ENTERTAINMENTS

New Zealand Times, Volume L, Issue 11653, 18 October 1923, Page 7

ENTERTAINMENTS

HIB MAJESTY’S THEATRE GOOD REVUE AND VARIETY. A Dig audience saw the performance of their splendid revue “Off Honolulu/’ by the George Wallace Company at His Majesty's Theatre last night. The scenes are on board ship bound for the South Sea Islands, two days off Honolulu. The Government has entrusted the captain with plans of a wonderful airship, which is to be given a thorough try-out, but a spy manages to get aboard, with a view to securing possession of the plans. The search for the spy and his subsequent capture form the plot of the revue. Captain Jones (Marshall Crosby), a very able skipper, plans to catch the spy, but Nelson, the pride of lhe Navy (George Wallace), bobs up at the supreme moment and causes things to go wrong. He keeps the fun going merrily. The musical numbers were equally enjoyable. “Dixie,” a burlesque of American ragtime, by George Wallace, and his double turn, “Marie Shangoni/ with Nellie Hall, were mneh enjoyed. Marshall CrlKiy sings “Roaming,” written by George Wallace. Nellie Hall succeeds vcA- ably as Phoebe, tho stewardess, and the craw of “six rascals” make very entertaining dancer*. Phoebe throws Jierself into Nelson’s arms with such toroe that he loses his hold, and she dives overboard, but reappears later. Jack White is a typical sailor, and Hog. Collins makes a dashing chief officer. Tom Lincoln performs the office of ship’s cook. The re- ■ vuo is a good programme on its own. j The variety part of the programme : includes Leo Martin as a jazz speciai- ! iat, with various accessories. Marie St. George said Company appear in a i fantasy, “Tim Awakening of Galatea,’ | some very delicate statuary posing wit® I a very dramatic conclusion. Eric Mas- : (era made his first appearance in char- | actor songs, his repertoire being extensive and excellent, including a new I item, “Maoriland.” Claude de Car was moat entertaining as the acrobatic waiter, and accomplished some wonderful feats. He alto has a lovely little Pekingese dog, which jumps bundles on its hind Mgs, dances, and makes itself very popular with the audience. It is a wonderfully intelligent little animal, ADAM’S RIB" AT KING’S THEATRE. A picture which contains, besides rranv other things, a atwmg heart interest is Cecil B. Be Jddlo’s snper-pro-d .jetton, “Adam’s Rib” which » now showing to packed houses at the -popular King’s Theatre this week. love at first sight is easy, it as love after 19 years that matters. So discovers Marion Ramsay, and so her daughter Matilda. Outhbeetaon. known at breakfast ae “TttHe.” For it is a serious business to forget the 19th anniversary of vour marriage when your wife is still' young and beautiful with a starved wife’s love of romance. That is what happened to Michael Ramsay aim he had to buy the entire wheat crop of Moravia before he straightened matters out. ' For the mysterious Jaromij- who was paying attention to M»iioil Rnmaay was no other than the exiled King of Moravia, exited because he paid too much attention to romance a®d to little to politics. t Bnt cr,alters oom>> to a head between Ramsay and his wife and Marion 'eaves him to go to the King- Following fast is Tsllie newly fluttering into romance JberaeM with Nathan Hum'bolt, scientist and achater. TiUre a ©**© 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 yield* to the smotiomUiam of an aide. 'Wren Ramsay see* a brooch of his wife’s upon the floor and a ppwerful ftoene oomnaienices. Tillie friajuw to save 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 lover her he does not trust her and he leave* for the wilds. Ramsay thus finds himaelf with a wrecked boine. How the tangle u straightened out is told in admirable fashion in a fine film. The supports are excellent and include an interesting Gazette Thi King’s Orchesra, under Hie baton of Mr L. D. Arston renders effective music. QUEEN’S THEATRE A GREAT “CROOK” PLAY. Crook roles made them famous, and now they are appearing in them again. Betty Compson sprang from obscurity to' fame and stardom oy her appearance as the little pickpocket. “Rose, in the “Miracle Man.” Bert Lytell waa just a successful stock leading man until he soored a big hit in a crook role in “The Lone Wolf,” and followed it up with his portrayal in "Alias Jimmy Valentine,” which has long been rated as one of the finest melodramas ever produced. Now, for, the first time, these two great “crook” players are joined in a great “crook” play. They, with May McAroy and Gareth Hughes, are featured in “Kick In,” a new George Fitzmaurice Paramount picture, which Ouida Bergere adapted from the Williard Mack stage success, and which commences at the Queen’s Theatre tomorrow. Mr Lytell is seen in the role of Chic Hewes, a crook who tries to go straight, while Miss Compson is seen as a District Attorney’s daughter, whose growing love for Ohio start* a series of dramatic situations, culminating in a climax of remarkable power. The excellence of the cast of “Kibk In” does not stop, however, with the fortunate ooupling of Mies Compson and Mr Lytell in roles of similar appeal to those of their greatest individual successes. There are also May McAvoy, Gareth Hughes, Kathleen Clifford, Maym« Kelso. Waiter Long, Robert A "new, Charles Ogle, John Miltern, and Carlton King. Romance and adventure go hand in hand in “The Social Buccaneer,” the absorbing serial, part four of which will be included In the programme. The story is laid in America, and in the far-off kingdom of Thorwald in the Balkans. It is replete with intensely exciting situations, and calls for very daring work by Jack Mnlnall, the star. A Century eomedy, the latest gazettes, and the ever-popular Queen’s Grand Orchestra complete the programme. TEe box plan is at the Bristol.

“ THE LITTLE MELBA ” BOX PLANS NOW OPEN. This morning at the Bristol Piano Company the box plans will be opened for the series of ooncerte to be given in the Town Hall, commencing on Tuesday next, by the world-famous soprano, Mias Stella Power. In view of the interest aroused in the musical world by the meteoric career of this remarkable younger singer it may safely be assumed that there will not be many unoccupied seats at the Town Hall on Tuesday night when “the Little Melba” will make her first appearance before a New Zealand audience. Stella Power has been called, with good reason, “the Little Melba.” There is in her singing the startling resemblance of tone quality to that of the greatest soprano of the age, and there is also the same perfection of style and method. A wonderful range, liquid purity of tone, absolute evenness from top to bottom of the scale, the/ real Italian legato—all these are apparent in Stella Power’s singing, and all combined with subtle mastery of those points that make a singer distinguished above the general level of even very fine vocaliste. Miss Power will sing very varied programmes during her New Zealand tour, but the backbone of her work will be those glorious airs from grand opera for which liter gifts of voice, style, and expression so well fit her. Those who were privileged to hear the Melba of twenty-five years ago will be delighted to recognise in Miss Power’s repertoire the great Mozartian arias, “Ah! Lo So” from “The Magic Flute,” “Dove Sonoj” and “Voi Ohe Sapeta,” numbers which have been regarded for nearly a generation as the special property of the great Australian diva. Mr William James, who is associated with Miss Power, has been widely acclaimed! in England - and Europe as a pianist of exceptional virility, subtlety. and taste. He will play several modern compositions hitherto unknown here. Violoncello solos will be contributed by Mr Harold Beck, whose playing is already well and favourably known to New Zealanders. PRINCESS THEATRE TWO BIG FEATURES: A storv of modem life and of the society “flapper” is “Prodigal Daughters,” beifig screened at the Princess to-day and to-night for the last time this week. Gloria Swanson has added another success to her already long list through her impersonation of “Swiftie” Forbes, the prodigal 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. Forbes arrives home, and immediately sees » change in his household; the girls will . not obey him and they defy bis authority. As the outcome of this defiance, “Swiftie” leaves her home and commences to live her own life. Her {sister follows her, and becomes marjried, but her romance is quickly shatjtered, and she returns home. ''Swiftie’’ i however, goes gaily on her, way, until at last she becomes entangled with a gambler in a position from which there is no escape. Finally she returns home truth * prodigal daughter—and finds her father ready to forgive and forget. A young aviator, played by j Ralph Greaves, who believes in “Swiftie” in spite of her shortcomings, siipplies the love theme. Theodore | Roberts makes an idea! father, while {Vera Reynolds plays the younger sis{tor, and Louisa Dresser the mother. | Excellent supports include a powerful {drama, ‘■l.ove’s Boomerang,” starring I David Powell, a Mack Sennett comedy, '.“The Quack Doctor,” and the latest {gazetteMILITARY BAND CONCERT AT THE TOWN HAlff,. The visit of Derry’s well-known military band from .Ghriebebureb is being eagerly looked forward to next Saturday. A big house is expected for its opening performance at tho Town H*H, as the full band of 66 performer* >* vkpting the pity, and it will be am exceptional opportunity of hearing a first-class military band, of which three are only thane in the Dominion, Derry’s being the largest. It includes 30 clsrinots, 12 saxophones and nine cornets. The programme will include the fantasia, “A Dav at West Point,” describing a day’s work at a military academy; the popular fox trot. “By Heck” , the overture “Rny Bias” (MendelssohnBartholdy), with piccolo solo by the leading soloist of the Dominion: a selection from Gilbert and Sullivan’s opera “Yeomen of the Guard,” and “Melodious Melodies,” a pot-pourri of popular airs cleverly arranged. “The Smithy in the Woods” describes night, the approaching dawn, and the village smith lighting his forge and starting his day’s work. The band has a very strong brans section and several first-class soloists. STUDEBTS' RECITAL BY THE PUPILS OF MR GORDON SHORT. The Concert Chamber was packed last evening, the occasion being an invitation piano recital by the students of Mr Gordon Short. The standard of the contributions to an interesting and varied programme waa, with few exceptions, decidedly above the average, and Mr Short has every reason to he proud of a number of promising pupils. The proceedings were opened with the inspiring “March in G” of Schuhert, pfayed on two pianos by Thelma Willoughby and Freda Anderson, and Winston Turner and Louis Tutechka. The march was well rendered, and the item in every way a commendable one. Miss Gladys Turner, in her solo, “Serenade Burlesque” (Sartorio) and “Humoreske” by Sw instead, was in every way pleasing, as was ateo Molly Powell in two Ctyril Scott numbers, “False Caprice” and “Water-Wag-tail.” Sydney Wood, though one of the youngest performers, was quite at home with his beautiful Beethoven exoerpt. Louis Ramson played two numbers by Took Bowen, and Molly Withers a dainty Bach minuet, followed by the gavotte. Eileen Goodson’s interpretation lacked' the warmth of the old love dream in the “Lieberstraum.” and she was more successful in Paderewski's “Cracovienne.” The “Nocturne in E Flat” and the “Valse in E Minor,” two charming Ohopin items, were respectively played by Nora Burt and Moira Hunter. Nora Gray’s number was Graniger’s “Colonial Bong,” and that of Kathleen Ward a love waits by Mosiowski. Helga Johnson rendered Barratt’e “Coronach” in masterly style and with a full depth of tone, but the effect was marred by certain affected mannerisms. Her Paderewski minuet was also decidedly promising. Another item of interest was the “Spanish Rhapsody” for two pianos, played by Henry Turner and Jack McGill. Other performers who did their part to make the recital a notable success were Mavis Tors ton son, Then, Collier, Agnes Duncan, Beryl D’Ath, and Catherine Ramson.