ENTERTAINMENTS.

New Zealand Herald, Volume LXIII, Issue 19384, 20 July 1926, Page 8

ENTERTAINMENTS.

OPERA HOUSE. It is a happy thought on the part of the management of the Opera House to revive from time to time old types of entertainment. A short while ago they brought back happy memories with Auckland audiences the old nigger minstrels. They have now recalled the piefrot troupe, and last night's performance by the Tay-lor-Carlton Super Pierrots showed that they should have the same measure of popularity accorded to them as did the minstrels. They provided a bright entertainment with plenty of clean, sparkling Humour and catchy music, and there was not a dull moment in the first half of the programme. The troup comprises Jimmy Taylor and Teddy Carlton, two very fine burlesque „ comedians, an exceedingly clever character sketch artiste in Miss Dorothea Summers, Miss Doiothy Rosslyn, a dainty soubrette, Miss Beryl Scott. wm> plays the accompaniments very well in addition to possessing a pleasing voice, and William Aspden, a singer of ballads in a rousing baritone. Into a short t>o minutes the pierrots crowd a host of excellent numbers, the humour in all of them being delightfully clevei, while the harmonising of the various choruses by the company is splendid. "The Little Stream," labelled as a vocal endurance test, is a fine number, but "The Last "Bus," a character sketch by Teddy Carlton and Miss Summers, is the outstanding item. A burlesque opera, "The Bride," is also good George Ward's Snapshots Revue Company sees that there is no falling off in the entertainment during the second part of tht programme, for 'tixed Pickles," their second offering to Auckland audiences during their preseut visit, is an uproarious larce. George Ward and Bert Le Blanc have never been seen to better advantage, and last evening they had the large house in roars of laughter. The singing and dancing were well up to standard, and the frocking of the ballet was exceptionally neat. The revue centres round a domestic quarrel—a jealous husband and an equally jealous wife with an energetic cousin in the role of peacemaker—and added to this is the quarrel between Little Hermie and Abe onen, George Ward and Bert Le Blanc respectively, to determine who is to secure a vacant post in the troubled household. f iss Daisy Yates and Carlton Chase both give good portrayals in their roles of the worried couple, and Miss Adelaide Taylor is very satisfactory as the cousin. Although one may lose track of the other members of the company now and again, they fit well into the scheme of things and make the revue proceed breezily toward its happy ending. Musical numbers abound, but one of rare excellence is "Waiting for the Sunrise," sung by Miss Lila Marion, in a beautifully modulated mezzo-soprano. She fully deserved the applause given her last evening. William Beresford was also successful in a fine baritone solo. The first act on the programme was provided by Harry North with his ever-popular concertina, nis playing of popular airs "'bringing the house down." The programme will be repeated every evening this week and at the usual matinees. PRINCESS THEATRE. Thomas Meighan's latest Paramount production, "Irish Luck," which has enjoyed a highly-successful season at the Princess Theatre, will be screened-for the last time to-morrow. The new programme on Thursday will include Douglas Mac Lean's latest Paramount farce-oomedy, "Introduce Me," and a Paramount adaptation of Joseph Conrad's classic tale of the sea, "Lord Jim." "Mac Lean has given his best performance in this masterpiece of ingenious fun., ' says a critic of the former picture. The audience was poised constantly between thrills and mirth, and never knew whether to gasp with surprise or roar with laughter." Victor Fleming was the director of "Lord Jim," and the cast includes such popular favourites as Percy Marmont, Shirley Mason, Noah Beery and Raymond Hatton. The story tells of a first mate who, with the captain and crew, deserts his ship during a storm, and is astonished on reaching port to find the craft awaiting him safe and trim. His certificate is cancelled, and with the stigma of disgrace attached to his name he wanders about the world for years. Finally, on a tropic island he becomes ruler of the natives, and wins back his self-respect, TIVOLI AND EVERYBODY'S. "Desert Gold," a Paramount film version of Zane Grey's novel of the same name, and "The Plastic Age," a Paramount picture dealing with American college life, will be screened at the Tivoli and Everybody's Theatres for the last time to-morrow. On Thursday a remarkable Universal-Jewel picture, "His People," will head the new programme. The story concerns the drab life of a refugee from old Russia who ekes out a living by selling simple garments in the slum district of New York. He has two sons, one being a larrikin who sells newspapers, but brings home the profits to his mother, and the other being a student and the idol of his father's heart. The student becomes a clerk in a law office and falls in love with his employer's daughter. In order that he may marry the girl he denies his father and mother. The larrikin is turned out of his home, but still retains an enduring love for his parents. In order to obtain money to take his ailing father to a climate better suited to his state of health he enters a boxing contest, facing overwhelming odds in the hope of winning the purse of 1000 dollars. The film is said to be extraordinarily true to life, and to be remarkable for the wonderful acting of the entire cast. RIALTO AND REGENT. Eddie Sutherland's remarkably successful Paramount comedy, " Behind the Front," will commence a brief season at the Rialto and Regent Theatres to-day. Wallace Seery and Raymond Hatton have the principal roles and are said to give irresistibly amusing performances. The story tells of a pickpocket and a detective who enlist in the American Expeditionary Force and become firm friends in spite of the fact that the pickpocket has relieved the detective of a gold watch. They go through a long series of delightful adventures at the front, and are then demolished, At the last moment the pick-pocket draws out his watch, which is immediately recognised by the detective, and an old chase, begun in the early days of the war, is re-com-menced. STRAND THEATRE. D. W. Griffith, whose position at the head of the great film producers of the world is firmly established by a long line of outstanding successes, is said to have produced another masterpiece in " Isn't Life Wonderful," his latest picture, which is being, screened at the Strand Theatre this week. In this film Griffith is said to blaze a new trail, taking as the central characters of his great drama a group of simple common people whose jovs and sorrows are calculated to win the sympathy of the audience just as readily as those of the kings and queens who appear in lavish and spectacular super-films. Included in the programme is a second series of the wonderful De Forest phonofilms, which make possible the reproduction of sound in perfect synchronisation with the action of the picture. MAJESTIC THEATRE. A film version of Dickens' famous story, " Little Dorrit," which has been praised unanimously by English critics as a faithful translation of the classic, is the principal attraction at the Majestic Theatre this week. The charm and restraint of the characters of Dickens are said to be skilfully portrayed, and the director is stated to have performed his task with excellent judgment. Karina Bell has the title role, and makes an appealing figure with all the spirituality and pathos of the original character-study. A pleasing interlude will be provided by the Kennedy Entertainers, who will render a number of well-known musical items. Attractive supporting pictures will also be screened.

PRINCE EDWARD THEATRE. Lon Chaney will be seen in another of his strange characterisations in " The Monster," a Metro-Goldwyn attraction, which will head the new programme opening at the Prince Edward Theatre to-day. Commencing with a mysterious disappearance, the picture gradually unfolds until the scene is set in a private sanatorium. From thence onward, weird and uncanny happenings present themselves in quick succession. Faces _ peer from holes in the walls, doors mysteriously open and shut by their own accord, hands and human forms emerge ghost like from hidden doors, while later, the heroine is seized by unseen arr *\ s >. a couch on which she had been reclining at the same time sinking beneath the floor. But the thrills are not exhausted at this period, for a fiendishly cruel and demented surgeon provides a breathless climax by endeavouring with the aid of an electric chair to transfer the soul of one unfortunate victim to the body of another. He fails, however, and finally is himself entrapped by his own diabolical device, A Paramount release, " Salome of the Tenements," starring Jetta Goudal, will be included in the programme. " FAUST." "'-e Auckland Choral Society's concert production of "Faust" will be presented at the Town Hall next Thursday evening. Mr. Arthur Jordan, one of England's greatest tenors, will take the title role, and Mr. Hanson Cook that of "Mephistopheles." Madame Cora Melvin, Mrs. Cyril Towsey, Mr. William Gemmell, Mr. James De Montalk and Miss Muriel Barr will take the parts of "Marguerite," "Siebel," "Valentine," "Wagner" and "Matha" respectively. Mr. Colin Muston will act as conductor and Miss Edith Whitelaw will lead the orchestra. The presentation of "Faust" marks an achievement on the part of the society and the performance is expected to be memorable The box plan is at the E. and F. Piano Agency, Ltd.