ENTERTAINMENTS.

New Zealand Herald, Volume LXIV, Issue 19550, 1 February 1927, Page 8

ENTERTAINMENTS.

FULLERS'. VAUDEVILLE.Pleasing variety characterised the offerings in the programme the Prince Edward Theatre last evening. There was no tedium in the selection presented by Elton Black's Town Topic Bevue Company. Elton Black used his Caledonian accent to effect in & comedy number, " Seeing Spots,"' in which he had the assistance of Charles Sherman. A sketch, " Slow Motion,'" dealt with the unfortunate situation of a family afflicted with locomoto ataxia through consumption of a mysterious potion, diaries Megan, Alice Bennetto, Neva Carr-Glynn, Curley Sherwood and Elton Black were responsible for the number. Percy McKay, the possessor of a particuarly fin© bass voice, was heard in " Floral Dance." Arthur Clarke sang the popular number "Sometimes," with the assistance of Miss Alice Bennetto. " The Rose," a sketch depicting the comic effect of the poet's favourite bloom on those who breathed . its perfume, was well received. Miss Curley Sherwood and the chorus appeared in " Bathing Girls of MaorilanjL" and Elton Black was characteristically humourous in "All the Girls." The principals made a popular appearance in " What Did He Say," a number lending itself to absurd replies to ridiculous queries. Charles Megan, Elton Black and Miss Neva CarrGlynn produced a topical sketch dealing with the selection of chorus types by a harassed theatrical manager. In the vaudevillo section of the programme Clyde and Yvette presented several novel dances, and Win and Windle were responsible for clever humour. The Fredo Boys, musical acrobats, received warm applauso for a performance of tumbling. An addition to the programme this evening will be a selection by Huley a.nd Bent, two artists with a reputation on the Australian circuit. NATIONAL AND LYRIC. The current double feature programme at the National and Lyric Theatres will be shown for ths last time to-morrow. The two picturesi, " The Great Deception," with Aileen Pringle and Ben Lyon in the leading roles, and " Steel Preferred," in which William Boyd, Vera Reynolds and Charles Murray are the principal players, each contain comedy and thrills skilfully combined to form gripping stories. Commencing on Thursday will be Colleen More's latest picture, "It Must Be Love." Adapted from Brooke Hanlon's story, " Delicatessen," it deals with the problems of a girl, who finds herself in love with a young man, but iis anhamed to bring him to her home at the back of a shop. The human touches which the star puts into her acting give her an opportunity to draw the most out of her veiy appealing part as the girl who has to uacrince living at home'for her prido. Malcolm McGregor plays the role of the sweetheart who never finds out until the end that his girl has been deceiving him as to her people. The second picture will be " Silence," described by a reviewer as one of the most dramatic and thrilling photoplays of the year. H. B. Warner is seen in the role, which he created on the stage, oi: the father, who courageously brushes aside evidence, which would save him from the death penalty because its acceptance would harm his daughter's name. Vera Reynolds and Raymond Hatton head a strong supporting cast. NEW REG] INT THEATRE. "The Vanishing Race," now showing for ihe second week at the New Regent Theatre,, is proving a popular attraction, and the stage prologue has been warmly received. The Red Indians have aroused considerable interest during their stay in Auckland, and they provide an impressive scene in their appearance on the stage. They will make their final appearance on Thursday, when the present programme will be followed by "Her Big Night" (Laura La Plante), STRAND THEATRE. . "Marriage Licence?", Fox Films version of the stage succesn, "The Pelican," is the feature picture on the current programme at the Strand Theatre. This unusual story "has for its theme a mother's sacrifice for her be y. Through a distinctively different coui >e of action it works its way to a thrilling dramatic climax, the outcome of which is never certain until the final flash on tht screen. Alma Rubens ha 3 the leading role and other prominent players are Walter McGrail, Walter Pidgeon and Richard Walling. Musical items by the Campbell Boys, provide another attraction. They play popular tunes on miniature concertinas and rt>uder the latest songs. Selections from "The Mikado" are playpd by the Strand orchestra, and there are excellent supporting pictures. MAJESTIC THEATRE. A rowing race between tho eights of two colleges and a football match between Yale and Harvard Universities are thrilling incidents in "Brown oi' Harvard," now showing at the Majestic. Theatre. The title role is played by William Haines, and Jack Pickford is seen as his shy roommate, whose admiration amounts to heroworship. Kesslova, the brilliant violinist, makes a welcome reappearance in Auckland at the theatre. Her skilful playing is typical of the fascinating .artistry of the Hungarian gipsy. Orchestral items are the musical novelty, "A Suburban Scramble," and the overture, _ "Fingal's Cave." Excellent supporting pictures are shown. RIALTO AND EPSOM REGENT. "More Pay, Less Work," the William Fox production adapted from one of Peter B. Kyne's stories, introducing his celebrated ship owner, Cappy Ricks, is the chief attraction on the programme, commencing to-day at the Rialto and Epsom Regent Theatres. This time it is the rivalry between Cappy and another shipowner, old Hinchfield, that furnishes the background. Cappy has a pretty daughter, while his rival has an energetic young son who has revolutionised the business along up-to-date lines, adopting the title of the picture as his slogan. The crisis comes when it is necessary to bring in a ship within a specified time and the hid commandeers one of G'appy's tugs. He makes good, wins the girl and restores harmony between the rivals. Charles Rogers makes a good'looking hero and performs many thrilling actions. Mary Brian as the girl and Charles Conklin in a comedy role are other prominent players. There is a fine supporting programme at each theatre, SCREEN CONTEST. The first stage of the Auckland section of the First National Pictures Dominion screen contest will be commenced oa Thursday evening, when the 33 girls chosen in accordance with previous a.n----s nouncements will make their personal apI pearancs at the National and Lyric I Theatres. The interest aroused by the ; contest in indicated by the fact that 582 entries were received from girls in the Auckland Province. The ta.sk of reducing the number to 50 proved so difficult thai the casting director decided to m- '. crease the number selected to 35 so that every likely entrant should have an equal opportunity. The promoters particularly | wish, to emphasise the genuine nature of ■ this contest. From those appearing at the theatres, a 'committee of well-known | citizens will select si'vers semi-finalists, who will appear for a farther week to enable the Auckland representatives to be ehosen. During the third week ihe ; finalists from the four chief cities of the ! Dominion v.'»H meet iri Auckland for the | selection of the New Zealand representsI tive at the Australian arid New Zealand •contest in Melbourne. The judging will be entirely in the hands of reputable : specialists, and will he carried out with ; strict impartiality. There is thus no R»ar of popular "prejudice reducing the I chances ol any competitor. During the 1 later stages of the coritest t i«creen tests will be fcsld to assist the judges. The appearance of the 33 chosen entrants will , foe an additional attraction to the splendid | picture programme commencing at both [theatres on Thursday,,