids of Egypt and then shoots on. toward Palestine. The Mount of Olives and the Garden, of Gethsemane are clearly depicted on the screen, and as the aircraft passes on over Persia, India, Malay peninsula and finally reaches Port Darwin in the actual flying time of 135 hours, or 5 days 15 hours, the interest is intense. The battlefields of El Azish, Bafa and Gaza were clearly portrayed. Beautiful views are shown of the airmen's experiences at different points along the Persian Gulf, with its rugged country extending to Karachi, and also of other places on the way to Rangoon and Bangkok, through the Butch Indies and Timor. The final dash over' 300 miles to Australia, while lacking the picturesqueness of the, other'part of the journey, evoked a, feeling 'of suppressed excitement which found expression in loud and unstinted applause as Port Darwin became visible in the foreground,« and this continued for some minutes after the actual landing on Australian soil had been witnessed. The seductress and siren of ancient Judea, "Salome," is the central figure in an elaborate production finned in Southern California by William Pox, with Theda Bara in the title-role, which is being screened this, week at the National Theatre. This .incursion into biblical history of the period just prior to the birth of Christ has been exceedingly well treated in the picture under notice, the contrast between the pagan barbarity of the age and' the " crier in the wilderness," John the Baptist, being remarkably finely maintained. The splendour of Herod's court, the sumptuous settings depicting the old city of Jerusalem, the artistio grouping of the tremendous ensembles, make for unusually striking spectacular effects. In this environment the tragic story of Salome's vain passion for John the Baptist, and her terrible revenge, is powerfully set forth by a cast of artists all of whom handle .their parts convincingly. The film follows the tale related by the Jewish writer, Flavins Josephns. The climax is the dance of the seven veils, in which Salome, inspired by the hatred bora of being scorned, in spite of all her woman's wiles, by the ascetic prophet, demands his head on a silver charger, her wish being granted by Herod. In the stage version of Salome by Oscar Wilde this dance as performed by Mary Garden in Now York aroused a storm of disapproval which ended in its being banned. In the screen version the. dance is presented without any objectionable features. Theda Bara, as Salome, wears magnificent costumes,' sufficiently barbaric and, at times, scanty, enough to correctly typify the abandon—of the age represented. Her conception of the role is thorough in its portrayal of* a sensuous wanton, a murderess, and & fascinator of men. and she does not spare herself in the more gruesome episodes, such as the ghoulish joy of Salomo in kissing 'the lips of the Baptist's dead head as it lies on the charger before her. The supernumeraries in the cast number many hundreds, and the entire film is a faithful reflex of the place and period of the story. " Salome" is. in short, one of those stupendous productions which say much for the development of the cinema and its adaptability to great scenic and acting displays. Romance and adventure are skilfully interwoven in "The Street of the Seven Stars," a picture version of. the book by Mary Roberts Bhinehart, which was shown at the Hippodrome. The heroine is Harmony Wells, a high-minded American girl, who is dowered with genius as a violinist. She goes abroad to study, and for a time lives in the Latin quarter in Paris. The famous quarter is effectively portrayed, and also the life of the students who go to the great French metropolis for study and development. _ There is a charming love story'that ends in the marriage of Harmony to a young American doctor, who first meets her when he rescues her from an apache. Nothing finer in tragi* acting has been seen on the screen since moving pictures entered the realms of the drama than that of John Barrvmore, in the dual role of ** Dr. Jekyll and Mr. Hyde" in the picturised version of Robert Louis Stevenson"awell-known work Of that name. This Paramount film is to be seen at the Tivoli Theatre, where it impressed large gatherings at both sessions on Saturday as one of the most powerful of photoplays. The subject of the story, as those who have Tead it know, is not a pleasant one; it is at times both gloomy and gruesome. What counts is that it has a moral which ifl so effectually driven home, so vividly impressed upon the mind, that the very sombreness and horror of it are wholesome in their effect. Sensitive people will probably feel that some of the tragedy of the film version has been over-accentuated, and certainly there are scenes that cause the onlooker to shudder The outstanding feature is the art of Mr. Barry-more. None of his contemporaries, and few of his predecessors, have created anything more forceful and compelling than his double impersonation in this great tragedy drama.

THE "DIGGERS" PIERROTS. v PiT^,. 111 " 80 I S ade *» ***» "DiggersPierrots to provide an evening of music, gaiety, fun, and frivolity was carried outto the entire eatisfaclaon of a crowded audience at the Town Hall concert chamber on Saturday evening. The performers, opening with . a chorus entitled " Smile in the ™S*' V?P* **" o{ *™ in™froiio w U i n .!• v and „ tfle s I*t'a All go Ravin? Mad " by Stan. Lawson and company and the comic interlude " The Canary/-h/'TaSo aB Jt-i mdus - V™*** prove! grlally & the taste of the audience. The dig|STdua£ tette, comprising Messrs. BosherTPiortS? Perkins, and Walker, was heard to advantage titled The Admirable Fleming" Droved imed The Admirable Fleming" moved an excellent vehicle for Gus. Dawson, as a young officer to confide in his batman) Tano Fama, regarding his infatuation for a gay actreas. "Winter Time," a eong by Stwf. Lawson and company, in the costume of the season, provided. a picturesque effect. Tano »♦ m ' w* < ? m l? Bon S " The Milkboy 2L™°. Wa .??«ct"ely introduced thTold diggers wail, "I want to go home." Frank Perkins need his baritone voice to advantage" in Awake and several encor« items. The •work of Donald Stuart was throughout or? gmal and. diverting. As an eccentoc comedian-conjuror he was responsible for a great deal of mirth and later, a cos ton* song, » Sailors Don't Care," and an encore! w A n„ !t'j was e s tra Pleasing. Don. Wallace had, a good offering in a character song, -Jogging Along th In this song he appeared as a tramp, his excellent make-up. costume, and expression combining to make the character very realistic His encore item was " Old Devil-may-care " George Bosner sang "Take a Pair of Sparkling Eyes," and was called upon for two encores. Stan. Lawson appeared in a burlesque drama, a drarnatio episode, and.,* tiuet and dance and displayed some charming dresses of latest design. His work as a misleading lady '* was extremely finished and enjoyable. G US , Dawson and Len. Walker were heard m a pleasing Dutch duet '. jll, Trousers'/ which concluded with a clog dance. The entertainment concluded with a " Dotted revue introducing a great deal of burlesque and a duet " Have a Heart." by St«. Lawson and Frank. Perkins. Gue. Dawson, in the role of a continental waitress was anita convincing. _ The orchestra, directed bv Bernard Cottier, played " Morning, Noon and Aight and -Chong," and accompanied the performers in a manner which contributed in no small measure to the success of the entertainment. The performance will be repeated this evening and for a short season.

"TILLY OF BLOOMSBURY." Judging by the press reports from Sydney and Melbourne, here J. C Williamson's new English comedy company played highly successful seasons in -Tilly of JtSioomsbury " Auckland theatre-goers may look forward **h confidence to an enjoyable production fm-ii .Majesty's Theatre next Thursday. 1 illy of JBloomsbury" i 6 an adaptation by the author. Lan Hay, of his delightful book '-Happy-go-Lucky." The company includes new English artists in Dorothy Mariville 4E an Freeman, George Blunt, and Percy Rhodes, and other artists appearing are Mrs. Robert Brough Misses Emma Temple, Beryl Bryant, Dorothy Seacombe, and Meta Pelham, and Messrs. Arthur Styan, Frank Hawthorne, Pine Bush, Carleton Stuart, and Wilfred Hilary. -'Tilly of Bloomsbury" is a play of love, laughter, and a few tears, with a human appeal all through. The box plans for six performances open this morning. OPERA HOUSE. The new programme at the Opera House this afternoon and evening includes the Nine Wonders Acrobatic Team and Balto the Equilibrist, who make their first appearance in Auckland The Walter George Sunshine Flayers will present a new revue playlet entitled "The Picnic Party." Other items include Billy Elliot, Elsie Martin, and Miss Don Dee.

MUNICIPAL ORGAN RECITAL. The city organist, Mr. J. Menghan. Barnett, gave his weekly organ recital in the Town Hall on Saturday evening, The organ items comprised "Toccata " (Dubois): " AlJt? re j i' ? m AH fourth organ sonata (Mendelssohn): old Spanish melody for organ and bells; ' Sonata m G," for organ, op. 28 Elgar): and the overture " Zampa." (Herold). The vocalist, Mr. Norman D Hay was. heard to advantage in " Invictus" (B* Huhn), and «< Wake " (Guy D'Hardelot). Mr. Leo. Whtttaker acted as accompanist.