ENTERTAINMENTS

New Zealand Times, Volume L, Issue 11652, 17 October 1923, Page 9

ENTERTAINMENTS

K 8 S MAd E STY’S THI £ATRE j “OFF HONOLULU ” | i Tho George Wallace Company, which left Dunedin with a tremendous send/ j oil last veek, promises to ho a greufsuvu.ss in Wellington. A crowded house saw thun open on Monday evening, and last night, despite the rain, a big attendance saw the second performance of their splendid revile “Off Honolulu.” The see not are at sea, and the good ship, which is bound for the South Sea Islands., is two days j off Honolulu The Government has j eui rusted the captain with plans of a wonderful airship, which is to he given a thorough try-out- to see if it can perform :v:l that is claimed lor it. A spy manages to get aboard the ship with a view to securing possession ol the plans, and the sca-rch for the spy end his subsequent capture are the material which form the basis' of the retue. Captain Jones (Marshall Crosby), a very able skipper, plans to catch the spy, hut Nelson, the pride of the Navy (George Wallace), contrives to do everything wrong at the supremo moment, and one plan after another is brought to naught, much to the de light of the audience. The musical numbers were equally enjoyable, so it can bo imagined that the public are in for a good time. “Dixie,” a burlesque of American ragtime, is George Wallace’s most popular number, and his double turn, “Marie Shangoni,” with Nellie Hall, is vier.y charming. Marshall Crosby sings “Roaming,’-’ a song specially written for him by George Wallace.' “Nelson’s” antics are grotesquely funny. Nellie Hall succeeds very ably as Phoebe, the stewardess, and the crew of “six rascals” make very entertaining dancers. On one occasion Rhoc- , be throws herself into Nelson’s arms with such force that lie loses his ho-Jd, and to his consternation she dives o\erboard. Jack White is a typical sailor, and Reg. Collins makes a dashing chief officer. Tom Lincoln performs the office of ship’s cook. The levuo is quite new and thoroughly enjoyable, and above all devoid of suggestion. The variety part of the programme includes Loo Martin a© a jazz specialist, with tubular bells, handbells, vioilin, cornet, and about a score of ordinary glass bottles. Marie St. George and Company appear in a fantray, “The Awakening of Galatea,*' some very delicate statuary posing with a very dramatic conclusion, which shows the wreck of the statue in a violent storm and its wonderful piecing together—*?, dream on the part of the a?tist. Eric Masters made a hit in ln~ first appearance in character songs, his repertoire being extensive and ex-(o)-lcnt, including a new item, “Maori- ! land.” Claude de Car was meet entertaining as the acrobatic waiter and I accomplished some wonderful feats*. A first-rate performance concludes with a lovely little Pekinese dog, which i jumps hurdles on its hind legs, dances. | and makes backward somersaults. AT THE KING’S LAST TWO NIGHTS OF “ADAM’S RIB.” I “Adam’s Rib,” at ihe King’s, with i an unusually strong cast of characters, | has proved a great favourite with the | public, and aG the picture must be [ withdrawn on Friday, patrons should ' not lose the opportunity of seeing this 1 remarkable film. There are mrtnv exI citing episodes in this charming pic- | torinl play, and there are many, many ; tangles. How the big tangle is ; straightened out i 6 told in admirable ] i.v-.h.'on. There is a bevy of stars in ; this piece, beauteous Anna Q. Nilsson, cute little Pauline Caron, Miltoh { Sills. Theodore Ko-doif, and Elliot Dex- ; ter. The supports arc excellent, and ! include an interesting topical gazette, while the King’s Orchestra dispenses f.orne bright incidental music under the ; baton of Mr L. I). Austin. “CAMILLE” NEXT FRIDAY. “Camille” ie the modernised version ,of i-hc* famous etors‘ by Alexandre Du- ; teas the younger. Rodolph Valentino j and Nnzimora, the world’s perfect lover:*, arc cast together for the very first time in the history of the screen. The story is famed throughout the civilised world as a masterpiece of love and sacrifice, and was the first play written by the younger Dumas, and was conceived when he was only twenty years of age. He is said to have written it in eight days. His father pronounced it a masterpiece, hut it was denied production b.v managers on occount of its unusual character. The censor interdicted it. -So in sewn days j the author turned it into a novel, in which form it was published, making its appearance just- before the revolution in 1848. Four years later it wan put on tho Vaudeville Theatre in Paris through the influence of the Due de Mormy, and its unusual theme won instant attention by many critics who declared it the prototype of the ‘‘problem play.” The screen adaptation is declared by critics to be one of the most remarkable interpretations of the stage drama that have over come to the screen. Supporting this great programme will be the latest gazettes and travelogue, in conjunction with a comedy (2000 ft), entitled “Be Careful,” which is guaranteed to make patrons laugh ns they have never laughed before, whilst a sparkling I musical programme b.v the King's reI lect orchestra will complete perhaps one of tho finest entertainments given at the King’s Theatre. The box plan is now open at the Bristol. After 5.30 seats maw he reserved at the theatre. 'Phone 22.212. RSILITARY BAND CONCERT DERRY’S FORTHCOMING VISIT. The visit of Derry’s well-known military band from Oh riet church is being eagerly looked forward to next Saturday. A hiA house is expected for its opening performance at the Town Hall, as the full hand of 66 performers is visiting the city, and it will be an exceptional opportunity of hearing a first-class military yiand, ol which there arc only three in the Dominion Derry’s being the largest. Tho programme will include thb fantasia, “A Day at "Woat Point,” describing a day’s work at a military academy; the Andante Con Moto and Allcsro* un Roeo Agitato from Men i delssohn's Scotch Symphony; the popular fox trot. “By Heck”, tlm overllure “Ruy Bias” (Mendclssohnj Bartholdy), with piccolo solo by the j lending soloist of the Dominion; a se- ! lection from Gilbert and Sullivan’}* | opera. “Yeomen of the Guard ” and | “Melodious Melodies,” a pot-pourri ot ! popular airs cleverly arranged. “The ! Smithy in the Woods” describes | mglit, tho approaching dawn, morning breaks, the rushing brook and the song of tho birds, the chimes of th ' steeple dock, the morning hymn, and the village smith lighting bifi forge and starting his day’s work. The band has a | vt ry strong brass section and several 1 first-clai-s soloists.

STELLA POWER SEASON FOX PLAN'S OPENS TO-MORROW, j To-morrow morning the box-plans will be opened at the Bristol Piano. Co. for thi scries of concerts to be given jm the Town Hall, commencing oti Tuesday next, by the world-famous soprano, .Miss Stella Power. The voicj of “The Little Melba,” as Miss Stt'ln Power is universally Known has hitherto been known, to New Zcnl?m]pr6 through the medium of her many grama.phoue records. On Tuesday next at the Town Hall, music-lovc-rs will have the opportunity of Inuring the famous soprano herself for the first time in the Dominion. Mr K 0. GravcstocK winouncea that foui concerts will be given in Wellington, the dates being October 23rd, 25th, *2/’ih and 2Dtli. i''ew singers have achieved in so short a time such a measure of success as Miss Power. Leaving Australia in August, 1919, the young singer first went to America under engagement tc cue of tlie big gramophone companies. She then went to London, unere, sponsored by Dame Nelbe Melba, she made her debut befevro uu audience of more than 9000 at the* Royal Abert Hail. The success of “the Little Melba” was one of the sensations of tin* year in the London music world At this time Dame Clara Putt was to have made a tour with His Majesty’s Coldstream Guards Band, hut the famous contralto was unable to fill the engagement, and Miss Stella Power was given this first stop up the ladder of fame and fort-une by the * ‘lnternational Celebrities” management, who afterwards arranged the Australian soprano’s tour of England, Scotland, Wales, and Norway with assisting artists. Supporting the’ celebrated soprano will ho another successful Australian, in the person of Mr William James, whose compositions have earned him a world-wide reputation. As a pianist, Mr James is regarded as a soloist of the first rank, particularly as an interpreter of the moderns. There will also a violoncellist well-known to local audiences, Mr Harold Beck, who has been specially engaged for the New Zealand tour. Applications for students’ concessions should be made to the box-office. PRINCESS THEATRE TWO BIG ATTRACTIONS. The big attraction at the Princess Theatre thi-s week is “Prodigal Daughters,’’ a vivid story of the gay life led by the rich people of New York. Gloria Swanson takes the star part in tliis feature, and her impersonation of the light-hearted frivolous flapper, “Swiftie” Forbes, is worth seeing. “Swift-ie” Forbes is the eldest daughter of a locomotive manufacturer enriched by the world war, who is making a j European tour. “Swiftie” is bent on I having a good time, and her younger | sister follows her lead. The girls enjoy unlimited freedom. Then Forbes J arrives home, and immediately sees a : change in his household; the girls will [ net obey him, and they defy his au- ■ thority. 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 is quickly shattered, and she returns home. “Swiftie” however, goes gaily bn her way, until at last she becomes entangled with a gambler in a position from which there is no escape. Finally she return* home —in truth a prodigal daughter—and finds her father ready to forgive and forget. A young aviator 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 Douisa Dresser the mother. Excellent supports. include a powerful drama, “Love’s Boomerang,” starring David Powell, a Mack Sennett comedy, ; “Tlie Quack Doctor,” and l the latest gazette. | ETHEL OSBORN CONCERT j This was one of those concert* in J which pleasure starts at the beginning ! and flows to the end. It had its dejgrees for the audience, bright, meldjdious, harmonic, majestic, languorous, j tripping, rushing, lingering; but the stream was aiwavs pleasure, and ali ways full. This sort of rare thing ic 1 trying to the musicians, for the dej mands for recalls are urgent and mulj titudinous. These, however, give opj portunities for graciousness and inore | good music, and lnet- night these opportunities wore all taken, to the delight of the auditory*. Miss Osborn, as the star of the evening, shone in all Rtylee—delightful in the operatic with “Caro Nome” (in choice Italian enunciation), the great song in “RigoI lotto” ; majestic and thrilling in the excerpt from Costa’s “Eli”—“I Will I Extol Thee”—with its noble recitative ! nobly given arid a fervour of tfemeni clous force—the accompaniment mag- | nificently j/layed by Mme de Mauny: j great in bird songs, “Nightingale,’ “Grey Dove,” “The Gentle Lark,” I kookaburra, and others, reminding jone of the poet’s “All little birds that i are, how they seemed to fill the air with their sweet j&rgoning” ; which jargoning at times reached the A in alt, and was there at home, both trilling and long-drawn-out; and Signor Trnda’e flute accompanied the jargon- | ing of the gentle lark with the insistent 1 perfection due to Bishop’s masterpiece, voice and flute blending in musical wrestle most delicious. The encores of the diva were double and treble, and the last brought down the hbUse with the old favourite, “Scenes That are Brightest,” seldom heard nowadays, | but when heard always rolling back 1 the years to the days when the world woe young, for the old in the auditory and to the young a tradition. The support to the diva was artistically fine—G view’s glorious Sonata (G, for violin and piano), played with mastery by the de Maunye, Max Bruch’s “Kol Nwirei ” and Wioniawski’s “Matsiirka, M. dc Mauny a fine virtuoso in both; “The Papillons” of Fontbomie; and Peiiard’s “Andalus.” Signor Trade’s flute masterful and : melodious in both; Moszkowski’s <4Ca- : price Jdspagnol” and Olsen’s “ButterI Mies,” Madame de Mauny charmingly | interpreting both. On this lady jell | the whole burden of the accompaniment*, and the burden was carried witli grace, sympathy, and mastery. A delightful concert, making fine compensation for the bad weather outside. PIANOFORTE RECITAL MR GORDON SHOUT’S PUPILS. Pupils of Mr Gordon Short will give an invitation pianoforte recital in the .Concert Ch a nicer to-night. In addition to numbers by Chopin, Liszt, and Debussy, a number of fine works by modern British composers will be played. A work probably new to Wellington audiences will be the “Spanish Rhapsody” by Chabrier in an arrangement for two pianos. Many of the items on the programme are seldom performed in public, and pianoforte students will prohhbly welcome an opportunity of hearing them. A few invitations arc obtainable ;\t leading music warehouses. Seats may bo reserved at the Brihtoi Piano Company.