ENTERTAINMENTS.

New Zealand Herald, Volume LXIII, Issue 19264, 1 March 1926, Page 12

ENTERTAINMENTS.

PAT lIANNA'S DIGGERS. It is several years since Pat Hanna s famous "Diggers", visited Auckland. Hie opening performance of their new season last Saturday evening proved they have •added to the strength of their combination and sharpened their faculty of entertaining. It is a bright and witty show and His Majesty's Theatre is not too big a place to vent their enthusiasm and give rein to their jollification. A band of clever singers and actors, they have learnt the difficult knack' of building up a real team spirit,' with the result that, while the entertainment offered is pure variety, it blends smoothly into a harmonious whole. To all who enjoy the fleeting character of the modern "show," with its galloping humour, dancing girls, ana its basket oi' sentimental songs, this company can be well recommended. As costume companies go it is one of the best. Besides, it boasts as delightful a ballet its one could wish for, six dainty girls, ali exactly alike, or as near as would be humanly possible. Specially taking was their work in an original ballet, arranged by Miss Rosette Powell, in which they are attired to represent a team of snow-white horses.

In a long list of moving scenes —gay, d 1 oil and pathetic —a plausible little musical sketch entitled "Mademoiselle From Armentieres," may be singled out for mention. R begins on a rollicking riots, tc some verses based on the notorious soldiers' chorus, and ends with a breath 0: tragedy' and a tear. Mr. Jim Foran. a pleasing tenor, sings the verses, later assisting JVliss Vera Carew in the "Miserere" duet from "11 Trovatore." Miss Carew herself contributes several acceptable solos. The vocal side of the company, in fact, is fairly strong, Mr. Jock Thomson, in particular, being a mainstay with his rich baritone voice. An altogether superior singer is Master Brian Lawrance, whose youth is no bar to a most experienced and engaging manner. A beautiful quality of tone, combined with perfect enunciation, which makes every word heard, brought him instant popularity. Of all the members of the company, he was one who was not heard enough. The three male singers mentioned, together with Mr. Chris. Ivilner, were well liked in a series of Scottish quartettes, and the vocal section is completed with Miss Iza Crossley. Mr. Stan Lawson, who will be well remembered, is also in the limelight. It might be expected that the ""Diggers" would be strong on comedy. Mr. Hanna himself, after helping Air. Bert. Gilbert in a clever marionette specialty, gives a very fine sketi/h of two men in khaki. Mr. Joe Valli iu also wonderfully funny, in a different way, and he made the audience rock with laughter in a series of disguises. Somehow their comedy is never so good as when they are revelling in the absurdities of a military sketch and it seems that this will always remain the "Diggers' " long hand. Three sketches were played on Saturday evening, each laughable and effective, but the concluding number must rank as. their best. An episode in the life of three Tommies in a war hospital in England, it gives Messrs. Hanna and Valli their best opportunities, and they make use of them with screamingly funny results. This amusing farce completes a very entertaining bill.

The season concludes on Friday and a cfcange of programme will bo given on Wednesday. OPERA HOUSE! The latest presentation of tiia Moon and Morris Revue Company is "Wit and Wisdom," which will be giver; at the Opera House this evening. The revue is stated to be full of movement from start to finish, and humour is the keynote to the whole piece. The frocking will be lavish and the ballet will give- several items, Besido tho leading roles the supports are ail excellently arranged, and the whole should combine toward giving a perform ance calculated fco hold the interest from start to finish. In addition Morris and Cowley will again dispense Ifumouv. while Queenie and David Kaili, two Hawaiian entertainers, vrho have already become known as versa,tile artists, will make their appearance. Weridling and Molloy are a couple whose work behind the footlights has already won them recognition. Last but not least is Sam Stern, the character comedian, well-known by Auckland audiences. CLARA BIJTT CONCERTS, Auckland music lovers will shortly ba given an opportunity of again hearing the famous contralto Dame Ciara Butt, who, after a remarkably successful tour of the Dominion, will give three popular farewell concerts at the Town Hall on March 9, 11 and 13. Dame Clara has decided upon a theme which should find fen appeal m Auckland as, in every other city visited, and at each concert a feature will be made of old-time songs which have helped to make this singer-doubly famous. When in Sydney the same courso was adopted and huge crowds stamped their delight at the wonderful interpretation of Dame Clara Butt's songs. The items are mainly of the Victorian era, and include many popular ballads which even to-day stand strong against the modern music. Mr. Kennerley Rumford will sunport Dame Clara Butt, while the solo pianist is Miss Marie Antoinette Aussenac. Messrs. Ray Elicit and Bernard Page also contribute to what will undoubtedly be seme of the finest vocal programmes ever heard in the Town Hall. Voting papers concerning the most popular songs are now obtainable, at Lewis R. Eady and Son, Ltd., where tho box plan may* be viewed on Wednesday. "AS NO MAN 'HAS LOVED." The William Fox adaptation of Edward Everett Hale's immortal story, " The Man Without a Country," will commence at the National and Lyric Theatres on Thursday under the title, " As No Man Has Loved." Colonel James E*. West, Chief Scoyt Executive of the Boy Scouts of America, has issued a statement to 55,000 scoutmasters throughout the United States regarding the picture. "It is," he says, " the type of picture which all of us should support earnestly and aggres-' sively. It is entirely free from objectionable features, and has definite educational values. It is a period picture well costumed and splendidly acted. There are tense and stirring scenes as well as tender and sad ones, and some touches of humour that get a hearty Jaugh. This would be an excellent picture for troops to go in uniform in a body to see. The scenes showing the flotilla ..bearing Burr's historic expedition into the West to establish a new empire are as instructive as they are interesting. The picture is bound to ma ( ke a deep and lasting patriotic impression upon old and, young; it is uplifting and appeals powerfully,, to the best in our natures. It has often been said that every boy and girl in the land should know Hale's ' The Man Without a Country.' I cannot help but feel that it is almost the duty of every patriotic organisation f.o try to have every boy and girl and every man and woman see this him version •■if that great classic."

TIVOLI AND EVERYBODY'S. Richard Dix in a motor-racing picture is the principal attraction offering to patrons of Everybody's and the Tivoli Theatres this week. The stirring • film in which Dix plays the leading role is "The Lucky Devil," a "Paramount production which provides as much excitement as the most exacting audience could desire. It is a tale of a young man who is deserted by the givl he loves through a misunderstanding. He sets out in "pursuit in his touring car. and after many adventures, finds the girl and her mother in their car, which has broken down far from any snot when* . assistance can be obtained. He tows them to the nearest town, and in order, to win sufficient money to give him a good start in life he decides to enter for a great motor road lace. First he enters.for a prize-fight to win the entrance money, and finally, after a highly-exciting race, crosses the finishing line first. The second feature is " The White Outlaw," a Universal production starring Jack Hoxie and his famous white horse, " Scout."