ENTERTAINMENTS.

New Zealand Herald, Volume LX, Issue 18571, 1 December 1923, Page 13

ENTERTAINMENTS.

MISS, STELLA POWER TO-NIGHT

After the remarkably successful debut of "The Little Melba" :at the Town Hall on Thursday evening, it may safely be assttmed that the remaining concerts will receive the whole-hearted and enthusiastic support of Auckland music-lovers. Mr. E. J. Gravestock announces that the second concert will be given, thia evening, the third on Monday, and the final concert on Tuesday. At to-night's concert Miss . Power's numbers will include the celebrated "Mad Scene" from Donizetti's opera "Lucia di Lammermoor," the great Mozartian aria "Ah! Lo So," from "II Flauto Magico," and groups of French and English songs. Among the former wall be the delightful Hindu song from " Rimsky-Korsakov's neglected opera "Sadko." Miss Power's English gongs will include "Autumn Evo" by Max Heinrich, "A Brown Bird Singing" (Haydn Wood), and "Spring" (Henscnel). Mr. William James' pianoforte solos will include the Rachmaninoff "Prelude in G minor" and a Debussy group. Mr. Harold Beck will be heard tin a selection of violoncello, solos, among which will be the popular "Tre Giorni Son che Nina" of Pergolesi. t The box plans will be at Lewis R. Eady and Son, Ltd, until noon to-day, and then at Coleman's, where day sale tickets are also obtainable.

GERTRUDE ELLIOTT SEASON. The charm of Miss Gertrude Elliott's acting is said to be largely responsible for the success' of the new French comedy, " Bluebeard's Eighth Wife," to be presented for the first time in New Zealand at His Majesty's Theatre this evening. When played in Sydney recently it is said to have come near to breaking all dramatic records in that city. . # The story concerns an American millionaire, a bustling financial genius, who has already had seven wives, who ventures upon the eighth trial of fortune. Staying at the same hotel at Ostend is an impecunious French marquis and his attract! t6 daughters. The eldest, Monna, immediately catches the eye of the millionaire, who falls in love with her at first sight. • He desides, in. hi; customary impulsive man-' ner, . to marry her, and Monna (wishing to teach him a lesson),- consents on condition that she receives 400,000 franca a year. Then, because she loves him, in true feminine fashion she holds him at arm's length, begs for a divorce, and finally nearly sends him mad with jealousy by staging a scene with a supposed lover. As a result they are eventually reunited, and Monna achieves the distinction of being the only woman who can catch and keep the modern Bluebeard. This play is said to. be the wc-nder^piece^'' of the' repertoire, and to provide great chances for Miss Elliott, Mr. Mollison, and Mr. Mayne Lynton. The last, four nights of the season, commencing next? Friday, will be devoted to the first production here of " Enter Madame," a piquant comedy, in which Miss Elliott ia said to have a delightful role as Madame Lisa Delia Robbia, a temperamental Italian opera singer. '/ A , special matinee of "Woman to Woman," is to be given next Saturday, for which the box plan opens on Tuesday. The plan to-day is at Lewis R. Eady and Son, Ltd., until noon, and afterwards at Coleman'?, with the day sales.

PRINCESS THEATRE. The excellent programme > now being screened at the Princess Theatre is headed by "The Worlds Applause," starring Bebe Daniels. This Paramount production shows how little an actress' reputation is worth when the is besmirched by the breath of scandal. It is a sensational drama of cabaret and high society life in New York, and is one of William de Mille's most lavish productions. In addition to Bebe Daniels and Lewis Stone the cast includes Kathlyn Williams, Adolphe Menjou, Winter Hall; Maym Kelso, and Brandon Hurst. One unusually massive set is that of the theatre scene. An immense stage was built for this at the Paramount studio, on which a superb Egyptian scene of Cleopatra's day Is enacted, and in which Bebe Daniels, in royal costumes, takes part. Many hundreds of people are seen in the audience. The story contains a succession of thrills which hold the spectators in a spell. The second feature of the programme is "The Supreme Passion," a Playgoers picture, based -on a famous poem by Tom Moore. This tells a story of spiritual love in conflict with physical love. One man loves a girl for her youth and beauty and would buy her, dishonestly if necessary. The other loves her- for the loveliness he sees beneath the beauty that is only skin deep. The first man, Lacey, gets the girl's father in his power, and to save ■ her parent . from ruin and . disgrace she marries Lacey. The : sequelis absorbing. , Robert McLaughlin and Charles T. Dazev have written an interesting : story, and Florence Dixon, Robert Adams and Cecil Owen are splendid in the leading roles. There are good supporting films. -

"PADDY THE NEXT BEST, THING."

. The outstanding feature on the, programme to be presented at the * Princess Theatre next Friday will be a. screen version of the popular stage comedy, "Paddy the Next Best Thing. * Although the film is a British production and the scenery is essentially English, the star, role is taken by. the favourite American actress, Mae Marsh. \ The story of Paddy concerns the tomboyish methods of a girl who strives 'to adopt manly habits I and pursuits. The picture is an ■■; excellent reproduction of the - author's story, and the settings are well adapted. ' A second attraction will be a Paramount production, the "'Pride of Palomar,'* a Californian ranch story, in which Forrest Stanley appears in the leading role. - v

/ QUEEN'S THEATRE. ' The new programme at the Queen's Theatre is of an attractive and varied nature. One of the chief offerings is " Travellin' On," a western drama, in which the hero is depicted by William S. Hart, mi the heroine by Ethel Gray Terry. Hart is seen as a" wanderer* who arrives at a small western town at the same time as a preacher. He falls in love with the latter's wife and by her good influence is brought' to live a • better : life. There are numerous exciting episodes as the ' story is unfolded and many of them are strikingly exacted. Also on the programme is '•Scandal," "the mystery comedy-drama in which Constance TaU madge plays the chief part. The comedy is " High and Dizzy," with Harry Lloyd in the lead. ,

WESTMINSTER GLEE SINGERS. ' After a most successful season at the Town Hall, Auckland, Mr. Edward Branscombe announces that his new London Company of Westminster Glee Singers will appear in the Waikato and Rotorua districts on the following dates: —This evening, Matamata; Monday, Waihi; Tuesday, Rotorua; Wednesday, Paeroa; Thursday, .and Friday, Hamilton- Saturday, Cambridge. These will be the final appearances of this combination, as they are due to leave Wellington for England early in the New Year. '~,:.'■ •■,'.,'

HUMPHREY BISHOP COMPANY. f The Humphrey Bishop Comedy add Operatic Company, which v ill' open its Auckland season in the Town Hall at Christmas, is coming with a reputation of three years' success in Australia, following a remarkable tour of Africa and the East. The company in composed of well-known London artists en a tour of the world, and is a norel blend :of music, comedy, singing, opera, and burlesque, presented on an elaborate scale. The orchestra, which is under the baton and personal direction of Mr. Humphrey Bishop, is said' to be one of the features of the performances. Another outstanding item is the ragtime quartette. - _ ' ELOCUTIONARY RECITAL' The pupils of Mrs. Zoe Bartley-Baxter will give elocutionary recitals in -fine Town Has concert chamber next* Friday and Saturday evenings. The, programmes will incjjjde ; fee,ver&l v short plays in addition, to individual items..

■■■ ■ ■ "■* ■ * in- .TV' iin'iniiLr :.: . STRAND THEATRE, , One of the strongest programmes altowtf at the Strand Theatre for a long time past was screened yesterday at this popular ,/.- theatre, the two "star** features 4 being Maurice Tourneur's famous production, "The Brass Bottle,* and the all-British . i- 5 racing drama, *'Btahle v Companions." "The Brass Bottle founded on Anstey's novel of the same name, is '. pure comedy, ,with■,. a charming vein of ! romance running ."--ft, through, it. The ; story ris based on the old Arabian Nights fable (if the wicked genii who rebelled against the power of the good king, . and was imprisoned in a bottle for his misconduct. Then the story . becomes' modernised. : A young architect picks the bottle up at a sale of antiques, and the fun starts. It romps on to a riotous finish, in which many startling and astounding things occur. One of the most amazing features of this diverting film is the scene in which » narrow - London street is suddenly crowded with camels and elephants and a horde' of black savages, bearing to the Englishman's modest bachelor ■ quarters treasures rich and rare. The modest quarters are equally suddenly converted into a Moorish palace, where dancing girls and black musicians do the honor in embarrassingly lavish style. The result's of the genii's attentions almost plunges his young protege into professional and domestic disaster,, but he finally ceases his attentions and things work out to a happy ending. Equally diverting in » different way is "Stable Companions." The plot deals with the effort of a criminal to spoil a very fine race, but the odds are against him from the start. The "stable companions," a couple of fine racers, a splendid dog, and a faithful stable-boy, take matters into their own hands and the film ends happily with a magnificent race and the right horse &'i the winning post. A pleasing feature of the new programme was the musical interlude at the evening session, in which Mr, Sydney Bernard, of Los Angeles, gave a splendid cornet rendering of the popular air, "Softly Awakes My Heart."

ME, MONTAGUE'S COMPETITIONS. The elocutionary scholarship competitions, promoted by Mr- J. P. Montague, were concluded in the Town Hall concert chamber last evening, excellent entertainment being provided by the various classes on the programme. v The, awards announced by the Judges, Messrs. L. P. Leary and R. A. Singer, were as follow:—Recitation, children 10: years and under: Nonie Wright. Ij Joy Bishop and Gwen MoNaughton (equal), 2. .Recitation, children 15 or under:. Alice Ogilvie, 1} Noreen Browne and Ruth Quirke (equal), 2. Recitation, ladies; Miss Helen . Seabrook, 1 Miss Olive Stubbs, 2; Miss Mavis McCullough, 3. Sketch or recital, in costume, children 15 and. under: Joy Bishop and Nonie Wright, (equal), 1; Ola Norman, .2. Sketch, ladies or gentlemen: Miss Mona Wallbank ("One Month's Notice"), 1; Mr. Vivfian Dalton ("The Country J.P.") and Miss Anita Webster ("The Shoe Shop") (equal), 2: Impromptu speech: Mr. F. E. McCalluin, 1. An elocutionary recital will be given in the Town Hall concert chamber on Tuesday evening by the pupils of. Mr. J; P. Montague. The Auckland Comedy Players will also contribute to the - programme and the winners of ~ the scholarship competitions which were held- last evening will reappear in the selections with which they were successful. ..

BAND PERFORMANCES. A programme of classical music will be played on the Ellerslie racecourse tomorrow afternoon by the Auckland' Artillery Band. The items will include works Hume, Verdi, Sullivan and Rimmer: The 3rd Auckland Mounted Rifles Band 7"! Play a selection of orchestral music in the Domain giirdens to-morrow afternoon. .'■.."■.' ;.'■"' y: .■•■;;■