ENTERTAINMENTS.

New Zealand Herald, Volume LXIII, Issue 19456, 12 October 1926, Page 6

ENTERTAINMENTS.

OPERA HOUSE. The non-arrival of the limited express from Wellington yesterday meant that the members of the Phil. Smith Musical Comedy Company wero unable to fulfil their engagements at the Opera House. The Veterans of Variety, who were to have appeared in the first half of the programme, were also delayed, and consequently a programme of vaudeville items had to be presented last evening. Phil Smith, with his popular company, will open a short Auckland season this evening, when an enjoyable programme is assured. PRINCESS AND TIVOLT. All the humour, sentiment and pathos that live behind the scenes of Broadway theatrical life,, arc vividly pictured in Herbert Brenon's production, " The Song and Dance Man," which will open at the Princess and Tivoli Theatres on Thursday. Brenon has taken this original George M. Cohan play, dealing with the pathetic ■ struggles and sacrifices of a t-vpical vaudeville performer, and transferred it to the screen with a smoothness that bespeaks a thorough familiarity with the variety stage. He has captured all of the glamour, picturesqueness and colour that are part and parcel of life behind tho stage, but ho has not overlooked the poignantly dramatic, the hopeless and the Iragic side of it. Ihe audience is treated to the spectacle of a. brilliant first-night- audience, sitting in a magnificent theatre and watching a gorgeous musical comedy. But it is also shown a rudely constructed, ill-smelling theatre, with its rough-and-ready, liquordrinking audience, jeering a coupel of youthful dancers. A strong cast is headed by Bessie Love, Harrison Ford, and Torn Moore. In addition, a film version of one of Sapper's famous Bulldog Drammond mystery stories,* " The Third Round," will also be screened. The stars are Betty Faire and Juliette Compton. The story tells how a plot to discover a secret process for the making of synthetic diamonds was foiled. "THE VOLGA BOATMAN." Portraying one of the most stirring episodes of modem history, the Russian Revolution, "The Volga Boatman," now showing at the Town Hall, is one of the most sensational and realistic productions ever screened. Presenting for a background the maelstrom of a revolution which destroyed half a nation, Be Mille, the producer, has woven in romance, melodrama and humour with a deft hand, capitalising on his sense of the spectacular without losing the human touch. A startling contrast between the splendour of the aristocracy and the squalor of the peasants is brought out in the picture, which follows the experiences of three leading characters —a prince, a princess and a Volga boatman—through the Russian revolution. No sides are taken in the picture. It is simply the love story of an aristocrat and a crude Volga boatman played age.inst the background of the most dramatic social upheaval in the history of the world. "The Volga Boatman" was originally inspired by the song of that name, and the story comes from the pen of Konrad Bercovici, the celebrated author. It was adapted to the screen by Lenorc Coffee. RIALTO THEATRE. A modem " flapper " story which is well-known to millions of American newspaper readers is told in " Sandy," which commences on the new programme at the Rialto Theatre to-day. The picture is presented by William Fox and made under the direction of Harry Beaumont. The secret of the film's realism is said to lie in the fact that "Sandy " is shown not as a girl of doubtful morals, but simply as a believer in personal freedom, who is indifferent to a public opinion which, nine times out of ten, is only another name for idle gossip. In the opening sequences she is seen as a gay, carefree girl, mildly in love with a boy she has known since childhood. A motor ride with him is halted by a terrific electric storm that necessitates their spending the greater part of the night in an abandoned cabin. From there the picture is carried to a dramatic and startling conclusion. Tho accompanying picture is " Daring Days," the story of a city girl who tires of office life and accepts a position as mayor of a desert town. Josie Sedgwick appears to advantage in the role of the girl. PRINCE EDWARD THEATRE. "Man and Maid," an interesting domestic drama adapted from the story by Elinor Glyn, will be the principal attraction on the new programme commencing at the Prince Edward Theatre to-day. Lew Cody and Rcnee Adoreo have the leading roles. The second attraction will to "Pampered Youth," a Master picture, containing a sensational fire scene, an exciting horse race and innumerable thrills. A fine supporting programme will be shown and George Poore's orchestra will provide the usual excellent music.