ENTERTAINMENTS.

New Zealand Herald, Volume LX, Issue 18412, 30 May 1923, Page 11

ENTERTAINMENTS.

SHI HARRY LAUDER

At His Majesty's Theatre on Friday evening next, J. and N. Tait, by arrangement ■ with .E. J. i Carroll, present for a short farewell season, Sir Harry Lauder, the world-famed Scottish comedian, who is supported by a strong .vaudeville company. Sir Harry has just concluded a remarkably successful season in Sydney, where the press gave the talented artist unlimited appreciation. -The News says: "The art, the magnetism, and the personality of the man are irresistible. Sir Harry is like a beautiful painting, the oftener you see him the more you appreciate him." The Sun says: "Fashionable Sydney folk were present at the Palace Theatre on Saturday night to give Sir Harry Lauder a hearty welcome. At the finish everyone was in the merriest mood imaginable. Lauder we have never seen or heard in better form, and we proffer him a thousand welcomes." Sir Harry Lauder is supported by a fine company, which includes Stan*. Kavanagh, the juggling humorist - Queenie Fenton, soprano La Venture, in a luminous fantasy, - entitled . "Fata Morgana;' Daphne Ferguson, Scottish dancer; Phyllis and Giles, in absurdities; and Tom Payne and Vera Hilliard in burlesque episodes. Harry Lauder is singing many new numbers ■_ that ho has made famous all the world over including "Ohio," "Doughie, the, Baker," "Roaming in the Gloaming/' "New Zealand Girls are Good Enough tor Me." "When I Was Twentyone," etc. Also,- by request, -he is repeating a few of his most popular songs of his previous visit. The box plans open this morning at Lewis R. Eady and Son, Ltd., , for the season of eight nights and two Saturday matinees.

STRAND THEATRE. The final screenings of " The Bond Boy,"' at the' Strand- Theatre will ho given to-day and to-morrow. i This -'.picture reveals Richard Barthelmess at his best, in a very moving and dramatic story. There 'are excellent supporting films. A unique attraction is to be presented on Friday and for the following week, namely, the 'great Douglas Fairbanks production of Robin Hood." This has been, declared by American reviewers to be the finest piece of pure entertainment that has yet been .presented on the screen.. As a spectacle it is said to be equal to anything that has preceded it, and superior to many of them. The pictorial composition and lighting of the massive sets are described as artistically beautiful. As a piece of ■ romantic history also. the story is said to hold the interest from first to last. • One wellknown critic said of the production: "It is a sparkling compound of romantic history and' legend that has not one dull moment. The spectacular side -is magnificently done, and there are plenty of typical Fairbanks thrills. The whole production will '■'.:■. hold any .audience thrilled." In the relation of the romauce of Robin Hood and s Maid Marian : it is claimed that excellent continuity has been maintained throughout, 'while- the settings beggar description for lavishness and accuracy of detail and \ atmosphere. The crowds have ' been < handled in : a /' masterly manner, and the direction is "■ admirable. The theme , tells how the | Earl \of Huntingdon defeats - Sir Guy/ of t Gisbourne, in a tourney, and 1 receives the crown of victory from Lady Marian Fitzwalters. Later he goes with King Richard, to the Crusades. . Lady Marian; persecuted by Sir Guy and '- Prince. John, flees, and is -believed to ,be dead. Then Huntingdon returns and, as Robin Hood, fights' for, and wins the fair Marian. Douglas Fairbanks plays the ? title-role, and Enid Bennett appears as Marian. There is a fine . supporting cast. ,U > ,<*

... ,, NATIONAL, THEATRE. The final screenings of " The Flame of Life," featuring Priscilla Dean, , will be given at the National Theatre to-day and this evening. Commencing to-morrow, "Monte Cristo," a 'lavish production ■■ by Eramett.. J. Flynn, for William Fox "of Alexandre Dumas' famous * work, will be screened for a limited season. .This story, which had been . read .by millions ' and which will ever remain as a classic* of adventure", love, and romance, ' provides an excellent theme itfor a screen -drama. It is possible through" the: scope of the motion ■ picture , camera to carry* the audience to France, the locale, of the story, and, there depict in a faithful, way the stirring " adventures of " the ' youth first known as Edmund Dantes. For this role, later " Monte Cristo " himself,' John Gilbert was selected. y> Mr. Gilbert is a young man of exceptional ability and it is said he contributes a spiritual quality to his work which'bears out the character to - perfection. Estelle Taylor has tho role of the sweetheart of Eamurid Dantes, and later appears as the wife;of-Fernand, one of the conspirators against* Dantes. Another feminine role especially 'commended is that of the Princess Haidee, for which Virginia Faire was : selected, The role of Caderousse,the inn-keeper, whose fear of telling' the truth causes Edmund Dantes to, be thrown in prison for twenty years, was given to William V. Mong. One of the most dominating characters in - " Monte Cristo" is that of do . Villefort, the unscrupulous' and merciless king's prosecutor. This part is taken by Robert McKim, whose reputation as a villain is well known. The .film is a highly spectacular one, having cost a fortune to produce. ' -

, TIVOLI THEATRE. The last two evenings of the present programme at the Tivoli Theatre are anI nounced. Alice Brady in Missing Milj lions," and Jack Holt in " Making a j Man," are the main attractions. Heading j the new bill on Friday will be " Back \ Home and Broke," starring Thomas j Meighan and Lila Lee. This new Paraj mount film concerns Tom Reading and big life romance. He is the son of « supposedly rich father j who dies suddenly, | leaving the widow and the young man ; penniless. In their home town their j predicament arouses very little sympathy, and with a few exceptions, mother and son are given a bad time. _. The boy, | determined to make his fortune, goes west j and becomes a millionaire owner of oil- ; fields. Then it is that he returns to tho \ little village where, to all intents and ; purposes, he is down and out. This is j simply a ruse to discover just who his j friends are. From this point onwards the | audience will experience a great deal of I satisfaction in the knowledge of the. man's ! actual "financial standing, After a- few days of alleged poverty, the young Readi ing reveals the true position, much to the chagrin of those who had belittled him and his mother, and to the gratification of those few who had stuck to their hero throughout. Also on the new bill will be " The Speed Girl." with Bebc Daniels in a bright portrayal. . > LYRIC THEATRE. The comedy-drama, " Another Man's '■■ Shoes." with Herbert Rawlinson and BarI bara Bedford in the leading parts, and ; " High Speed." featuring Gladys Huletie j and Edward Earlc. make excellent fare. ! They are the principal attractions on the 1 current bill at the Lyric Theatre. On I Fri » / there will be a complete change |of programme. Among the special feai tures to be presented will be "The Laveni der Bath Lady," a Universal film pro- ' duced by Car! Laemmle, and starring i Gladys Walton. The power of imaginaj tion *is brought out in this picture's j theme. The star plays the role of a shop girl, all of whose dreams come true. ; Gladys Walton is said to prove her veri satility in the part by adding a new I type of character to her record of screen i appearances. High life on Fifth Avenue, I drudgery in a shop, and fairy-like adven- • tures on a great country estate are some :of the experiences of the working girl ' heroine. The story is an appealing one. j EPSOM LIBRARY CONCERT. A concert arranged by Mr. Kenneth | Impett will be given in the Epsom Library ! Hall on Wednesday. Mr. Impett will be I agisted by Miss Lillis Walker, Mr. E. i Buxton, and Mr. H. 0. McFarbne. : ,

REV. J. CALDER'S CONCERT.

The Rev. Jasper Calder, city missionary »l is organising an 'entertainment in the Town Hall to-morrow night. An excellent programme has been arranged, and ; v it is - seldom that such a variety of items ' is heard on one occasion. Th e. programmewill include musical numbers by the New Zealand Vocal Quartet, Miss Ruby JBurk (contralto), Messrs. James Calvert and J. T. Lonergan will also contribute songs, and the rest of the programme will be given up to humorous and' novelty ; turns. Among these are included a; xylophone quintet by the " Big Five " (Messrs. Robt. Adams, T. Gee, E. Leighton, W. Hicks, and Rev. Jasper Calder), a musical monologue by Mr. Dean, a song specialty by little Josey Priest, a . ventriloquist act bv the Rev. C. W. Turner (of Tauniarnnui), humorous recitation, "Snakes," by Mr. Elson Bond; a hypnotic farce by Professor D'Almaino and members of the audience, and an entirely new sketch entitled " Abandonment," in ■which some clergy do rather unnsual things, will also be produced. The various roles will be played by. the R*v. Jasper Calder, Canon Basil Dean, the Rev. M. Atlas, Archdeacon Sidney David, Rev. John Sherlock, and Dean G. Smith. In addition to the above local talent the programme will be enhanced bv the appearance of " St iffy and Mo."* who are at' present appearing at Fuller's Opera House. In the event of an overflow concert in the small hall a splendid programme has been arranged, which will include many items from the main concert. ' ;; ■- "v '• « GRAND THEATRE. : The excellence of the double programme now being screened at the Grand Theatre ig makinc it highly popular with patrons. "The Hottentot," with Douglas MacLean in the chief role, is diverting to 'a decree. " Kismet." the fine Oriental drama, wish Otis Skinner in the lead, is another strong attraction. •On Friday Betsy's Burglar," with Connie Talmadge, will be the. chief item on the new . programme. There will bo various other good films." '' \ ' ':■ ALBERT ORCHESTRA. I An excellent concert was given in the Town Hall concert chamber last evening ':' by the Albert Symphony Orchestra, be-" fore an appreciative ; audience. Mr. G. Harold Hardey was the. conductor. The" orchestra was assisted by the St. Andrew's Mixed Quartette, Misses L. Evans and J. Bartlett, and Messrs. A. H. Ripley and A. Colledge, who gave two items. "Miss. Bartlett also sang • The - Blind ' Ploughman " (Clarke); and Mr. Colledge gave the solo. "Shipmates•; 0' Mine " (Sanderson), while Miss Evans and Mr.Ripley rendered' a duet, "Ah! Cho la Morte " (Verdi). One of the best of r the orchestral items was "The Lizard and the, Frog ".(Morse). Other orches- .. tral items were, " Comedietta " (Gur- •.: litt). " Characteristic "(Grucnwald) and " Echoes from the South "(Klohe). 'Mrs. A. H. Ripley was the accompanist. . , :