ENTERTAINMENTS

New Zealand Times, Volume L, Issue 11657, 23 October 1923, Page 2

ENTERTAINMENTS

HIS MAJESTY’S THEATRE

BIG HOLIDAY PROGRAMME. The big holiday vaudeville programme presented at His Majesty’s Theatre this week drew and delighted bumper houses at tne matinee and. the evening performance yesterday. Some charming and graceful living-statues were posed by Marie St. George and her company. Her "Venus de Milo” was particularly good, and the finale—a modernised version of "Pygmalion, and Galatea” —was marvellously well done. A thunderbolt shatters the status*. It i© seen lying in several pieces; but a second flash of lightning comes, followed by a loud thunderpeal, and the statue is not only miraculously restored, but comes to life before the sculptor’s startled gaze. Eiric Masters made his iiret appearance before a Wellington audience, and his fine character songs—" The World’s All Right, "Archie Had a Mother,” and "Maoriland.”—quickly won his way to the hearts of his audience. Claude de Car, "the acrobatic waiter,” evoked laughter and applause by his burlesque juggling, his clever funny business, and his wonderful hand-springs, cutherine-wheels, somersaults, and so forth. Leo Martin, "Jazz Specialist,” showed great mastery of the silver cornet, the violin, the xylophone, the hand-bells, and last, but by no means least, of an instrument made up of bottles of all shapes and sizes. The tuneful melody lie evoked from these last won him an enthusiastic encore. A number of plantation melodies—“Dixie/' ‘Polly-Wolly-Doodle All the Day,” “Mjr Georgia Rose,” "Way Down South,’ and "Darkies, Let Us Sing a bong of the Old Plantation”—were delightfully rendered by "The Jubilee Trio” (a baritone, a bass, and a very pleasing mezzo-sopra-no), ivhose voices bieucleu most harminousiy together. Tho second part of the programme was a screamingly funny revue, "The Dancing Delirium,” by George Wallace’s talented revue company. Tuneful music, catchy songs, gorgeous Grosses, dainty dances, and rollicking fun and humour make a most excellent ensemble. The revue is at once a flood of fun, a downpour of talent, a cascade of song; and the hearty applause and laughter showed how greatly it ivas enjoyed by the audience, a<s appreciative as it was large. Mr Wallace himself sang with great power and expression "it Was the Eve of Christmas”; and in response to a double encore he gave, first, "Off to Philadelphia In the Morning,” and thsn "Roaming Round the Universe.” Other musical numbers were "The Wonderful Girls,” "My Dear Old Pal,” "Somebody’e* Stolfen My Baby,” "I’m Feeling Sad,” and "Silly Billy, the Waiter,” the last-named being the musical setting of a most amusing character sketch. Other laughter-provoking skits were "How to Hypnotise.” and a dancing competition. The members of His Majesty’s Orchestra also deservo a special meed of praise fo‘* the very finished manner in which it accomplished its arduous duties. This grand holiday programme will be repeated, nightly throughout the week, and at a special matinee on 'Saturday next.

MISS STELLA POWER FIRST CONCERT TO-NIGHT. To-niglit at the Town Hall, Miss Stella Power, “The Little Melba,” will give the first concert of her New Zealand tour, under the direction of Mr L. J. Gravestock. In view of the widespread interest evinced in musical circles by the advent of this remarkably successful young singer it may safely be assumed that she will be welcomed by a large and enthusiastic gathering of music-lovers to-night. Few artists have achieved world-wide celebrity so quickly as Miss Power has done. Five years ago she was practically unknown. To-day she is one of the first coloratura sopranos of the world. It is doubtful ■whether there is a more popuI lar artist on the English concert platform than "The Little Melba.’’ She has j the unique record of having sung eight ) times in one season at __ the Queen’s | Hall, London, with Sir Henry Wood’s , Orchestra. Her appearances at the | Royal Albert Hall number no fewer than fifty-seven—all within the last four years. Her Canadian tour, throughout which she was supported by the band of the Coldstream Guards, was in the nature of a triumphal progress. Mies Power attributes a great part of her sensational success to the tutelage, advice and practical assistance of her famous countrywoman, Dame Nellie Melba. At to-night’s concert "The Little Melba’’ will bo heard in several of tho numbers which served, more than a score of years ago, to introduce tho incomparable voice of Melba to an astonished world. Chief among these will he tho great aria, "Ah! Fors e Lui,” from Verdi's opera, "La Traviata.’’ Another operatic aria will be the delightful Air du My,soli, "Charmant Oiseau,” from David’s "La Perle du Bresil.” Lesser numbers will include Duparc’s “Chanson Triste,” Chausson’s “Les Papillons,’’ "At the Well," by Richard Hageman, and “Butterfly Wings,’’ by Montague Phillips. Mr William Janies will play a wdds selection of pianoforte solos, including the favourite “Rhapsodic Hongroise, Nti! 35," introducing the Rakoezy march’ and n group of Debussy numbers. Mr Harold Beck will contribute a number of violoncello solos. Concerts will also be given on Thursday, Saturday and Monday next. The box plans for the season are at the Bristol Piano Company, and day sale tickets arc available at the Blue Bird confectionery, next the Grand Opera House.

PRINCESS THEATRE “THREE WORD BRAND." In liis come-back to the silent screen, the popular William S. Hart, who made such u name for himself in Western releases, lias maintained his reputation in his latest attraction, “Three Word Brand,’’ which is being screened at tho Princess Theatre this week. Tho film shows Hart as a lonely wanderer who gives up his life . for ‘ his tw-o children, who are taken . to on orphanage, whoro one is quickly adopted, but tho other stays on until he becomes old enough to w'ork for himself. In time he becomes owner of L 7 ranch, and is known to nil as “Three 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 i.s about to go through the Legislature dealing with a proposed water dam, which, if brought into being.would ruin many ranchers of the Rego Valley. Brand’s partner brings I out his sister and a deep friendship springs up between her and Brand. Veals, a crooked neighbour of Brand’s, secures the arrest of Brand's partner for the alleged murder of a rancher named McCabe, who was found dead on the boundary line. Prom then on tlie great picture is packed with thrilling incidents. However, all ends well, and the picture comet; to a satisfactory conclusion. Harold Lloyd, tho eye-glass comedian, is shown ir. a screamingly funny comedy ‘ "Among Thoso Present.” It is packod fu!‘ of laughs, especially when the hero attempts to ride an exceedingly wild horse. The supports include a Paramount gazette.

KIN&S THEATRE GREAT CAST IN "CAMILLE.** With the inimitable Rodolph Valentino and the equally versatile Nazimova, the greatest love story of all-time "Camille/* which is now on lelease at the King's, cculd not do other than appeal to pic-ture-goers as the success of the year. "Camille’’ is a modernised version of La Dame aux Camelias,” the famous play and novel by Alexandre Dumas, the younger, and known throughout the world as a masterpiece of love and sacrifice. By many critics this thrilling drama, written by Dumas when only twenty years of age, is regarded as the prototype of the modern problem play. It was first put on at the Vaudeville Theatre, Paris, in 1852, through the influence of the Due do Mormy, and its unusual theme won it instant attention. Since then it has been one of the favourites, revival after revival demonstrating tho vogue it still enjoys. Its strong emotional scenes have won the histrionic 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. ‘'Camille” tells the story of Marguerite, a notorious and beautiful woman, a part of the gay life of Paris. When she fell in love with the young lav/ student, Armand Duval, she gave up her old life and friends and then made the crowring sacrifice of all. What that was is - dramatically pictured by Nazimova, who invests tho part with a charm, a beauty, and a pathos which held the audience spell-bound to the end. As Armand, Rodolph Valentino is the perfect lover, the cast as a whole is an exceptionally strong one, and the gorgeous scenes of the gay night life of tho gayest city in the world are marvellously portrayed. The supporting films are a mirth-inspir-ing comedy, "Be Careful,” and the latest gazette and travelogue; while the sparkling musical programme is admirably rendered by the King’s select orchestra of twelve artists, under the able directorship of Mr L. B. Austin.

DANCE RECITAL MISS KATHLEEN O’BRIEN'S PUPILS. Miss Kathleen O’Brien’s third annual pupils' dance recital will be held at the Grand Opera House on Saturday. October 27th. The programme will consist of the dancing play, "A Persian Romance,” a gorgeously costumed Oriental Danse Dramatique, preceded by a varied programme of ballet and divertisement. In "A Persian Romance.” Miss O’Brien takes the part of The Dancer, and Mr Lionel Inch and Miss Thelma Aiken play the speaking parts of The Shah and The Favourite Wife. This is the most ambitious effort of the creator, whose recitals have been 60 successful; and those who have witnessed the rehearsals are ehthuaiastic in their approbation.