ENTERTAINMENTS.

New Zealand Herald, Volume LXII, Issue 19195, 8 December 1925, Page 13

ENTERTAINMENTS.

THE OPERA HOUSE. Scintillating with humour, song and dance the now musical comedy, " A Hot Night," presented by the Phil Smith Musical Comedy Company at the Opera House for the first time, last evening, scored an unqualified success with the large audience. Phil Smith lias acquired the art of maintaining the interest of his audience throughout, and last evening there was not one dull moment. As the title indicates, the comedy is full of excitement and. unusual in this form of entertainment, the plot is one of the strongest ■features. Mrs. Winks, wife of the magistrate (Peggy Peate), calls unexpectedly at a doubtful hotel to see an old friend, Major Bullock (William Greene). - Halfway through the evening her husband, Archibald, the magistrate, turns up with his sun. Joseph, despite the fact that he was supposed to deliver a lecture. Wife and husband manage to avoid each other all the. evening until there is a police raid. Ia the dark the magistrate and his son escape. The seine in Court next morning when the magistrate unsuspectingly condemns his wife and sentences her to "two weeks' imprisonment without the option" is hilarious. Phi Smith was never seen to better advantage than as the magistrate. Nat Hanley excelled in the part of Augustave, a hotel rouseabout and finally a Court orderly. His dexterity at the piano earned him well-deserved applause. William Greene was convincing as the major, while Peggy Peate had opportunity to sing some prettv songs as Mrs. Winks. Al Mack was Joseph, the son. Not the least important factor in the. success was the ballet, " The Smiling Six." led 'by Mildred O'Brien. Not for a long time has such a welltrained set of girls been seen on the stage at the Opera House. The vaudeville side of the programme is unusually strong. Soufhwood and Pink Lady, who were seen for the first time, are a talented pair of character actors and songsters. r I hey very cleverly burlesqued the proposal of to-day and the proposal of the last generation and similarly the songs of the present generation and the past. Their act, which is artistically/ presented, should find great favour in Auckland. Once again Johnny ?>loore, the Scottish singing comedian, did not have to strive for applause. As a tramji and then as a stupid newsboy he scored enviable success. He sang with dramatic feeling " Let Me Like a boldier Fall." Jenrfie Roy is one of the neatest and most charming soubrettes seen for many a clay. She appeared in the character song. " Sitting in the Corner," and in several charming dances. The Weatherlvs, four girls and a man. offer a varied musical treat, while Farrell and Massey are rhythmic toe dancers of the first order. Excellent music was supplied by E. J. Burke's orchestra. This programme will 'l»e repeated throughout this week. A Grand Scottish night will be tendered to Johnny Moore at the Opera House next. Thursday evening by the Caledonian Societv and 1 Thistle Social Club. EVERYBODY'S THEATRE. Gloria Swanson'y great success for Paramount, " Madame Sans Gene," is now in its second Week afc Everybody's Theatre. W T herever shown this lavish film has met with most enthusiastic receptions. Gloria Swanson was sent by Paramount to France to play the leading part in the picture. Miss Swanson was the only American in the. cast of this glittering picture of the Napoleonic days of France. Laid in the actual palaces that echoed with the praise of the victories of the great Emperor, with the art treasures of a nation, Madame Sans Gene " tells the well-known stoiv of the laundress who became a duchess. In it Gloria Swanson scores the greatest triumph of her career, and while making the picture, romance other than' in the script of the play entered the studio. In Paris, Gloria Swanson met the Marquis de la Falaise de la C'loudrave find then married him. Prominent people at the wedding, which took place in Paris, were the first secretary at the American Embassy and Baron D'Aiguv. Alter the completion of the picture the bride returnee! to the United States with her husband, received most flattering welcomes. In aodition to the main attraction other features are shown. RIALTO THEATRE. Alan Crosland, who has many excellent screen productions to his credit, is said to have added another'success to his already imposing list in " Contraband, the Paramount production which will open at ■;he Rialto Theatre to-day. The story deals with the humorous, romantic and dramatic adventures ot a girl who inherits a bankrupt newspaper in a small town. She discovers that the town is being used by a gang of rum-runners as a base ot operations. She tries to break up this liquor ring and finds herself confronted by many difficulties. Lois Wilson is the girl and Raymond McKee is the young professor, who forgets his academic training and tendencies long enough to fall in love with the hei-oine and help her clean up the town. Noah Beerv has a role very much to his liking, that of a villainous deputy-sherifii, who is in league with the/, bootleggers. Raymond Hatton is another of the principal players who gives a good account of himself. He portravs the local photographer, who is in reality a bootlegger. "Wonders of the Sea," a picture remarkable for its beautv as well as for its thrills, will also be screened. TIVOLI THEATRE "Adventure," a screen adaptation of the great story by Jack London, is or.e of the principal attractions now being shown at the Tivoli Theatre. Action, love, and adventure, in the South Seas, where the picture was actually filmed, are portraved in this Paramount production. It is full 0f thrilling incidents, which hold the spectators enthralled from start to finish. Dancers and derelicts appear in the scenes, while Duke Kahanamoku, champion swimmer of the world, plays a part in the tain, told in the famous author's best style. Pauline Starke, Tom Moore, Wallace "Beery and Raymond Hatton have the leading roles. The second attraction is " Meddling Women," an attractive story in which Lionel Barryinorc heads the cast. STRAND THEATRE. A programme of comedy is proving a diverting' attraction to large audiences at the Strand Theati*. " Hold Your Breath," a feature length Christie comedy, is the. principal offering, together with a shorter comedy, " Hitting the High Spots." and several films of a topical and novelty interest. Miss Lois Evans sings at the 8 o'clock sessions. CAPITOL THEATRE. Rudolph Valentino's latest production for Paramount, "A Sainted Devil," will be screened at the Capitol Theatre, this evening. The film is an adaptation of Rex Beach's popular story, "Rope's End," and has been p-oduccd on a lavish scale. Nita Yaldi plays the feminine lead. A Universal picture, "Let 'Er Buck"' starring Hoot Gibson, will also be shown. The programme will lie repeated to-morrow i-nd Thursday evenings. EMPRESS THEATRE. ' "The Ten Commandments," Cecil B. de Mille's masterpiece, which has met with wonderful success in all parts of the world, will commence a season of four nights at the Empress Theatre to-day. Vaudeville items and trials will also ba features of the programme. CHORAL SOCIETY. A performance of "The Messiah" will be given in the Town Hall on Thursday, December 17, by the Auckland Choral Society. The box plan will be opened next Monday, and will be at the Town Hall from 7*a,m. until 9 a.m., and at the E. and F Piano Agency, Limited, Queen Street, from 9 a.m. till 5 p.m.