ENTERTAINMENTS.

New Zealand Herald, Volume LXII, Issue 19201, 15 December 1925, Page 15

ENTERTAINMENTS.

OPERA HOUSE. Phil Smith departs from his usual musical comedy in the production presented for the first time at the Opera House yesterday, but he gives in its place a sparkling revue in which brilliantly humorous acts are strung together, making the entertainment a most -enjoyable one. " Any Old Thing" is the title of the production and as Phil Smith explains, it is in the nature of a change. The happy little comedian is at his best throughout the performance. He appears as a grocer, a lady in search of a husband and a hypnotist and in each character is constantly humorous. The last sketch where he puts four people to sleep and then exercises his will over them keeps the audience in roars of laughter. Nat Hanlev also provides plenty of amusement and is very successful in a scene with Phyllis Nicholson, when they indulge in very bright patter woik. Musical numbers abound in the production and Robert Raymond's fine voice is heard to advantage in an Indian song, "Pale Moon." He also gives a light duet, " Teach Me," with Nellie Dean, whose other number, " Whose Baby Are \ou, provides a good finale. " Anarella' gives Peggy Plate's charming voice full scope, while William Greene renders " Taxi" and " Bachelor Days," with every satisfaction;' An apache dance is given by Mildred O'Brien and A 1 Mack and ranks as one of the features of the performance. The fine work of the ballet again distinguishes tho production. Three of the girls, Thelma Lacey, Elsie Dick and Eileen O'Sullivan appear in a fine interlude, which is deservedly popular. The Four Little Kellys present an act which heads the vaudeville part of the programme. Thf.ie children, one of whom is little more than a toddler, are musicians to their finger tips. Leonie Kelly, the eldest, is a brilliant violinist, and for one so young, approaches the mark of genius. Two of her sisters, including the youngest, are also violinists while the fourth plays the accompaniments splendidly. Yesterday their playing of " Humoresque" took the audience by storm and they were repeatedly recalled. They concluded their act with some jazz melodies which were also exceedingly popular. South wood and Pink Lady appear in a very good act which includes the rendering of a number of popular operatic airs. The Murfayne Duo are a soubrette and xylophone soloist of high ability and their turn yesterday was a fine one. Charles Lewis, tho talking comedian, helps to make the programme a very entertaining one. The programme will be repeated each evening , this week. " THE MESSIAH." The Christmas season would seem in- ' complete without a performance of " The ( Messiah." Handel's evergreen composi- j tion will be given under unusually favour- ' able conditions at the Town Hall on Thursday evening, when the Choral Society will give its yearly Christmas performance of the work. No expense has j been spared to secure the best soloists ! procurable. Mr. Colin Muston, the society's very capable conductor, has worked the chorus and orchestra up to a high state of efficiency; in fact, visiting soloists are unanimous in agreeing that, musically, Auckland has the finest choral society in the Dominion. A record attendance is anticipated, and it is therefore advisable that seats should be reserved in good time. MAJESTIC THEATRE. A film of rare merit has been chosen to head the first programme at Auckland's newest and largest theatre, the Majestic, which opens on Friday. " Artistically, and in everv other way, ' The White Sister ' is, without exception, the finest picture of its kind ever screened in this city," said a critic, when the picture was screened in Christchurch recently.' "It is an epic of the screen; it fills eleven reels," continued the writer. " Directed by the master-director, Henry King, ' The" White Sister' has been adapted to the screen from the widelyread and famous novel of the same name, by F. Marion Crawford, and it glorifies and magnifies the unquestionable charm and art of the demure Lillian Gish. She is the only one who could have .carried the noble traditions of the greatest personalities .of the speaking stage to the silver sheet as she does in 'The White Sister.' Alone, "she literally made ' The Birth of a Nation,' ' Orphans of the Storm,' and ' Way Down East ' never-to-be-forgotten masterpieces all. Briefly, it is a love romance, beautifully sad. It possesses a striking spiritual quality, which not only lends to the picture a pronounced and obvious distinction, but which also proves to be very effective in that it "leaves sweet memories. Vividly I the great emotions in ' The White Sister ' clash; and wonderful is the revelation of the two souls in conflict." An appealing prologue will introduce the picture, and musjc will' be provided by an orchestra of 19 instruments. A MetroGold wvn cartoon comedy, which- is claimed to be a masterpiece of comedy, will also be shown. The plans for the season will open at ten o clock this morning. PRINCESS THEATRE. The thirty wonderfully clever performing animals included in Frank Apdale's circus have fully justified the claims made for them, and 'are attracting enthusiastic audiences at the Princess Theatre. Among the animals are bears, dogs and monkeys, which skip and waltz, perform on ladders and globes, ride bicycles and play musical instruments. Some of their acts are delightfully amusing. The picture programme is headed by " Any Woman," a Paramount production in which tho beautiful Alice Terry plays the leading role. The story centres round a girl, who on being compelled to earn her own j living becomes a shorthand-typiste in a ! brokerage firm. Both her employers are i susceptible to her beauty, and before long she becomes the innocent cause of two divorce actions. NATIONAL AND LYRIC. Milton Sills has a congenial, though somewhat- unusual role in " The Making of O'Malley," a First National production, which is now being shown at the National and Lyric Theatres. He appears as a burly but awkward police constable who falls in love with a New York society girl. The latter has forsaken the pleasure-seeking circles of the idle rich to undertake social work among the poor of the, city. The influence of tho beautiful girl lifts the policeman to a new and higher plane. The picture includes a wide variety of scenes, with thrills, t action, and comedy following one another in rapid succession. Dorothv Mackaill plays the fr-roiriirie lead. A William Fox picture, " Durand of the Bad Lands," starring Buck .lories, is also included in the programme. Marion Nixon appears as the heroine. RIALTO THEATRE. The unparalleled popularity of the great Paramount picture " The Ten Commandments " was again demonstrated last evening, when a crowded audience was attracted to the Rialto Theatre. The film will be screened until Thursday evening. Not only is it one of the most spectacular pictures yet seen upon tho screen, but also it contains drama of the greatest intensity, which holds the interest of the audience without relaxation from beginning to end. The scenes showing the flight of the Israelites across the desertare extremely beautiful, having been photographed in natural colours. EMPRESS THEATRE. Vaudeville trials and pictures will compose the programme to be presented at the Empress Theatre this evening. " Madonna of the Streets," starring Milton/Sills and Nazimova. is the featured film.

SCENES FROM " FAUST." To stage four of the principal scenes from Gounod's opera, "Faust," is no light undertaking when one considers tho exactions of the music and the difficulty of securing suitable solo voices. M. Errick Charmers, who has had considerable operatic experience, directed a performance at the Town Hall concert chamber last evening which, despite certain excusable inequalities, had much to commend it. The stage lighting and costuming were in keeping with the operatic demands, and the exponents had evidently been schooled in gesture and deportment. The scene between Faust and Mephistophelcs from the first act of the opera was successfully enacted by Mr. Errick Charmers (Faust) and Mr. Keg. White (Mephistopheles). Their musical colloquies were clearly sung, and tho duet, "Be Mine the Delight," made a fine climax to the scene. Vocally, Mr. Charmers scored his best, success in his excerpt from tho "Garden Scene," "All Hail, Thou Dwelling Pure and Lowly." His refined cantabile passages were artistically delivered, and he was deservedly applauded at the close. Miss Florence Sutherland adopted too unrestrained a method of singing in Siebel's popular "Gentle Flowers in the Dew," though she showed some operatic experience. Mr. Reg White, in Valentine's song, "Even Bravest Hearts," was not always, congenially suited, and he did much better work in the subsequent duel scene. This was enacted with freedom, and the Faust of M>' Jean Dellore and tho Mephistopheles of Mr. J. Edward Arthur gave the necessary balance. Mr. Arthur's "Mocking" serenade was sung with sureness and artistic resonance. The music of the prison scene was capably rendered, the soprano part of Marguerite being sung by Miss Dellore in a manner which showed careful study. The powerful ensembles by the principals were adequately presented. Several picturesque dances were given during the evening and these wore warmly applauded. Miss Ruby Phillips, in her Danse Joyense, was excellent, and she was also associated with Miss Norma Standish in.a vigorous terpsiehorean effort. Miss Irene Long presented all the features of a "Danse Russe" in the best style. This evening's programme will consist of a series of short musical and dramatic sketches, together with a dance bv Miss Rubv Phillips. "The Empire's Unity "The Woman Hater." "A Lock of Hair, j and "Tho Artist's Studio," are tho titles of the four sketches to be given. STRAND THEATRE. Raoul Walsh, director of " The Thief of Bagdad " and " East of Suez," has achieved another great success in " The Spaniard." his latest production, which heads the current programme at the Strand Theatre. Ricardo Cortez, in the leading role, appears as a Spanish grandee who wins fame in the bull-ring .as a matador. He attracts the attention of an English girl, who is at first disgusted on discovering that he is a bull-fighter. The exciting career of .the matador forms a background for a colourful story full of thrilling incidents and dramatic effects. The film is adapted from a successful novel of the same name by Juanita Savage. A strong supporting programme is shown, and during the interlude vocal duets are given by the Asquiths, two accomplished singers who have highly popular with the audience.