ENTERTAINMENTS.

New Zealand Herald, Volume LXIII, Issue 19255, 18 February 1926, Page 13

ENTERTAINMENTS.

HIS MAJESTY'S 'THEATRE. A season of one week will be commenced by Pat Hanna's Diggers at His Majesty's Theatre on Saturday evening. The programme will include a great variety of numbers, such as ballets, male quartettes, operatic interludes, and burlesque sketches. Included in the personnel* of the company are such wellknown artists as Joe Yalli, G. P. Hanna, Bert Gilbert, Stan Lawson, Brian Lawrence, Jim Foran, Jock Thomson, Chris Kilner, Frank Mac Donald, Roy Brinsdon, Wallace Lloyd, Iza Orossley, Jessie Hanna, Vera Carew, Rosette Powell, Thelma Pittard, Wynne Thomson, Kathleen Lawrence, Olive Butler, Owen Webster, Myra Webster, Ver3. Rix, as we'll as the "Digger's" special ballet and a full concert orchestra. The Melbourne Argus says : "Nothing quite so _ appealing as Mademoiselle from Armentieres, has ever been seen here before, The immensity of the theme, and the sirapki grandeur of its presentation, will hold you spell-bound." The company has to its credit 37 ViceRegal performances, and while in Australia it created the Australasian long run record of 18 months, 488 consecutive nights, in the same theatre, the Oremorne Theatre, Brisbane, which seats 2400 people. The box plan will open at Lewis R. Eady and Son, Limited, next Monday morning. TIVOLI AND EVERYBODY'S A programme of unusual merit will open at the Tivoli Theatre to-day and at Everybody's Theatre to-morrow. Virginia Yalli once more gives a demonstration of her unusual ability and versatility as a screen actress in her role in " Siege," the Universal-Jewel attraction in which she is starred with Eugene O'Brien and which heads the programme. In the role,j>f Fredericka Gage, an intelligent, strongwilled girl of the modern type, she presents one of the most interesting characterisations of her career, and demonstrates that she is one of the screen's best emotional actresses. Introduced by marriage in to a conventional, aristocratic j New England family, owners of _ huge woollen mills, Virginia V&lli, in this role, shows her acceptance of her new surroundings, and her constant battle against domination by Augusta Ruyland, a selfish, sarcastic and wealthy old woman who controls the private Jives of the Ruyland family as well as the corporation which owns the mills. M6.ry Aldep stands out conspicuously in one of the greatest parts of her career—that of the vitriolic old dowager who holds the whip over the other members of her family. Although it is unlike anything she has done on the screen before, Mary Alden makes it her most convincing characterisation. Eugene O'Brien appears as Fredericka's husband and the rather weak-willed heir to the Ruyland fortunes, whom his Aunt Augusta has dominated all his life. The second featured attraction at both theatres is " Eve's Secret," a Paramount production starring Betty Compson and Jack Holt. "It - is a likeable picture," says a critic. " Clarence Badger's direction is excellent. The acting is good and there jjjg human interest. The settings are unusually good." The story tells of a ruler of a European dukedom, who, becoming diisgusted with the faithlessness of the women of his class, decides to marry the first, worthy peasant girl he meets. But before doing so ha gives the girl's uncle Wough money to send her to Paris to acquire polish. Next the girl is seen at Monte Carlo where the hero becomes involved in numerous deals with men who pay attention to the girl The story is worked up to an impressive climax.

STRAND THEATRE. Douglas McLean, who first gained fame in "Tiie Hottentot," aibid who was last seen in "Going Up," hail the leading role in "The Sunshine Trail,." a Master picture which will commence at the Strand Theatre to-morrow. ""The Sunshine Trail/ " says a critic, "in a good attraction that should be diverting to any class of patrons. It affords McLean an engaging role that is unusually well suited to him and brings out hisi most popular qualities. The story is. a refreshing example of what can be dene with material that is not especially remarkable, by applying a vivid imagination. There is enough newness in th% production to make it interesting, and the sequence is excellent. One dilemma piles on another in true farcical style, but the general mood is not farcical. Thero ?;s too much suspense for that. Thero in everything that makes well-balanced entertainment, from a bank robbery for thrills to a kidnapped child for heart interest. Muriel Frances Dana plays the latter role delightfully. She attaches herself to the hero early in the story, and her presence is the cause of most of the trouble that comes his way—and thero i§ a good deal. McLean's performance i 3 fine entertainment. His genial impersonation of the character who persists in "scattering sunshine," no matter what the cost, will surely please. The comedy throughout is appealing. I Edith Roberts plays the boy's sweetheart vivaciously, and tho whole cast is more than- satisfactory. Thomas H. Ince has given splendid supervision to a picture that does him credit from beginning to end. The supporting programme will include Urban Chats, a Strand Magazine* a Richmount comedy, "The Raid," and a nature study picture,, "'Hands Versus Feet." Miss Irene Long, champion hornpipe dancer of the Dominion, will appear in a dan«e interlude. Next week, from "Monday to Thursday, a yachting night will be held each evening, and a special film sliowing the opening of the yachting season will be screened. HIPPODROME™THEATRE. Zano Grey's famous story, " Riders of the Purple Sage," transferred to the screen bv William Fox, with Tom Mix in the leading role, commences at the Hippodrome Theatre to-day. " Riders of the Purple Sage " is a picturesque romance of the West of forty yearsj ago. Mix plays the role of a chivalrous cowboy, who comes riding forth to avenge his sister, kidnapped by an unscrupulous lawyer. Pausing in his quest 1 for his sister's abductor,; the hero wins the love of a girl rancher while protecting her from the • persecution of a villainous cattleowner, who wants to marry her. - In triumphing over a dishonest Judge, he learns he has revengc-cjj himself on the man who wronged his sister. This romantic role shows Mix t< the best advantage. There are many thrilling episodes in which he displays his superb horsemanship, his skill with the lariat and his quickness in handling a gun. The charming Mabel Ballin plays iho role of the girl rancher, and Marian Nixon, a graceful figure in boy's clothes, acts the part of Lassiter'u niece. Beatrice Burnhani gives a dramatic performance as Lassiter's sister. Harold Goodwin is the gallant voung cowboy who aids Lassiter sn defence of the" ranch. The film contains many thrills, not the least of which is provided by the scene in which the hero, after a long and painful c'Jimb up a series of steps cut in the fac<? of a high cliff, rolls down a huge boulder which sweeps his enemies to their death. The programme will also include a two-reel comedy, an interesting gazette and a travel picture. QUEEN'S THEATRE. Harry Carey's latest production, " Crashin' Thru'," will head the new programme at •, the Queen's Theatre tomorrow. It is a film remarkable for the intensity and number oif its thrills. The hero is seen galloping to safety with the inert form of the heroine, lifted almost from beneath the very hoofs of a stampeding mob of thousands of horses when a great storm breaks over the scene. Next an avalanche thunders down a deep canyon, and a iriigh cliff is brought dawn by "the explosion of a huge charge of dynamite, while finally a climax is reached when a whole mountain-side is swept bv fire. Vol a Vale has the feminine lead. The second will"■ be "One Glorious Night/', V Master picture, with Elaine Hammerstein in the role of a girl who C»£ts aside love for the sake ot lama and wealth.

NATIONAL AKD LrRIB. Coleen Moore will appear in the role of a criminal's daughter in thij latest Goldwyn-Cosmopolitan classic, "Through the Dark/' which commences at the National and Lyric Theatres to-day. The story of the film deals with "Boston Blaekie," the cleverest criminal in the world, th» fiction creation- made famous by Jack Boyle in his stories woven around that character. In "Through the Dark," a film version of Boyle's storjy ! - "The Daughter of Mother _ McGinn," Boston Blaekie, with the assistance of a pretty boarding school girl, makes a daring escape from San Quentin prison. Romance then comes into the life of the notorious safe-blower, and he declare.'! his love for the giri who made his escape possible. Her part in his break for liberty is discovered by the police* who later reveal her as the daughter of Mother McGinn, a lovable and straight-laced underworld character. Vvher it is learned that tho girl's father had died in • prison, she is forced to leave th®. fashionable boarding school and 'take up her abode in the underworld. She employs a ruse to get Blaekie to give up his life of crime, bat unforeseen circumstances arise which lead to a succession of highlyexciting adventures. The film contains an abundance of thrills, and a striking touch of realism is added in a scene in which Travel, the pal of Blaekie, mortally wounded, spends 'his last few minutes on earth holding the police at bay,* thus enabling Blaekie and the girl to" make a successful escape. The uprising at San Quentin and the _ ensuing . break for liberty are also faithfully depicted. Most o! the action takes place uider cover of darkness, _ providing the opportunity for an exceptional display of night photography. If it had not b«wi for the historic fire which wrapped tho old San Francisco in disaster is April, 1900, the famous "Boston Blaekie" stories probably never would have been written. The role which Forrest Stanley plays in "Through the Dark" is based upon a real character, encountered by Boyle during the tragic days in 1906 when desolation swept the city. Boyle was "covering" the disaster for the San 'Francisco Examiner when, in the midst of ruins, ho beheld a strange trio—a man sealed with two tiny children. The man was improvis-' ing a doll from a strip of cloth. As he fashioned his crude toy, the hand of a three-year-old girl clutched his coat, Ai his feet, a five-year-old boy played with a wooden soldier that he had (salvaged from the debris. Boyle knew the man to be tho most expert safe-cracker in the country, but one against whom the police had no evidence to warrant his arrest. With safes wide open and the y unguarded treasures of the city's unfortunate populace beckoning to looters, this notorious' safe robber was lightening the burden of two waifs. Boyle spoke to the man, and the two later- became fast friends. It was from this man that Boyle gained the knowledge of the underworld, which he later used to isuch advantage in his stories. The programme ' will also include a First National picture, "Shore Leave," with Richard' Barthelrnesa and Dorothy Mackaill in the leading roles. The picture is based upon a Broad- • way stage success by Hubert Osborne, and portrays the romance of a. young sailor, "Bilge" Smith, and a little dressmaker, Connie Martin, of a sn3a.ll New England seacoast town, Connie loses her heart at a chance meeting, but "Bilge," being a sailor on an American tsiitV ship, moves on with the battle Connie is unable to forget the .yonng sailor, and she starts to find him, Cemtiti's 1 quest provides the story of "Shore Leave.' ■

AUSTRALIAN LADIES' BAND. A very successful complimentary concert was tendered to the Australian Ladies' Pipe Bund in the Town Hall lstst evening. There was a good attendance and enthusiastic applause was frequenlL Songs were rendered by Piper Molly Innes, Miss Florence Sutherland and Mr'., Peter Dawson. Violin items were given by Messrs.. B. A. Truebridge and Paul Bretnflß, pianoforte .Solos bv Miss Lilian Quitm, and ft pipe solo by ripe Major Dolly Mcpherson. Elocutionary items were contributed by Drummer Leura Bate and Mr. Peiter Dawson. Piper Gertie Oliver appeared .in Highland dances. Selections wei'o played by the'Ponsonb.v Boys' Brass Band and the Australian Ladies' Pipe Band.