ENTERTAINMENTS.

New Zealand Herald, Volume LXIV, Issue 19607, 8 April 1927, Page 14

ENTERTAINMENTS.

" . MAJESTIC THEATRE. An entertaining programme commenced showing at the Majestic Theatre yesterday. The management is to be congratulated on the high standard of programmes presented each week. Some of the graphic news items include pictures of the Nelson, England's largest battleship, the departure of the Shanghai Defence Force, and the march of tho Scots Guards through London, glimpses of "Little Willie,"' and scenes at the Rugby International football contest. Another portion shows some beautiful views of Edinburgh in technicolour. The All Soloists' Orchestra, under the baton of Mr. F G. Murnford, gives a particularly fine rendering of Paderewski's "Minuet." This is claimed to be one of the finest compositions of tho great pianist, and its tone and delicate feeling is admirably captured by the orchestra. Other bright musical items include selections from "Sunny," "Whirled Into Happiness," "Rose Marie" and "La Penchole" (Offenbach). Original in theme, "The Waning Sex" proves, one Of the most amusing comedies seen at the Majestic for some lime. The picture deals with the question of women preferring a career to married life. At the hands of a capable director much has been made of the theme, but its, chief success can be attributed to Norma Shearer, whot takes the role of Nina Duane, a rising young lawyer. Conrad Nagel keeps the humour running at a fast pace as the district attorney. It is inevitable that love should enter Nina's life, for she is pretty and attractive, as well as clever. In the end "the eternal feminine"- triumphs, and it is proved that although a woman can match her wits against" the strongest male competition, she must eventually succumb to the call of love. "A Dresden Dream," presented by Mdile. Valeska, is one of the most charming interludes ever staged by this accomplished dancer. The seta high standard is reached when Mr. J. O'Malley sings ''ln a Little Garden." The whole performance is 'most artistic, and reflects great credit on the producers. STRAND THEATRE. A dramatic story in an Oriental setting is told in " The Road to Mandalay," Lon Chaney's latest picture,- which will be shown at the Strand Theatre for the first time to-day. A beautiful, innocent girl keeps a bazaar in Mandalay and is watched over by a kindly priest. There comes a repulsive-looking half blind evildoer from Singapore and also a renegade naval officer. Thoroughly ashamed of himself the officer fights Ins way back to respectability and about to marry the girl. It develops that his companion is the girl's father and the 'priest is his brother. He prevents the wedding and kidnaps the officer. The girl goes to Singapore and after being lured to a Chinese den is saved by her father. A fight , occurs between him and the officer and the girl stabs him to saye her lover. The young couple are left to their happiness, the girl not knowing 'that she has killed her father. A Strand magazine, an Aesop fable feature and a comedy, " Nothing Matters," will also be shown. A vaudeville programme of mirth and melody will be presented by the Harris family. The overture will be " Morning, Noon' and Night." EVERYBODY'S THEATRE. The theft by hirelings of a _ foreign espionage system of the sailing dates on which transports are to take troops to the battlefields of Europe, and the cleverness of a yourtg girl operative of the Secret Service in foiling the elaborate plans, form the basis of one of the most interesting and thrilling melodramas that has come to the screen. .The film is "Secret Orders,'' and commenced showing at Everybody's Theatre yesterday. In the opinion of Hollywood critics, "Secret Orders" has given Evelyn Brent, who takes the leading part, the best role she has ever had. Supporting her are Robert Frazer, as leading man, and a cast which includes Marjorie Bonner, Harold Gopdwin. John Gough, Brandon Hurst, and Frank Leigh. ' " Rustlers' Ranch," a Western drama, with Art Acord in .the principal role, is the second attractiSn. Lee Grush, with his two pals, a horse and : a dog, wanders into the dance hall of a small Western town searching for food. Here'he, is enticed into a fight and flees, thinking' he has killed a man. He takes refuge in a barn, which is burned down, and barely escapes. Approaching a ranch he is invited to a meal by Mary Shawn, a widow. In a nearby stream her daughter is nearly drowned, but is saved by an accurate toss of Lee's lariat. From this point the plot is filled with a series of' exciting incidents, and the theme is well developed. The cast of the picture was carefully chosen for the various roles. REGENT THEATRE. Patrons of the Regent Theatre are promised another well-balanced programme for the coming 4 week. A. unique tumbling and balancing act by the Armand Brothers heads the vaudeville section of the programme. Of the act, a Sydney paper said: "In a daring and dazzling performance, the Armands showed grace as well as skill, and evoked - prolonged applause. Balancing feats and rapid somersaults were performed with a coolness" that astonished the onlookers. The most startling feat was when one of the performers leapt from . a springboard, turned four somersaults, and landed m, a chair on his partner's shoulders. It was a triumph, of nerve." " You Never Know Women," a picture that is somewhat similar to " Variety," will commence showing to-day. The two stories are said to be at opposite extremes. One is realistic tragedy and tho other old melodrama, but both react to familiar appeals. The principal characters are a man and a woman in a Russian troupe of the Chauve Souris typo. The woman is dazzled by the charm and wealth of a rich man about town, but when her vaudeville suitor, who' appears to be a Russian Houdini, is nearly drowned, she realises that after, all her' heart is with him. Eddie Eorton's items on the Wurlitzer organ will include " Miserere," from " II Travatore," " Heart of Thine, Sweet Voice," from "Samson and Delilah," and a popular medley. In addition the Operatic Orchestra will render a fine programme of music. «/ GRAND THEATRE. Gorgeous frockiug, lavish settings, and magnificent scenery provide a fitting background for the beauty of Jane Novak in the title role of "Thslrna," now showing at the Grand Theatre. The film is an adaptation of the well-known novel by Marie Corelli, and skilful direction and care for detail, the book has lost nothing in its transference to the screen. Norwegian scenes of great beauty ai-e contrasted with views of many of England's oldest and finest ancestral homes.. The story tells of the love of a young English nobleman, Sir Philip, for a beautiful? Norwegian belle, Thelma, The girl is also admired by two other meti of entirely differenttypes. The first is Lorimer, . a polished English gentleman and a friend of Sir Philip's, and the second is Sigurd, an uncouth dwarf, who serves Thelma and worships her with a constant devotion. Sir Philip and his bride are at first received coldly by the English artistocracy, who consider that the young Englishman should have married a girl from his own country. How the many complicated and dramatic situations finally draw to a happy close provide fine pictorial entertainment. In addition to "Thelma," a good supporting programme is also shown.

NATIONAL AND LYRIC. Varied entertainment o£ a high order is provided in the current .programme- at the National and Lyric Theatres. The first; picture <yci a' double-feature programme is the film version of the famous Gene Stratton Porter novel, " The Keeper of the Bees," Set among.waving flowers and old-world homes, the film is typical of the authoress and has a charm j and freshness m keeping with its title. The plot is laid shortly after the war, j when Jamie MacFarlane is seen in hosI pital slowly recovering from a stubborn wound. The young man overhears that lie has only a few months to live and he is seized: with a sudden to ' plunge into the heart of the country and inhale the salt sea breeze. He comes to the home of the old bee master, who is a keen student of human nature. The old man realises that all is not well with the I young soldier and the two talk together l and become fast friends. Shortly after-, wards the old beekeeper dies and leaves j all he has to MacFarlano, and Little I Scout, a young friend of the old man. Little Scout proceeds to teac.h MacFa'r- j I lane how the establishment should be j managed, the child's acting being a i I notable feature of the film. The plot is a good one and the many fine dramatic situations are ably handled by a strong j cast. 'Die quaint acting of Little Scout j adds humour and now and then pathos j to a highly entertaining film. Robert j Frazer and Clara Bow have the star roles. Also showing in " A Blonde Saint," m which Lewi?; Stone "plays tho j role of a young author who can win the I love of half Europe's most beautiful j women, but not the _he loves most of all. So powerful is his passion for her that he determines to win hes* at all costs. Hearing the girl is on her way to'.Europe, he boards' the liner and, in a sudden mad throws her into the Mediterranean and dives in after her. The two are rescued and .taken, to Sicily, where the plot . moves swiftly among lavish, settings and magnificent . scenery. A good supporting programme ,is also showing and, at the Lyric Theatre.only, Mr. R. Jury renders a marimbaphone solo. , PRINCESSAND TIVOLI. ~ A story as ludicrous as the title of the picture is featured in "The Cat s Pyjamas," now showing at the Princess and Tivoli Theatres. Sally Winton, a little seamstress, has to take care of her invalid father. She has a cat, Tommy, for which she makes a small pair of pyjamas. Hence the title. It is through the misadventures of this cat-in-pyjamas that Sally's dream of meeting and winning the love of Cesare Graeco, a temperamental opera tenor, is realised. The title was chosen because it accurately describes the situation in a delightful story, written by Ernest Vajda, well-known Hungarian playwright. The picture stars Betty Bronson and Ricardo Cortez, and features Theodore Roberts and Ariette Marchal. William Well man is the director. Action is the chief ' characteristic of "'The Buckaroo Kid," a Universal production, which will be shown in support. Hoot Gibson, appearing in the principal role, has plenty of opportunity to show his equestrian skill. HI ALTO AND EPSOM REGENT." " The White / Sin," an interesting drama of the consequences that attend a bigoted aunt's: restrictions on a country girl eager to enjoy life, heads the new " programme to be shown, at the Rialto j and Epsom Regent Theatres to-day. I Denied the normal pleasures of a country! girl, she runs away from home, only to be trapped into what she for a long time believed was a mock marriage. How the girl surmounts obstacles and finds real happiness forms the major part of the story. The direction of the picture has been treated with artistry, for the gripping plot- is well developed and backgrounds of rare interest and Scenic value have been chosen." The climax .of the film is a fire scene, in which the photographer is said to have surpassed himself. Madge Bellamy has the role of the country. girl, Hattie, and John Bowers plays opposite her as Grant Van Gore. The other picture will be " Her Second Chance," featuring Anna Q. Nilsson. "NO, NO, NANETTE." It is -said "that the initial Australian representation, of '"No, No, Nanette," which is to be staged here by J. C." Williamson,: Ltd., by arrangement with Sir Benjamin and 'Mr., John Fuller, for a brief season, beginning on Saturday afternoon, April 16, was the most memorable night ever' known in the theatrical history of Melbourne. The first New Zealand production of this record-breaking musical comedy in Wellington recently proved the occasion for an'unusual amount of enthusiasm. , Every dance and musical number was thoroughly appreciated by a very large audience, and at the close of the performance Miss Elsie Prince and Mr. Jimmy Godden had to come before the footlights to bow their acknowledgements .again and again. Most of the responsibility for keeping the fun alive devolves upon Mr. Jimmy Godden, a famous London comedian, who plays the whimsical part of'-Jimmy Smith. In addition to bis other assets he is the possessor of a musical voice which is heard to advantage in such numbers* as "I Want to be Happy" and "Pay Day Pauline." Miss Elsie Prince, in the part of sings, acts and dances cleverly and brightly. She has a natural vivacity of manner, which, it is said, enables her to present the part without any effort. It is claimed that no better light comedian has ever visited Australia than Mr. Charlton Morton, who, as the legal adviser to Jimmy Smith, has scored one of-the successes of the play. There are many solo dances, besides those in which the ballet take part, and the individual items, as well as the ensembles, are all features of "No, No, Nanette." The specialty dance of Miss Alma Mackie created a furore of enthusiasm in Wellington. Mr. Royston McDonnell, Miss Gladys Devereaux and the Misses Kathleen and Allison Fallow are other solo dancers who helped the success of "No, No, Nanette," in Wellington. The second matinee of "No, No, Nanette," will be staged on Easter Monday, Booking arrangements are advertised. MUNICIPAL BAND. A free musical recital will be given by tho Municipal Band in the Town Hall on Sunday evening. The programme will comprise hymn, "To Thee, My Heart;" overture, "Oberon" ; suite, "At the King's Court," morceau, "Evensong"; selection, "Reminiscences of Sullivan"; and instrumental solos by Messrs! McLennan and Bowes. " ABIE'S IRISH ROSE." When J. C. . Williamson, Ltd., announced that they were to present. • by arrangement with Sir Benjamin and Mr. John Fuller, the famous comedy, " Abie's Irish Rose,'' they wel'e~right when they declared that it would prove a theatrical event of note. Crowded audiences have been the result at His Majesty's Theatre at every performance since the .opening night. The company is excellently cast. As Rose Marie, Miss Grace Stafford is lovable. She has a most winsome personality; a charm of manner, and the freshness of her work make her a charming little lady, whom all playgoers will delight to welcome. As Solomon Levy, Mr.' Jack Trainer fulfills his role admirably, and as the Rabbi, Mr. Henry Mortimer gives a fine performance. The Auckland season will terminate on Wednesday evening with matinees, to-morrow and on Wednesday; MUNICIPAL CONCERTS. The varied and attractive programme arranged for the municipal concert in the Town Hall to-morrow; night .will include examples of the Works of Bach, Mendelssohn, Schumann, Cesar Franck and Rutland Boughton. Wagner will be represented by an organ arrangement of the beautiful Good Friday music from I " Parsifal." The Municipal Choir, Mrs. Cyril ToWsey, Mr. Maugham Barnett and Mi'. Cyril Towsey will be the performers.