ENTERTAINMENTS.

New Zealand Herald, Volume LXIV, Issue 19719, 19 August 1927, Page 15

ENTERTAINMENTS.

STRAND THEATRE. "JVhirlwind," the new and delightful programme of the Roberf Roberts BonBon Revuo Company, will be shown today at the Strand Theatre, inaugurating the third week of an extremely successful season. Following the overture, by Fred Stokes and the Bon-Bon Orchestra, the company "take you through the ages," and an invitation to dance and drive dull care away is given by Arline Paterson and the company. 'May Webster, Maurice Jaffey and William Innes appear in what is described as "picturesque harmony," while Mr. Robert Roberts himself appears with Miss Paterson in a delightful sketch entitled, "The Colonel and the Girl," the repttition of which is justified by its remarkable success during the past week. Maurice Jaffey then appears with the Bon-Bon in a melodious and charming chorus number and "Three Organ Grinders" are portrayed by Wylie Watson, George Edwards and Nick Morton, whose earlier performances have ever met with success. "The Angelus" is described as a novelty. May Webster again is combined with Maurice Jaffey in the role of two peasants, while the Bon-Bons represent sheaves of wheat. June Mills presents her own popular comedy style in a duo with Will Gilbert, and this act is followed by another sparkling number by Arline Paterson and the Bon Bons. Several amusing character sketches complete the programme. The main pictorial feature will be "Women Love Diamonds," a Metro-Goldwyn film, with Pauline Starke, Owen Moore, Lionel Barrymore and Douglas Fairbanks, junr., in the leading roles. The story is said to throw powerful light on modern social life and the American woman's inordinate love of finery. Other features include the Strand Magazine and Topical budgets. MAJESTIC THEATRE. The Majestic Theatre has made a practice iu the past of arranging special weekly programmes for the enjoyment of patrons, each week featuring a special type of entertainment. It inaugurated laughter week, sports week, birthday week and variety week, during which special programmes were selected to provide the appropriate atmosphere. The week commencing to-day offers something entirely new and promises to be the greatest innovation of all. It is entitled "Girl Week," and the whole programme , has been arranged to provide a bright jazz show with a glorious galaxy of girls and much amusing entertainment. The two-reel comedy is a jazz version of O. Henry's story, "Girls," based on the idea that the happiest moments in a girl's life are the first ten years at college. A dazzling dance spectacle entitled " The Ballet of Flowers," will be presented by Madame Edith Baird, in which 40 beautiful girls will take part. They will represent flowers and a special feature will be artistic colour blending. The musical side of the programme is up to the standard of Mr. John Whiteford Waugh's new orchestra, and that is saying a great deal. An orchestral novelty will be given, entitled "The Elephant and the Fly," with Mr. Frank Poore playing the piccolo, and Mr. S. Sly playing the trombone. Other pieces included in the programme are "Autumn and Winter" (Grieg), "Ballet Egyptian," "Pierre and Pierrette" (Percy Fletcher), "Serenade" (Tiggane), and Hungarian Dances (Brahms). The chief picture feature will be "Ankles Preferred," RIALTO AND EPSOM REGENT. " Old Ironsides," the great film masterpiece of sea warfare, which will commence a three-day season at the Rialto and Epsom Regent Theatres to-day, is named after a great American frigate, launched in 1797, with a most remarkable battle record. It deals with the hazardous early period of American history, at a time when pirate ships from Tripoli were ravaging the Mediterranean and causing havoc among European shipping. After a savage raid the corsair vessels would slip swiftly into the harbour at Tripoli, where they were safe beneath the menacing cannon of the practically impregnable fortress. A complete reproduction of these massive fortifications was built on Catalina Island, in the Pacific Ocean, for the purposes of the film. Ten huge barges made 16 trips to carry the necessary materials to the island, and the great walls gradually rose until their serried battlements towered 250 ft. above the sea. The long barrels of cannon protruded from the embrasures and above all rose the dome of the mosque. On the water below was assembled a picturesque fleet of many strange types —corsair ships with their curions lateen Sails, sloops with sails of broadly-striped canvas and great canvasrigged* frigates. The hero, a youth who ran away to sea and was shanghaied aboard a Salem barque, is played by Charles Farrell. Esther Ralston plays the only feminine part and a strong cast is headed by Wallace Beery and George Bancroft. There will be a strong supporting programme at both theatres. REGENT THEATRE. In his newest Paramount picture. "Evening Clothes," which will be screened for the first time at the Regent Theatre to-day, Adolphe Menjou adopts a beard and plays the part of a French country gentleman. The story, adapted from the French play, "The Man in Evening Clothes," by Andre Picard and Yves Mirande, two of France's popular playwrights, is concerned with the adventures of Lucien, a wealthy member of the landed French nobility and his adventures following his acquisition of a Parisian wife. Their incompatibility, which is the result of her marrying him not because of love, but in respect to the wishes of her parents, forms the motive of the action. Germaine, the bride (Virginia Valli), scorns Lucien be- i cause of his uncouth country ways. She j cannot understand his preference for a life on a farm to life in the gay drawing rooms of the capital. He pei'mits her to leave him on their wedding day, after forcing her to take half his fortune. Noah Beery has a comical role and there are several amusing scenes between him and Louise Brooks. _ Bertini, the clever composer-violinist, will appear on the vaudeville section of the programme. He will present, among other numbers, his own song, "My Pal 13 Mother," which is now making a popular appeal in Australia. There will be the usnal strong supporting programme, including a now musical score by the operatic orchestra under Mr. Maurice Guttridge. TIVOLI AND EVERYBODY'S. Unusual interest centres on "Love is Blind," which appears on the doublefeature programme now showing at the Tivoli and Everybody's Theatres. The photoplay serves to introduce the science of hypnotism, which plays an important part in the development of the plot and also leads to many amusing situations. Conrad Veidt, as the doctor possessing magnetic influence, endeavours to cast a spell over the neglected wife, played by the beautiful Continental actress, Mdlle. Dagover. The film has been described as a delightful comedy-drama. Supporting Mdlle. Dagover are George Alexander, a French player, and Lillian HallDavis, the popular English actress. Evelyn Brent has tho leading rolo in "The Impostor," tho second attraction. "The story is of an absolutely different type with decidedly new and unusual situations," wrote a critic. In one of these situations Miss Brent, as tho underworld character, is unknowingly called upon, by a dangerous criminal, to impersonate herself as a society girl. Another interesting phase is tho fact that the hero, a young nowspapcr reporter, meets Miss Brer.t as tho underworld character, falls in love with and wants to marry her. He supposses she is a criminal and it is not until tho climax that he learns who she really is. Walter Vernon, tho popular ventriloquist, is appearing at the Tivoli, while at Everybody's an additional picture w Leaves. - J

NATIONAL THEATRE. Happy Warrior," the Bjlf A. S. M. Hutchinson, has been most sao* cessfully dramatised in the motion pic* ture version now showing at the National Theatre. The- story concerns the life and adventures of Ralph Bur don, in reality the heir to a peerage, but kept in ignorance of his origin until he comes of age. .When Lord Burdon dies in India, Audrey, tho village girl to whom he is secretly married, takes the child and her proofs to Mrs. Letham, who has become Lady Burdon. She is cruelly turned away, and goes home to die, leavRalph and the documents in the charge of Margaret Redpath, portrayed by Mary Aklen, who gives a fine characterisation of the loving aunt. The boy grows up, and at the age of eight rescues young Rollo Letham from Foxy Pinsent, a bully; A warm friendship grows up between them, increasing with the years. Rollo's character, weak and timid through his upbringing, yet finely courageous when put ; to the test, is most ably interpreted by Gardner James, whose portrayal of a similar type in " The Amateur Gentleman " will be remembered. Otto Matiesen, as Egbert, the unbalanced man servant, his fevered mind filled with hatred against all " tyrangs," as he caTls them, is a Continental actor of instinctive ability. Comedy is provided by him, but the scenes following on the stabbing of Ralph's enemy by him in the terrific struggle in the circus tent .are most dramatic in acting and arrangement. A great opportunity of treating an old setting in a new way is afforded by the circus surroundings, in which much of the action takes place, and certainly the most is made of it. A really exciting battle between Ralph and his enemy is followed by a melee, in which tents, freaks and stampeding elephants mingle in wild confusion. GRAND THEATRE. The lighter side of war is featured in "Tin Hats," a Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer picture, which will commence showing at the Grand Theatre to-day. A cast of clever comedians is headed by Conrad Nagel, who has demonstrated his talent for light comedy recently in several successful productions, and Claire Windsor* The scene is laid in France and Germany, and the story deals with the laughable adventures of three strangely-assorted com-rades-in-arms. They arrive in France just as the armistice is signed, and while they are occupied in drowning their disappointment, the army strikes camp and they are left behind. Their subsequent efforts to rejoin their unit lead them into Germany, where they are taken for the Army of Occupation. A succession of ludicrous incidents culminates in an episode in a haunted castle, where the three spent an exceedingly disturbed night of uncanny adventures. PRINCESS THEATRE. Compared by some critics with "The Bat" and "The Cat and the Canary," "Easy * Pickings," now showing at the Princess Theatre, is a mystery melodrama of a similar type. It provides a new type of part for" Anna Q. Nilsson, who is said to appear to great advantage in this unusual story. The mysterious effects in scenes in a haunted house would be impossible on the stage and the great technical facilities of the motion picture studio are said to be utilised to the fullest extent. * Commencing with a mysterious murder, the action of tie plot progresses through a series of exciting and often inexplicable incidents to a totally unexpected climax., Kenneth Harlan appears in the leading male role and the supporting cast is headed by Philo McCollough, Billy Bevan and Zack "Williams, the giant negro comedian. Billy Bevan's efforts as the somewhat unsuccessful detective provide much of the comedy relief, while Philo McCollough is said to make a most Convincing villain as the lawyer of the wealthy Simeon Van Home. The chief supporting picture is, "The Arizona Streak," a drama, featuring Tom Tyler. " ARIADNE.^ In view of its remarkable success when presented three weeks ago, "Ariadne." _ or "Business First." A. A. Milne's delightful comedy, will again be staged in the Town Hall concert chamber this evening. The amusing story pictures the wife (Mrs. Alexander Kinder), finding herself taking only second place to her husband's business, setting out to teach him a lesson by planning a. trip into the "unknown" with another man (Mr. J. J. Mackle). The scenes that follow are full of Milne's subtle humour. There are the disappearance and sudden return of Ariadne, family a unique scene between the deserted husband and the bounder, and the final realisation that Ariadne comes first. Mrs. Hugh Fenton, Commander J. R. Middleton, R.N., Miss Meg Kissling, Miss Audrey Bayly and Mr. Fryer-Raisher play prominent parts. Proceeds will be devoted to the Play and Recreation Association. ROYAL AUCKLAND CHOIR. The second programme of the season by the Royal Auckland Choir attracted a large attendance to the Town Hall last evening. The choral numbers presented by this well-trained body of made voices r included many in which distinction has been won at previous concerts and the warmth of their reception was such that in several instances encores were accepted. Dr. W. E. Thomas wielded the baton over a numerous concourse of singers, and secured notable interpretations. The choir was happily suited in the opening "Hunting Song" - (Bantock), which demanded alertness and care in voicing the independent parts. Dard's subdued number, "Nightfall," brought out the finer vocal qualities, while Harrison's descriptive "Viking Song" tested the singers in another way. Some of the harmonies in this were by no means conventional, although possessing a subtle appeal, and individual voices were at times caught napping. Lovatt's "Now is ■ the Month of Maying" proved a new partsong with many attractive passages and was favourably received. The choir's outstanding effort was Paliard's realistic "The Sea Fight," which was rendered with commendable finish. The most was made of the dramatic opening, while in the movement entitled "Night" the tenors sang delightfully in tho principal theme. A rousing effect was secured in the measures depicting the fight, the whole being brought to an impressive conclusion, which suggested the waves washing over the scene of conflict. Shelley's expressive "Dreaming" possessed that touch of sentiment which audiences enjoy, while Buck's sterling "Bugle Song," u the words .from Tennyson's "Princess,** exhibited the society's dramatic qualities of interpretation. Dard's "Night and Day," the concluding concerted piece, wa* sung with that attention to contrasi which ' usually marks the choir's effort#. Mrs. Arthur Walton submitted pleasing vocal items which included Bemberg'* "Nymphs and Fawns," Rowley's "When Rooks Fly Homeward," "A Birthday" (Cowen), "as well as recall solos. Mr. Francis Bate proved a 'cellist whose tone was noted for sweetness rather than volume in his neatly-played contributions, "Air and Variations" (Haydn), "O Star of Eve" .fWagner), and "Arlequin**(Popper). Being recalled, Mr. Bate waa again heard in a fresh selection of pieces. The baritone qualities of Mr. H. Schofield's voicft were not always congeniallv suited in his opening song, "The Floral Dance" (Moss), though ho was acrorded an encore. Mr. Schofiekl scored better in Lohr's "For the Green," which gained him a double recall in the latter part of the programme. Mr. Cyril Towsey played many exacting accompaniments with his usual skill.