ENTERTAINMENTS.

New Zealand Herald, Volume LXI, Issue 18678, 7 April 1924, Page 12

ENTERTAINMENTS.

CARTER THE GREAT. Carter the Great has proved so powerful a magnet at His Majesty's Theatrl that in spite of the rain the audiences ok Saturday constituted a record. There will be a final matinee on Wednesday, and th< season will close on Thursday night. Itj success is already more than assured. OPERA HOUSE. Commencing at the matinee this after, noon, the programme at the Opera House will be augmented by the appearance of the Littlejohns in a juggling act, said to be very clever, and staged in a brilliant setting. Stiffy and Mo will be seen in the revue, " Society," in which ;,her« is said to bo ample scope for these performers and their supporting company to make the most of their versatile abilities. The Deloraines will present a daring trapeze performance. Island melodies and dancing will be featured by the Hilo Duo, while Leo Sterling, the musical comedian,, will give a new selection of .items. Roy Gennett will also present a novelty dancing turn. The popular " Singing the Rev. Frank Gorman, with his varied songs and stories, featuring the ballad, " Thinking of You." will be another performer likely to receive a good welcome.

" SALLY." The opening of the Auckland season ol J. C. Williamson's musical comedy, "Sally," is announced for next Saturday. "Sally" comes with a good reputation from America, England, and Australia. This musical comedy of sentiment, oi American origin, embodies all the essentials of what is known in theatrical circles as a "winner." In the first place, sentiment ia said to be so applied that in thfl first 20 minutes the autnors have the audience almost in tears over the plight of a little girl who, with the sou] of a Joan of Arc, has to content herself with the more mundane job of dish-washing in a third-rate restaurant. The title role is taken by Miss Josie Melville, the brilliant 3'oung actress, who, in January of last year*, was chosen from the ballet to become a star. The ability of this capable young artist was referred to by a Wellington critic in the following terms "It would scarcely be possible to find a more ideally suitable Sally than Miss Melville, and after witnessing her triumph in this role it can be said , that none of the encomiums which have been lavished upon her has the least suspicion of exaggeration. Entirely theatrical in manner and method, she makes her appeal through her own inherent sweetness of disposition and natural sincerity, and at the back of it oil is a wistful pathos that is irresistible." The box plans for the first six nights will be opened at Messrs. Lewis R. Eady and Son, Ltd., on Wednesday.

GRAND THEATRE.

An attractive double programme is at resent being shown at the Grand Theatre, irst place is occupied by a film version of the great literary classic, "Silas Marnef," George Eliot's famous notfel. The latter is one of the most widely-read novels in the English language, and its transposition to the screen has been admirably done. Scenically, "Silas Marner" is a delight to tha eye, while the acting, principally in the hands of Craufurd Kent and Marguerite Gourtot, is on a high plane. The other feature in the programme is "The Tidal Wave," a picture based on Ethel M, Dell's story of that name. In this Stoll production the part of the heroine, Columbine, is played admirably by Poppy Wyndham.

TIYOLI THEATRE. "Dusk to Dawn," a King Vidor production, tinged with un atmosphere of mystery, is the leading feature of v the current programme at the Tivoli Theatre. "Florence Vidor has the principal role, and portrays with great ability and charm of manner the character of a girl who is subject to the control at intervals? of a dual personality, a curious being, different in nature and ideals from herself. Thus Miss Vidor has a dual role to play, and her handling of it is a veritable gem: The film is a screen version of Katherine Hill's novel, "The _ Shuttle Soul," which deals at length with the uncanny , twin souls that seem to waver at the balance, one becoming subordinate as the other subjugates the mentality. LYRIC THEATRE. "The Silent Partner" occupies first place in the current programme at the Lyric Theatre. It is a drama of married life, with an atmosphere of frenzied finance, and shows how a man became engaged in reckless speculation, while his wile silently worked to save a little before the inevitable crash came. Leatrice Joy has the role of the clever wife, and she is ably supported by Owen Moore and Robert Edeson. The picture is finely staged, and serves to display many fine examples _of the . modiste's art. It is a film**version of a, tale by Maximilian Foster, which ran as serial .in the Saturday Evening Post. The scenes are laid in New York, and many of them are unusually beautiful. " BROADWAY THEATRE. An entertaining and diverse prolamine will be shown at the Broadway Thuatre, Newmarket, this evening and "to-morrow evening. One of the leading attractions is "Lavender and Old Lace," a quaint New England story, with Marguerite Show and a strong cast. All those who have read and loved Myrtle Reed's book will be both surprised and delighted at the unusually true characterisations given by every member of the cast.