ENTERTAINMENTS

New Zealand Times, Volume XLIX, Issue 11225, 2 June 1922, Page 3

ENTERTAINMENTS

HIS MAJESTY’S THEATRE

AN ATTRACTIVE PROGRAMME. Another large and appreciative house assembled at His Majesty's Theatre last evening to prove the popularity of the current programme. The latest offering is headed by Davey and Ritchie, the skilful juggler and his winsome partner, who provide some really remarkable turns. Bradley and Hamilton, the clever English comedy duo, are very much at home in their clever sketch “Always Tell Your Wife," which meets with much deserved applause. The Sisters Sprightley are a remarkable pair and riomy deserve the welcome which they are accorded for their unique items, “The Seaside Girls" and “The Ladies' Rugby Team." Newman and Wynne are effective in their contribution, “Jim's Return." Carr, “the modern Hercules," has some astounding feats of strength and skill to show, and Alberto is as clever a mystifier as ever. Bob White, “the whistling doughboy," is still the gallery's favourite, and Videau and Kirby, in their clever comedy skit “Golfing," crown one of the best. |)rograimmes t£> be (seen at His Majesty's for some time. Reserves are at the Bristol.

“ OVER THE HILL ”

PRIVATELY SCREENED AT AT. T CRAFT. AN INSPIRING PICTURE. “All's well! The mothers still are rocking the cradles of the world." So sang Will Ogilive and such, also, la the teaching of the wonderful William Fox film-drama which is now showing a private screening of which was siven at the Artcraft Theatre this week. ’here was a good attendance, the incidental music was finely rendered *by the Artcraft orchestra, and the hearty applause showed how greatly 2 * the play was appreciated. In a foreword to the screoning the manager of the theatre said: —“This afternoon we are presenting an ideal. William Fox has long desired to present a picture without any spectacular scenery or sensational stage effects, a picture of ordinary everyday life, with the object of inculcating in the young people of the world the love that they ought to have for their mothers." This high aim is certainly achieved in “Over the Hill," a beautiful story, wonderfully well told, of mother-love, unselfish service, and self-sacrifice. The 6cene of the story is laid in a New England village. Tlho mother has a high-spirited, very difficult to manage family of four boys and two girls; and, besides running the house for the lot, cooking, washing, ironing, mending, and all the rest, takes in needlework to feed and clothe the family, because the husband and father refuses to work unless he can get the wage he considers himself entitled to. The care cf the mother for her growing children is very convincingly brought out; the school life of the village is admirably told, together with the escapades of Johnny, “the bad boy of the fa/mily," his schoolboy love affair with the little charming belle of the village. Twenty years pass to find tW the other boys and the two girls mar ried, but Johnny still lives at home and his earnings help mother to keep the house going and to provide the where withal for the periodical family gatherings. The other children never stop to think how mother does it all. Then ■ disaster comes. Johnny finds ibis fa- \ ther in the act of horse-stealing; and ! forces him to allow him to return the | horses. The father makes off, but i Johnny is arrested with the horses, and ' to shield his father goes to prison for three long years. How conscience kills the father; how the little mother suffers for her boy; how Johnny, released from prison, goes West, sends money to brother Isaac for his mother's support, but Isaac steals it; how the mother has to go to the poor house; and how Johnny unexpectedly returns, unmasks Isaac, rescues his poor old mother; and how j splendidly Johnny's sweetheart rises to the occasion, is very graphically and sympathetically told. One can well understand that such a picture, as the managing director of the Artoraft Theatre assures us, “has been seen by more people than any other mov. ing picture in the world. It has broken records everywhere and patrons clamour to see it again and again. It ran for a I whole year on Broadway and is still go- | ing." In Auckland “Over the Hill" rap for three weeks at the Princess Theatre and was witnessed by over 50.000 people. The box plan is at the Bristol.

J. C. WILLIAMSON PANTOMIME

BEiILLIANT .PET?.F<yR.MAN<TJ AT THE OPERA HOUSE TO-MORROW. The critio of the S>y<3n,ey "Sun” writes of the principals in the J. <J. Williamson "Babes in the Wood" nantoinime to be seen here to-morrow afternoon, as follows ;—"A circumstance worth noting in the productioh is that in the case of principals there is an ample provision of local talent. No fewer than ten Australians appear in a cast of 14. , These are W. S. Percy (Baron Basouker), Floio Allen (Maid Marion). Marjory Powerie, and Nellie Barnes (the babes), Charles Howard (the miller’s son), Bobbie Jackson (the scarecrow), Josie Melville (principal dancer), Frederick Mackay (principal malp dancer). Capitally staged under the direction of Mr Charles Wenman, this year’s Williamson pantomime includes a change for the better in the substitution of handsome ffableaus? curtains for the usual irritating black-outs. The Principal Boy, Nora Delaney, who is Lady Maxwell when she is! hot on the stage, is one of the most brilliant pantomime artists seen here. She is tall, handsome, and of splendid figure. .She puts plenty of 'pep’ and go into her work, and is a general favourite. The pantomime is strong in the singing department. Miss Delaney in particular has that rare personal magnetism and spirited action that affect all around her Floie Allen is petite and dainty, end does what she has to do in the most charming manner. Jack Williams is that rare sort of Dame who is really humorous without at any time forcing the pace. His work is free from even a suspicion of coarseness. W. S. Percy is delightfully fresh and clever. George Willoughby (as the popular Lawyer Graball) is well in the picture. Bobbie Jackson is quite unique in his work as the animated scarecrow. Naughton and Gold are exceptionally droll as eccentric comedians. The Babes are two clever children who will be favourites with everybody. In the dancing department Josie Melyillo is a gifted artist. And she has a rattling good partner in Frederick Mackay. The Amery Sisters, best as dances specialists, Audrey Thacker as 'Littlejohn,' and Charles Howard ore amongst others who deserve special mention. The production is notable for the number of its good and new jokes and topical songs. The scenic department is rich in oolour and device, the ballets are especially fetching, and the ensembles, particularly the finale of the first act, are most brilliant. The audience showed its appreciation by insisiting on repeats and double repeats for all the tit-bits.” The box plans are rapidly filling at the Bristol.

MISS ROSINA BUCKMAN

WARM-HEARTED RECEPTION FIRST APPEARAXCE GREETED WITH ENTHUSIASM. Rarely does a "Wellington audience so w hole-lieartedly signify its approval ofa visiting operatic artist as Miss Rpsina Buokinan —-New Zealand's “Queen of Song"—was received at the Town Hall last evening The hall was not filled, but wh.at the audience lacked in number* was certainly compensated for in the enthusiasm that prevailed. Miss Buckman, on her entry* was warmly greeted as a New Zealander; her first solos created an immediate impression and two encore numbers were exacted; the second time she apjjeared the enthusiasm waxed, and she responded to three rec.iJls. At the conclusion of the concert shouts of joy, mingled with mild cheers, were acknowledged by the distinguished prima donna with outthrown arms and hand-flung kisses. Despite an aggravating indisposition during the past two days, Miss Buckman sang admirably, and her renderings of the lengthy list of programme and encore numbers were rare examples of vocalisation. She holds excellent control over her richly developed and powerful voice, and is able to express any degree of sentiment at will, from that of a light-hearted caprice to an outburst of the intensest passion. The charm of her manner is as winning. as that of her beautiful soprano voice, which is of the purest quality, from the rich chest notes to the ringing B and C headnotes. The highest perfection of her singing was probably manifested in the opening operatic excerpt, “Ballatella" from “Pagliacci." The aria was sung dramatically, with much action, and revealed all the most admirable qualities of the songstress's wide range. The interpretation gave one a graphic puieture of the operatic scene, ana brought out the mqst charming features of the composition. A fine climax tVas reached with a fortissimo sustained headnote. The operatic picture vrae again vividly painted, in Miss Buckman's singing of the beautiful solo, “One Fine Day," from Puccini's

“La Boheme." The second encore number was “Cuckoo," of which a winning interpretation was given. The cantatrice made her second appearance to sing a bracket of songs of varying interest —'"The Lament of Isis” (Bantock), “The Knotting Song" (Purcell), “Even* ing Prayer” (Moussorgsky), “O, Ship of My Delight" (Montague Phillips). Bach had' its particular attraction. The bedtime prayer of the Russion composer —in which the soloist represents a little girl who calls down bleesings upon all her relatives and receives the nuree's remonstrance for irreverently demanding “Oh, How Does it go On?"—caused much amusement. Of the encore numbers Hill's “Waiata Poi" has never been better sung in Wellington, while “Cornin' Through the Rye" was quite charming.

Mr Maurice D’Oisly is a tenor of deserved eminence, and is capable of all shades of vocal expression. The*beauty of the aria “O Paradise" from ‘T/Africans" (Meyerbeer) was well brought out, and fine dramatic and passionately treatment was given of the aria from act 3, “La Corsica." A bracket of three French songs of varying moods was given by Mr D'Oisly on his second entry. The ofd French song, “Efatendez-vous le Carillon du Verre," arranged by Frederick Austin, was specially enjoyable. The other two offerings were “Adieu du Matin" (Pesea-rd) and “Sombrero" (Chamiwade), both excellently treated. Two humorous songs, “When I was a Bachelor’" and “O Didn't it Rain," an old negro folk song, made a popular impression. as recall numbers. Miss Adelina Leon, an excellent 'cellist, made the third member of the part}. She has good tone, an elegant style of phrasing, and is a facile executant. The most effective of her sodas were a number of old aire, for which she appears to have a penchant—the early English song “Drink to Me Only," the 18th century sea-song, “The Admiral’s Galliard," and other similar pieces. The playing of Popper's Rhapsody showed her a remarkably clever executant of all difficulties of* bowing and fingering. Her other programme numbers were “Romance" Saint Saens) and “The Spinning Wheel Song" of Dunkler. A triumphant conclusion was reached when the prima donna was joined by her husband in the singing of the duet from Act 4, “Romeo and Juliet," the finale to Act 1, “La Boheme" and the “Keys of Heaven." Mr Percy Kahn is one of tho6© accompanists who axe torn and not made. His artistic playing was a- delight to listen to.

THE STRAND

“WESTWARD. HOI" “Westward, Ho!" the popular English classic bv Charles Kingsley, which ha* been read by many thousands, will be the big attraction on the StTand bill tonight. The story is a vividpicturisatiou of the days when the sesdogs of old England went to hunt the Spaniard on the great main, the days of good old •Queen Elizabeth, of Raleigh, Drake and Hawkins. The story dearly beloved, of every schoolboy, tells how Amyas Leigh, a vouth of eighteen, goes to 6ea with John Oxenham, a typical seadog of the time. Of the advetures which' befell them, and the battles with the Spaniards. the story abounds. The role of the heroine, Rose Salt erne, ia played by the beautiful English star, Renee Kelly, supported by a strong cast. The battle of the Armada, in which England defeated the Spaniards, is vividly seen here; the fight, the storm, the rout, all going to make a picture that is at once a masterpiece and a page from the book of English history. The other feature on the bill is “Scrambled Wives," starring tho pretty little star. Marguerite Clark, in a "peppy" little storv about a flapper who was married and unmarried all in the same breath, and who had a terrible time keeping her terrible past from the right man when he finally cam© along. In addition an excellent supporting programme will be eoreened as well as a further chapter of the great circus serial, “The Lure of the Circus."

The Mayor (Mr W. Lock) of Nelson is spending a holiday visit to the south.

Mr James Havelock Jerram. DeputyGeneral Manager, State Fire Office, Wellington, being the only candidate nominated, 'has been declared duly elected a member of the Public Service Superannuation Board to represent contributors belonging to departments other than the Police and Post and Telegraph Departments.

Reference was made by Mr W. D Barrett, at che sitting of the Native Land Court at Kaiapoi to the esteem in which the late member for the Southern Maori District (Mr J. H. W. Uru) was held. He moved that, as a mark of respect. the court, adjourn. Judge M. Gil* fedder endorsed the speaker's remarks, and referred to the late Mr Uru's athletic achievements. The court then adjourned.

The following inspectors of wsenie reserves have been appointed Messrs Gideon Anderson, Francis Hardy Bedford. Courtenay Biggs, Robert Barry Collett, George Robert Crowley, Samuel Arthur Clarence Darbv, Norman James Dolamoro, Thomas Douglas, Joseph Frederick Field, Richard Hatton Folley. .Tames Stewart Ford, Francis Hastings Grace, James Campbell Johnston, Charles Herbert McDowell, Jqseoh Patrick McBnaney, William Humboldt Steven Maefarlane. Reginald Henry Murray, John Myles. Frederick .Tames Perham, Joseph Ffahlert. Herbert»Roache. Ernest Victor Stewart, Rupert Norman TTren, Leslie Albert TTrquhart, Arthur Wilbert Wastney. and. Henry Saxon Whitehorn-