ENTERTAINMENTS.

New Zealand Herald, Volume LX, Issue 18586, 19 December 1923, Page 13

ENTERTAINMENTS.

HUMPHREY <" BISHOP ? 'OOMPAITESSt ...... ■ ... .-.;-.«■ • ,' At the Town Hall conceit chamber U* night the English Humphrey Biithop Com* : pany commence their New?. Zealand/ season. .;. The fall ' company, and orchestra * ar- »? •;. rived by the Manuka yesterday,, and are g: giving an "At Home" thisi afternoon and the opening performance at night. , They have J come direct *'; from"t- a record three £f years in "Australia, whew they have played long seasons :under ? [ the ''■ direction - : : > of J. C. Williamson and J. and N. Tait. : The show is said to be of the brightest/ breeziest character, ' introducing ■> the > very latest music, comedy, opera, • and topical burlesque. To-night's ' programme - commences with " in;"original introduction i'iov. which the various artists are" made .known to.the audience in/a' way that is said to be unique. A lightning production" follows of {■ song, duet, ':> comedy,. : and < topical burlesqUe, the first .; part finishing with a selection from the popular, opera, "Lea Cloches des Cornville." One of the latest artists -v to join the 7 company ': is Ma liana Neyv; a discovery ,$ of : ; Mr. ■'■ Humphrey Bishop, who considers her to be an artist who ■: will; appeal to the ■ New & Zealand public by : her novel methods :of songs at . the piano. Walter Kingsley,; an -eminent London baritone^,will( be heard ; for ; the first time in New' Zealand, -i as also, will Maurice * Jaffey, Robert - Roberts, Lalie Whyte, Louise Meadows, Harry Avohdala and the. ragtime f- quartette, Marie Crowther, Olga Dunn, -i George Ross, ! Svbil Wills, Kitty. Shoder, Flank Egan, Norman Johns, Doris Henderson and many others. Edward -Elliott: will be heard in one (d, his famous topical songs. The box plans are open at Lewis R, Eady; and Son, Ltd. ' a : A most , enjoyable concert was ■'; given; by the Humphrey 1 Bishop Company, cd the Manuka on Monday night. The pro* ( ceeds, ' amounting to £i 6 10d, ;were in aid of the New Zealand y shipwreck relief ; funds. . >■'■•.„;?: ■.:■' :<■. •■■•'> '"*•.-.

/ TIVOLI THEATRE. , This week's 1 Paramount programme a| 'the Tivoli Theatre will be screened thii evening and for the 3 last time, to-morroW v evening. ■&_ One picture Cis a r screen versioii of the French play, " Camilla/' and in it' Nazimova and Rodolph Valentino have: great scope fur, characteristic '<\ actings "The Heart Raider," the other, principal production on the programme, is replete with thrilling .and: exciting incidents. The new programme on Friday will be headed by another '; Paramount ■ picture, c " Bella , Donna." This jis the first American-made picture - Pairing fjre great .'; European .'.actress;; Pola ;;■ Negnf and it is .hailed as an attraction that will be ', welcomed : with: en» thusiasm. , - .Never* has ' this celebrated - screen star appeared in, a.more powerful or appealing* story than is developed ia ' " Bella Donna." ,<ln respect to production settings, photography, heart interest, cha*' acter <; portrayals, '\ and ali-round '• artiatryv the - feature iis claimed ■£ to be : one of ■'; tihi greatest ever presented to t the: amusemeni world. 'J,;.The-etory -tells of Bella Donna, a ■ notorious widow of great beauty, who ma*» ries Nigel- Armine, an «ngin62r.i* They ".'.■ ito Eg^fe,where Bella Donnarmeets*anc|; fallsEmHloTe;;wfth;/Mahmoud* Baroudi, i j powerful i desert dweller, who counsels h.'jf—; to poison f her husband. * Before she can > accompish her purpose, Nigel's life is save j . j by a physician friend and' when Bella ■ Donna'; returns *to Mahmoud, he shuts the door in : her : face. Finding ' her husband in. the hands of hia former sweetheart, Bella Donna returns;sadly •<, to the desert, wherj , i a deadly sandstorm is brewing, and site ■>■ passes out of i the lives. of. all' men. "Bella Donna." is described ; as giving one of tfos >;' greatest love \ stories ;in % fiction. It is the supreme.story of the passionate.love of an alluring woman ; for a Bedouin chief, - her ifailure to enmesh him. The chief picture will bo supported by gooq productions. / > *. • . ' " Mt .\, NATIONAL * THEATRE. '.

■" Future ! programmes 1 •at ','•' the • National Theatre will ■' Include a special kturn; and the, new arrangement will com-' raence on Friday. By. :an understanding •with MMgrbve's,-; Australia, Ltd, the -man-"ft agement ;of the. theatre will present ; eacfii ■week one of , Musgrove's vaudeville at luxe., acts, and for .:' this '.'.; purpose the National Theatre has. bean equipped yrtitik special stage fittings and lighting effects. The first act is Oswald ;" Bern and * and f hut pigeons and ""doves: >;r, This act > hap been widely praised' for its. beauty, Beman<t works with snow-white doves and fanta\| pigeons, which fly out into the theatre .* at the word of command, and then return to,"'■.the- stage.•'. These birds- are stated to perform remarkable tricks, > r and the act ; J indicates the efficacy of .' their train- . ing. The novel '■'■: turn J should fflaks « strong appeal. The pietuto programme £ is a 'powerful , one. "The ? Masry-Go- j ■ Bound" is the chief attraction. described as a Universal .>. Super-Jewel, "Merry-Qo-Bomid" is a big..film in every way. It ;•; is a well-finished K picture, /-.ia r which the producer has brought out thu symbolic idea of | the/; title—that lift jj M a meny-go-round ij and ■> human being's > are merely. pappeta in ; the \ hands •o£ t fate. The": title, however, has* a material significance) for its tells of the pathetic romance of ; & girl who' plays a band-organ in a merry* go-round |In s Vienna,?* with[a member* os the pre-war Austrian nobility. The human Interest '• In the"'.picture" is I deep,' and -\ impressive. ; There :is '-interne": pathos i in; th<» role of the forlorn - little ; girl, resentment aroused at the brutality and heaStle&snea* of the villainous millionaire, and an xa> usual element of - sympathy for : the • Austrian 'h count,'•'• From i a •:! production i; standi point, the -picture is claimed J to fc» superb, f and the technical ?' handling; to ba as fine sas anything ever Been on th* screen. The atmosphere of the. production i is said to be one of. the ' picture's mo** striking points." .

• . "THE MESSIAH."- -' Handel's great oratorio "The Messiah 8 * will be presented at "the Town| Ball., tomorrow ? evening by the Auckland?! Choral Society." Talented artists have been ett* gaged and the performance should be par* ficularly enjoyable. The soloists will be • Miss Ethel Osborne, the ; young ■Assfcr** lian * soprano; Madame - Irene ftAjnaley, - the well-known New Zealand contralto 3 Ma. lien? Barnes, baritone; Mr. rE^n^t^ik^ "the popular tenor; and ; Mr, J. Wilson, trumpeter. Mr.'' Barnes, <vw'atr will niwej his first appearance before art Auckland : audience to-morrow evening, feia.;« a young New Zealand singer' who has achieved ,* high reputation ?in the? South and is saia to possess an exceptionally fine voice. Th* orchestra will be under.the baton of Miv Colin ; MustonY* and will be -led .by- Mts» Edith Whitelaw. The society is sparv ing no effort to i make \ this year's concert a success ;in every respect. The box plan, is at Lewis B. Eady and Son," Ltd.

, , • , - ' ' . •• . rUTnS' recital. ~ j ■-- '"A- pianoforte ami violin -recital vby pupils of ''"Ann!* and Wilirid Moraa vat held in* the Grafton Hall las* evening, whan thew was a gjcci attendance of parents and friends.-The programme sabmitted, ; wifle confined to the works rof classical composers, ; waa vaned ? and th* election generally. waa prwaewjrthy, Btodio recites will be held to-night and. to-morrow C night S at ■, the '? Academy, * when. the programme will consist .jumost _«*» tirely of concortoa by Lisxt, Gresg, Beethoven, Motart, and Bach. : MuMC-lc-vers can ; obtain ticket*s for admission*.from Mew W. Morris, the Academy, Upper Queen Street. '.CONCERT. V/.'. t • An. excellent programme ' has bean i a*« ranged for the benefit concert* to v be : tendered to Mr." Tom Roberta Iby , Madams Bella Russell amd othsra : in ; tie Scot* Hall this :■ evening. The ; enteirtaihmenfc will include vocal,' ■V.iastrum'ental and dance numbers." The performers' will .be Mesdames ; Bella" Russell ? and A. Dollar» Misses" Moller, •• Riffkir., and ; GriffiQis J Messrs. -L. Griffith*-.- A • Grifith*.;£»r Pawson, and R. Reed, and the 3** Jasper Gaidar -• ~-'.•/_' :KC -, c<