ENTERTAINMENTS.

New Zealand Herald, Volume LXIV, Issue 19698, 26 July 1927, Page 13

ENTERTAINMENTS.

RENEE KELLY SEASON. The J. 0. Williamson attraction, the English Comedy Company, headed by the famous English actress, Renee Kelly, will open the Auckland season on Thursday evening at His Majesty's Theatre. The coming of Renee Kelly is a notable theatrical event in the history of the New Zealand stage. Miss Kelly has been an idol of English audiences for years. During the season here a brilliant repertoire of plays will bo presented. "Polly With a Past" will be the opening piece, which will be played for five nights, and will be followed by Frederick Lonsdale's sensational play, "The Last of Mrs. Chey-. ney," also "Brown Sugar" and "Daddy Long Legs. The four productions had remarkably successful seasons in London. "Polly With a Past" is said to be very diverting and in it Miss Kelly has abundant opportunities to display her talent. The play goes with a swing from start to finish, and aided by a strong company Miss Kelly has scored notable successes wherever it has been presented. Great interest lias been aroused in the forthcoming season, the box plan arrangements for which are advertised.

J. C. WILLIAMSON VAUDEVILLE. The successful season of the Celebrity Vaudeville at His Majesty's Theatre is drawing to a close and the two final evening performances will be given tonight and to-morrow evening. A special matinee will be given to-morrow afternoon. The winners of the joke competition will be announced to-night. company will appear at Hamilton on Thursday night.

MAJESTIC THEATRE. Lon Chaney appears without his - usual disguises in "Tell It To the Marines," now showing at the Majestic Theatre. He plays the part of a veteran sergeant of marines, hero of many battles, who toils to make a man of an irresponsible recruit, played by William Haines. Full of adventure, the story deals with the ordeal of a band of foreigners in the war zone in China. Great care taken to reproduce faithfully the picturesque Chinese streets, and the United States Navy assisted in the filming of battleship scenes. Eleanor Boardman takes the part of a naval nurse amid scenes of battle. A Lupino Lane comedy, a New Zealand scenic film and the latest gazette are also presented. Mile. Valeska produces a novel stage presentation, and tha new Majestic orchestra renders "Raymond" and the prologue to "Pagiiacci." Originally a play of the Parisian stags, "The Monkey Talks," by Rene Fauchois, to be screened at the Majestic Theatre on Friday, is perhaps one of the strangest stories ever conceived. The idea of a talking monkey may not be new, but, carried out in a novel and logical plot, it created a sensation when produced as a play not only in Paris, but also in London and New York. Its success on the Stage led to its production as a motion picture by Fox Films, under the direction of Raoul Walsh, who supervised "What Price Glory?" Jacques Leirner, the original creator of the role of the talking monkey, fills the same part in the screen version. Olive Borden appears as a dainty circus performer, and is supported by a strong cast.

RIALTO THEATRE. The screen adaptation of Harold Bell Wright's widely-read novel, "The Winning of Barbara Worth," will be the chief attraction on the programme to commence a short season at the Rialto Theatre today. The story deals with the efforts of Jefferson Worth and a group of financiers to irrigate a vast desert. Early in the proceedings they are at variance, a fact which complicates the love story, since Worth's daughter, Barbara, is affianced to the foster-son of Jam%s Greenfield, the financial power behind the project. There follows a series of misunderstandings resulting in the lovers drifting further apart, until they are brought together again with dramatic suddenness when the lad averts a plot of his foster-father to ruin Worth. Vilma Banky, the noted Viennese actress, and Ronald Colman are cast in the leading roles. The second feature will be "Desert Valley," a Western drama in which Buck Jones plays the principal part.

REGENT THEATRE. Record audiences have filled the Regent Theatre since the first screening of "Old Ironsides" last Friday. Telling the story of a young American who runs away to sea and is shanghaied aboard the Salem barque Esther, which is later captured by pirates, the film is one of the most colourful and spectacular ever produced. Wallace Beery, who has the part of the boatswain, and George Bancroft as the master-gunner of the frigate Constitution, ar responsible for soma fine character delineation. There is a strong supporting programme, including a special musical score by the orchestra.

STRAND THEATRE. Conrad Nagel and Renee Adoree have the leading roles in "Tha Exquisite Sinner," an adaptation of' "Escape," the widely-read novel by Alder* Brook, at present being screened at the Sirand Theatre. The story tells o'i a young Frenchman whose desire for romance led him to shatter the bonds of convention that bound him to a drab existence, and seek happiness with gipsies on the open road. "Bertha, the Sewing Machine Girl," a second attraction, is based upon a stage play by Theodore Kremer. Most of the action is laid in New York. The principal roles are held by Madge Bellamy, Roy Davis and Allan Simpson.

POPULAR CONCERT. A popular concert will be given, by a number of local artists at the Winter Show this evening. Those contributing to a varied programme include the masked trio. Mr. Walter Brough, baritone, Mis# Nellie Lingard, contralto, Miss Beryl Poulton, mezzo-soprano, and Mr. Alan McElwain, humorist.