ENTERTAINMENTS.

New Zealand Herald, Volume LX, Issue 18563, 22 November 1923, Page 11

ENTERTAINMENTS.

MISS GERTRUDE ELLIOTT.

SUCCESS IN FIRST PLAY.

As was only fitting, an unusually enthusiastic welcome was accorded to Miss Gertrude Elliott (Lady Forbes Robertson) on 'Cne occasion of her first appearance in Auckland last evening at His - Majesty's Theatre, under the direction of J. C. Williamson, Ltd., by a large audienceuncommonly large for the opening of a. rionmuaical season. The reputation of the famous English actress bad preceded her, but it had scarcely prepared those present for the magnificent performance they witnessed. .'•'. Such was the effect upon them that there was a unique scene on the fall of the final curtain. Instead of moving from their seats, the major of the audience remained there, keeping up so insistent a chorus of applause that ultimately Miss Elliott came forward, was loaded with floral tributes, and returned

thanks in a graceful little speech. Thus auspiciously was her tour of New Zealand commenced. The play in which the distinguished artist elected to introduce herself was Michael Morton's emotional drama, '•Woman to Woman." The theme embraces and, indeed, almost wholly consists of, a very frank discussion of the problem of the unmarried mother. It is" another example of the trend of modern thought, which was emphasised in Hutchinson's "If Winter Comes," but it is approached from a different angle.. As a drama, "Woman to Woman*' has faults of construction and some inconsistencies. The latter, if closely analysed, might be found to be the actual 'inconsistencies of human nature, in which respect they may .• be pardoned, but on the other hand they intrude a little upon the artistic essentials of high drama. WtHe making for strength of situation, one or two of .the arguments presented to build up ' the dramatist motif, as it is called, are incongruous and improbable. The relationship of the two women chiefly concerned in the. plot strikes one as being in this latter category. The good points of the piece Be partly in the acting opportunities it affords and in the sincere and appealing nature of the child interest introduced. Mother-love , arid mother-sacrifice form the .keynote of the drama, and, because of the depth of feeling displayed, in the presentation of this phase, other shortcomings in the play will be readily overlooked, v The dialogue largely follows conventional lines, but occasionally develops witticisms and smart sayings which catch :j the fancy and. set the audience laughing. Other admirable qualities of "Woman to Woman" are the cleverly-sustained suspense and the touching human interest so naturally ;'*;; interwoven in the. skein of things. -- <- ,- Miss Elliott plays the role of : Louise Deloryse, an idolised French ; dancer, who during the war has loved arid been beloved by a young English soldier.; They have been parted for years, and when they meet again Louise presents to the man hi* little son. The fact -"that -the man is married robs the woman's life of romance and makes : a problem for those chiefly concerned to ; unravel -, as best they . may. The actress imbues the part » with jj such charm and womanliness that, from the outset, sympathy is hers.' In the depiction of the temperamental and' -high-strung French girl, ■• of ever-changing ; mood—vola-. tile, . tempestuous, ' tender, sad : and ; gay; in turn— has almost l difficult task. But her work rings true in every portion of the portrayal Miss Elliott is one of the most natural actresses .we : have seen in this part of the world, : and one of the most accomplished. Her effects are gained by sheer . talent which amounts to genius. l This portrait she presents is so real arid so many-coloured that it -is amazingly impressive. ; Not merely; a magnetic 'and attractive personality,.; but in addition ■?.. a gift for interpretation, possessed only by the few, enable her to satisfy and gratify all .who witness > her work.'- Hers is' a memorable "performance. -: ; ', $ - ,v ' ••' Supporting Miss Elliott is a company of English, artists .' of ability. Mr William Mollison is the leading man, and: his study of David is marked by moments of real art, none more striking s than the one in which he is introduced to his little son, of whose existence he? was unaware. Little Milton Brooks gives > a portrayal of the child which endears ;; him to, all in front.' Miss Lilias Waldegrave Js, an excellent foil to. Miss Elliott in the role of the wife, and Miss Anne McEwen is admirable in a character pari of a faithful French nurse/ Mr. Mayne Lynton is convincing : as ' a medical man, and the remaining roles are in good hands. , , • *■' • "- "Woman to Woman" will be repeated each evening until and ' including Saturday, On 1 Friday evening "*paiae.;j Nellie Melba will attend-, the ; performance. ;>. r »#-'t

MISS STELLA POWER., - j The Auckland season of Miss Stella' Power, the > brilliant i contralto, "k and ? her supporting company. : will ! open in the Town Hall' next Thursday evening. Miss Power made her ; debut in London over five years ago '■", under the supervision ~d Dame Nellie Melba, ; and '■ so; well did she * emulate £ the great singer that ; ; she earned the . soubriquet of " the "Little a Melba." '• Her voice is said to possess in a r large measure all the .quality and finish that is associated .with '''.i Dame } Melba's singing. Miss Power, will' bey assisted by Harold ■ Beck, a violoncellist of exceptional * ability, and William James, an eminent composerpianist.. < ' ,

', STRAND. THEATRE. The new, programme, to commence a weekV: season :at the Strand Theatre tomorrow, will be headed by one of .^the .most ambitious i French motion pictures ever .made. This is " The Sheik's Wife,'* the scenes? for which were actually, filmed in ;■; Arabia. The f story concerns the life of a ; young English who becomes the bride, of -,? a son of Islam, the leader of a horde of > savage tribesmen. For three years; she is happy in the great love s ci' her husband, '. and jin caring for"- her little ; gSrl. v Bid, the_ she&V father and g the ; elders, of' the ;; tribe ' are . angry because , the Christian '-.woman has not given them a son :' to * carry on the sheikh name. , Influenced by their 'clamorous demands'," the . husband ' determine? to take a second legal wife, in spite of the ;: act that he still , loves his English bride dearly. When he i breaks the 'news to her, she protests . pas | sionately against the affront, and- then, during the betrothal ceremony, runs away into ; the desert. ; When this news is brought to the sheik, he forgets all else and rides off in pursuit. He captures his runaway wife and brings her back to his j father's harem. Yet, in spite of all this, the Jtfpslem persists in his determination to take a second wife. The situation ;is complicated when the girl's English friends appear on the scene and attempt to aid. her. The action culminates in a .sword duel by torchlight between the sheik 'and one of the Englishmen, followed by'a night attack of the Arabs on. the European camp. In the end husband and wife are*-; reunited in confidence \ and happiness. Some of the best talent of France went into the makin" of "The Sheik's (Wif/e.',', Henry Roussell, who had charge of the production, is noted n? one of the greatest directors of France. The two' leading roles were assumed by Emmy Lynn, a beautiful English, actress, and Marcel Vibert,. of the(C!oraeJie Fran- J caise. - . } •.;:■[■.-. " , ' " " 'T

\ ■; > ; QUEEN'S THEATRE. A new triple bill will be screened at the Qneen*s Theatre 'to-morrow/' and for the following week. One :of ' the v principal pictures will be ' " Bits of Life," a Marshall Xeilan attraction of : a novel character. t It , consists of four short stories comh'ine'din the one fihn: The first three are smartly ,written bits of life, and the fourth is "a clever satire on tales of the " Prisoner of Zenda '' type. The' players employed in "the picture include J' Dorothy Mackail, Edythe Chapman, Anna Wong, Wesley Barry, Lon Cliarsey; Noah Beery, and Rock I iff Fellowes. ■f- The ! ),« second feiture, will be ■-.'.' Something to Think Aboiit*' an 'artistic v and -appealing film, with Gloria (Swaosbn in the lead. The tbhiejdy w : H be " The landlady's £«V willi Charier Chaplin* . - »

n,-i, I, ' ;hi - v..'. ' " -'-:.. <* I. ' ..■ :... .' ..'■. ■ .-V-.-i'- '• e: ■:.-:-.i ■■'•*■'• ■•■>.>■ :■.:- - *■■;■:■ ■ - PRINCESS; THEATRE. - . Tito principal attraction :on the new programme, •to commence: a week's run at the Princess Theatre to-morrow, will be •; the Paramount super-feature, " Th-» Young Rajah." This will reintroduce tins popular favourite, Rodolph Valentino. ; It us said that this picture, '. though similar in style rather than motive to the ■- productions which have made Valentino's name, has a new appeal. ; The strength of this is in the mystic note - ; struck. Expression is given; to} this phase in spectacular features. The young rajah is a boy of Indian birth, educated in America, and endowed with the gift of seeing into the future, as indicated by a ,whitu light on his forehead. His predictions; J.re infallibly, and sometimes amusingly, correct. Toward the end of the picture he has a. vision of an attack to be made upon his own life just before his wedding day, and this scene is described^as being intensely vivid. A number of brilliant episodes are said to be'executed with a dash and finesse that do-credit to the producer, Philip Rosen, and the entire cast. >' The production has been classed as a pompous ' spectacle with many contrasts; for instance, the simple New England homes,, in comparison with.; the } elaborate construction of the maharajah's palace., Wanda Hawle? plays opposite Valentino. A second feature will be " The Face Between," a Metro production, starring Bert Lytell. This is an adaptation of a story by Justus Miles Fonnan. Sylvia Breamer. the young Australian actress, appears opposite the star.

LYRIC THEATRE." The change of programme to be pr*s<«nted at the Lyric Theatre to-morrow will comprise two special attractions. One will be " Officer 666," £ famous farce, adapted to the screen by Goldwyn, and featuring Tom Moore. The story tells of Travers Gladwyn,- a millionaire with nothing. to do, who learns of the plans of Alf Wilson, a notorious picture .thief, to steal bis famous paintingsBeing possessed of a sens* of humour, Travers dons a policeman's uniform and proceeds to guard his own house. He tells■ his valet of his plans, but swears him to secrecy. Policeman Phelan, or Officer 666, yields to the charms of a banknote for a substantial amount, changes c'othe3 with the millionaire, and. hies him to the latter's kitchen to lie low. The sequel .is • full of coir* b-prdvoking situations, with, now and then. a touch of drama of a thrilling description. The second feature of the new bill will be "Gimme," another Goldwyn offering, with Helen© Chadwick and Gaston Glass in - the chief ? parts. The story is delightfully human and diverting. ; /.^

v BROADWAY THEATRE. 7 ■ ■ A complete '•'" change of programme * will be given the Broadway Theatre, Newmarket, - this v evening, > and ; for jk the 5 remainder of the ■ week. k;* The leading attraction 1 will be " Singed Wings," a Paramount feature,' starring Bebe Daniels. It is the dramatic story of a beautiful Spanish dancer ..who is beset by temptations, and has to fight false love "and true ■: alike. <$ There are \ lavish *i settings W and handsome costumes. The;-second attraction will, be ; " Brads' Commandments,*!; a William \ Fax' film-play, >| starring William Farnum. 'This tells a. story of ? the West in breezy style. Wanda Hawley * and Clair "Adams are seen opposite the star. The role of the villain is in : the hands rof i Tom . Santscbi. .- .'•'-"" "-'-} ' i-uW-.'

: KOWHAI IMPROVEMENT , FOND. ,An i- enjoyable concert In 5 aid . '"> of the Kowhai Junior High School improvement fund- was given in the Tcwn Hall concert chamber last evening, A. varied programme of vocal, . instrumental, and dance. items was submitted. Songs were ;"; contributed >, by Madame. Bella Russell, ..Miss Etta Field, i Messrs, J. Ryan and ■J. Petterseri, and the pupils of ' the ;.Kowhai School :f Miss ; Lynda.' Jaurphy and Mr. Dan 1 Flood' presented a humorous sketch. and ;a ' musical * monologue ; was rendered by Miss # Dorothy Lethahy. :-V Dance *: items • were given by Misses Ruby Phillips, Irene Long, f Adelia Davis, and the pupils of Miss j Daphne Knight. A pianoforte solo was given sby Miss Margery Hoffman, arid a* violin' ■ solo Iby % Master F. KHoff ey. Mrs. Reed, Miss Hoffman, and Mr. Cyril Towsey acted 1 as accompanists. .- ■''' r '

ORCHESTRAL CONCERT. ' , : An /entertainment; will be * given in the / Town Hall i concert chamber this * evening '■'.). by Miss Amy Stevenson's ! orchestra. ;;■' Mrs. ;: Cyril Towsey, Miss Dora Judson and■ lit. rA. B. Thompson will also contribute >to - ; the programmed ."'.' K' ' •-*" -, "\ WESTMINSTER GLEE SINGERS. . i i The good ■..■ impression *v. made by. £'* the■< Westminster Gtef Singers, whoni Mr, Ed.'ward;;' Brans«miW is"* presenting kto Auckland audiences, was not § modified by >' the ' ■ new 'programme • offered at the Town Hall f, yesterday afternoon and evening. Several of the singers were given flattering receptions. Fine effect was obtained £by £ the ; combined ): adult and i juvenile' voices p in the madrif/jal, "Let Me,. Careless and thoughtful,* Lying," the anthem, -.''Tea,. Though • I Walk, W thek vocal ;■: wallas, i "Romeo and Juliet" (Gounod ), and several operatic selections from "Carmen." The J encase 1 numbers, included "The Lass ■ with the Delicate Air" (De Arne), ari ranged by Mr. Branscombe. The boys sang ;r. the old: ballad, - "Love,": Will r Find 7 I Out The Way"; and in response to an en- ; 2 thusiastic encore, sang ''The Shepherds i Dance."- v " The ?- adult voices were perfectly :• blended in '* the. ■ t hunting choruses, "The Hunt is Up" and: "Foresters, Sound She Cheerful Horn," the glee, "Haste Ye, Soft Gales," and the catch, « 'Twas Yon, Sir." -The various soloists contributed items which were keenly * appreciated. Accompanying at the piano were Mess.-?. Edward Branscombe, P«t'fe|d Jrßeid -and; George • PownalL The programme.will }be repeated thisvevening, ; special features being introduced to-morrow evening, and on t Saturday afternoon ! and * evening, when ', the season will conclude. ■ """"