ENTERTAINMENTS.

New Zealand Herald, Volume LXI, Issue 18896, 19 December 1924, Page 14

ENTERTAINMENTS.

" SYBIL." Being eagerly awaited is the coming of Gladys Moncrieff and the highly popular J. C. Williamson Royal Comic Opera Company. This thoroughly efficient organisation will commence a season of musical plays at His Majesty's Theatre on Friday week, with "Sybil," which will bo presented for the first time here. Of this fine production the Melbourne Herald critic writes:—"'Sybil' is a musical play in threo acts by Max Brody, Franz Marios and Victor Jacobi. Tho whole conception of 'Sybil' is operatic. The story could tell itself only in music. The unity of light opera is better observed than in 'The Maid of tho Mountains.' It is most comparable to 'Tho Merry Widow,' and is as good as, if not better than, any of these popular successes. Its run will be long, and its revival always welcomed. The last of those who doubted that Miss Moncrieff was a great artist, and who attributed her recent triumphs to the accident of two parts that happened to suit her well, will kindly offer the lady his apologies- Sybil is not the least bit like either of the two 'Maids.' There aro no adventitious aids (o the dramatic values of the part. All that is in it of power and beauty and romance is deliberately and artistically put there by Miss Moncrieff." "Sybil/" which will commenco the Auckland season with a matinee performance, will be played for the first five nights, tho box plans for which will bo opened at Lewis R. Eady and Son, Ltd., on Monday nest.

STRAND THEATRE. A particularly attractive programme is promised at the. Strand Theatre to-day in celebration of tho theatre's eighth birthday. An even measure of pictures and musical interludes will be offered, on linos similar to those observed on former special occasions. This form of programme, though entailing a considerable amount of trouble, has proved immensely popular with patrons of the theatre, and if previous birthday weeks are to be regarded in any way as a criterion, the Strand eighth birthday week programme will bo one of tho best all-round entertainments in the city during Christmas Week. In order to cater for the largo holiday crowds in tho city, a matinee performance will be given each afternoon on the same scale as at night. The programme will include musical novelties by Stewart and Lorraine, a unique musical number entitled " The 'Mysterious Violinjste," and a costume scene from " Madame Butterfly," in which Miss Kate Campion, the New Zealand singer, will be heard in some of the favourite excerpts. As for the picture portion of the programme, there will be a Pathe Review (in colours), a comedy, " Forward March," and, finally, a screen version of GeOrge R. Sims' famous stage drama, " Harbour Lights." This is a stirring drama of the sea, in which the hero is -i young naval officer just homo from a cruise with the China Squadron. A dissolute young squire attempts by fair means or foul to rob the sailor of his sweetheart, in order to obtain her money, but the plucky man of tho sea, fighting against heavy odds, at last confounds his enemies, and marries his own true love. The scenes arc laid on the coast of Cornwall, and much of the rugged beauty of this far-famed region is revealed. At both afternoon and evening sessions the full Strand Orchestra will play a selected programme of incidental music. An innovation will bo offered in the afternoons in the form of a gift of birthday cake, served with afternoon tea in tho foyer. A giant cake, weighing 1121b., has been specially baked for this purpose. Pretty coloured balloons will be given to the children, and a handsome calendar for 1925 to adults.

PRINCESS THEATRE. A stirring Western picture, " The Desert Outlaw," with Buck Jones in the principal role, will bo shown at tho Princess Theatre to-day, in addition to a film version of a society drama. In this William Fox production, the popular cowboy actor performs a series of amazing feats, in which his famous horse Silver plays an intelligent part. Ferhaps the most exciting incident is that in which Jones, as the daring prospector, rides in pursuit of an express train, and removes a pair of handcuffs from his hands in a distinctly novel fashion. According to the story, tho hero is in love with May Holloway, whom he rescues from the clutches of Doc. McChesney, an outlaw leader. Tho pair escape on horseback, and are pursued. They barricade themselves in an old mill and a fight commences. Tho odds are overwhelming, but just when the assailants are about to rush forward, a great dam breaks and sweeps them away. This is but one of many thrilling incidents which go to make up this drama. Tho second featurelength film is " Other Women's Clothes," a Selznick production. It is the story of a young girl who acquired wealth in tho form of a young society man. She had been poor, but, with her husband, she thought that all her dreams would come true. But with the coming . of wealth, real happiness was supplanted by a false satisfaction. In tho end, however, lovo triumphs. Mabel Ballin has tho role of tho girl and Raymond Bloomer that of the millionaire. Mr. George Poore's Orchestra will provide another selection of musical numbers.

LYRIC THEATRE. " Triumph," a Paramount picturc made by Cecil B. de Mille. subsequent to "The Ton Commandments," will head the new programme at tho Lyric Theatre to-day. Tho two principal players, Rod I,a Rocque and Leatrice Joy, were the leading players in tho modern portion of " The Ten Commandments." " Triumph " is said to have been produced with a tense modern story, a drama of contrasts, of the idle rich and the workers. Hero in this magnificent production, Cecil de Milio shows what happens when the man who never worked because of too much money, loses it. Contrasted with this is the man who exaggerates the power of money because he has none, and what happens when ho suddenly becomes wealthy. Then there is the girl who sacrifices all for fame only to find that life holds things of greater value tl/an success and triumph. And these two men strive for tho possession of the girl. Tho play is set with a background of rich settings of millionaires' homes and foreign cities, and tho working of a tin canister factory. De Mille is said to have woven the threads of this story into a gripping romance of to-day. Rod La Rocque is tho young rich man, who loses his money and is forced to work. Victor Varconi, a Do Mille " find," is tho other who suddenly has riches thrust upon him. Varconi makes his f.«yt appearance in this production and \\ll be seen soon in " Changing Husbands." Tho story was adapted l>v Jeanie Mai pherson, from tho Saturday Evening Post serial by May Edginton author of " Secrets."

NATIONAL THEATRE. "In Every Woman's Life," a First National picture based on a society love drama, will bo shown at the National Theatre to-day in conjunction with a complete supporting programme. The story has to do with the three men who figure at one time or another in every woman's life. They are Ul3 man she could have married, the man she married, and the man she should have married. When these three meet at one time in a high stratum of society, the developments are intenselv dramatic. " In Every Woman's Life ""'was adapted by Albert Shelby Lo Vino from the novel by Olive Wadsley. Among tho scenes is ono never before attempted in motion pictures—a dinner on horseback. Fifty thoroughbreds are used iri this scene. They arc grouped around n horseshoe of flowers and held in placo by grooms. On tho backs of tho horses are seated men and women in evening dress, partaking of a dinner served on panniers suspended from their necks l>v ribbons Virginia Valii will be seen in the leading role of this unusual love drama of society life, with Marc MacDennott, Stuart Holmes, Lloyd Hughes, George Fnwcett, John Sainpolis, and other favourites in support.

TIVOLI THEAIIRE. An excellent double-feature programme is promised at tho Tivoli Theatre this evening. Heading the programme will be a film version of the famous stage success, " Ambrose Applejohn's Adventure," which comos to the screen under the title, " Strangers of the Night." It will be remembered that this very popular play was produced in New Zealand recently by the Lawrence Grossmith Company, and in bringing it to the screen Fred Niblo lias mado one of the most brilliant adaptations. For the role of " Captain AppleJ'ack Matt Moore was selected, while £nid Bennett appears in tho role of a demure little English girl. Barbara la Marr and Robert McKim aro also featured in the supporting cast. " Strangers of tho Night " is a mystery romance of adventure and love, told graphically against a background of rare beauty. It opens in a mansion on the Cornish coast of England, and leads from a drawing room to a pirate cruise before the extraordinary climax is reached. The second film in the new programme will be a Metro picture, " The Heart Bandit," featuring Viola Dana. Tho latter is said to make full use of her opportunities for comedy and pathos in this story, which tells what happens when a girl bandit accidentally breaks into the home of a kindly old lady and is forced, through many circumstances, to stay there. Tho situations arising from tho unusual association form tho basis for many scenes of thrills and comedy, tho girl getting into several scrapes that seem impossible of solution until a new element, love, enters in. Milton Sills is Viola Dana's leading man, and, says an advance notice, he never gavo a more delightful performance in any of the big successes in which he has appeared. Wallace Mac Donald doos a great piece of work in a semi-comic role, and others in the cast include Gertrude Claire, Bertram Grassby and Do Witt Jennings.

" THE TEX COMMANDMENTS." The great Paramount production, " Tho Ten Commandments," completed last evening its third week in Auckland, and tho extension of the season over the Christmas holiday period is now assured. This will enable the picturo to bo seen bymany hundreds of country visitors under the most advantageous conditions, a special feature of its presentation at Everybody's Tlioatro being the musical programme provided bv the large orchestra under the baton of Mr. R. J. Morgan. It is interesting to survey the extraordinary number of nationalities represented in the ancient scones in the picturo. It was necessary to get as many types as possible, and the' following nationalities were actually represented in tho making of the picture:—Egyptian, Arabian, Assyrian, Palestinian, Armenian, Mesopotamia!!, Turk, Caucasian, Russian, Rumanian, Bulgarian, Serbian, CzechoSlovakian," Zingari. Greek, Italian, Spaniard, Portuguese, Moorish, Polish, Swiss, German, Austrian, Hungarian, Scandinavian, Dutchman, Belgian, Britisher, American and Australian. As far as is known, only ono New Zealander took part in this picture, and his name is Mr. Tom Allenby, of Dunedin, who drove one of the chariots in tho .mad race after tho Israelites through the desert. '

HIPPODROME THEATRE. A particularly good programme is promised at the Hippodrome Theatre today, when the first presentation will be given of the film version of Maurice Leblanc's mystery novel, " 813." It was in 1906 that Leblanc jumped to the fore as a popular detective .story writer. At that, time France was devouring Lccoq's detective feats, as created by Emile Gaboliau, and England was boasting her contribution of detcctivo-lore in the Raffles stories by E. W. Hornung. Both these authors found themselves out-manoeuvred by the brilliancy of Maurice Leblanc's creation. While Lecoq was a detective and Raffles a gentleman thief, Leblanc's Arscno Lupin was a thief and a detective as well. In " 813 "• M. Leblanc makes his character, Arsenc Lupin, a triple being, posing at one minute as a prince of Europe, the next as tho chief of the famous detective forces of Paris, and, lastly, as the attractive Lupin himself, a man with a keen destructive sense, a knowledge of international intrigue and, above all, a patriot. " 813 "is a Master picture. starring Wedgwood Nowcll, Laura La Plante and Ivathryn Adams.

GRAND THEATRE. A double programme, of interest to all classes of picture-goers, will be shown at tho Grand Theatre to-day. One of the films is the picture depicting the fight between Tommy Gibbons and Jack Dempsey for tho world's heavy-weight, championship. The verdict in the match was a good one, as Dempsey got the best of the fight, not, however, by a big margin. He himself remarked afterwards that Gibbons was the hardest " nut " lie had ever had to crack, and the display warranted this opinion. A second attraction on the programme will be tho mucli-discussed film, " Flaming Youth." Tho picture is something in the nature of a study of the heart of the modern girl. Colleen Moore and Milton Sills have the leading roles. OPEN-AIR PICTURES. A large and appreciative audience witnessed the first screening of the local pictures. "A Peep at Parndl Baths" and "A Day at the Zoo," last evening. Both pictures are extremely clear and tho photography is said to rival- that of the best American pictures. Also included in the programme were "Fighting Mad," a Metro picture, brimful of sensation, "Slyest Biddor," a striking comedy, a scenic, gazette and cartoon. This programme will be repeated to-night for tho last time. The opening of their new jazz band, together with a new feature programme, is announced for to-morrow evening.

SAVOY HAVANA BAND. A special souvenir night will be held at rlis Majesty's Theatre to-night when the Savoy Havana Band and the Williamson Entertainers will again appear. Their phenomenally successful season closes tomorrow, with a .and a gala performance in the evening. MARIST BROTHERS' SCHOOL. A crowded houso assembled for the annual concert of the Marist Brothers' School in tho Scots Hall last evening. A varied programme included singing, dancing, recitations and drill by the pupils. The second part of the evening was devoted chiefly to a play entitled "Down on the Farm," by Mr. Tom Harris. The concert was in aid of the school debt and the annual picnic fund. SALVATION ARMY CONCERT. A successful concert was given in the Town Hall conccrt chamber last evening by tho young folk from tho Salvation Army Orphanage, " Tho Grange," and from the various suburban corps. The proceeds of the concert will ho applied to the orphanage Christmas appeal fund. The programme contained a number of rousing choruses besides a varied list of musical and elocutionary items and several drill performances.