ENTERTAINMENTS.

New Zealand Herald, Volume LXI, Issue 18761, 15 July 1924, Page 10

ENTERTAINMENTS.

OFEEA HOOSE. An -excellent programme was presented at tha Opeara ;Hoitse at the matinee and evening perfonnanees yesterday. Both vaudeville and musical comedy portions of fcho programme were of a high standard and were well received. The most promineafc newcomer in vaudoville was Ws& Bessie Clifford, whose vivacity and charming personality at once made her a favourite. She had a fine repertoire of new and exclusive songs, while her costumes were both beautiful and original. Hsa 1 numbers, "My Daddv Has a Sweetheart" and "Come, Play With Me, My Sweet Be-Bi," were perhaps her best, although all were of high merit. Fred. McDonald, who played the part of "Dave" in ''On Our Selection,'* Bert Bailey's weU-knofsm play, appeared in the first, of a series of Anstraliau "outback" sketches,, entitled "The Meet," Mr. McDonald's laughable imitation of an ardent country swain, greatly amused the audience. The sensational "Flving Torpedo" act of the Mirano Brothers, "which startled patrons last week, was ligain staged, and needless to say the audience was again amazed at the extreme daring of it. Clever balancing feats by Takeo and Koma Namba completed the vaudeville bill of fare. "Don't Tell the Wife," Jim Gerald's latest revue, is certainly among the best he has produced. Ample material for mirth-making is provided by the matrimonial differences which the erring husband, Jim Gerald, experiences. Miss Essie Jennings played the part of a domineering wife to perfection, and the pitiful attempts of her husband to assert his.' "authority'* generally failed dismally. Woven into the play is an artful plot to gain a fortune, which unfortunately does not materialise. Much humour, however, centres around it. As usual the chorus of "Twinklers" added greatly to the merit of the entertainment. The opening chcirus, "Going South," by Miss Sophie Vivian and ballet was very pretty as wa3 "Lulu" sung by Miss Mona Thomas and the <chorus. The "Blue Bird** ballet,' led by Miss Polly McLaren, was exceptionally fine. "You Have Got to be Cute a s Well as Beautiful," sung by Miss Thomas and ballet, was another attractive item. Included in the songs were "A Eomany Lass For a Bomany Lad" (Crawford), "Miami Shores" (Mo#a Thomas), "I Want You, Lnlu" (Reg. Hawthorne), "Mellow Moon" (Crawford and Miss Vivian), and "Millions of People" (Jim Gerald). As a grand finale the company, led by Miss Myra Rowe, appeared in the Chinese song, "Sui Sen." The Oriental costuming and lighting effects made this scene a very pretty one.

STRAND THEATRE. "Jazz Week" at the Strand Theatre has aroused the curiosity of countless Auckland picture-goers, and has fully justified the; trouble to •which the management lias gone in order to provide something out of• the ordinary for the benefit of the. picfcure : k>ving public.. Not only have packed bouses been the rule since the opening night on Friday, but it has been fonna necessary to turn people away from the doors every evening, and the booking constitutes a> record. There is every indication that "Jazz Week" will head the. records in fixe, annals of the Strand as the most successful _ week in the theatre's history. In addition to the principal picture, life and Laughter," featuring the dainty, little English film player, Betty Balfour, in a delightful role, there is being shown a novel fibn demonstrating the various steps of the fox trot, an. excellent English scenic,. and the usual supports. Special items suited to the occasion axe provided by Beecham's Melody Boys and their jazz ,band, the Musical Blanchards, Eve Bentley and Ivan Findlay, and Miss Beryl Nettleton and ballet of: Miss Cecil Ball's pupils. "Jazz Week* l will conclude definitely on. 'Thttrsday. the/final performance being given, that evening. PRINCESS THEATRE. The double programme at the Princess Theatre contains an acceptable variety of picture. fare. "The Vagabond Trail," a new Fox production, reveals Charles Jones in the character of Donnegan, the man who starts a long and eventfol search for his lost brother. The picturo is an adaptation' to the screen of George Owen Baxter's tale, "Donnegan." The other featured film is the Paramount production, "Ruggles of P.ed Gap," an amusing Eatire of small-town social ambitions* The picture is a fine thing of its kind, produced with a keen sense of values and the humour of the types represented. Edward Boston. Ernest Torrence, Lois Wilson and Frttaa Ridgway have the leading, tolas. The comedy this week is "On the Job," a WlQiam Fox release. EMPRESS THEATRE. "She current programme at the Empress Theatre, Newton, will be shown this evening and finally to-morrow evening. Of the two principal attractions, one is "The l/ove Piker," a United Artists release. The picture is of a light sneonsequential charsicter with much charming detail, especially in the scenes round the millionaire's home and the wedding which forms the vital situation of the story. Anita, Stewart Has the principal role. A second attraction is "The Lonely Road," a First National picture, with Katharine' Macßtonald in the leading rote. Miss MacDDnald is to be seen as a muchmisunderstood wife, who, deprived of all independence and.the right to rule her own home as she sees fit, leaves her goodlooking but narrow-minded husband. To the big crfcv she goes and he follows hOr, and' then the story of their adventures leads u» to the great turn in their lives and tie solution of the problem.