ENTERTAINMENTS.

New Zealand Herald, Volume LXV, Issue 19984, 28 June 1928, Page 13

ENTERTAINMENTS.

MUNICIPAL CONCERT. In spite of the depressing weather conditions, there was a fair attendance of the musical public at the Town Hall last evening to listen to the excellent programme by 'he Municipal Band. It was a special "Sullivan" night, and Mr. Christopher Smith had been at some pains to arrange a thoroughly representative array of compositions by tho popular British composer. Selections from the famed Savoy operas naturally formed the staple portion of the musical fare, and these were much enjoyed. Sullivan possessed both imagination and originality, and the music of his operas remain still the pattern of all light music. Imitators have cropped up in profusion, but most of their efforts, with the possible exception of the present-day composer, Edward German, have been shortlived. Sullivan's creations possess a perennial charm and appeal, and it was not surprising to find the warmest applause beslo%ved upon the admirably-arranged selections from "The Yeomen of the Guard," ''Patience" and "The Gondoliers." Here there were many fine solo opportunities, and the most was made of tho colourful harmonies. Two selections from "Princess Ida" figured upon the programme. Taken as a wholo this opera is the least effective of the Sullivan operas, the music generally lacking the spontaneity of its fellows. The numbers included in the contributions presented last evening wore the more outstanding ones, and were up to the usual Sullivan standard. Mr. Smith also had a happy knack in obtaining the best results from his capable forces. Each department strove to excel, and the result was fully satisfying to the aesthetic sense. Other items to be placed to the band's credit were a rousing performance of the picturesque overture to "The Mikado," as well as musicianly representations of the vocal parts in the hymn, "0 Gladsome Light," from "The GoTden Legend." tho madrigal "Brightly Dawns our Wedding Day," and the glee "See How fHo Fates," both from "The Mikado." In the vocal department Miss Myra Monk contributed the Sullivan numbers, "My Dearest Heart" and "The Moon and I," while Mr. Ernest Snell sang special baritone songs, including "The Blind Ploughman" (Clark) and "To Anthea" (Hatton). Both vocalists gained hearty recalls. Mr. Leo Whittaker gave adequate support as accompanist.

STRAND THEATRE. The name of Douglas Fairbanks now come to bo associated with thrilling adventure and stirring feats of arms, and in "The Gaucbo," his latest production, which will commence an extended season at the Strand Theatre to morrow, he has another role of the type which has brought him wide popularity, that of an adventurous bandit chief in the Andes. At the head of his band of "gauchos," or riders of the pampas, he is said to give the most outstanding characterisation of his wonderful career. At the opening of the picture the riders cross the mountains and occupy a stately shrine city whose wealth is the prey of the cruel usurper of the country. A madcap mountain lass, thrilled by the notoriety of the gaucho chief, joins him en route". News of the outlaw's presence reaches the usurper, who puts a price upon his head. A beautiful girl of the shrine, whose healing as a child brought fame to the place, stirs the heart of the outlaw. The jealous mountain girl hetravs him to the commandante, who has placed his garrison in the city by the usurper's orders.. A treacherous gaucho lieutenant dismisses the band on a false message, and the outlaw is captured. Witnessing his enre at the shrine from the touch of a plaguestricken beggar. the mountain girl understands the "girl of the miracle" for the first time, and too late tries to prevent the arrest. She rides off to bring the gaucho band to the rescue. From that point onward the story proceeds through a series of highlv-exciting situations to a satisfactory ending. The .part of the mountain girl is played by Lupe Velez, who is said to give a remarkable portrayal. while the supporting cast includes Eve Southern. Gustav von Sevffertitz, Michael Vavitch and Nigel de Brulier. Prior to the screening of "The Gaucho" a special prologue, in which Miss Bettina Edwards will be the solo dancer, will be presented on the stage. The supporting | picture programme includes a Fox variety film, the Strand Magazine, and a New Zealand Scenic. The Strand Orchestra will contribute a musical interlude. MAJESTIC THEATRE. The popularity of the annual concerts given by Jasper's Limited should be increased by their production of this year's offering at the Majestic Theatre, where excellent stage facilities will be available. The first performance, which is to be presented to-morrow, will be enhanced by the fine orchestra and comfortable surroundings of this theatre. A varied programme has been arranged and it includes two'short sketches. "When the Ladder Fell" and "Red Tape," and a musical number, "When the Opera Came to Church," which is said to possess many novel features. The music for this last attraction lias been arranged by the Rev. Jasper Calder. Humorous songs, choruses and medleys will be presented by individual artists and also by the company. The proceeds will be in aid of the City Mission funds. The second portion of the programme will be the Fox film, "Love Hungry," which illustrates the folly of dogmatising in affairs of the heart. Lois Moran takes the part of Joan Robinson, who is discouraged by her unsuccessful attempts to become a chorus girl, and returns to her parents with a contempt for men. She finds that in her absence Lawrence Gray, who takes the role of a journalist, Tom Harvey, has been accepted into her homo as a boarder. This young man does not know very much about love, but, he is contributor to a publication that specialises in giving advice to tho lovelorn. Tn private life he attempts to maintain tho reputation he has built up for himself as an expert in matters of the heart, but, when he "meets Joan Robinson his failure in this respect makes a humorous and interesting plot. An Aesop fable film, a scenic and the popular Majestic Magazine comprise the supporting picture programme, while the Majestic Orchestra will play a new selection of numbers.

EVERYBODY'S THEATRE. Described as the most amazing picture ever produced, "Metropolis," which will commence its Auckland season at Everybody's Theatre to-day, is a fantasy depicting lii'o in a great city 100 years hence, when machinery has been developed far beyond anything imagined to-day. Huge, towering, endless buildings rising in canyon-like curves, navigated only by fly-liko aeroplanes and buses; eternal streams of traffic below, one central citadel from which the whole conglomeration is governed by a master mind, called Masterman —the ultimate result of the highly-strung, systematically efficient business man of to-day. The marvellous city is all a reward of his labours. And the mighty engines and store houses and generating plants below, with scores of evermoving men controlling them, all combine to make a spectacle never before witnessed. The sets are designed on a gigantic scale, each one expressing the mood and tempo of the story at its particular moment. Startling episodes make up the film and one of the most salient of these takes place when the hero, son of Masterman, descends to the gloom of the lower regions for the first time and sees symbolised in the central engine, the grim figure of Moloch, ancient god of the Phoenicians, resurrected in the cities of modern man, forever claiming its human sacrifice. Amid such an impressive setting a struggle between the age-old forces of good and evil takes place. After a series of striking episodes, in which a mechanical woman takes part, the foundation is laid of a greater trust between master and man.

PRINCESS AND TIVOLI. The mazes and mysteries of New York's Chinatown form tho background of "Chinatown Charlie," the comedy which heads the attractive double-feature programme to commence showing at the Princess and Tivoli Theatres to-day. The irrepressible Johnny Hioes, one of the screen's most popular and talented comedians, has the loading role in this extravaganza, which is adapted from tho stage farce by Owen Davis. Hincs is seen as the driver of a sight-seeing bus taking credulous tourists through tho streets of tho underworld. One night as he is making his accustomed trip ho has as a passenger a beautiful girl wearing an unusual antique ring of Chinese design, which greatly interests the proprietor of one of the resorts visited by the party. Attempts are then made to kidnan the eirl. and many hilarious adventures follow. The numerous opportunities offered for clever comedy by such a sinister background are fully utilised. The. second attraction will be Hoot Gibson's latest Western comedydrama, "Wild West Show." In this picture ho is seen as a cowboy who joins a travelling circus. On its arrival at the ranch where he was formerly employed, the show fails to please the critical audience, who break it up amid scenes of hilarious disorder. When the. excitement is running at its highest, an additional complication is added by the breaking away of a coach which contains the boxoffice receipts and a girl. Ie hei'o saves the runaway, only to be charged with attempting to steal tho money. Many other bright features are added to the plot before a satisfactory ending is reached. Dorothy Gulliver has the leading feminine role. REGENT THEATRE. "The Last Waltz," a gay romance based on the famous operetta by Oscar Strauss, will be the principal feature on tho attractive programme to commence showing at the Regent Theatre to-morrow. The story of intrigue and lo.ve is laid in a mythical country in the Balkans and concerns the rivalry of the Crown Prince and his aide for" a neighbouring princess. The pair visit a castle where the princess is spending a summer vacation, and after a short period the prince discovers that his aide is the more favoured. A quarrel ensues, and the aide is condemned to death for insulting his superior. At the last moment a surprising and totally unexpected change in the plot, brings about a happy climax. The leading role is filled b'v Willie Fritsch, who was the dashing hero of "The Waltz Dream, while the principal women players are Suzy Vernon, a beautiful French actress, and Diane Haide, a noted personality on the European stage. A second attraction will be "The Showdown." a story of adventure laid amid the tropical swamps of lower Mexico. The pint centres round the contest between two groups of nildrillprs in search of wealth. Tn the midst of their battle for power a new element is introduced hv the arrival of an unprotected eirl. George Bancroft. who was seen in "Old Ironsides" and "The Rough Riders," has the leading role, others of note in the cast being Evelyn Brent. Neil Hamilton. Fred. Kohler and Arnold Kent. A full programme of short supports will he screened and the Regent Orchestra will play a splendid score.

GRAND THEATRE. The great basic qualities of love and sacrifice contained in the song, "Mother Machrce," have been admirably captured in the Fox FiJms production of the same name, which will t>e shown at the Grand Theatre to-morrow. The story of the picture concerns the life of a widowed mother who leaves her beloved Ireland to tako her young son to America in order that he may make the most of his life. It is there that for her son's sake she makes the beautiful sacrifice that is the essence of the story. As Mother Machree, Belle Bennett gives a performance that is one of the finest of her career. Victor McLaglan is superb as the Giant of Kilkenny and Neil Hamilton has been admirably chosen for the role of the grown-up son. A second feature will be "The Divine Woman," a dramatic story of stage life in Paris showing the life of a celebrated French actress, who, tired with the homage paid her by -wealth and royalty, returns to her first love, a private soldier and deserter from the French Army. Greta Garbo, the beautiful Swedish actress, heads the exceptionally strong cast, which includes such well-known players as Lars Hanson, Lowell Sherman. Polly Moran, Dorot-hv Cumming and John Mack Brown. A full programme of short supporting pictures is also screened. RIALTO AND EPSOM REGENT. One of the most famous maritime races in history, that between two tea ships, the Lord of the Isles and the Yankee Clipper, from Foochow to Boston, forms the basis of "White Wings, the Cecil B. de Mille production to commence showing at Rialto and Epsom Regent Theatres to-night. All the heroism and perils of life aboard these clipper ships in what is regarded as the "golden age of sail" is depicted in this unusual production, which shows the daring of the rival captains, a typhoon sweeping the i decks of the vessels and tearing their sails to shreds and a mutiny, in which the officers are forced to quell the crew I with, revolvers. An exciting climax is reached at the close of the voyage, when each captain carries all possible sail m a K ale and the British ship just beats its rival into Boston Harbour by a few minutes. A pleasing romance runs through the picture, the leading roles being filled by William Boyd and Elinor Fair who were seen together in I lie Volga Boatman." A full programme of short supporting subjects will be screened at both theatres. EMBASSY THEATRE. A revue of a type hitherto not, undertaken by them will be presented at the Embassy Theatre by the Diplomats Company to-morrow, when the second half° the attractive programme will be filled by " South Seas," a sketch of Island life. The scene will be laid on a tropic isle, against a picturesque background of placid moonlit waters. Hawaiian melodies and dances will be among the chief features of this production, in which the leading roles will be filled by Al. Mack, Cecil Scott and Colleen Hope. In addition to colourful items in keeping with the name of the revue, a vein of comedy runs through the story. Ihe producer, Ed. Warrington, who is also an accomplished comedian, will be seon in two new items, " The Spare Room " and " The Gong's Gone," which are said to equal his previous successes- Bert Gilbert, another comedian who has established himself as a firm favourite, will give a third " 'Opcroft " number of the type which has proved so popular, while Mildred and Connie will be seen in a short sketch " Picardy," in which they will be assisted by Colleen Hope and Clyde Fields. LYRIC THEATRE. The Metro-Goldwyn screen adaptation of Katharine Newlyn Burt's famous romance, " Th<? Branding Iron, shown under the title of " Body and Soul, is one of the features of the double-star programme which commences at the Lyric Theatre this evening. Set amid the impressive scenery of the Swiss Alps, it e the tale of a peasant maid who marries a human derelict out of gratitude and then unwittingly arouses his 3 ealous yLionel Barrymore, Aileen Pringle and Norman Kerry appear in the principal roles. "That Certain Ihmg, the second feature, is a sparkling comedy which deals with the adventures of a girl behind a cigar counter, who fancies herself as an adventuress. Her dream of marrying a millionaire comes true, but there are arnusinej complications. Viola Dana, Ralph Graves and Aggie Herring arc assisted by a strong cast.;

fTHE SILENT HOUSE. At His Majesty's Theatre to-nigbt, 3* C. Williamson announce the return visife for a short season of seven nights of the popular actor Maurice Moscovitch and tho brilliant dramatic company supporting him in the first presentation here of the latest London success, "The Silent House," a melodrama by John Brandon arid George Pickett. The story is one with an Oriental setting. Nothing is more thrilling than a story of the East, and a desperate search for -wealth. Cunning Chinese in a mystery story are always an indication of dastardly deedsj In "The Silent House" the Celestials provide all the thrills. Their conception of inquisitorial methods to force the young men and woman unwittingly drawn into the secrecy of the mansion makeg the tactics of Torquemada and his assistants of the Spanish Inquisition days those of kind and gentle gallants. Dark deeds are done in the morning room of the quiet mansion on tho common reconstructed by the eccentric Richard Winsford, who lived for many years in the East ana met his death bv "tho "accidental" falling of a coping stone. The Chinese Dr. Chan Fu, "his mute attendant Hwang, Peroda (the sleek gentleman from Assam), and ilateora, the searchers for the. "star stolen from Chan Fu's family god and bonds worth a-quarter of a million pounds, aro the main persons concerned. Ihe bonds are supposed to be hidden wittnn tho mansion, which is occupied by Winsford s heir, Captain George Winsford, and his friend, Philip Barty. The Orientals stop at nothing, and 'their methods are terrifying. "The Silent House" is said to he also a plav of mechanical thrills, with the machinery cleverly manipulated. Maurice Moscovitch appears as Dr. ' Chan J bu, Chinese of high rank around whom most of the storv hinges. Prominent people m the cast are Nat Madison. Roger Barrj, Patric Curwcn, Ashton Jarry, George Blunt, Guy Hastings Richard Wehste,, Reginald Newson and Bertha Ricca . Bo? plan and day sale arrangements are advertised. _______