ENTERTAINMENTS

New Zealand Times, Volume XLIX, Issue 11226, 3 June 1922, Page 2

ENTERTAINMENTS

“BABES IN THE WOOD ” PANTOMIME TO-DAY AND TONIGHT. OPERA HOUSE ATTRACTION. The curtain will rise at 2 o’clock this afternoon at the Grand Opera House, when one of the most important theatricai events presented in Wellington will take place. It will be the opening of the annual pantomime season, under the J. C. Williamson management, and the production is one of surpassing beauty. “Babes in the Wood” comes with the great record of having done phenomenal business everywhere. The entire cast of the original presentation has been brought over, with the scenery, costumes, effects, and lighting. The cast is of unusual interest, including as it does Miss Nora Delany, England’s noted principal boy; Messrs Naughton and Gold, famous English eccentric comedians; Miss Audrey Thacker, charming musical comedy artist; and Mr Jack Williams, the well-known English pantomime “Dame.” On this oecasion all these artists will make their first appearance. Mr W. S. Peroy, the popular Australian comedian ; Miss Floie Allen, charming soubrette; Miss Ida Pedrina, principal girl; Mollie Fisher • and Nellie Barnes as the “Babes”; Mr Bobbie Jackson, whose “Scarecrow” specialty is a feature of the production; Miss Josie Melville, premiere danseuse; Mi Frederick Mackay, premiere danseur; Charles Howard, Bert Barton, George Willoughby, and the Misses Maude and Phyllis Amery, in song and dance specialities, are also in Hie splendid cast. There are two acts of twentytwo scenes that will amaze and delight with their magnificence, beauty, humour, and novelty. Mr Charles A. Wenman is the producer. Special attention is directed to the holiday box office arrangements in our advertising columns.

MISS ROSINA BUCKMAN

SECOND CONCERT TO-NIGHT. To-night, in the Town Hall, Miss Rosina Buekman and Mr Maurice D’Oisly will give the second of their series of concerts, under the direction of Mr E. J. Graveatock, the third and fourth concerts being fixed for Tuesday and Thursday. The remarkable enthusiasm aroused by these brilliant artißts at their first concert was remarkable, and the success of the season is assured. Miss Buekman. has drawn from her best numbers for tonight’s concert, and includes the famous aria from “Aida,” “Hitorna Vincitor,” “The Tryst’’ (Sibelius), “The Lass with the Delicate Air” (Arne), “Boy Johnny” (Eric Cundell), “Heffle Ouckoo Fair’’ (Martin Shaw), and as extra numbers “Waiata Poi” and “Waiata Maori.” The duets with Mr D’Oisly will include the famous duet from “Madame Butterfly,” and the duet from “La Boheme,’’ which was given with such remarkable results on Thursday night. Mr D’Oisly’s numbers will include “Flower Song” from “Carmen,” “Dolorosa” . (Phillips), “Margoton,” “Je connais un berger disoret,” “Petronille” (three songs by Weckerlin). Miss Ad&na Leon, the talented English ’cellistjt will play the sonata for violoncello and piano by Boccherini, “Swedish Melody” (arranged by Percy Grainger), “Country Dance” (W. H. Squire), “The Running Brook” (Davidoff). Mr Percy Kahn, the talented composer-pianist, will be the accompanist. Owing to the holiday, the planß for the concerts tonight, Tuesday, and Thursday will be at the Town Hall all day, also the day sales for to-night’s concert. STRAND THEATRE “WESTWARD HOI” AND “SCRAMBLED WIVES.” The fine double feature programme—“Westward! Ho!” and “Scrambled Wives—drew and delighted large audiences at the Strand Theatre yesterday. “Westward Ho!” following closely the story of the immortal masterpiece of the same name by Charles Kingsley, affords a very faithful portrayal of the spacious days of “Good Queen Bess” —days of Raleigh, Frobisher, Drake, Hawkins, and many another great sea captain; the days of wild adventure and “deeds of derring do” on the Spanish main; the days when staunch, though small, British ships, brave Englishmen and the winds of Heaven 'brought to naught the might of the -great Spanish Armada. The story of the adventures of Amyas Leigh, who rose to be Admiral Sir Amyas Leigh, and of his trusty friend and oomraide, Salvation Yeo; of the deaths, at the hands of the Inquisition, of Frank Leigh and the heroine, Rose Salterne, “The Rose of Devon,” but wife of Don Guzman, the Spanish Governor of La Guazra, who atriveo in vain to save her from her fa<Ss. The part of Rose is admirably enacted by the beautiful English star Renee Kelly, and the cast as a whole is most excellent. Marguerite Clark, petite, dainty and charming, is featured as the heroine of “Scrambled Wives,” a sparkling and amusing society oomedy, superbly staged, which tells the story of a school girl married and unmarried all in a breath, who, when “Mr Wright” comes along, has a terrible time trying to keep from 1 him the story of her terrible past. But all eventually endß well —as- it should. The supporting films include a mirth-provoking Chester com-' edy, “Ladies’ Pets,” in which thpt clever and most human chimpanzee, “Snooky,” plays a leading part. This excellent programme will be repeated to-day and throughout the coming week. PRINCESS THEATRE TWO “STAR” ATTRACTIONS. The ourrent programme at the Princess Theatre consists of two special star attractions, a Chaplin comedy, a fresh episode of “The Terror Trail,” and the usual supporting films. The chief attraction is “The Tavern Knight,” adapted from the famous novel by Rafael Sabatini. Incidentally, this picture contains the finest duel ever put on the screen. Another bright picture is “Patricia Brent, Spinster,” ffom the book by Herbert Jenkins. Patricia was good-looking and lonely; her fellow-hoarders tannted her, which hurt.. She invented a sweetheart—then the fun started. Charlie Chaplin is seen to advantage in a good comedy, “The Female Impersonator.” Included in this programme is No. 8 episode of “The Terror Trail,” a gazette and cartoon.