ENTERTAINMENTS.

New Zealand Herald, Volume LXI, Issue 18888, 10 December 1924, Page 12

ENTERTAINMENTS.

OPERA ' HOUSE.

At tho Opera House' this week a programme of unusual variety is provided. An entirely new turn is staged by Roy Gennett with his novel dancing steps. His remarkable control of his feet and his wonderful speed and agility win him great, applause. Rosio Rifle and Company cannot fail to rouse continued admiration for their deadly sharp-shooting. Rosie especially shows herself complete mistress of her weapon. Evison and Hestor, with their witty dialogue, are again hig"hly amusing, and Carlton and Roslyn, with new songs and patter, still further enhance their popularity. The Band Box Revue Company, for the tenth week of a most successful season, present a musical comedy entitled " After the Storm." Tho story deals with the adventures of Timothy O'Sullivan (Walter Cornock) during the absence of his Vl | e - During a night of merrymaking a. " ClC ® storm is followed by a. dense fog, and while Timothy is returning home a young lady who has lost her way faints m his arms. Matters are complicated by the unexpected return of Timothy's wife, ana his black servant, played by Frank Perrvn makes desperate, but unsuccessful, attempts to explain away his absence. The plot develops in a fashion that provokes storms of irresistible laughter from beginning to end.

" THE SEA HAWK." The season of " The Sea Hawk " at the Strand, National, ,and, Tiyoli Theatres will close to-morrow, the final presentations being given at the evening sessions. This unique film version of Rafael Kaoatini's powerful novel was made at a cost of £800.000, and took two years to complete. Six huge galleons of the Spanish Armada type were constructed in a thoroughly seaworthy manner at a cost of £330,000, and were used on the high seas in the course of the production. A section of the story is cast in Algiois. Milton Sills and Enid Bennett are at the head of a cast, which includes Wallace Beery, Lloyd Hughes, Wallace McDonald, Marc McDermott, and Lionel Bellrnore, together with 4000 others, which include pirates, corsairs, herald girls, slave girls, Arabs and Moors.. The story is one abounding in rich love elements, with brave men ready to fight, the uniting of weakness and violence, and drama and exciting incidents, following in swift succession. The story opens in the England of Queen Elizabeth, probably the most romantic era in all history, and immediately following tho destruction of the great Spanish Armada by the English Fleet. The sea battles of which there are three actual encounters, and the dramatic encounter which ends peaceably, have no approach in screen history. There are no miniatures, and no tricks of the camera. A complete orchestral accompaniment is given at each theatre, with stage prologues at the National and Strand.

THE TEN COMMANDMENTS." The Cecil B. de Mille production, "The Ten Commandments," continues to attract unprecedented interest at Everybody's Theatre, and the long queue each evening has been a feature of the season since it opened nearly a fortnight ago. The first portion of the film is devoted to a chapter of Biblical historv —the Exodus of tho Israelites from the land of Pharaoh. The Exodus itself is vividly pictured, and the greatness of li% Mille as a producer is proved beyond doubt in the succeeding events when the Israelites are shown crossing the Rod Sea, and the subsequent destruction of 1 aoh and his hordes. A great .storm in which the Israelites perish, is followed by the second part, which has a latter-day setting. The story is evolved round a simple San Francisco family, and the moral is that it is just'as important to keep the Ten Commandments to-day as it. was in the days of Pharaoh. It is a story which cannot fail to impress all with its intensity of emotion, the following of wrong doing, and the pain and sorrow it inflicts on others besides the wrongdoers, the happiness which follows tj;.Q aqd endeavour to act up to the ten commandments, Everybody's orchestra plays the complete musical score at tho afternoon and evening sessions.

BROADWAY THEATRE. This evening's new programme at. the Broadway Theatre, Newmarket, will be headed by a Fox production, " When Odds Are "Even," featuring William Russell. Tho story concerns the adventures of two rival mining companies in a race to obtain an invaluable opal deposit. Thoughts of Peter B. Kyne arc raised by the hero's dauntlessness in removing obstacles, one, boarding an ocean liner before it steams out ol the Golden Gate. He is supported by Dorothy Devore, a comely young actress who was formerly associated with Mack Sennett's bathing beauties. " Full Speed Ahead " is the comedy in the new programme. It features A 1 St. John.

OPEN-AIR PICTURES. The open-air pictures at Carlaw Park, in spite of the cool evenings of late, aro drawing appreciative audiences nightly. The. entertainment has gained in popularity, and when the warm evenings come it is expected that the park, large as it is, will bo taxed to its utmost. To-night there will be screened a thrilling drama, a first release in Auckland, and a riotous Charlie Chaplin comedy, " The Bandmaster." Other pictures to be shown are " Oh, Lady, Lady," a. Sunshine comedy, a. scenic; cartoon, and Gazette. Carlaw Park Pictures, Ltd., are at present busy filming items of interest around Auckland. This Sunday, pictures will bo taken of Parnell Baths in the morning, and of tho Zoo in the afternoon. MUNICIPAL BAND CONCERT. A musical treat is promised bv the Municipal Band in the Town Hall this evening. Bandmaster Smith has prepared a tuneful programme, which includes a descriptive fantasia, "A Highland Scene," " Poet and Peasant " overture, " The Gondoliers," selection; Boceherino's " Minuet." and cornet solo. " Killarney," by Mr. Fred Bowes. A feature of the evening will be a cycle of songs by Mrs. Cyril Towsev, who will sing " The Lost Chord," " Annie Laurie," " Three Fishers," and " Lament of Isis," all to special band accompaniments, written by the bandmaster. These vocal accompaniments by the band are an outstanding feature.