ENTERTAINMENTS.

New Zealand Herald, Volume LXIII, Issue 19396, 3 August 1926, Page 6

ENTERTAINMENTS.

OPERA HOUSE. The Taylor-Carlton Super-Pierrots commenced their third and final week at the Opera House last evening and the change of programme showed the leading comedians of the troupe, Teddy Carlton and Jimmy Taylor, to be as original and versatile as ever. Movement of the eyebrows, a faint intonation of his voice and sometimes just complete silence and immobility are some of the simple expedients used by Jimmy Taylor to produce laughter; yet, they always succeed. "Wonderful Love" was a popular song contributed. by all the Pierrots. Mr. Taylor gave a clever performance in "Buying a Present." a clever character sketch which was well received. William J. Aspden again delighted the audience with songs. " Italian o de Lingo," an old favourite, but always popular, which the troupe sang in broken English, was heartily applauded, and Dorothea Summer's item, "Lor' Love Tm," was well received. The whole entertainment of the Pierrots is bright and amusing. Little Hermie (George Ward) and his eccentric partner, Abe Cohen (Bert la Blanc), created much amusement in "Three Married Men," A miniature revue liberally endowed with graceful dancing, enchanting music and clever comedy. Among the musical items William Berest'ord's number, "My Ships," met with warm applause. "California Sweetheart" was swetlv sung by Adelaide Taylor and William Beresford. The ballet was seen to advantage in "Kinky Kids Parade," led by Yorke Gray, and another song, "Kentucky's Way," received general applause. A novel act is presented by the Cycling Brocks, new arrivals, who perform clever tricks on various types of machines. Little Lorna and Lance, talented artists, appeared in several musical and dance numbers, all of which revealed unusual talent. , The concluding item, in which the children were represented as a jazz orchestra, was one of the best child acts staged in Auckland and was greeted with warm applause. The programme will be repeated each evening this week and at the usual: matinees. J. C. WILLIAMSON VAUDEVILLE. A matinee performance will be given to-morrow by the J. C. Williamson Company of vaudeville artists at His Majesty's Theatre. There will also be a matinee on Saturday, and the season will conclude at the evening performance. The box plan is at Lewis R. Eady and Son, Ltd ri JORDAN-COOK RECITAL. The joint song recital given in the Town Hall last evening by Mr. Arthur Jordan, the eminent English tenor, and Mr. .Harison Cook, the well-known basso, constituted a musical feast of good things. A numerous audience was in attendance and so compelling was the vocal ability of the exponents that insistent recalls were their reward on the conclusion of each group of songs. _ ' Mr. Arthur Jordan gave of his best from a lengthy repertoire, and with the exception that occasionally his throat gave evidence of overwork, after the numerous recitals he has given in Australia and New Zealand, he fully sustained his'high reputation as a. lyi'ic tenor of mature interpretative gifts,. His voice is of that quality beloved of concert-goers,-and he employs it at all" times with rare artistry. His diction is polished and he evidently has an unerring sense of the possibilities of a song. An ecstatic note was sounded in his opening delightful contributions, "0 Vision Entrancing," from Goring Thomas' " Esmeralda," and "Heavenly Aida," from "Verdi's "Aida," A selection from Margaret KennedyEraser's unique folk-songs of the Hebrides included "The Island Herdmaid, Kishmul's Galley," and "An Eriskay Love Lilt," each being sung with l'efined taste. Mr. Jordan's third group rose-to great heights of musical delineation in Holbrooke's fine setting of Tennyson's lines, "Come Not When I Am Dead." His encores were sung with the finesse of an experienced, artist; and one's regrets were sincefe when, . owing to throat trouble, the tenor had to vacate the platform after commencing Handel's "Every from ''The Messiah." ' Mr. Harison Cook submitted vigorous deliveries of his outstanding numbers. His declamatory powers were strikingly evidenced in the prologue to "Pagliacci" (Leoncavallo) .'ind "I'm a Roamer." from Mendelssohn's "Son and Stranger," which also exhibited the wide range of his resonant voice. " Halevy's expressive Cavatina from "The Jewess" was given with much breadth by Mr. Cook, who also made the most of his chances in Henschel's\ "Young Dietrich" and the mocking serenade from Gounod's "Faust." A series in diverse styles included "What the Redhaired Bosun (Harrhy), "When in Death" (Old Irish) and "When the Sergeant Major's on Parade" (Longstaffe). The artists were pleasantly associated in vocal duets, which were heartily received. The explanatory remarks made by Messrs. Jordan and Cook. prior to singing their numbers added much to the enjoyment of the recital, while at the same time they were helpful to students. t ' Mr. Cyrfl Towsev amply proved his abilities as accompanist during the evening. PRINCE EDWARD THEATRE. The programme to commence showing at the Prince Edward Theatre to-day includes two main pictures, "Confessions of a Queen" and "Greatest Love of All." Alice Terry and Lewis Stone appear in the principal rolws in "Confessions of a Queen," a Metro-Goldwyn production. The picture, like so many in which these players have appeared, is based on a historical novel. King Christian 11. marries Fredricka. Princess of Dalmatia, but they drip apart through the scheming of a band of plotters. A revolution breaks out and misfortune attends the cause of the Royalist party. A satisfactory conclusion is, however, brought about by the dawn of a new love between the King and Queen -while in exile. The accompanying picture, "Greatest Love of All," is a Master production.- There will "also be a strong supporting programme. STRAND THEATRE. Dorothy Devore and Ctillen Landis have' the principal roles in "A Broadway Butterfly," a Warner Brothers release, which heads this week's programme at the Strand Theatre. The story tells of a small-town girl who goes to BroSdway hoping to win fame and renown as a dancer. Her naivete attracts the attention of men, and she becomes involved in complication-; from which there seems to be no escape Louise Fazenda, John Roche and Willard Louis are included in the supporting cast. A Metro-Goldwyn adaptation of W. Somerset Maugham's well-known play, "The Circle," is also screened. The film is" an amusing comedy-drama, with a satiric and ironic twist. Frank Borzage was the director. The story concerns the domestic difficulties of two generations. RIALTO AND REGENT. "Recompense," the screen version of the novel of the same name by R. Keable, will be the chief attraction at the Rialto and Regent Theatres to-day. The great celebration of Armistice Day on the French front b 4 reproduced in the film, and in one scene in an old chateau 75 people are shown noisily expressing their joy at the termination of the war. In the story Monte Blue, as Peter, the army chaplain, is torn between his sense of duty to God, his fellows and himself on one side, and man-made love that beckoned him almost beyond resistance. Julie, played by Marie Pre vest, looked life in the' face and waited, unafraid, for the joy, sorrow and glorv that she believed was inevitable. The programme will include "Seven Keys to Baldpate," a Paramount comedy, starring Douglas Mac Lean,

MAJESTIC THEATRE. Handled in masterly fashion by the director, "The Devil's Circus," a MetroGoldwyn picture which is being screened at the Majestic Theatre this week, is an unusually attractive offering. A strong cast adds to the merit of the production by excellent and convincing acting. The principal players are Norma Shearer, Carmel Myers and Charles Emmctt Mack. Amid lavish and spectacular settings the film portrays grippingly the life of an actress in a great circus. Thrills and drama are combined in the scene where two girls perform daringly on a trapeze higli in the dome of the circus tent. The rival of one interferes with the trapeze, causing the girl to fall into a den of lions. With great skill the director has taken advantage of the possibilities offered by this incident. An excellent supporting programme is shown, and Mr. Edward Engel and Miss Christina Ormiston appear in a delightful musical interlude. GRAFTON LIBRARY COURSE. "Food, Health and Beauty" is the subject, of a lecture to be given by Professor F. P. Worley, in the Grafton Library this evening, The speaker will deal with the compositions of various foods, the important part played bv vitamins and mineral constituents, and the dependance of health and vitality on correct dietetic habits. The lecture will be illustrated with lantern slides.