ENTERTAINMENTS.

New Zealand Herald, Volume LX, Issue 18332, 23 February 1923, Page 9

ENTERTAINMENTS.

"THE SENTIMENTAL BLOKE." ■;,-.' Memories of the larrikin days.in Australia, those days which,;thanks'to^ the advances of education, are slipping away, are vividly recalled by the presentation at His Majesty's Theatre / of that r very human, and also very amusing, \ dramatic offering, "The Sentimental Bloke," by C. J. Dennis. No one knew the viewpoint of the city larrikin of Australia better than did Dennis, and although this type of lawless young ruffian belongs to a period of 10 or 15 years ago, yet that fact in no way diminishes the hold which Dennis' comedy exercises over, the average theatre-goer. The . humour-crude, blunt, yet ever human— the play supplies made a strong appeal upon its first appearance last night, and although in the early stages there may have been —probably -was—* slight 3 evidence, of inability to grasp the meaning of some of the racy Australian colloquialisms, this vanished as scene followed scene. Humour- especially what may be called the humour of the common-place— never fails • to evoke applause. It. tt really but another way of v saving that •« one touch of humour makes the; whole world grin," and the love-making, sincere, tut uncouth, of the "Sentimental Bloke," as depicted by Walter Cornock, held the audience from scene to scene, erhaps the best, or rather - - the ' truest, portrayal of the larrikin was that given 1 bv Tal Ordell, who, as Ginger Mick,' ! the reaj friend,., or cobber," of the " Sentimental Bloke," ! did much to .ensure the vitality of the piece. .: From i start to finish, "Ginger ''exudes the real atmosphere of. larrikinjsm—and this, it seemed very clear, was well appreciated by the audience. The two ladies in the caste, "■ Doreen," and her quaint, old-fashioned mother,, were well played ■ respectively by Eileen Alexander —a New Zealander. by the way— Stella payter. Another character: in th« story who plays no small part, so far as mirth-provoking is concerned, is " Uncle Jim," a retired farmer, who has discovered gold up on his land. This part, by no means sn easy one to give full expression to, was taken by Edward Landoy, and his queer adventures, when he falls into the hand of "crooks." but is rescued, after a bout of fisticuffs, by the " Sentimental Bloke," are an essenital part of the story. As a means of soending a couple of hours of liVht, mirthful relaxation, 'the play would be hard to excel, and the fact that so manv of the characters have to express- themselves in a crude. harsh vernacular, in no way tends to diminish the humour or weaken th" interest. "The Sentimental Bloke" will be presented again this evening, and until further notice. . ,ir ; TIVOLI THEATRE. ( The popular screen actor, Thomas Meighan. will play the :chief part. in "If You Believe It, It's So," the new Paramount feature to be the leading attraction on the Tivoli Theatre programme, to-night and for the following week. He. will appear as Chick Harris, pickpocket, a leader of the underworld in New York. Chick picks the pocket of a countryman, Ezra Woods, obtaining a wallet containing a large sum of money, representing the savings of Woods 'and ; his ■ wife. Chick is touched by the old man'» grief over his loss ; and', returns the money, saying that he fopnd; it. ' Returning to his haunts , Chick tells ; his companions. that he, is ■ going to reform. 1 He is laughed at, but goes into the coun- . try and sells soap for a living. v On© '. of his former associates decides to rob I the people of the little town where Chick . has settled down, and sets out to collect ! fund» for \ a mythical > orphanage." Under • a threat to disclose his identity the thief n<*ks '■•■, Chick to assist him in his plans. Chick pretends to do so, and is .elected > treasurer of: the : fund. ? that beginsi to i come in. -:j Ultimately he', drives £ the con- • spirator out of } the,. town empty-handed, , and also succeeds in bringing to book a. i rascally agent. It is said that the picture is.a soul-stirring drama of ' a man's struggle for love and happiness. ;:- Sup- ' porting Meighan are* Theodore Roberts, i Pauline; Starke, and other popular . ers. During the action Meighan;; engages ; '.. in one of the most lively/; fights ]. of his screen encreer. This i scene occurs when. Chickt defends an old man, j s whbjissb^init .' brutally treated by a bar-tender.v. Also'■ ,:. on ,-the programme will be brilliant Paramount-Artcraf ; comedy, J " A,*,; Heart | to Let, in \ which Justine . Johnson :" and Harrison.Ford will be 'the stars. ,". . .'■'.'.'■...-.■ '■'•*■:'(■,., .:'•.";.:.'v, : :..->;.'v v -' : --'-•.'<; ", ,-' i .-: : V' ■'...>;%/:■ '„--, i ' ■ STRAND THEATRE. , A film version of; Henrik ' Ibsen's re- . markable problem play, "The Doll's )■; House," will be the chief-attraction at the >■• Strand Theatre to-day , and , for the ensuing . week. 1 -It will ■'. feature Narimbva' in; : 'the .'• role of Nora Helmer, this beiug her first independent production ; for United Artists. The picture is one rwith a human appeal. ) It deals with the!topic of ■■ feminism, and when .first produced on the -speaking stage it aroused ;',' considerable controversy. :< The ' play and the film defend 7a* married ■ woman's right -<to preserve her own individuality. Nora 'is depicted as the doll- '. wife of Torvald Helmer. who believes that ,: a husband's every wish. and whim should . be as, law'to his wife. When, the great crisis in her li f e arrives, forcing her to use her :'i own initiative; ••:■ Nora \ finds herself ' liable to the criminal I law in meeting the ' situation. With v exposure her illusions are shattered, and she leaves :her?hwband; [. Iso f on the new' bill will be a j Harold ! Uovd comedv,"..■"Haunted Spooks," and ' other good films. In a special interlude • songs will be sung ; ; by Miss Dore Opper- ' man, mezzo-soprano. . ■'■-;•■:,''-'•':-A : '..V' i J, . GRAND • THEATRE. I Described as a masterpiece, the new British film, " The■ Sport of Kings," from 1 the Granger-Davidson studios; .will; be 1 the featured picture at the Grand Theatre 5 for the week" commencing to-day. The >, cast is an all-star one, headed • by Victor ' MacLagen, and Phyllis: I Shannaw, sup- " ported by Cyril Percival, Douglas ; Munro 1 and Jack Carroll. It is said that Victor- •' \facliasreri scores ' a," distinct : } triumph "i in ■'■ this picture. The ; action is; vigorous, in- - eluding a heavy-weight boxing contest ?for " the amateur championship of England, a' I flat race, and .a hurdle race, hot to men--6 tion one of, the prettiest "love, stories ever r seen on the screen. v The fight is ' said to > be staged: on a wonderfully realistic scale > and to contain all the elements of excitea ment and interest -which -I ensure -.the rapt attention of • the ; onlooker. The horser racing scenes are described' as pulsating f with the actual ' thrill of ■>. the course, with t much more at issue on the result than is $ usual.:' Lavishly mounted, the photoplay f will, it is said, appeal to a wide variety , of tastes. There will be other good films. % HIPPODROME THEATRE. ' A new William Fox feature, ''Shir- - ley of the Circus," r will be the .chief atc traction at/ the J Hippodrome /Theatre for I the week commencing to-day. This will star the favourite actress, Shirley Macon, who will be supported by George O'Hara v and other well-known players. All the ; glamour i' and glitter ; of the * "big :;teril," its acrobats' and - beauties,, its clowns and contortionists, its side show of; human and - inhuman / freaks," : are .said to '] be : eon- , tained in this film. Through the i action runs a heart-gripping '• story of : love, re- : venge, and i retribui ion. ; One of > the • sensations of the production?is a scene show- ! ing Shirley Mason ati the mercy ; of an i escaped Hon.: There will be strong sup- ' porting films. > r ;'" : ' : ' ! - ; ;" V : .. ; '-•''' ' EVERYBODY'S THEATRE. i The i change ; of 7. programme at Every- » body's Theatre to-day will have ,as its [ feature the striking Metro production of - Anthony ; Hope's romantic tale, :" ; The Prii soner v of : Zenda." ;- This remarkable : film is admirably enacted by a strong cast' I headed by Lewis Stone and Alice Terry. ' Also on the new/ bill will be .two more chapters of the : aerial,/ " The Lion ' Mm," ■:./■/;'. : -.';.; : /'' : ." : -/ -' ; , ; ;, ■'"/ : :'/;;-/ : ;' r : ; - r v^\^fe' ■.:■■■'■■'■. : .' '-■^'■? ■•-• :; .: ; .- k

LYRIC THEATRE. The highly iuccessfal picture, " lit ! , Prisoner of Zenda," is to be the principal , feature of the new programme to; commence a week's • season at the:' Lyric '~ ': Theatre .this evening.' This . story of, 'ihe'- w young Englishman who, • because of his ex- .<'.: traoroinary likeness to the King of Ruri- ; tania v finds himself plunged into a series' / :; of thrilling adventures, ;is • written ana '■' / filmed in the tree spirit of romance./. The -- magic of Rex'lngram/ who also produced "The Four Horsemen," has given this : Anthony Hope classic of love and intrigue / and adventure a new permanence on the Y;V screen; i And as it comes to life in all the / ; beauty and magnificence which only the * screen; could give it, it becomes a thing. ■ of enchantment. This picture may or may; not have cost Metro a million dollars, but . it is certain that it could have beep no more beautifully nor no more impressively made had it cost Yrrioro than that. It would be impossible to suggest actors who ■■ could/better the performances of the various members of the cast which has been assembled to I impersonate the roles of these familiar characters who have thrilled , thousands either through the printed page or in the stage version. Lewis Scone gives ; a ; flawless performance of the dual role of Rassendyll and King Rudolph. Alice Terry is a most charming and regal Prin- ■~;/■; cess Flavia. Robert Edeson is an ideal Colonel Sapt and,; Stuart Holmes and Ramon Navarro as Black Michael and Rupert of. Hentzau are the perfect villains of one's imagination. Others who give splendid performances are Barbara La Marr, Malcolm McGregor, Edward , Connelly and Lois Lee. The photography,- •-; which is of rare beauty, is by John F. Seitz. '.' ' ■•-, . . PRINCESS '* T THEATRE. A private screening was given at the Princess Theatre yesterday morning; of the new Paramount special ;<; feature, "Man- ''■//. slaughter," which is to be the leading at-'; traction to-day and for a limited season ;*' to ■ follow. The-impression made upon , those present was a decidedly good one. .- The theme is powerful and intensely dramatic, running along quite original lines and introducing unique situations. The p? odncer was Cecil ,B. de Mille, who is noted for the elaborate ; nature of his ' stagings. In "Manslaughter" he has ex- / celled • himself, the scenic effects, groupinc. lighting and photography being beyond / criticism. Another feature of the production is the fine cast engaged in its interpretation. Leatrice Joy is remark- , able in tho leading role of a yo"n<r Society girl, a spoilt beauty, who selfishly lives... her own life until a tragedy cuts into its' even tenor, and she finds herself in gaol for manslaughter. Thomas Meighan is.a > forceful, figure as the district ' attorney, who, though < loving the fair Lydia, prose- - ; . . cutes her and has her sent to prifon.. The story is told in a series of enthralling ': episodes which hold the attention of the onlooker to the end, not only the stars but their supporting players making the ; f utmost of : their opportunities. ■ • v /