ENTERTAINMENTS

New Zealand Times, Volume XLIX, Issue 11251, 1 July 1922, Page 15

ENTERTAINMENTS

“MAID OF THE MOUNTAINS” AT GRAND OPERA HOUSE TONIGHT. At a quarter to 8 to-niglit, at the Opera House, the curtain ■will rise for the first time here on. the big and long expected comic opera, “The Maid of the Mountains/' the box plans for the first six nights of which are open at the Bristol l*iano 00. If tho reputation that has preceded it, and which ha» more than been confirmed by box office receipts the world over, can be taken as a criterion, thne the evolution of the musical play has surely developed nothing finer than “The Maid of the Mountains," a triumph of vocal, spectacular and legendary combination. This latest musical comedy is one that has broken manv records in Ebigland, America and Australia. It is nearly five years since it was tried put in Manchester at the Prince's Theatre preparatory to opening at Daly’s in London. The two chief musical parts on that occasion were taken by Miss Jose Collins and Mr Thorpe Rates in the characters of Teresa and Beppo respectively. It is not too much to say vocally and histrionically these parts as played by Miss Gladys Moncrieff and Mr Robert Chishotu in Australia compare more than favourably with the originals. As for the staging* it is superb. There has been nothing quite like it in previous musical productions, and it must be added to Mr Oscar Asohe’s triumphs as a master of spectacular effect. The story concerns a band of brigands who have a retreat in a mountain fastness. The girl Teresa, who helps them, is captured at a time, when, owing to menacing dangers they decide to break up the band. She is held by the Governor of Safnto with a view to being made to betray the brigand chief, Baldasarre, with whom she is in love. With elements of jealousy and revenge the theme is well worked out. and the other elements of tile production are so introduced as to preserve the continuity of the story. Tho cast is an exceptional one, and includes such popular artists as Messrs Phil Smith, Arthur Stigant, Leslie Holland, Anew McMaster, Robert Chisholm, Hione Stewart, Nellie Payne, Flossie Lusk. The first matinee will be given Wednesday next.

HIS MAJESTY’S

"SAWING THROUGH A WOMAN.“ An exceptionally attractive programme is submitted this week by Fullers' Vaudeville Company at His Majesty’s Theatre. The mysterious act presented by Mr P. T. Selbit, “Sawing Through a Woman, 0 b thoroughly A young lady is enclosed in a long box resting on trestles on the stage. Two members of the audience then saw the box right through, and. to the amazement all, the young lady is then disclosed quite unharmed, lying firmly tied down within the box. Volunteers from the auditorium, stand around the box while the feat is performed, and there is no possibility of there being a false bottom or false sides to £he box. The remainder of the programme includes enjoyable contributions by Miss Etta Field, the yourn? New Zealand operatic soprano vocalist, Victor the Great and Company, Mr Tommy Hughes, Beresford and Rennie, the Goldies, and tho Harem Searem Girls. The programme will be repeated this evening, end the customary matinee is announced for to-day. ‘The illusion, "Sawing Through a Woman/’ ujl.l bp presented tor positively the last time at to-day's matinee and this evening. A complete change of programme is hilled for Monday.

“HAIL THE WOMAN”

A MAGNIFICENT PROGRAMME' AT KING’S THEATRE. The change of programme at the King’s Theatre last evening provided a very fine and high-class entertainment— one of the best ever seen in this city. Tho itoms include the usual Topical Budget, and a very picturesque piece of filming i entitled "Korearing Around Korea," tlio name of which is self-explanatory. A laughable pieco of foolery is the sketch "April Fool’ - ' (a Mermaid comedy picture), which, in several respeots, is reminiscent of tho best foolery put into the famous "Shang-hai-cd” by Charlie Chaplin. After this film came a very delightful treat indeed —nothing less than two operatic solos, rendered in most pleasing style by Miss Gwen Spanwick, the owner of a very sweet soprano voice. Her renditions were so enthusiastically appreciated by the large audience that she was forced to give as encore, “Love's the Merchant,” in which her big range and her easy, unforced thrilling powers were heard to great advantage. Tho picture of thb evening, for which all were waiting expectantly, -was “Hail the Woman,” & Thomas H. Ince drama, leaturinj* no less than ten star artists. Chief of these is Florence Vidor, •an actress of powerful personality, great magnetism and wonderful beauty. The story deals with tho puritanism o' Pilgrim Fathers days, and the undying intensity with which its stern, unbend, ing, Pharisaical doctrinism has continued right to the present. The bigoted, headstrong man, who rules his family with a rod of iron and brings up his weakling son to the chosen career of a minister of the gospel: the gintVife, loyal till death, who does not disclose this boy’s secret marriage to her; the beautiful sister of the boy and hor exit from the puritanical roof-tree; her dramatic return to it years afterward*, to right the wrongs of the dead childwife and to clear the honour of her little nephew; these are some of the el©, meats that contribute to as pretty, force, ful and dramatic a play as has* been produced in years. Clean, strong, full of a 'moral that will unfailingly read itself into the heart, this film-story can be recommended sincerely; and it will draw crowds from those'-who hear of it from others. Taken as a whole. King’s Theatre pro. vides an entertainment of a very hi"h calibre, and the enjoyment of a most enjoyable evening *was made all the greater by the various orchestral renderings, all through tho session, of "The Bohemian Girl” selections, played ex. cellontiy. ,