ENTERTAINMENTS

New Zealand Times, Volume L, Issue 11659, 25 October 1923, Page 4

ENTERTAINMENTS

“ THE CABARET GIRL” EXHILARATING MUSICAL COMEDY. According to Sydney contemporaries, ‘’The Cabaret. Girl, " the new musical play to be soen here, presented by J. C. Williamson’s New Musical Comedy Company on Wednesday next, is a pearl among light opera creations. The press in that city have been unusually laudatory; 'there is no doubt “The Cabaret Girl" has caught London, being now in its -second year ther«. A deal ot the success would apx 3e ar to be the beauty and charm of the music, by Jerome Kern, and the exceptional brightness of the libretto and lyrics, by P. G. Wodeheuse and George Grossmith. Again, tho. play seems to have been splendidly cast in Australia. Such popular artists as Alfred Frith, Field Fisher, Cyril Ritchard, and Cecil Kellaway, together with Madge Elliott, Nellie Payne, FTorie Allen, constitute the nucleus of a remarkably strong musical comedy organisation.

Of the several performances by these artists a Sydney critic writes: —"Alfred Frith, as Mr Grawins, and Cyril Ritchard, as Mr Gripps, proprietors of the famous music firm, scored an early success. Harry iVotton's uumour was of its usual distinction. His make-up was masterly as Quibb. As James Paradene, tho new English leading man, Harold Pearce, showed that he, had a splendid voice and a breezy manner. And Rita Ntagent and Jack Hooker contributed some more of their charming dances. Field Fifiher blossomed into sartorial dizziness as 'Felossi/ the agent for ‘ Flick/ the cabaret girl herself. In this part Madge Elliott made tfio utmost of her charms, and justified to the full her selection as leading lady. Tho rest of the company—Floie Allen, Marie Eaton, Cecil Kelleway, and many others —helped to make the comedy swing and glitter its way to instant popularity. The music showroom scene, from Mr Frith's patheticdisability to distinguish Estrings from she-strings, to the closing dance by Madge Elliott, was much the brightest interlude of all recent shows. 'Tho Cabaret Girl' will have a numerous host to follow her adventures, and not many maiden hearts in Sydney will have missed sighing romantically when she makes her final pirouette into her lover's arms."

"■The Cabaret Girl" will be played for the first six nights, the box plans for which will be opened at the Bristol Piano Company on Monday morning next, at 9 o'clock.

HIS MAJESTY’S THEATRE

NEW R33VUJ3 COMPANY'S INTERESTING BILL.

Good houses continue to be prosent this week to witness .the new bill at His Majesty's Theatre, when the Fuller firm have provided a bright and attractive programme suitable to all tastes and inclinations. The different turns received last night with applause and expressions of continued good favour will he presented again this evening. Some novel and interesting living riatno poses are among the contributors to tho bill by Marie St. George and her company. Her "Venus de Milo" turn received with much applause, and is particularly good of its kind. A modern version of ,r Pygmalion and Galatea was equally popular with the audience. Eric Masters is contributing to justify tho good opinion formed of his character song work on his initial appearance in this city earlier in the week, while Claude de Car, an oxceeding!v vorsatilo acrobatic waiter, evoked appreciative rounds of applause for bis burlesque juggling, hand-springs, somersaults, • etc. Leo. Martin, who is described as "jazz Specialist," provides a somewhat unique display, inasmuch as he obtains irom a collection of bottles Hie very Just catches in jazz selections. The Jubilee Trio (baritone, a bass, and a pleasing mezzo-soprano) blended harmoniously in a number of plaintive plantation melodies. “The Dancing Delirium," an exceeding funny revue staged by members of George Wallace's talented company, occupied the socond portion of the programme. Tuneful music, catchy songs, dainty dances, and smart dressing, interspersed with several novel ballet displays. marie up a bright and varied musical melody. His Majesty's orchestra in their usual finished manner provided incidental music. There will be a special matinee on Saturday and a performance nightly. MISS STELLA POWER SECOND CONCERT TO-NIGHT. After the remarkably successful debut of “The Little Melba" at the Town Hall on Tuesday night, it may safely be assumed that the remaining concerts will receive the whole-hearted and enthusiastic support of Wellington music-lovers. Mi* E. J. Gravestock announces that the eecooid concert will be given to-night, the third on Saturday night, and the final concert on Monday night. Miss Power is particularly noted for her singing of Mozart. Says-the critic of the Melbourne “Sun"“Mozart in the mouth of Stella Power is tho just the liquid vocal thiug fie would have looked for himself." Con-cert-goers will look forward to the Mozart numbers in to-night's programme. At to-night’s concert Miss Power's numbers will Afinclude the celebrated “Mad Scene" from Donizotti'e opera “Lucia di Lamiuerraoor," the great Miozartian aria “Ah! Lo So," from “II Flauto Magico," and groups of French and English songs. Among the former will be the delightful Hindu son from Rimeky-Korsakov v s neglected opera “Sadko." This, delightful melody was written for a minor character in the opera, but is best known as solo for violin or 'cello. Miss Power’s English songs will include “Autumn Evo" by Mac Heinrich. “A Brown Bird Singing (Haydn Wood), and “Spring" (Henschel). Mr William James’s pinaoforte solos will include the Rachmaninoff “Prelude in G minor" and a Debussy group, comprising the “Arabesque No. 2/’ “Danse," and “Danse de la Poupee." Mr Harold Beck will be aheard in a selection of violoncello solos, among which wilt be the popular “Tre Giorni Son die Nina" of Pcrgolesi. Concerts will also be given on Saturday valid Monday next. The box plans are at the Bristol, and day sales tickets o,ro available at the Blue Bird confectionery, next the Grand Opera House. QUEEN’S THEATRE “THE! TIGER'S CLAW." For the first time during his career as a star in Paramount pictures Jack Holt, is playing in a photo-play with a triangle love plot. Previous to “The Tiger’s Claw/’ a Paramount picture, in which Mr Holt is star, and which commences at Ihe Queen’s Theatre on Friday, he has been seen in fast; action pictures, piclures with thrills and gasps. But the triangle plot Inns never appeared in one of his starring vehicles. In “The Tiger’s Claw," however, two women are in leading roles. One of these, Eva Novak, has the character of a beautiful English girl whom Mr Holt, ns the hero, once loved. The second, A Been Pringle, is the wife of Mr Holt, a half-native, halfEnglish girl. How Miss Pringle, in the characier of Mr Holt's wife, is slain, and how Miss Novak wins Mr Holt for her! husband, makes a romantic setting that is only enhanced by the unusual number of thrills in “The Tiger’s Claw." Other items on the programme are episode five of the brilliantly popular chapter play, “The Social Buccaneer." starring Jack Mulluill, a Century comedy “Hold On," a Parnmount-Burtoij Holmes travelogue, and the latest gazettes. A beautiful musical programme of Eastern and other numbers will be played by the Queen's Grand Orchestra. The box plan is at the Bristol.

I " THEODORA ” j AT IMPRESS TO-MORROW. “Tho greatest screen spectacle that the world has ever known/' -which is the producer’s own estimate of the Italian super film., “Theodora/* may be suspected of being a comment somewhat biased in its favour, coming from the prejudiced source that it does. Yet it is neurly if not quite all of that. “Stupendous” is not a too extravagant adjective for this spectacle of the splendours and l horrors of Byzantium in the sixth century. ls\\>arly four decades ago, when Sarah Bernhardts histronic passions were at white heat, Victorien Sardou 6eized upon the story or me infatuation of the Empress of the East for the traitorous Greek, Andreas, who would have slain the Emperor Justinian, and turned it into a play for her. Architecturally aline —forgetting for the moment every element of drama in it—“ Theodora" is a marvel of marvels. It is as if all the €lOllOs of ancient Byzantium had been transferred untarnished to the twentieth century. The visions which the screen presents of palaces, pavilions, gardens, broad stairways mounting to dizzy heights, frowning battlements, grim prisons, noble arches—these are remarkable. But most remarkable of all is the replica of the ancient hippodrome. The management of the terror-stricken masses is said to be the finest feat in the motion picture as yet seen. Dramatically the spectacle reaches its pinnacle when Theodora gives poison to her imprisoned Greek lover, thinking it is a love philter. Previously she had stabbed his co-con-spirator, Marcellus, lest in the agonies of the torture which awaits him he betray her lover's name. Until now Andreas Is not aware that it is the Empress with whom he is infatuated. Rita Jolivet and Rene Maupre act the star roles. “Theodora” will be presented to the accompaniment of a symphony orchestra of 16 players, which it is intended to retain permanently. The box plan is at the Bristol. KING’S THEATRE "CAMILLE." Rudolph Valentino and Wazimova, two of the greatest of screen stars, are to be seen this week at the King’s Theatre in “Camille/’ a modernised version of "La Dame Aux Camelias." This famous novel and play by Zanger Dumas. “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 law student, Armand Duval, she gave up her old life and friends and then made the crowning sacrifice of all. What that was is dramatically pictured by Nazimova, who invests the 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 the gayest city in the world are marvellously portrayed. This thrilling drama, written by Alexandre Dumas, when only twenty years of age, is regarded as the prototype of the modern problem play. It has been of the most successful of dramas, and since its presentation in 1852 has been revived on many occasions. "Be Careful/’ a —? —?-inspiring comedy, is in support, also an interesting gazette and a travelogue, Mr L. D. Austin is in charge of the incidental orchestral music, supplied by the King’s own combination of twelve artists. ' TRIFLING WOMEN DRAMATIC PHOTOPLAY TO-MOR-ROW NIGHT. Rex Ingram’s claim to film immortality is justified again in his remarkable new production, "Trifling Women.” which will be screened at the King’s, commencing to-morrow night. It is the latest achievement of the skilful director, whose name has become synonymous with the heat in filmdom and a guarantee of exceptional screen merit. It equals and in «ome particulars sur, passes his earlier efforts, and should win a high place among the best of the season’s photoplays. The. brilliant director of “The Four Horsemen of the Apocalypse/’ "The Prisoner of Zenda/* and other big Metre pictures is himseU both author and adaptor of his latest success. This fact alone makes his triumph all the more complete for the etory and continuity are on a par with the nroduction itself. In all, it is a distinctly worthwhile photodrama, and is recommended to those who want the very best in the motion picture fare. The story is concerned with the fascination of Zareda, a crystal-gazer whose sirenlike fascination attracts men into 'her net How she attains wealth and power through a marriage with a wealthy marquis; how she arranges his death to marry her young lover, Ivan, how* she meets a terrible end with her lover when her husband finds them together, makes a graphic and dramatic story. In the cast are brilliant players, Lywis Stone is seen as the Marquis Fer Toni, Barbara La Marr as Zareda, Ramon Novarro as Ivan, ,»and Edward Connelly as 3.van’s father, Baron de Maupin. Others in the cast are Pomeroy Cannon, Hughie Mack. The fine photoplay is the work of John Seitz. An excellent supporting programme has been arranged, including special music from the King's Select Orchestra. The box plan is at the Bristol. PRINCESS THEATRE WILLIAM S. HART ATTRACTION. William S. Hart, one of the established popular heroes of the screen, is always a good draw, and in his latest attraction at the Princess Theatre in "Three Word Brand,” he eclipses all former appearances, and makes a very strong appeal to all lovers of the silver sheet. It shows Hart as a lonely wanderer who gives up his life for his two children, who are taken to an orphanage, whero one is quickly adopted, hut 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 "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 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 Talley. 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 tho arrest of Brand’s partner for the alleged murder of a rancher named McCabe, who was found dead on the boundary line. From then on the great picture is packed with thrilling incidents. However, all ends well, and the picture comes to a satisfactory conclusion. In addition, Harold 'Lloyd is shown in an amusing comedy entitled "Among Those Present.” The supports also include a Paramount gazette. ASCENT OF MOUNT COOK The lecture on the "First Winter .ascent of Mount Cook and the Mountains of the Mount Cook District," to be given by Mr R>. L. Wigley, under the auspices of tho Tarhrnn Tramping Club, has been postponed until Thursday, November Ist. a l , 8 p.m. This lecture, which will be profusely illustrated with excellent lantern slides, promises to bo particularly- interesting, and the Tramping Club extend a general invitation to nil mtnested to he present.