ENTERTAINMENTS.

New Zealand Herald, Volume LX, Issue 18396, 11 May 1923, Page 9

ENTERTAINMENTS.

ROYAL AUCKLAND CHOIR.

OPENING CONCERT. ■The first concert of the season by the popular organisation of male voices known I ' as the Royal Auckland Choir engaged I ! the attention of a large audience of sub-; I scribers and others at the Town Hall last j . evening. Most of the available platform ! space was occupied by the 78 choristers, i i who. in most instances, promptly re- : sponded to the beat of Dr. W. E. Thomas, j ■. the society's conductor. Many of the j 1 interpretations secured testified to assidu- | ous rehearsal and attention to the finer . points of nuance. Tone contrasts were { | fittingly presented, and there was evident I care in enunciation and phrasing. The j j choir was well balanced, and but for a i ' tendency to flatness on the part of the j j first tenors was frequently in a position, i ito give a good account of itself. Im- j l proved methods of production on the I part of some of the upper voices would j appear to be necessary, and a re-examin- j I ation of the tenors should be in the best I interests of the choir, which in its happi- \ | est moments is capable of authoritative I j and inspiring renderings, j First on the list was the male-voice setting of Danbv's concerted vocal test, I "Awake. Aeolian Lyre." The opening I "Awake" lacked the commanding tone, \ » and the singers were heard to better adJ vantage in the ensuing complicated music, j The "Largo," with its sudden tone i j changes, was well done, but there was j ; some lack of driving force in the part ! where the "Rocks and nodding groves rebellow to the roar." Hymn-like harmonies J were represented in the part-song - , "When ! i for the World's Repose" (Earl Morningj ton), and so skilfully was the expression j j scheme presented that the item was re-j ! called. In Knowles' fine number, "The j Viking's Farewell," much meritorious efj fort was to some extent negatived by rea- { son of the light piano accompaniment, i which gave insufficient support- to the ; upper voices in the middle section. The j part-song, "Peace and War" (DardJanin) ' was deservedly encored. A closed-Jip aci companiment adequately supported the j I opening tenor aria, "Now Smiles the J ] Star," etc. Following this- was the mar- j j tial "AHetrro" with its resounding i j phrases leading up to some effective pas- j j sages in imitation. The second basses : 1 were sufficiently alert in "But. Hearken!" I and from here to the close played an im- ! fortant part in the harmony scheme. ! ( fenrv Smart's "Capstan Chorus" was a fine example of rhythmical sinking, while IV Bil'e's " Serenade " was given with full effect. Robert Schumann's beautiful i number "Bells of Soring" put forward an enticing array of harmonic ideas, while the concluding concerted effort, "The Til- ! lace Wedding"," gave much scope for refined humour. s>i , Miss Fay Nezdar's highly-trained soprano sounded somewhat overtaxed in her solos, "My Dreamland Rose" and "I Dreamt t that I was the Wind" (Montague Phil- j j lips), as well as the Charpentier excerpt, i ! "Depuis ,Ie Jour," from "Louise." The ! vocalist, however, excelled herself in her j charmingly-buoyant . rendering of Sulli- j van's "Poor Wandering One," sung as the first of two special recall songs in the ! latter part of the programme. Mis* Nezdar a accompaniments were played with much taste by Mr. Frank Stutchbury. , .. . Violin solos of a particular genre appear to be best suited to Miss Dorothy Baker, who scored particularly well in the Kreis- ] ler arrangement of Rimskv-Korakoff's | langurous "Hindoo Chant" and Gossec's j dainty "Gavotte," winning a double recall after these. In her solo. "Bouree" ; (Bach-KYeisler), Miss Baker's intonation j was uneven, and she was not invariably in sympathy with the score. : Mrs. Richard Singer's accompaniments to these violin solos were played with discernment. "...-. :.. .As tenor soloist. Mr. Edward Dennis , displayed sincerity and, moreover, had a ' sound knowledge of his music in "Lend j Me J? or .. Ald from Gounod's "La Reinel , : I baba, and Queer's excellent setting jof Blow, Blow, Thou Winter Wind " I The tenor was warmly encored after each ! aopesrarice. He was accompanied by j .Mr. G. I. Allen, who played with accuracy, if rather unobtrusive. ' . LYRIC THEATRE. The new programme to be screened at the Lyric Theatre to-day and for the following •. week will be headed by _ thoughtless Women." The storv. which is an offering of the Pioneer Film Corporation, concerns (the . : activities of i a mother, whose vanity and hypocrisy bring unbearable hardships on her daughter. The author, Daniel Carson Goodman, causes Annie Marnet as portrayed by -Alma Rubens, to take up residence in a rich home at the bidding of her mother, whose vain desires and ambitions are. to see her daughter shining in society. The . innocent girl rebels against this unnatural treatment by her mother. She is driven ; almost to self-destruction by her unhappy , environment, but is brought back to happiness by that healer of ; feminine trials , | and. tribulationslove. In the end Anj nie marries the wealthy banker, whose : natural station in life is in the strata in ; which Annie's mother desires to place her. j j The topic is one which permeates the at- | | mosphere of many homes in every com- j j munity, and one which is so appealing j i that it will doubtless stir the hearts of j ! men and women witnessing the film, j I Also on the bill will be the Universal ! ! Jewel'production, " The Flirt," a film ] j version of Booth Tarkington's famous ] j story of the same name. An all-star cast j i interprets the various roles. The title ] role is played by Eileen Percy, with Helen I I Jerome Eddy as the other sister. George j ] Nichols as the father and Buddy Messen- j ; ger as the little imp of a brother, are two i ! other?, whose work in this picture standi '■ | out prominently. The story deals with I life in an average American family, I | where a beautiful daughter, who knows ! j she is beautiful, tries to rule the family j ! and nearly wrecks it. She all bat sends j I her father to prison in her longing for I finery like other girls have. There will he good supporting films. STRAND THEATRE. : " The Silent Voice." which is to be the chief attraction on the new programme at the Strand Theatre to-dav and for the ensuing week, features George Ar- j ; hss. He will be seen as Arden. a famous I j American musician, who becomes deaf. I i He is in Paris at the time with his young I j wife, whom he has just married, "fame ' < has come to him, but this affliction is ; J the end. or so he thinks. He returns I to New York and hides away is an obi- ] i cure apartment. From his windows he j j can see a great park and hundreds of j ; people passing below. Arden has by this j j time learned lip-reading, and he peers at | the passers-by through a telescope. With : i the passing of time his whole nature i | changes. He is no longer smiling and j gay, cheering those about him. Jest the j opposite is the case, He becomes morose j ' and dejected, instilling fear into those ! about him. He brings hatred upon him- j self by his taciturnity. The charming ; girl who became his wife on the very I eve of the affliction overcoming him it willing to sacrifice everything to remain j at his side, but, the musician seems to resent this, and does everything to turn j her from him. Only his sister remains, : and she endeavours loyally to keen her j brother and his wife together. Almost J every other ?r:end bar; turned away from j Arden. He is then impelled to seek re- ] spite in suicide. He decides to throw j himself from his high apartment to the j pavement beneath. Jukl as he is about.; •-, roeke the fatal leap. he. fee* a young cwpie on a bench in the park directly opposite. In that instant he is .wired with a great cariosity to know what thev are saying. He takes his teletype and studies them. From their lip* he learns that they, too, are it) trouble. How simple seems his own burden in comoariwan to the weight borne by others. He decides to help the young couple, and doe*, to. Finally he recovers his hearipg, and is • restored to those he Sew*. Also on the new bill will i* a. Mark .Sennet', comedy, "The Duck Hunters," while Mis* Nixon , will provide a musical prologue with songs ' at•' the piaio. l

■ : '"' , TTVOLI THEATRES. '"''' The new Paramount attraction. at : the .; Tivoli Theaire to-day and for the ensu- V ing week' will be, "Singed Wings," a v Penrbyn Stanlaws production, starring y Bebe * Daniels. Supporting artists are Conrad Nagel, Adolphe Menjou, Robert ; Browcr Ernest Torrence, and Mabel Trunelle. This photo-play is described as being both powerful and unique, presenting one of the most unusual stories ever screened. Bcbe Daniels appears as Bonita, a Spanish girl, who has a vivid dream which she describes to her grandfather, Don Jose. As she talks her dream is enacted. It shows a lovely garden and.a fairy castle. The fairies plan to make the Prince and Princess fall in love. The Prince meets the Princess and retrieves a white rose which has fallen from her hair, kisses it, and returns it to her. The King's jester is jealous and spys upon the lovers. When the Princess is alone he draws his bow and arrow and discharges the latter into her breast. As she swoons the Princess sings a strange song. The Prince, hearing it. turns his horse avid starts back to the garden. There the dream ends. Don Jose tells Bonita that the dreams of-his family always come true. Later Bonita is seen as a dancer in an American cabaret, where Emilo. a half-witted clown , (Ernest Torrence) worships her. With his wife. Bliss Gordon comes to the cabaret and is struck by Bontta's. charm. He learns that the rose in her hair is a symbol of her virtue, and he makes a wager that he will obtain the flower. Gordon's wife. Eve, is distracted by) her husband's infidelity and sends, for their nephew, Peter Gordon (Conrad Nagel), and begs hi? aid. At the cafe Peter sees Bonita dancing and the fairy ' i episode of the recovered rose is repeats by him. Subsequently there is an en- ! counter between the elder Gordon and i his nephew, the latter, intervening on i behalf of Bonita. Events now move I swiftlv to a dramatic climax, in wlv'ch i the clown plays a prominent part. The acting of the picture is described as exceptional. On the same bill will be a . "Torch v" comedy, and other interesting, features. .GRAND THEATRE, A film play that is said to bo a powerful study of human nature, "The World, the Flesh and the Devil," will be the principal feature of the new programme to be screened at the Grand Theatre to-, day and for tho following week. The story is that of a young girl who is not a deliberate sinner, hut who, has in- .: I herited weakness. ' She is hopeful and i innocently artless. She dreams of a peri feet soui-raate and is alert find him. - In the meantime she is wooed by men . who do not appeal to her. Finally .she ; sets her choice upon the one man and [ loves him to distraction. She discovers : that he is unworthy and her disillusion-: ;; ■ ment is painful. The tone of the theme i is such that it is bound to make a deep-•/.' j impression. Self-abnegation and sacri-; : i fice are painted in vivid colours and. the spectator is said to be frequently moved | deeply by the incidents depicting) the j experiences of tho central character, in I this human drama. It is claimed, moreover, that there v. is j ; av- religious atmos- - phere in the picture which renders its - | presentation more than usually; interestj mg. The , many i dramatic situations are I said to '■<. lead to '"..a .fine and Impressive ■•■■-J | climax. Also on the programme will j be, " Kazan," an Alaskan story of ■: ft v man-beast, a girl, and some : wonderful : dogs. There are remarkable scenes ,In the snow country, ! .-■■:■' .'',,. NATIONAL THEATRE. The ' popular star, Mae Murray, ha* the fullest scope for her dancing. abili- >. ties in "The Delicious % Little Devil," ; which is to be the chief attraction:; at - : the .National Theatre to-day and for the :.; following week. Of interest also' is : the . appearance in this picture -of .:,' Rodolph : y Valentino, in the role of a . young . man-. about town, who is madly ■-, in \ove : with Gloria le \ Moyne, the cabaret dancer, 1 played by Mae Murray. : The story tells of the efforts 'of this girl to live up -to lan assumed reputation for : wickedness. She hates to do if. but bread and butter, ; ' with a few "trimmings" are i dependent ;, upon it. ' On ' the strength ;of : her repu- ; tation she becomes the rage of •a ; road- " bouse near; New York. Of the, men ; who go there she ; prefers Jimmie ± ; Cal- > houn (Valentino). ; She tries to tell him ; ; that her; reputation is assumed, but fate ; ; always intervenes to keep him in ignorance. «Jimmv is in the same fix. -He loves the girl, but he: fears to: entrust , ! his future happiness to . such ,a. little . "vamp." The climax comes in the midst of this purine situation, and everything is straightened out as it should be. ■ ■ "' '• ■ ' •• ' : ■ :'-•■'>•-■■. -