ENTERTAINMENTS

New Zealand Times, Volume XLIX, Issue 11296, 23 August 1922, Page 9

ENTERTAINMENTS

“ BOUGHT ARB RAID TOR GRAND OPERA HOUSE. FINAL PL&FOBMANOE TO-NIGHT. The American play. “Bought and Faid For/'* ivas affain successfully etaged by the Nellie Bramley Lramatic Company at tlio Grand Opera House last evening. The auditorium 'was lYgll filled, and there -was no Inch of evidence of the thorough enjoyment which the performance afeotded. As Virginia, Miss Brainier is charmingly oonvincinig, captures tJhe sympathies ’all. In the dramatic eposide in -which the young wife repels her drunken husband, Miss Bramley is ‘exceptionally fine. Distinctly meritorious is the acting of Mr Guy Hastings in the role of Robert "Stafford. The part is beset with difficulties, which are overcome by Mr Hastings in a manner that reflects the utmost credit upon him. Miss Btliel BashforA makes a winsome and most devoted sister, as Fanny Blaine. A good deal of jhumotrr is involved in the lines that fall to Mr George Hewlett, as dames Giiley, said he makes the most of his part. Mr 'William McGowan. as Oku, the Japanese butler, and Miss Biddy Hawthorne, as 'Josephine, the French -maid, contribute a full share towards the success of the production. r 'Bought and Paid For” will be presented fo-r the last time to-night, when the season will conclude. ■ ms MAJESTY’S AN ENJOYABLE PROGRAMME. Puller’s Vaudeville Company appeared before a. large audience at His Majesty’s Theatre last evening, when 'each item, of an enjoyable programme was received with enthusiasm. Among the most popular w tnrns” were those by fiSgtobr ana Signoriua Molinari <ltaliafi operatic vocalists),* Linden and Betridgn (comedy entertainers), the Milton Brothers iskat* ing comedians), and Oarlton and Roslyn (comedy duo). The pr<3gramme will be submitted again this evening. “THE BOY” OPERA HOUSE - TO-MORROW. At the Opera House at S o’clock tomorrow evening will reappear toe highly: popular J. C. Williamson Royal Comic Opera Cutup any, in an entirely new musical play, “The Boy,’’ for the first time here. The return oi this clever company. is being pleasurably awaited. Than this organisation none is more popular. To make first appearances here on this occasion are Mr Lance Lister (The Boy) an exceptionally good English artist, anfl Miss Rosie Le Varde (Mrs Meebles), a London musical comedy actress of note. Writes the critic of the Sydney “Sun": —“ “The Boy’ was .without doubt, the most successful musical comedy staged in London during the war. Some of its songs were sung in every dug-oat in Franco. 1 And now. long after the Cessation of hostilities, the memory Of those popular airs clings still to many with a strange sense of affection, a sense deriving frem the sombre circumstances in which once they were performed. ' Last night’s performance of ‘The Boy* at His -Majesty’s Theatre; was a sheer pageant of gaiety. The vagaries of the- magistrate (Mr Arthur ■Stigant), who seta out on a Bohemian evening and gets into serious scrapes, kept the house in continuous laughter, and it was a r sold-oul’ house, too, suggestive of the old-time firet nights, at which the social lights made it a point of duty to be present. Here then to the story. The magistrate for one brief evening becomes a ‘sporty toy**,’ goes to a cabaret supper with his up-to-date Stepson, is present (under the table) while the police of his own district raid the hotel, and in the last act narrowly evades arrest in circumstances which refleet a fine and not too boisterous humour." The impersonation of Horatio Meebles, the said magistrate, la in toe hands of Mr Arthur Stigant, a worthy exponent of the role. The play to replete with song and dance, the latter being magnificently illustrated by Mis* .Jessie Sherwood and Mr Alex. McPherson. The cast fairly bristles with high-class names, amongst which are Messrs W. S. Percy, Leslie Holland, Anew McMaster, Lancs Liater, Misses Mione Stewart, Nellie Payne, Rosie Le Varde, and Shieta Gate. The first matinee is announced for Saturday next. KING’S THEATRE "PEARLS AND SAVAGES." Captain Frank Hurley, who accompanied the late Sir Eimest Shackleton on a previous Antarctic expedition, returned recently from Papua and the Torres Straits Islands, with the most unique, complete, and amaizing series of moving pictures of an adventurous exploit into the wilds. "Pearls and Savages," which will be seen for the first time in the Dominion at' the King’s Theatre, commencing Friday next, represent* twelve months’ labour. Ae an example of travel cinematography, it has probably never been excelled. From it New Zealanders can obtain a vivid conception of the weird island life in the_ mandated territory. In Papua, Captain Hurley penetrated Inlanff to places seldom, if ever, visited by white men. Here the natives were induced to .enact ceremonies specially for the camera. Dances of many kin.ds were performed, but waving of spettra and whirling of slings by the wartiprs was not conducive t 3 the steady turning of the cainelta handle. After much persuasion, Captain Hurley obtained entrance to a huge structure which houses all the married men Of a village of ‘mead hunters." Np woman might enter there Under penalty of death. Captain Frank Pearson, who docOmpanled Captain Hurler in his perilous adventure', has arrived from Sydney, and will personally relate their enthralling experiences.