ENTERTAINMENTS.

New Zealand Herald, Volume LXV, Issue 19957, 28 May 1928, Page 12

ENTERTAINMENTS.

ROYAL COMIC OPERA COMPANY. Two large audiences witnessed the two performances on Saturday of the comic opera "The Student Prince, in which Mr. James Liddy and Miss Beppie de Vries have scored outstanding successes and in which the 40 male choristers have created a sensational triumph. v The Student "Prince " will be staged until next Friday night and on Saturday even-, ing will be staged for the first time in New Zealand the delightful and very successful comic opera, "Madame Pompadour," in which Miss Beppie de Vries achieved a noted success in the name part in Sydney and Melbourne. A;s Madame Pompadour Miss de Vries displays her gifts as a dramatic soprano, and the fact that she possesses a rich sense of comedy. "She is always doing something," wrote a Sydney critic, "her hands, her feet, her eyes are all brought into play. Her dresses and cloaks are wondrous things, bewildering in their variety. No wonder the French Treasury was depleted in Pompadour's days." Mr Arthur Stigant, as the poet, Calicot, is said to be highly humorous, and Mr. Frank Webster as Rene has an excellent singing role, in which his rich tenor voice is heard at its best. The scenery and dresses are features of the production. WILLIAM HEUGHAN. With a record world-tour completed and a second tour now well advanced, William Heughan, tho world-famous actor-singer, has returned to New Zealand, and will give the first of his two recitals in the Town Hall this evening. The second and final recital will be given on Saturday. Heughan is a great traveller and there are very few cities in the English-speak-ing world in which he has not appeared. He has just completed another tour of Canada and the United States, throughout which he has firmly established himself in the hearts of the music-loving public. He has also made extensive appearances in London and other cities throughout the British Isles since last touring the Dominion, and the London critics found his voice and art to their liking. The critic of the Times wrote: "Heughan has a bass voice of exceptional power, resonance and quality. He reached a high level of drrfmatic expression." The Daily Sketch said: "Heughan held 'his audience by the magic of his personality and his magnificent voice. He was as good as an opera." With him as assisting artists are Maud Bell, a 'cellist who has appeared with success in London and the capital cities in Europe, and C.ladvs Snyer. the well-known pianisie from the Brussels Conservatoire, who was associated with Heughan on his last world-tour. Pox plans for the two recitals are at Lewis Eadv, Ltd. BENEFIT PERFORMANCE. The thousands of supporters of the Society for Prevention of Cruelty to Animals will he pleased to note that the sadly depleted funds of the society will be enriched through the generosity oi: tho Auckland Comedy Players, who will on Saturday evening next at the concert chamber present J. Hastings Turner's delightful three-act comedy, "Lilies of the Field," which met with so much success when produced a few weeks ago. Quite apart from the object of this performance a splendid entertainment is guaranteed by the appearance of Auckland's leading amateurs, the cast being, identical with that of the first presentation. The following are included in the cast: Mesdames Susan McCallum, Constance Clark, Margot Finlavson, Joy Bartley. Cecily Russell, Ysolinde McVeagh, Ruth Robertson; Messrs. W. HGraham, Montagu Steele, John N. Gordon, and Hamish Henderson. The production is under the personal direction of Miss Una Dysart Buddie; musical director, Mr. H. C. Luscombe; and honorary manager, Mr. Scott Colville. The society is indebted to many individuals and firms for gratuitous assistance, and as no one associated with the performance is receiving payment, a substantial sum should be raised for the S.P.C.A. A committee of ladies has been actively engaged in the sale of tickets and already more than half of the hall has been booked up. The box plan arrangements are advertised. EVERYBODY'S THEATRE. The irrepressible Reginald Denny has another congenial role in "That's My Daddy," the Universal comedy now screening at Everybody's Theatre. Forced by circumstances to choose between becoming the "father" of a little girl or going to gaol for speeding, Denny takes the child to his bachelor home. Here numerous complications arise which fill the picture with many hilarious situations. The part of the child is taken by Jane La Verne, who gives an appealing and charming portrayal. The strong cast includes such well-known players as Tom O'Brien. Barbara Kent, Lilian Rich and Wilson Benge A second attraction will be "The Golden Butterfly," a drama of English theatrical l : fe 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 intense dramatic interest throughout. The leading player is Lili Damita, a well-known Continental actress. PRINCESS AND TIVOLI. How Reginald Denny is forced by circumstances to act a3 father to a child, who ultimately saves him from "an unhappy marriage, forms the theme of "That's My Daddy," now showing at the Princess and Tivoli Theatres. Rare opportunity is provided for humour of a whimsical nature, and 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," provides 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 Included in this novel production are many picturesque and wonderful scenes, showing the natural grandeur and beauty of the Far North.