ENTERTAINMENTS

New Zealand Times, Volume XLIX, Issue 11222, 30 May 1922, Page 7

ENTERTAINMENTS

HIS MAJESTY’S THEATRE ANOTHER PINE PROGRAMME. In this week's pleasure menu presented to vaudeville frequenters, there is a sihendidly varied entertainment, that will tind favour with the. most exacting .and fastidious. Carr, billed as the “-Modern Hercules," opens the programme with an act demonstrating his strength and agility with heavy weights, with which he juggles and jumps as though they were only tennis balls. Bob White, tho whistling doughboy, is again to the fore with his truly marvellous whistling imitations of aflimals and birds. .An interesting little comedy sketch is that known as “Always Tell

Your Wife," a little one-act play cleverly constructed and written by He ALille, of scenario fame. Here, an untruthful, gay, and poker-loving husband, comes home late, to find hiiuself mixed up in a scene which includes a burglar, a supposed lover of his wife, and a detective — to say nothing of the angry little wife herself. The climax is exciting enough, i*i all conscience, to make any man wish he had not told the partner of his joys and pocket-money the usual yarn about working late at the office. The Sisters Sprightley are seen in a new act which justifies them well in being billed as the “starring" couple, the audience being convulsed by their presentation of the ''Seaside Girls," followed 1 y the “Ladies' liugby Team." Phrozo, the mysterious doll, what is it? He, she, or it No one can tell, even, after Inst week's run, just how to style the apparition. This mystery in itself is worth the price of the evening's entertainment, to say nothing of Davey and Ritchie, the former a juggler of great skill and fluent patter, the latter his able assistant. Yideau and Kirby arc seen to good advantage in their clever little comedy skit, “Golfing," while Newman and Wynne present an excellent “After the War" episode, nicely combining clean, clever humour with an underlayer of pathos and sentiment. Alberto, the very clever magician and sleight-of-hand artist, brings to a close one of the finest programmes ever put on at this theatre.

ROSINA BUCKMAN

THURSDAY NIGHT AT TOWN HALL. The eagerly-expected series of concerts to be given by New Zealand's Queen of Song, Miss Rosin a. Buckinan, in the Wellington Town Hall, under the direction of Mr E. J. Gra restock, win commence on Thursday next, at 8 pm. A feature of Thursday's programme will be the duets sung by Mies Buckman and Mr D'Oisly, notably the dramatic duet from the fourth Act of Gounod's “Romeo und Juliet." Miss Buckinan will be heard in Nedda’s celebrated BaJlatella, from “I Pagliacci, 1 ' and, in compliance with numerous requests, the ever-popular “One Fine Day," from Puccini's “Madame Butterfly." Outside the sphere of grand opera, the famous soprano will contribute some of the songs which have made her name a household word on the English concert platform Among the«se will be the delightful “Evening Prayer," by the Russian composer, Modeste Moussorgsky, and Granville Bantoek s “The Lament of Isis." Of particular interest to New Zealanders will be Alfred Hill's “Waiata Poi." Mr Maurice D'Oisly will sing the great tenor aria “0, Paradise/' from Meyerbeer’s “L'Africana/' Mr D’Oisly has earned a .great reputation as a singer of French songs, and on Thursday -night he will, be heard in the old French chanson, “Entendez-vous le Carillon du Verre?" Smile Bernard's “Adieu du Matin," and “Sombrero," by Mme. Chamiinade. In addition to the famous singers, Miss Adelina Leon, the talented English 'cellist, whose playing was a feature of the Auckland concerts last week, will be heard for the first time in Wellington. The accompaniments will be played by Mr Percy Kahn, the eminent composerpianist, who will be remembered a« accompanist with Mischa Elman. The box plan for the four concerts is now* open at the Bristol.

STUDENTS’ SONG RECITAL

TO-NIGHT IN CONCERT CHAMBER, . To-night, in the concert chamber of the Town Hall, at 8 p.m., a unique and artistic programme will be presented by fourteen selected pupils of Mr Reginald Blow. The programme has been carefully arranged, and items selected to suit the particular voices of the pupils, and -patrons are assured of a pleasant •an! interesting evening. The box plan closes at the Bristol at 5 p.m. and after that 3s tickets (reserved) and 2s tickets (unreserved) may be secured at the Town Hall. All tickets are free of tax.

“ BABES \N THE WOOD ” WILLIAMSON SUPER-PANTOMIME'. It is said that there is more fun to tho square yard in the J. C. Williamson “Babes in the Wood" Pantomime to bo seen here on Saturday next than in any three previous pantomimes put together. When tho comedians were engaged . in London the first step was to get into touch with Frank Dix and M. •Slater, who were writing the “book" of the pantomime, and arrange for the inclusion of a vast amount of original comedy material of their own. For example, Jack Williams, the Dame, has songs and comedy scenes which have made him famous on the English stage. These had to be embodied iu the pantomime. Then Xaughton and Gold, two of the funniest comedians London has, who have kept England laughing for eleven years, have created some remarkable laugh-producing stunts, which will be featured in the pantomime. Their turn is called ‘'Shifting a Chest of Drawers." W. S. Percy, that popular Australian comedian, will have some important contributions to the fund of humour. A famous r>layer of “pames" will be Mr Jack Williams, who will make his first appearance. The Principal Boy, Nora Delany. comes with a splendid reputation, and is one of London’s best exponents of these • parts. Miss Delany is Lady Maxwell in private life. “Maid Marian" will be played by Miss F-loie Allen, an exceptionally clever Australian girl. Another English engagement of importance is that of Audrey Thacker as “Littlejohn." A pro* minent feature of the dazzling show is said be the ballets and solo dancing. Josie Melville will be vhe principal Haiiseuse. in association with Mr Frederick Mnckav, also most prominent in j this department are the famous Amery sisters. Bobbie Jackson, Charles Howard anci George Willoughby make up what is patently a more than ordinarily strong cast. The box plans will be on view on Thursday next at tho Bristol,

THE FIRST CONCERT

WELLINGTON HARMONIC SOCIETY.: The first concert of the 1922 season of the above society, under the baton of Mr H. Temple White, is announced for Wednesday evening at 8 o'clock, in the Town Hall concert chamber. After allotting Subscribing members seats there are 100 left for the public, and tickets may be obtained at the Bristol booking office. The usual high-class programme for which the society is noted will be submitted, the assisting artists being Mrs Eric Meier, (violinist), Mr Howard Foster (baritone), and “The Harmonh, Quartet/' The plan is filling rapidly, and intending patrons are advised to book early.

EVERYBODY’S

“THE MARK OF ZORRO" Douglas Fairbanks will be the vigorous hero of “The Mark of Zorro," a film that will come upon the screen at Everybody's Theatre on Friday next. This picture, adapted for screen purposes from a thrilling novel, “The Curse of Capistrano," gives very attractive material to assist Fairbanks in his acting of the major role. Double identity is a great feature of the work of the mysterious Zorro, a man who acts in private life as a weak-willed, chuckling imbecile, but in secret is a most. energetic factor for good in, the community. He is a Spanish noble, and in costume of mediaeval times Fairbanks makes a most picturesque figure with his black mask and steed, ae he ever 'leaves tho mysterious “Z," the mark of Zorro upon the face of his victim. The story is well told, with humour in it as well as a romantic element of mystery and moro than one_ thrill, while the settings and general stage effects are most picturesque. This great super-feature will be accompanied ‘by an exquisite musical score played by the symphony orchestra conduced by Mr Matt Dixon. The box plan is now open tho Bristol.