ENTERTAINMENTS.

New Zealand Herald, Volume LXV, Issue 19927, 21 April 1928, Page 14

ENTERTAINMENTS.

MAJESTIC THEATRE. The very high standard of all-round entertainment set by the Majestic Theatre is more than maintained by the excellent programme presented for the first time last evening. Pictures, music and an enjoyable novelty dance item all combined to make an offering that was much appreciated by the large audience. The principal attraction was " Ladies Must Dress," a sparkling comedy in which Virginia V alii and Lawrence Gray are featured. The story of this Fox Films production is laid in a department store in a large city and concerns the lives of four people-—a shipping clerk, his fiancee, who is a stenographer, and their friends, a young married couple who also work in the store. On the day of the employees' picnic the stenographer, who is inclined to be awkward in appearance, arrives clad in such old-fashioned attire that her lover protests and refuses to accompany her. With the aid of her married friend, who fells her that " ladies must dress," the girl is transformed to such an extent that she immediately attracts all the men in the store, including the proprietor's influential son. This unforeseen complication brings in its train many highlyamusing situations which offer innumerable opportunities for clever comedy. In the supporting cast are Hallam Cooley. Nancy Carroll, and Earle Foxe. all of whom give genuinely humorous characterisations. The action of the picture is also great.lv aided by witty sub-titling. In addition to an introductory march, " Movie Patrol." the Majestic Orchestra, under Mr. Whitcford-Wauarh, played a striking novelty number, "The Jolly Musicians," while two dance numbers, which were give" by Miss Lola Meigh and Mr. Gee. were greeted with applause. A Fox comedy. " The Low Necker," burlesquing the old-fashioned race-track melodramas, a Paul Terry /Esop Fable cartoon, and the Majestic Magazine, showing interesting current events all over the world, comprised the supporting picture programme, together with a unique film portraying life on an old-time sailing-ship. REGENT THEATRE. The amazing picture of jungle life in Northern Siain, "Chang," which has thrilled thousands of Aucklanders during the past week, will continue for another five days at the Regent Theatre. "Chang" is neither a travel nor an animal picture, but is the story of real life as it is still hvod in many parts of the world to-day. The unceasing tight waged bj- primitive man against the inscrutable forces of nature, bis victory over the carnivorous beasts of the tropical forest, his deadly struggle to advance the fringe of civilisation onward in the face of tremendous odds —all form the basis of as gripping a drama as anything produced within the - tour walls of a modern studio. Photographed by tw° intrepid explorers in the tangled maze of the jungles of Northern Siam, this picture shows the ambitions, the joys and sorrows, and the fear experienced by a family dwelling alone in the midst of natural enemies. There are four human actors —Kru, a Lao tribesman, his wife, and their two tiny children —surrounded by a terrifying number of fierce animals. Through the undergrowth prowl great man-eating tigers, sleek and cunning leopards attack the family's domestic herd, and wicked pvthons creep through the trees. The greatest feature of all is, perhaps, the destructive charge of a hundred wild elephants through the jungle, sweeping a whole village before it and leaving only desolation in its waKe. There are other animal scenes which provide ready laughter. A mother bear at play with her young, monkeys leaping from tree to tree, and the antics of Bunbo, the household pet, are genuinely amusmc by reason of their spontaneity. As a spectacle "Chang" is one of the most remarkable productions to the credit of motion picture producers. A second attraction on the progiamme is A Woman on Triai." a highly dramatic production in which Pola Negri is seen. An excellent selection of short supporting pictures is also screened, while the Regent orchestra, under the baton of Mr. Maurice Guttridge, plav an enjoyable overture. Two numbers W Mr. Leslie Harvey on the organ conclude a comprehensive programme

STRAND THEATRE. "The Circus," Charlie Chaplin's only comedy during the last two years, continues its successful Auckland season at the Strand Theatre, where large audiences daily prove that Chaplin's genius for comedy is as popular an attraction as ever. In his latest picture he is given the enormous possibilities of a. circus foi his own, inimitable form of humour and every opportunity has been realised to the utmost. His infallibly humorous makeup is the same; the battered bowler, the unreliable and expressive cane and the enormous boots, and, above all, the sometimes humorous, sometimes pathetic moustache, again co operate in a wealth ot gesture and grotesque movement to delight the motion-picture public. Again he flees from distrustful policemen, again ho rescues fair damsels without fitting reward and, over and above these evernew adventures, there is a host of new "Chaplinisms." The great screen comedian is supported by a powerful cast, all selected for their gift of co-operation. The heroine is Merna Kennedy, who plays the part of the circus equestrienne. Her father, the proprietor (Allan Garcia), is responsible for the discordant element. Other prominent parts are played by Steve Murphy, as a pickpocket, who provides Charlie Chaplin with one oi his earliest adventures, George Davis, as the circus magician, and Harry Crocker. A special prologue, the "Tiny Tots Circus, is presented on the stage, while the supporting picture programme includes Eve s Review and a cartoon. The Strand Symphony Orchestra gives a pot-pourri of musical airs as an overture. GRAND THEATRE. A masterpiece of mystery melodrama, "London After Midnight," heads the excellent programme now showing at the Grand Theatre. Totally unlike any of its numerous predecessors in either conception or execution, "London After Midnight" has been produced in a remarkably successful manner. This production comes before the public under the august, name of Lon Chaney, but it is not a "one-man show" by any means. The plot is sufficiently strong to hold the interest throughout. Unlike some mystery dramas one has seen, the clues aie coherent, the story, although intricate, consistent. The strange and uncanny events which follow the mysterious death of Roger Balfour are presented m a way that, lures the imagination to follow and speculate. Again and again the audience is led on false trails by somo gnastly illusion which seems to hold the secret, and again and again it is brought to a stop on the brink of unimaginable horrors. The author of the screen play has rend "Dracula," Brum Stoker s appalling story of the "undead." to some purpose, and the "vampire" of European ] e R e "" is made to live again in the haunted halls of "London After Midnight." Lon Chaney is most ably supported, the cast including Conrad N«gel and Marceline Day. With more success than in any mystery plav hitherto produced, the dark secret 'is kept until the last, moment. A comprehensive selection of short suppoiting pictures is also screened. BOHEMIAN ORCHESTRA. The Bohemian Orchestra will give the first concert ot its fifteenth season in the Town HaL on Thursday evening, under the batoi of Mr. Colin Muston. The orchestral items will comprise: "Ali Baba" (Cherabini); "Tone Poem" (Goldmark); "Romance in C" (Sibelius); "Spanish Dance" (Saitarello); "Bird Scene" (Hiawatha), C. Taylor; "Berceuse" (Jarnefelt), solo, violin, Miss E. Whitelaw. In addition to these numbers, Liszt's "Piano Concerto No 1, in E flat," will be played by Miss Theo Halpin, with orchestral accompaniment. Mr. John Bree will sirig the Prologue from "Pagliacci" (LeonCHvallo), and Miss Gwenyth Evans will also sing. Booking arrangements are advertised.

MAURICE MOSCOVITCH COMPANY. At His Majesty's Theatre this evening Mr. Maurice Moscovitch and the J. C. Williamson dramatic company, including Nat Madison, Ashton Jarry, Mary Mr.cgregor, Bertha Riccardo, Patric Cunven, Mildred Cottell, Reginald Newson and Guy Hastings, will inakti their final appearance in Auckland in the thrilling mystery drama, "The Terror," which has been attracting large audiences since last Tuesday. The company will stage ''The Ringer" and "The Terror" at Hamilton next Monday and Tuesday. UNIVERSITY STUDENTS' PLAY. It is announced that "Tilly in the City," this year's production of the Auckland University College' Students' Association, will open at His Majesty's Iheatre on May 15. The students' plays have always an. element of unexpectedness and this year's production should not be an exception. Three years ago, "Tilly of Tamaki," of which the present "Tilly in the City" is a sequel, drew packed houses and record booking, and it will bo interesting to see whether the author, who is still anonymous, can again capture the public fancy to such an extent. Mr. Trevarthen, who provoked many a laugh as "Annie," again plays an important Eart under the same name. Mr. Geo. owe ("Algy") also carries on the character in which he first appeared. An entirely new character to be introduced is "Mrs. Toggles," to be played by Mr. Bryce Hart, a great favourite, who has not appeared since Mr. Leary's "Bulgarian Bug" was produced in 1923. ORGAN RECITAL. Harwood's fine organ sonata, Bach's "Prelude and Fugue in D Minor" (the violin) and the Adagio from Widor's re-cently-published "Suite Latine" will be the principal works to be played at the organ recital in the Town Hall to-morrow evening. Mr. Maughan Barnett will also play Mendelssohn's "Spring Song" and a vesper bell melody arranged for organ and chimes. MUNICIPAL BAND. A fine programme of band and solo items will be given at the Zoological Park by the Municipal Band to-morrow afternoon. The sweet strains of Schubert's Unfinished Symphony will be heard to advantage under the al fresco conditions of the Zoological Park. "Squire's Popular Songs" and "Reminiscences of Eng land" are two fine offerings. Instrumental solos by Messrs. Bowes and Purchase, together with other tuneful numbers, make up a programme of much interest.