ENTERTAINMENTS

New Zealand Times, Volume XLIX, Issue 11180, 8 April 1922, Page 9

ENTERTAINMENTS

MARIE TEMPEST. FAREWELL PERFORMANCE TONIGHT. A large and enthusiastic audience witnessed the final performance of “The Great Adventure” by Miss Marie Tempest and her accomplished company at the Grand Opera House la6t night. ' To-night, Miss Tempest, Mr Graham Browne and the talented artists associated with them will say farewell, to Wellington theatregoers, when that diverting comedy, “The Marriage of Kitty,” will be the attraction. From the pen of Cosmo Gordon Lennox, this comedy contains many situations that give Miss Tempest plenty of opportunity to display her undoubted artistry, and the same remark applied with equal force to that excellent actor Mr Graham Brownie. It is l fitting that the season should be concluded with such a delightful comedy. HIS MAJESTY’S. A FIRST-CLASS BILL. This week’s programme by Fuller’s Vaudeville Company is drawing large audiences ■ nightly a* His Majesty’s Theatre. The bill includes several first-class “turns” of which the most notable are those by J ames Teddy (in his remarkable display of jumping), Brightie and Carlyon (in songs, dances and smart repartee), Wells and Hell? (in acrobatic specialties), Geo. Dixon (the “musical ’Jack-in-the-box”), and Miss Flora Cromer. The customary matinee is announced for to-day, and the programme will be repeated for the last time to-night. A complete change is to be submitted on Monday. "JIMMY VALENTINE.” SCREEN HIT "AT PRINCESS THEATRE. For swift-moving, electrifying entertainment and finished, forceful' acting, nothing has come to the local screen in many weeks to approach “Alias Jimmy Valentine,” starring Bert Lytell, now showing at the Princess Theatre. From the opening soene to the final close-up, this Metro screen version of Paul Armstrong’s internationally celebrated crook melodrama held its audience in a breathless tension of interest. Mir Lytell’s acting was a feature that must not be passed over without tribute to its art. Especially noticeable was the fact that this young star exhibited restraint in places where over-acting would have spoiled the illusion. This quality, coupled with a dynamic fire in the tighter moments, enhanced the play in) no mean measure. The second feature film is “Treasure of Heaven.” from the novel of Marie Corelli. “The Prince’s Tour Through Canada,” and Tom Mix in “Law and Order,” are two splendid films. PARAMOUNT AND ARTCRAFT. “WHEN BEARCAT WENT DRV.” Away up, in the cedar-clad ranges where lie the borders of Kentucky and Virginia, Charles Neville Buck, journalist and author, found material among the moonshiners and -lawless desperadoes for his thrilling drama, “When Bearcat Went Dry. It is said that no American writer is bo familiar with the Kentucky mountains, where he discovered Bearcat, the youthful hero who was driven to exile by the revenue officers of Uncle Sam. As he looks down from the mountains, which hitherto have baffled the railway engineer, he sees Blossom, the , girl he loves, in another man’s arms. From that day 'there is war to the knife between them. He is the centre figure, too, of a long standing vendetta among rival foothill families. Lovers of red-blooded drama will find plenty of thrills in the fight at the Quarterhouse, where the lawless spirit of two States forgathered until their animal passions were aroused by tne “pure white lioker.” In tame Bearcat is brought to realise that were these men deprived of the illicit alcohol, they would be peaceful, law-abiding citizens, whose minds might dwell on the needs of the: countryside, in roads, schools and railways. At his bidding there Bprings into life an army of White-Caps, whose shrouded figures were seen on every hillside, marching onwards, hearing with them 'the torch of a higher civilisation. The last scene, in the round-urf of the moonshiners, is worthy of the author and the' film magician. Justice demands a reckoning, and,, when the oddsj „are against him, Bearcat is saved by a timely shot from the rifle of his father, who was previously an illicit distiller. A terrible mistake is righted in the end, Bearcat gets his Blossom, and a thrilling tale is brought to a happy ending. The supporting film is a diverting story of Chivalrous Charley, whose uncle vainly tries to cure him of a fatal babit of oefriending damsels in distress. ELLA SHIELDS’S RETURN. GRAND OPERA HOUSE. The fine impression created by Misti Ella Shields and her company at the Opera House a few weeks ago has induced Mr Harry Mnsgrove to arrange a return visit. The season, which, will be for five nights, will open at the Grand Opera House on. Easter Saturday at the matinee. Apart from Miss Ella Shields, there is a great company of supporting artists culled from the world’s leading theatres. An amazing act is that of Mr and Miss Tree, described aa musical mentalists. As an exhibition of the type of thought-read-ing not unknown here, it had featuies entirely different and more mystifying. There are tho usual. descriptions by Miss Tree of artiolos handed to Mr Tree by members of the audience, but the remarkable portion of their performance follows. Sitting blindfolded at a piano on the stage, the lady instantly plays on the instrument any composition which any person in front aslcs for in a whisper to her partner. From one selection to another she passes as rapidly as these whispers reached Mr Tree’s ears. There ■ are no mistakes; not a piece that is requested but is immediately played. The act creates something like a sensation. Togo, an expert Japanese juggler, presents an enjoyable turn, which a'so arouses enthusiasm. Mr Maurice Sterndale is a jazz violinist of exoejitional talent. The Throe Jacksons are to be scon in acrobatic feats of a surprising nature, the boy member of the trio being always warmly applauded for hie still and daring. CJahill and Brooke, the latter a pleasing tenor singer and the former a fine pianist and accompanist, give an enjoyable musical interlude. Mr Con. Moroni’s comic songs are remarkably well sung, and malto for merriment. A humorous cartoonist, Harko, completes an altogether entertaining bill. Tlie box plan opens at the Bristol Piano Co. on w-j ’ - icxt