ENTERTAINMENTS

New Zealand Times, Volume L, Issue 11650, 15 October 1923, Page 3

ENTERTAINMENTS

HIS MAJESTY’S THEATRE GEORGE WALLACE REVUE. A bill of abundant allure is indicated at Hie Majesty’s Theatre this evening, when a band of entertainers, whose personnel is wholly unknown to Wellington patrons, will commence their season at Fullers’ with a romping musical revue entitled ‘‘Off Honolulu.” Tho George Wallace Revue Company comes with Dunedin’s seal of approval on it, for on last Friday evening it concluded a record run of 12 weeks at the Princess Theatre. For the concluding performance every seat in the theatre was booked, and the company was given the greatest send-off ever experienced at the Princess Theatre. Mr Wallace himself is a trump card of first dimension, according to critics. His lively vital methods of injecting fun are - wholly original and novel, and he has the title in Australia, said 1 to be fully earned, of “the Charlie Chaplin of Vaudeville.” He is a-s good a dancer as comedian, and also a versatile writer of comedy songs and sketches, as witness the fact that all the songs and “bits” he uses in his pieces aro from his own pen. In general he is said to be an ideal leader of a very happy band, which includes Marshall Crosby, Reg Collins, Tom Lincoln, Nellie H,all, Hilda Gifford, Bebe Scott, Jack White, Alma Stewart, Kitty Solomons, Ivy Williams, Lily Alroy, and Edie Vaux. Judging by the consistently good reports on this company’s various productions in Dunedin, Wellington patrons have a eeas-on of first-class revue to look forward to. The vaudeville section of tonight’s programme is likely to be at least equally attractive, for three new headline acts are coming in. Marie St. George and Company, who are making their first apeparance, introduce a European novelty act entitled “The Awakening of Galatea.” What appear to be some beautiful pieces of statuary are shown, but these are really clever postures by Miss St. George and assistants. These remarkable poses are said to be exact replicas of tho famous statues in the Louvre, Paris. De Car, the acrobatic waiter, is making hi#* reappearance here after a lengthy absence. His is a brilliant comedy tumbling act, in which h& is assisted by a tiny canine assistant. Eric Masters is a newcomer—a descriptive baritone and a popular ar- | tist with the Fuller audiences in Australia. Leo Martin remains on this | week’s bill. The new programme is alj most wholly composed of new artists, ; and promises to be as entertaining in j quality as it is lavish in quantity. KING’S THEATRE “ADAM’S RIB.” An attraction which savours of the eternal question, love, and which has its locales set in the days of Adam as well as in the days of our modern “flapper,” is “Adam’s .Rib,” a Cecil B. De Mille super-production at the King’s this week. Love at first sight is easy, it is love after 19 years that matters. So discovers Marion Ramsay, and so her daughter Matilda Cuihhertson, known at breakfas* as “Tilhe.” For it is a serious business to forget the 19th anniversary of youi marriage when your wife is still young and beautiful with a starved wife’s love of romance. That is what happened to Michael Ramsay and he had to buy the entire wheat cron of Moravia before he straightened matters out. For the mysterious Jaromir who was paying attention to Marion Rameay was no other than the exiled King of Moravia, exiled because he paid too much attention to romance and too little to politics. But matters come to a head between Ramsay and his wife and Marion leaves him to gr. to the King. Following fast is T\*lie, newly fluttering into romance herself with Nathan Humilolt, scientist and scholar. Tillie’s one thought is to save her mother ; but the delegation including her father and the Moravian ambassador arrives to offer the King the opportunity to return to the throne. He refuses, then yields to the emotionalism of an aide. Then Ramsay sees a brooch of his wife’s upon the floor and a powerful scene commences. Tillie brands herself to sr.ve her mother who is undiscovered, and is given the shelter of Nathan’s name, married by a blinking registrar, wakened at dead of night. But though he loves her he does not trust her t*nd he leaves for the wilds. Ramsay thus finds himself with a wrecked home. How the tangle is straighteu ed out is told iq admirable fashion in a fine film. In support is an excellent topical in whicn, among other things, you will sec how thoroughly they train rowers in America, and tho very fast game of motorcycle polo. Under Mr L. D. Austin’s capable direction a large find excellent orchestra renders much bright incidental music. “ PRODIGAL DAUGHTERS ” ATTRACTION at princess. (( Gloria Swanson has made another hit” in her latest play, “Prodigal Daughters,” which is now screening at the Prinoess, and which gives her full scope for that versatility and emotional power of which she is mistress. As “Swiftie” Forbes, a modom flapper, Miss Swanson gives an ideal interpretation of the gay, frivolous, light-hearted girl who jazze-s her way through. life, enjoying it to the utmost. "Swiftie” Forbes is the eldest daughter of a locomotive manufacturer enriched by the world war, who is making a European tour. “Swiftie” is bent on having a good time, and her younger sister follows her lead. The girls enjoy unlimited freedom. Then Forbes arrives home, and immediately sees a change in his household; the girls will not obey him, and they defy his authority. As the outcome of this defiance, “Swiftie” leaves her home and commences to live her own life. Her sister follows her, and becomes married, but her romance ia quickly shattered, and she returns home. “Swiftie,” however, goes gaily on her way, until last she becomes entangled with a gambler in a position from which there is no escape. Finally eh© returns home—in truth a prodigal daughter—and finds her father ready to forgive and forget. A young avaitor, played by Ralph Greaves, who believes in “Swiftie” in spite of her shortcomings, supplies the love theme. Theodore Roberts makes* an ideal father, while Vera Reynolds plays the younger sister, and Louisa Dresser tho mother. Excellent supports include a nowerful drama, “Love’s Boomerang,” starring David Powell, a Maok Sennett comedy, “The Quack Doctor,’ a»xd the latest gazette.

QUEEN’S THEATRE “GLIMPSES OF THE MOON.” The old story of love aiul the misgivings of an entrance upon matrimony are most admirably retold in novel settings in “Glimpses of the Moon,” a great Paramount production, now screening at the Queen’s. The story tells of the courtship and married life of a young American society couple, who were at'first, for pecuniary reasons, decidedly diffident regarding taking the initial plunge into the matrimonial sea. They resolved to try a year of it. This was enough to convince them that they were on the right path to happiness, and though nearly parted on one occasion, they came together again, more certain then ever of themselves and their married future. Bebe Daniels, in the role of Susan Branch, the prosaic young wife, who is on© of society’s poor relations, gives a most convincing portrayal of a girl who was at first afraid to give up the good things of this world for happiness and lifelong devotion. The role of her jealous cousin, Mrs Gillon, was undertaken by Nita Naldi, who was very realistic throughout. The scenes were particularly good, excellent representations being given of fashionablo homes on the Continent as well as in the United States, where the story opens. After many tribulations, Dick Lansing (David Powell) establishes himself as an author, and the finances of the Lansing menage aTe placed on a satisfactory footing There are good supporting features in the programme, which will be presented again this evening. The Queen’s Grand Orchestra supplies excellent incidental music. EMPRESS THEATRE HUNTING IN AFRICA. The public in its reception of the two hours of film made by Mr H. A. Srow in as many years in Africa, has left no doubt that it still hungers for releases which instruct. “Hunting Big Game in Africa,” has certainly supplied a much needed want, for in its description of the animal life and its portrayal of the vast continent and its people, it has so far been unsurpassed during the life of the motion picture. By bullock wagons Mr Snow’s party first trekked to Bechuanaland, a distance of 1000 miles. But the bullocks being nearly all killed by the tsetse fly, they determined to get a means of conveyance that would he insect-proof, and therefore ordered from the nearest centre of civilisation two or three “flivvers.” as Americans | call the übiquitous Ford. These proved most useful in running down and rounding up even the swiftest antelopes. also giraffes and ostriches, of which 6cme wonderful pictures are shown. On one occasion a wart-hog, evidently annoyed at the persistence with which he was followed, turned and charged the motor, damaging its radiator somewhat, but, of course, bo- ' ing speedily put out of action. Some ; comic relief was afforded, too, by the ; obstinacy with which a baby “rhino” . kept charging at the camera-man and j all who came across his line of vision. | But a charge by his mother, with two ! tons of flesh behind her 27-inch horn, | was no laughing matter. Indeed, only ! a splendid shot by Mr Snow averted the headlong menace that she presented. Still more threatening and nerve-wracking must have been a charge by a herd of elephants—huge fellows most of them, weighing some five tons apiece, and with gleaming ivory tusks nearly seven feet in "length Marvellous views of bird life, as well as of animal i life, were shown ; the latter including j some fine pictures of lions and their cubs, monkeys, baboons, gnus ; wildebeetes. hartebeestes, etc. The supporting filpis were a most interesting topical British Budget of news: and a screamingly funny comedy, “Ocean Swells.” A very fine selection of instrumental items is •submitted by the Empress Symphonic Orchestra, under the able directorship of Mr M. Dixon. ETHEL OSBORN FINAL CONCERT TO-MORROW. It is gratifying to learn that it is , now possible for Miss Ethel Osborn to be heard once more in the Town Hall, to-morrow night. Last Thursday’6 concert was announced as being the only one to be given, owing to tho Town Hall being entirely bookod, but arrangements were made at the last minute which now enable the public of Wellington to hear a soprano whose range of voice, it ia claimed, has not been excelled for over 130 years. The Press is unanimous in declaring her voice to be of exceptional purity, charm, and freshness, and of a marvellous range. The public of Wellington decided at once that no false claims had been made on behalf of Miss Osborn, and she won their hearts by her delightful naturalness and her capability of fulfilling all that had been promised. The concert which will be given on Tuesday embraces all classes of vocal work, oratorio, operatic, and ballad. Support will bo afforded by Madame Evelyn de Mauny, in a pianoforte solo, and thjs talented performer will once again assist with her sympathetic and able accompaniments. Mr Leon do Mauny will be heard in viol.in solos and Signor Truda in flute solo and obligati. The usual students’ concessions will applv to this concert-, and these can be had on application at the Bristol Piano Company, where Beats can be reserved.