ENTERTAINMENTS

New Zealand Times, Volume L, Issue 11655, 20 October 1923, Page 7

ENTERTAINMENTS

HIS MAJESTY’S THEATRE A POFCLAR REVUE. The new revue? company at His Mu jerty’s has certainly made a hit, and is quite up to the standard shown by the many excellent companies of the past. A bier audience saw the performance of “Off Honolulu," by the George Wallace Company last night, ami their appreciation was spontaneous. The C'overnnient has entrusted the captain of a ship bound for Honolulu with plans of a wonderful airship, which is to be given n thorough try-out. A spy manages to get aboard, and the search for the spy and Jiis subsequent, capture form the plot of the revue. Captain Jones (Marshall Crosby) plans to catch the spy, but Nelson, the pride of the Navy (<3eorge Wallace) causes things to go wrong and his humorous acts keep the .fun going merrily. The musical numbers include ’‘Dixie/* a burlesque of American ragtime; a double turn, “Marie Skangoni, ' by George Wallace and Nellie Kail. Marshall Crosby sings “Roaming," Nellie Hall succeeds very ably as Phoebe, the stewardess, who throws herself into Nelson's arms with such force that lie loses his hold and she dives overboard, but reappears later. The revue is a good programme on its own. The variety part of the programme, includes Los Martin as a jazz specialist, with various accessories. Marie St. George and Company appear in a fantasy, “The Awakening of Galatea/' some very delicate statuary posing with a very dramatic conclusion. Eric Masters made liia .first appearance in character songs, and Claude de Car was most entertaining as the acrobatic waiter, with his clever Pekingese dog, which jumps hurdles on its hind legs, dau’ces, and makes itself very popular with the audience. There will be a matinee this afternoon, and to-night will be the last opportunity the Wellington public will have of seeing this splendid programme.

“THE LITTLE MELBA”

STELLA TOWER ON TUESDAY. On. Tuesday next, at the Town Hall, the celebrated soprano, Miss bteUa Tower, universally Known as "the Tittle Melba," will inaKe her first appearance here under the direction of Air E. J. GravestocK. In European musical circles Miss Tower's continued successes have earned her a place among the most popular concert artists of the day. in canadi and the United States, where she was supported by tiie baxul of the Coldstream Guards, sho was acclaimed on all sides a s a lyric soprano ox the highest order. Recently she concluded a highiysuccessfui tour of Great .Britain, giving more than fifty rocitalo in conjunction with Jau Kubelik, the violinist. Under j the headline, “Sem-atonal Singing," a leading London critic wrote“ Stella j Towers art seems to be developing sim-1 ultaneously in two divergent paths. As \ a coloratura soprano she is at least the • equal of any singer heard in- London j this reason, as those who heard her • sing the ‘’Bel Raggio' aria from *l?ei«iraiuide’ will testify. Apparently, however, she is not content to be regarded) •as a. ‘‘Bravura’ singer—however great; j her latest programmes have included j [songs the interpretation of which de-j I mauds intellectual effort, subtlety, and u| most fastidious musical taste. Her sue-1 cess in these numbers shows a remark-! able development. There is no saying; how tar this young singer may go." j I Mr William James, r the successful young Australian pianist?* and composer, who has made a great name for himself in England and Europe during the last J ten years, will be associated with Miss i Power throughout the New Zealand tour, j Referring to his playing at Miss Tower’s j first concert in Melbourne, the critic of ; the “Sun" said: —“William James can; be absolutely brilliant. This was sc in j Liszt's Rhapeodie Hongroise, No. 15, j magnetic strength being wedded to a i flawless dexterity. Th# thunderous passages in the bass were brought out with I magnificent force end purposefulness, j but the more sensitive finger-play was also at his command. Ills hearers got excellent rewards for their enthusiasm. The box plans for the four Wellington. concerts are now open at the Bristol Piano Company.

PRINCESS THEATRE

WILLIAM S. HART IN “THREE WORD BRAND." William S Hart has a triple role in his latest production, “Three Word Brand," which is now showing at the Princess Theatre. The Great West is taken a« the background for the picture, and it shows William S. Hart as Brand, a lonely wanderer, looking for a place of rc6t and quiet. His twin sons are with him, but his wife died in reaching the West. A column of smoke rising in the air alarms Brand, for he knows that it is a signal between Indians. He sends his two sons back along the track, while he prepares to fight and give up his life for thorn. The two children are taken to an orphanage, where one is quickly adopted, but the other stays on until he becomes old enough to work for himself. In time he becomes owner of L 7 ranch, and is known to all as '‘Throe Word Brand." Meanwhile his brother, also played by William S. Hart under the name of Marsden, has become Governor of the State, and a bill is about to go through the Legislature dealing with a proposed water dam, which, if brought into being, -would ruin many ranchers of the Rego Valiev. Brand’s partner brings out his sister and a deep friendship springs up between her and Brand. Yeats, a crooked neighbour of Brand's, secures the arrest of Brand’s partner for tlue alleged murder of a rancher named McCabe, who was found dead on the boundary line. From then on the great picture i.s packed with thrilling incidents. Brand* impersonates the Governor and gets his partner a pardon, but the real Governor, who is investigating the water question in the Rego Vallc.y, is vshot by Yeat’s gang in mistake for Brand. However, ail ends well, and the picture comes to a eatisfactoiy conclusion. Harold Lloyd, tho eye-glass comedian, is Shown ir. a .screamingly funny comedy. “Among Those Present." It is packed full of laughs, cepccially when the hero attempts to ride an exceedingly wild horse. The supports include a Paramount gazette.

ORGAN RECITAL

BERNARD PAGE! TO-MORROW. Air Bernard E. Page (City Organist) will give an organ recital in the Town Hall to-morrow (Sunday) evening, when the following items will he played:— Largo in G, by Handel (by .request); Vitali's Chaconne; Fountain Music and Duet from Act 11., Scene 1, “Pelleus and Melisande," by Debussy; Summer Sketches, by Lemare: (1) “Dawn." (2) “The Bee." <3) “Cuckoo," (4) “Twilight," (<■»; “Evening" (this item is by request); and Cesar Franck’s Finale in B Flat.

DANCE RECITAL

MISS KATHLEEN O'BRIFN’S PUPILS. Miss Kathleen O’Brien's third annual pupils dance recital will be held at tho G;and Opern House on Saturday, October -71 h. The programme will consist of the dancing play, “A Persian Romance," a gorgeously costumed Eastern <Un.sc: dramatique. preceded bv a varied urogram me of ballet and diverlisement. In “A Persian Romance" Miss O'Brien takes the part .if The Dancer, and Mr Lionel Tnch and Mi«s Thelma Aiken play the speaking parts of The Shah and Tho Favourite Wife.

RETURN OF THE NEW COMICS

TIIE CABARET GIRL. I | Writes the dramatic critic, of the Sydj r.ey “Sun": Tiie fun was fast aii-d jJuiioua at Her Majesty's last night. when tho bright and unexeeptionally I tuneful mUvSical play, “The Cabaret I Girl/ was staged tor the first time in ’Australia. It is an unusually interesting pi a v with a cheerful love story running through it, presenting a series of romantic and humorous incidents in a direct straight iorward fashion and gratifying at once the desire to bo pleasantly amused, and the poi>ular instinct far the triumph of the hero and tho happiness oi the heroine. The play deals with the ad\cnturcs of a chorus pi rl Marilynn and her lover, James I’ar- | dene who has inherited a fortune or 1X20,000 a year. There is, however, a I proviso in the will that James must get : married before he can handle his wealth, ; and more grievous still that his aunt, I the Marchioness of Harrogate, and her iuon. the Marquis, should approve of the J choice. This trammelling clause brings about the separation of the lovers, because Marilynn refuses to marry James lot she ruins his life. There is, however. a pretended marriage prior to the [separation, and then the hunt for the i chorus girl begins. The inevitable reconciliation follows, but not before all concerned have got themselves into a maze of ridiculous situations, which the audience laughs at with amazing heartiness. “The Cabaret Girl," which will be interpreted by the ever-popular J. O, Williamson’s New Musical Comedy Company, is splendidly cast, Alfred Frith is ja prince of comedians, • and will doubt--1 less be warmly welcomed. Prominently placed are Messrs Cyril Rltcliard, CeciL kollaway. Field Fisher, Harry YVootton, end Harold Pearce; also Misses Madge Elliott, Hnie Allen, Millie Tyler, Minnie Eaton, and Mabel- Burton. is said to be something unusually striking in the music, which possesses much charm throughout, and is likely to prove of tlie “come and hear me again" order As is customary. the costuming and mounting of the play are in the usual J. O. Williamson elaborate manner. Also during the .season will be presented “Kissing Time," also new to Wellington and probably a revival of "JA. 'Night 1 Out," with Alfred Frith as the muchroavried “Ringlet." The season will commence- with “Tho Cabaret Girl" at the Grand Opera House on Wednesday, October 31st The box plans for “Tho Cr.bf.rot Girl" will Ido openech at tho Bristol piano Co. Monday week, October 29th

KING’S THEATRE

EOnOLPH VALENTINO AND NAZIMOVA IN “CAMILLE.” “Camille/’ the world's greatest love story, starring the screen s greatest lovers —Rodolph Valentino and Nazi- ; mora—drew and delighted a bumf per hou.se at the ever-popular j King's Theatre last night. “Ca- ! milk*" is a modernised version of j “La Dame Aux Camolias'/’ the famous ! play and novel by Alexandre Dumas, the j younger, known throughout the world as i a masterpiece of love and sacrifice. By i many critics this thrilling drama, writj ten *by Dumas when only twenty years I of age, is regarded a? the prototype of {the modern problem play. It was first j pul on at the Vaudeville Theatre. Paris, jin 1352, through the influence of the Due | do Monuy, and its unusual theme won iit instant attention. Since then it hds been one of the favourites, revival after revival demonstrating the vogue it still [enjoys, despile its age. Its strong emoI tional scenes have won the histrionic i support of many notable actresses who ! have listed it among their repertoire of theatrical offerings. It has enjoyed equal popularity in .England, France, America, and Germany, where the theatregoers have warmly welcomed it both in adaptations and in the original French. “Qamiile" tells the story of Marguerite, a notorious and beautiful woman, a part of the gay lile of Paris. When she fell in love with the young law student, Armand Duval, she gave up her old life and friends an-d then made the crowning sacrifice of all. What that was is dramatically pictured by Karimova, who invests the part with a charm, a beauty, and a pathos which held the audience spell-bound last night. As Armand, Rorlolph Valentino is the perfect lover, tho cast as a whole is an exceptionally strong one, and the gorgeous scenes of the gay night life of the gayest city in the world are marvellously portrayed. The supporting films are a rairth-mspir-ing comedy, “Be Careful/’ and tho latest gazette and travelogue; while tho sparkling musical programme is admirably rendered by the King's select or<hestra of twelve artists, under the able directorship of Air L. D. Austin. This most enjoyable programme will 7>c repeated at special matinees and evening sessions to-day and throughout the coining week. Matinees will bo held (Tib (Saturday) afternoon and on Monday (Labour Day).

LAUGHTER AND TEARS

JACKIE COOGAN AT EMPRESS. In “Daddy," at the Empress Theatre, Cheery Jacky Coogan lias a trying lime. As tlie small son of a genius of the violin, Jacky is tossed into the troublous world alone when his father is sent to hospital, and finds a home with a pair of eld people, once his mother i* loert to him But his misfortunes do not end the*re, as the old people lose their farm through ill-fortune, and ate driven to tto poor house. Courageous Jacky doesn't lose his famous grin even here, fqr he bravely leaves for New York, with a heart full of hope, and without any prospects, to earn sufficient money to pay for the farm. However, the little lad has no luck. Fortune deserts him untit he is found, by a handsome stranger who. failing to comfort him, takes the mile to a recital, and then to his home, where a photograph of the lost mother reveals tlie fact to him that Jacky is bis son There is sunshine over ail after I his for Jacky's father buys back the farm for the old people, and they are happily installed. A sjjmpl© story, made simply irresistible by the cheery behaviour of the eternal kid, especially nfte* he plumbs the seven depths of misery in the earlier stages. ,

“Pest of the fitorm Country," is guaranteed Mermaid farce of a steadily flooding house, a hero who watches the interest of the fish in the “close" season, inside a diving suit and a serenading swain. “Stolen Glory" i.s a Campbell comedy, and shows how a young reprobate basked in the brief lustre of a rescue which he didn't make. Both me sicksaplitters. Also you may see the piclured version of the Etna eruption and its wall of lava 30 feet high. The spectacle of houses buried in solid rock to Iheir roofs would make anyone glad not lo be near n volcano. Most realistic and absorbing tin's, and with a Gazelle in which T’oynitv figures largely, 7’ounding off a good programme. Mr M. Dixon’s orchestra acids to the pleasure of the audience by playing Von Snppe's “Jolly Robbers" overture. much bright incidenlnl music. 'inmme will be repeated all pc''