ENTERTAINMENTS.

New Zealand Herald, Volume LVIII, Issue 17782, 16 May 1921, Page 7

ENTERTAINMENTS.

KING'S THEATRE.

• " The Broken Rosary." described as a four-act drama linking the church and the stage, was presented at the King's Theatre on Saturday by Puller's Dramatic Playerd. It concerns the fortunes of an orphan girl brought up in a convent, entirely sheltered from the world, and then lured away by the specious promises of a libertine, only to find that the world of which she had dreamed from her sanctuary was a place of many sorrows and much wickedness, with here and there a Btreak of human kindness to alleviate it The play is frank melodrama, with the wicked people very, very wicked, and the £ood ones equally superlative in their virtues. The comic relief, while neither subtle nor especially refined, is in keeping with the high lights of the rest of the story. As the convent girl. Sacred, Miss Clarice Warner is sincere, and generally convincing. She is called upon to speak too many soliloquies, which-sound like speeches aimed at the audienee. But that is the fault of the play-wright rather tnan the player. As Steve Gordin, the bluff sailor, who foils all the villains and rescues the heroine. Mr. George CrosH handles the part in hi 3 usual capable style, and wins the sympathy of his audience. The villain's part is invested by Mr. Kenneth Carlisle wilh an appropriate atmosphere of brutal cynicism. The comedy, principally entrusted to Mr. Walter Cornock and Miss Connie Metters, carries the action along breezily where the lighter relief is needed. The remaining parts are capably bandied, while the mounting and stage effects are well and atpropnately provided. OPERA HOUSE. T!he feature of the new programme at the Opera House to-day will be Puller's new revue, ''Si* Little Wives," a nautical absurdity produced by Walter Johnson, which, will be staged for the \. first time in. Auckland. "Six Little Wires" will be preceded. by five vaudeville acts, the artists being Frn Pitoher, Arthur Taucheri, Brull and Hemsley. Bellora. Clemo and Brady. MUNICIPAL ORGAN RECITAL. The organ recital in the Town Hall on Saturday evening attracted a largo audience, who warmly appreciated the organ nnmbers played by the city organist, Mr. Maughan Barnett. and the vocal -numbers contributed by the Municipal Choir.. The items by the choir included " The Song cf the Pedlar" (Lee Williams), "O. Gladsome Light" (Sullivan), and Epilogue from "Banner of St. George" (Elgar). Mr. Barnett played "The Jolly Miller." arranged for organ and bells. " In the Halls of the Mountain. King " (Greig). " Death of Ase," and works by Coreili. Silas, and Wolstenholme. Thel-chori organist was Mr. Edgar Randall. ' DRAMATIC . ENTERTAINMENT. "\ The dramatic eptertainment given, by Madame Mabel St. 'James and a number of "her pupils in the Town Hall concert" chamber on Saturday.evening in. aid of the' Children's Home. Richmond Road, attracted a large and enthusiastic audience, tji© "hall being packed to its utmost capacity.•'"'The; various items on the attractive programme showed a high standard of training. _. Childr yen's costume recitals, which included clovei impersonations, were given by Misses LCockroft. W. and R. Todd, A. Aylett, A. Graham, E. Hall, F. Kay. and B. Philcox. and Maker M. Laird. Each, item . was well rendered, being warmly received. A Dickens' scene, " Lady Deadlock and Joe," in which Miss Muriel Philcox showed great emotional power, and Miss Biddy Philcox very cleverly interpreted the part of Joe, was one of the most popular turns. Joyce Bremner and Hilda Parkinson won' warm applause in humorous sketches. Madame' St. James rendered " The Hellgate of Roissons," and a.Shakespearean recital. "The Duke of York's Garden at Langley" (Richard •II.) with fine dramatic power, and held the audience throughout. The musical selections contributed by Mr. S. Adams' qu'ntette were warmly appreciated. The entertainment concluded with a comedy in one act, " The Pros and Cons of Marriage," which caused crea! amusement. The parts were taken by Misses Inez Taylor, Christine White, May Rudd, and Mr. Ralph Trimmer. The stage arrangements were artistically carried out under the direction of Mr. W. J. Crowther. CATHOLIC SCHOLARSHIPS CONCERT. The booking plan for the Roman Catholic scholarships concert to be held in the Town Hall next Monday, opens to-day at the Catholic Depot, Darby Street. The programme will appear in a future issue.