ENTERTAINMENTS.

New Zealand Herald, Volume LXV, Issue 19953, 23 May 1928, Page 15

ENTERTAINMENTS.

" THE STUDENT PRINCE. At 7.50 o'clock this evening the curtain will rise on the initial Zealand representation of the world-famous musical play, "The Student Prince," which has just terminated a record season in Melbourne. The company arrived from Sydney yesterday and a full lighting and scenic rehearsal was staged under the supervision of the stage manager last evening. The booking for the whole of the season is excellent, but it is not quite so heavy for to-night's performance as it is for subsequent occasions. It is said that "The StudentPrince" is by far the most expensive attraction the Williamson, Limited, management has ever sent to New Zealand. There are over 100 people concerned in the production, including a male chorus of 40 voices. To-night's production will introduce to New Zealand a oi notable artists from England and Amenca» including the brilliant young Dutch soprano, Miss Beppie de \ries, who is ranked with the most popular comic opera artists of the day. Miss de Vries created a furore when she first appeared in Sydney, her rich voice, charming personality and brilliant acting immediately captivating the audience. James Lidcly, the famous Continental tenor, will make his first appearance here in the big singing role of Prince Karl, in which he achieved a sensational success in Sydney and Melbourne. Mr. Liddy has appeared as Prince over 1000 times m Europe. Playgoers will be glad to welcome back that very sterling and most artistic comedian, Mr. Arthur Stieant, who has on numerous occasions delighted £*ew Zealanders in a number of brilliant characterisations. Important peop.e with European reputations are Hedley Hall and Frank Webster. Artists already well known here and sure of a hearty welcome are Vera Spaull, Adele Crane, Herbert Browne and John lorde. ihe Student Prince" is a comic opera adapted to music from that delightful, romantic drama, "Old Heidelberg." It is a production of brilliant scenery, glittering uniforms, gorgeous frocks for the ladies and a story of great appeal. EVERYBODY'S THEATRE. The irrepressible Reginald Denny has another congenial role in "That s My Daddv," the Universal comedy which heads the new programme to commence showing at Everybody's Theatre tomorrow. The story, which was written by Denny himself, concerns a wealthy young man on the eve of marriage to a prominent society girl. When stopped by a traffic officer who is about to arrest him for speeding, the young man pleads that he was hurrying to the hospital to see his child, who had been hurt. The policeman, being the father of six children himself, feels sorry for him. The hero is compelled to tell stories in order to make his tale sound convincing, and the policeman takes him to the children's hospital. By chance, a little girl who has been run over by a truck is found, and the hero is compelled to say that this is his child. The child, an orphan, calls him "daddy, and then a host of complications arise. Forced to take the child home to avoid arrest, the young man tries to conceal the fact that he has been adopted as a father, but in spite of his efforts the little girl makes herself known on every opportunity. The part of the child is filled by Jane La Verne, who is claimed to give* an appealing and charming portrayal. The strohg cast includes such well-known pi avers as Tom O'Brien, Barbara Kent, Lillian Rich and Wilson Benge. A second attraction will be "The Golden Butterfly," a drama of English theatrical life from a story by P. G. Wodehouse, the famous English novelist. "The Golden Butterfly" is the tale of a girl in a restaurant in Soho who sacrifices everything through her passion for the stage. In addition to the humour of the original Wodehouse story there is said to be intense dramatic interest throughout. The leading player is Lili Damita, a wellknown Continental actress. PRINCESS AND TIVOLI. How Reginald Denny becomes "father" to a young girl, who ultimately saves him from marrying through a marriage into which he has been trapped, forms the theme of "That's My Daddy," commencing to-morrow at the Princess and Tivoli Theatres. Rare opportunity is provided for humour of a whimsical nature, q,nd the trials Reginald Denny endures before he becomes adept as a father make comedy with a flair of its own. Sympathetic acting with unforced comedy are two qualities that seem to have come to Reginald Denny as his birthright. His attempts to reconcile his position of "young man about town" with his possession of a child of six who persists in addressing him as "Daddy," provide some of the best scenes in an excellent film. " 'Neath Arctic Skies," the second feature, is an exceedingly graphic film of an expedition to Kodiak Island, off the coast of Alaska. Here is found the giant Kodiak grizzly, one of the largest and most ferocious animals in existence. The attempt of Captain Jack Robertson, famous hunter and explorer, and his companion, Arthur Young, to obtain pictures of the great bear in its natural haunts, wes an exceedingly audacious one, and was accomplished only after much marching over scarred hills and after encountering hardship and danger. How successful they were in their venture the film itself relates. The exceptional severity of the Arctic winter provided some unusual scenes, and the break-up of the Yukon River in the spring has a grandeur and terrifying beauty that it is impossible not to appreciate. LYRIC THEATRIC The dangers connected with rum-running off the American coast are realistically portrayed in "Twelve Miles Out," commencing to-morrow at the Lyric Theatre. John Gilbert and Joan Crawford, in the leading roles, are often required to exercise the utmost ingenuity and courage to escape with their lives. Described as "a spectacular exposure of the secrets of rumrunners," this is a picture whose chief appeal lies in its strong plot and wellbalanced love interest. As a large portion of the film is taken at sea opportunity is provided to witness the operations of the speedy coast guard boats and the high-powered craft of the rum-runners. The second feature, "One Round Hogan," shows in its cast James J. Jeffries, former heavy-weight boxing champion of the world. The principal parts are taken by Monte Blue and Leila Hvams. A Warner Bros', production, the picture contains many stirring scenes of the prize ring. Monte Blue is seen as an aspiring young heavy-weight, who has acquired the art of knocking his opponents out in the first round. The story tells how he overcomes a conspiracy against him and wins the lovo of the sister of his closest friend. OPENING EMBASSY THEATRE. Members of " The Diplomats " Revue Company, which will open the Embassy Theatre on Friday evening, arrived from Sydney by the Marama yesterday. The company has come from Perth, where it played a season of three months at the Luxor Theatre. Mr. Ed. Warrington, the producer, said he had engaged additional artists in Sydney, and had a wellbalanccd company. Final rehearsals commenced yesterday afternoon, and a special " preview " performance will be given to-morrow evening before the public opening on Friday. The reconstruction of the old National into the new Embassy is now almost completed. ROYAL THEATRE. "The Count of Ten," in which Charles Rav and Jobyna Ralston appear, will be the principal attraction at the Royal Theatre this evening. A second picture will be "Roaring Rails." ST. ANDREW'S SOCIETY. The St. Andrew's Society will hold its opening social of the 1928 season in Scots Hall, Symonds Street, this evening. A splendid programme has been arranged. Dancing will conclude tha evening.

BONG RECITAL. Hera was a gratifying attendance jfl the musical public at Scots Hail, Bjfi> monds Street, last evening, when an interesting song recital was given by the Scottish vocalist, Margaret McKonxid Aitken. The function was under the patronage of His Excellency, Sir Charles Fergusson, and Lady Alice Fergusson, who were present. Miss Aitken is the possessor of a well-trained voice of much charm and individual quality, the light contralto timbre of which was evident in her opening excerpt, the Romance, "Voce di Donna," from Ponchielli's opera "La Giocondi." This was sung with much intelligence, and was followed by the appealing "Softly Awakes My Heart," from Saint-Saen3' "Samson and Delilah." An English ballad group included "Dream Tryst" (Cadman), "Deep in the Heart of a Rose" (Ronald), "The Hour" (Kahn), and Homer's "Requiem." In ihe Scottish songs, the recitalist was on her native hsath, so to speak, and her refined acceit enhanced the impression made in foese nnmbers. A group of Jacobite songs included "The White Cockade," and "Mv Heart is Sair." these being given with artistic and human feeling. Margaret Kennedy-Fiaser's poetic presentment of the thoughts and emotions of the cottars of the far-away Hebrides, off the Scottish coast, as embodied in her arrangements of their Folk songs, had a sympathetic exponent in Miss Aitken. who excelled in "An Eriskav Love Lilt"—sung in Gaelic—"The Bens of Jura," "Fairv Love Song," and "Land of Heart's l)esire." Other successful numbers were, "Tell Me do the Roses Blow," "The Meeting of the Waters," "Ye Banks and Braes," as well as many recall songs. Miss Marjorie Wigg was well received for her acceptable 'cello solos, "Hungarian Rhapsody" (Popper). "La Fileuse" (Dunkler) and "Minuetio" (Bach), while Madame Mabel St. James gave much pleasure in her dramatic recitals, "The Burial March of Dundee" (Aytoun), and "The Kelpie of the Corrievrochan." Both performers responded to hearty encores. Mr. Leo Whittaker gave unfailing support as accompanist. ROYAL AUCKLAND CHOIR. The opening concert of the Royal Auckland Choir for the 1928 season will be held in the Town Hall on Thursday, May 31. Well-known soloists have been engaged and an attractive programme of part-singing has been arranged. BRITANNIA THEATRE. A programme comprising vaudeville and pictures will be featured at the Britannia Theatre this evening. The chief vaudeville attraction will be Baby Olar, trapeze artist and contortionist. t MADRIGAL CHOIR. Mr. John Tait's Madrigal Choir will give a concert in the Unitarian Church, Ponsonbv Road, this evening. An interesting programme includes sacred choral works by modern English composers and also selections from the works of Beethoven, Mendelssohn, and Gounod. , MUSICAL FESTIVAL. A musical festival will be held in the Salvation Army hall, Albert Street, this evening. Band pieces, choruses and individual items will comprise the programme. The gathering will be addressed by Commissioner James Hay.