ENTERTAINMENTS

New Zealand Times, Volume L, Issue 11422, 19 January 1923, Page 4

ENTERTAINMENTS

'BRANE PIE" REVUE FUN AND FROLIC AT OPERA . HOUSE. The rollicking fun and frolic of the “Bran Pie” revue again delighted a bumper and most appreciative audience at the Grand Opera House last night. Miss Lee White excelled herself, and was undoubtedly' throughout the life and spirit of the whole entertainment, though everyono taking part in the revue contributes to its success, each performer adding something to the “pie” which could not very well be done without. The whole is a gorgeous spectacle. The revue, si® its name implies, is a pie, and as befits a “Bran Pie,” is a pie full of surprises for all —a pie full of good things, fun and laughter, pretty girls and pretty costumes, charming scenery, and it is excellently managed. Judging from tile selections taken from various operas it might well he called the “Opera Bran Tub,” so many delightful surprises does it contain. Ernest Soft on plays the absent-minded student who puts the boots in the saucepan and gives the cabbage to the lodger, while Clarice Hardwihke is a delightful slavey, and all the furniture naturally gets broken up. “Force of Habit” is an amusing 6lcit on the topsy-turvey-dom of war and ponce time, wherein Lance Lister, as Private Bohun Fitzdale, and Ernest Sefton as Captain Joe Green, reverse their positions after tho war, and the latter seeks service with the former. A cup of tea serves' to give Lance Lister many chances for amusing situations with a French girl, Zoe Weiike, who also sings “China Town,” with a chorus who play chop sticks. Indeed, the chorus work is throughout most excellent. In the revised version of “Cinderella” the fun. is fast and furious. Miss Lee “White, as Cinderella, is a most up-to-date fairy tale heroine, and poor fairy queen finds it hard work to keep up with her, while the prince (Ernest Sefton) is a delightful blend of Hamlet and Prince Charming, and the Ugly Sisters (Clay Smith and Lance Lister) are the ugliest that ever appeared. “Bran Pie” will be repeated tonight and Saturday night, and at a special matinee on Saturday. On Monday evening the first production in New Zealand of the London musical comedy success. “The Girl for the Boy,” with Miss Lee “White and Mr Clay Smith in their original parts, will take place.

“BRAN PIE” MATINEE TOMORROW. To-morrow (Saturday) afternoon, ct 2 p.m., there will he given the only matinee of the season, when “Bran Pie” will be played, with all its wealth oF numbers as given every evening. “Bran Pie” will be staged for two more nights only. “Tbe Girl for the Boy,” a London musical comedy success from the Duke of York Theatre, will be staged on Monday evening for the first time in New Zealand. Lee White and Clay Smith made a big hit in this piece in London, and again in Australia instantaneously hit the publio taste. It is, a musical play, full of all the good things for eye and ear. Pretty girls, delightful dresses, gorgeous scenery, heaps of charming musical items, and plenty of songs that suit that artistic actress, Lee White, the principal being, “Where There’s a Girl There’s a Boy” and “He’s Coming Home,” said to be one of Lee “White’s most popular numbers. The box plans for the season are now open at the Bristol.

WESTMINSTER CLEE SINGERS

THE THIRD CONCERT. The third programme submitted by Mr Edward Branscombe'e Westminster Glee Singers in the Town Hall last evening, was in f every way as enjoyable and successful as the others. Tbe Glee Singers have more than substantiated previous opinion as to their ability, and have established themselves as warm favourites with Wellington audiences. What was lacking in numbers at the third concert, was more than compensated for by tbe entirely spontaneous applause and keen appreciation of last night’s audience. The opening number was the madrigal, “What Ho.” the work of William Beale (1784-1854), in which all the members of the party took part, rendering as an encore “Take Thy Banner,” an item equally successfully received. The glee, “My Bonny Lass’ ’ (xVlorley), followed by “My Love is But a Lassie,” were numbers that evoked considerable applause. Mr Ellis Visard’s tenor was heard to much advantage in an old English song entitled “Phyllis,” after which he contributed the old folk song, “Maire, My Girl.” A particularly enjoyable number was the quartette, “Softly Falls the Shades of Evening” (J. L. Hatton), in which Messrs Reid, Vizard, and Andrews took part with Harry Collier, whose delightfully fresh soprano was so well suited in this item. The singers responded with Smart’s “True Love Hath My Heart.” The rollicking “Gypsy John” (Frederic Clay) gave Mr Alfred Cunningham ample scope for his full baritone, and the encore, “She is Far from tho Land,” although coming in deep contrast, was equally well treated by the Binger, whose graceful and easy style,

in which he never for a moment strains for effect, obtained for him such a warm welcome. Albert Cooper again proved bis innate artistry ill the way lie handled Omen’s “The Swallows.” 'When All the Children Pray’’ called birth hearty applause. The concluding glee in this portion of the programme v>as “King \i itlaf's Drinking Horn.” tcl'.owed by Edward German’s wellknown “Long Live the King.” One of tbe most appreciated items on the programme was Mendelssohn’s anthem. “O For the Wings,” with wnich the singers opened tho second half, and despite tho fact that the audience were particularly requested not to applaud, long and prolonged rnplanse followed its rendition. “Ladies Fly Irom Love’s Smooth Tale” ■ ■“>lie) was the duet chosen by Mosers Cunningham and Andrews, after which they contributed “Heigh Ho.” Mr Donald Reid, with his pleasing alto, sang “Passing By” and “I Know of Two Bright Eyes,’’ and Mr John Andrews “The Broken Song,” after which he responded with “King Henry's Song.” with the assistance of the chorus. The lilting “Waltz Song” front “Faust” wag the concluding number by the Glee Singers, and although admirably sung by the senior members of tbe party, tbe boys were hardly equal to its heavy * demands. The quartette received a particularly happy reception with “Little Tommy,” “Peter Piper,” and the “Lonely Rose,” as did also the boys with their “Nursery Rhymes.” and a cycle of nautical songs, also the bracketed “Robin Redbreast,” and “Which is the way to London Town.” The Glee Singers will appear again in the Town Hall this evening. HIS MAJESTY’S THEATRE VAUDEVILLE AND MUSICAL FARCE.

The success achieved by the “King of Dnnnowhereski,” a musical farce, continues to delight large houses at Fullers, while a strong varied programme of vaudeville turns makes the entertainment doubly enjoyable. The revue is brimful with* merriment, while an excellent cast are well suited to their parts. There are many delightful melodies, and a plot which gives ample scope for those manv absurdities for which “Walter George's Sunshine Players are 6o well-known. Patron? should not lose the opportunity of re 3. ing this excellent programme. THE PRINCESS THEATRE DOUBLE FEATURE PROGRAMME. The programme which commences at tlie Princess Theatre to-day is a double feature one. Bert Lytell, the Metro, star, takes the lead in “The Right that Failed,” a romance of the prizeding. Lytell plays the part of Johnny Puffey, a “highbrow’’ prize-fighter, who, ashamed of his profession, pays court to a prominent lawyer’s daughter at an exclusive summer resort. Johnny had met the girl, Constance Talbot, when a policeman friend of his was about to arrest her for ignoring a “Keep off the Grass” sign in Central Park, New York. Johnny rescues her, and when she assumed that be was a member of her own caste he did not disillusion her. His pugilistio aspirations are humped up when he knocks out Kid Reagan, tho most prominent contender for the championship. But the knock-out blow co6ts Johnny tho use of his right hand. Acting upon the advice of his physician he goes away for a long rest. It is during this rest that he wins the love of Constance. Knocking out a rival suitor l costs Johnny the use of his left hand- His fighting days are over, hut his real victory has been won. Virginia Valli, one of the most beautiful and distinguished actresses of the screen, gives an exquisite performance as Constance. The brave old days of Charles Hoyt farces are recalled by tho appearance of Otis Harlan as Johnny’s father, the rotund little veteran of the stage rollicking through the role in gurgling gaiety. De Witt Jennings lends authority to the role of Constance’s lawyer-father, and Max Davidson as the* prize-ring champion, and Philo McCullough, as a young society suitor of Constance, give excellent performances. Elaine Hammerstein is featuring in the second picture, ‘The Way of the Maid.” A comedy and gazette complete an excellent programme.

STRAND THEATRE THE DOUBLE FEATURE PROGRAMME. At the head of the grand new double feature programme which commences as the Strand this morning is “Fair Lady,” a “United Artists’ production, the picturisation of Rex Beach’s famous book, “The Net.” The picture is a faithful adaptation, and features Betty Blythe, with an all-star cast. Here is a romance which opens in tho island of Sicily, and culminates in the Southern States of America. It tells of the working of a secret society of the criminal element and of the efforts of its leader, Garth, to marry the Countess Margherita. Xervin Blake, a young American, is brought in to the swirl or events, and the climax of the story is reached when Blake and Cardi fight a desperate hand-to-hand battle, while a mob of enraged citizens surges through the streets of the city crying for the life of the bandit. A second feature, “My Lady Friends,” stars the popular comedy duo, Mr and 11k Carter de Haven. Tbe picture has been adapted from the farce of the -same name which ran tor many months on [ Broad wav, and was characterised as one of the funniest plays ever written. In its transformation into a motion picture scores of additional laughs have been injected into it, with the result that it is one of the most humorous pictures ever produced. The story details the difficulties which beset a man who, out of the kindness of his heart, has befriended three girls—tbe “lady friends.” Those who saw “The Girl in the Taxi” and ‘Twin Beds” are promised another rare treat in this picture, which is guaranteed to keep tho audience in fits of laughter from start te finish. The supporting programme wil’ be an interesting and varied one, ant will include a Boston Keaton comedy “Convict 33,” and the latest “PathGazette.”