ENTERTAINMENTS

New Zealand Times, Volume LI, Issue 12024, 30 December 1924, Page 6

ENTERTAINMENTS

“THE O’BRIEN GIRL” . brilliant musical comedy HUGH J. WARD SUCCESS AT HIS MAJESTY’S. There is no doubt that “The O’Brien Girl” is one of the best musical and i dancing remedies ever presented tiv a' , New Zealand audience. It has eertainI ly never, been excelled, and the capa- , city house which attended His Ma- > jesty’s Theatre last night derived un- . bounded pleasure from every minute of ; the performance. At the conclusion ; the. applause waa thunderous and pro- [ longed. It is a masterly production, i The company includes a. nmnber of - charming heautifullv frobked girls who s have been efficiently trained in their - parts, the dancing is graoeful and edi tieing. and the artistic staging and • dressing make the > scenes of great i splendour. Miss Mamie Watson, to i begin with, is -a star who has grace. dignity, -versatility, and' the rare art of making people laugh. Her work >is charming and refreshing. Miss June Roberts dances with perfect body dis- ■ cipline. and the. ease and rapidity of ’ her dancing are only superseded by her : cleverness. . Miss Hazel Harris, has al- • ready become a warm favourite, and 1 laurels have also fallen on her partner, •Mr Wesley Pierce. They flit about 1 the stage like blown rose petals, and hold tho audienoe enraptured. Miss ' May Boatyy is a genuine comedienne, . who never wastes a word and who : never does the expected. Her eccentri- ' cities and her little individualities! are most amusing. Mr Mark Daly is one of the most whimsical of fun-makers. , He, is a master of effect, and his re- . sources are infinite. He -radiates harm- > less . and infectious - laughter, punc- • tuating liis perfect impersonation of a - bullied husband with a moment when i tho worm turns. The "marathon ■ race” in the second act is soreamingly • funnv. Mr Ireland Cutter is another > great comedian whose by-play is soroe- ■ thing well off the beaten track, and the ' earns applies to Mr Leyland Hodgson, • whose work is manly and convincing. There are other dancers of merit the Siamese twihs. Jack Smith and Jack i Roberts, Dorothy Roberts, Maudie Vera—and there are principals whose ’■ work is satisfying; Miss Belle Bell- | chambers. Mr Lou Vernon, and Mr Royston McDonnell. A fine orchestra, under Mr W. Redstone, makes the muI sicnl numbers a delight, - The season of “The O’Brien Girl” is ! a short one. It will be repeated until Friday next, when it will give way to , ‘‘Little Nellie Kelly.” another bonne ' bouche out of the Hugh J, Word musical remedy list. I ‘‘WINE” j POWERFUL PLAY AT DE LUXE. • A special holiday programme je being ■ screened each day this week at the De > Luxe Theatre. There was a crowded attendance on Saturday evening at the l second performance of the powerful and ’. colourful Universal film entitled i “Wine.” The story relates to the W«rriner family, the central figure being • Angela, who at lier coming-out party is •thrilled with the gaiety of her new life. • Neglecting the genuine affeotion of a serious and Worthy young man, Angela prefers the merriment of the gay company in which she now* moves, and is > ultimately arrested, together with other members of her party, in a police raid. Heeding the lesson ere too ‘ , late, Angela resolves to lead a better life-rione With more solid and lasting joys; and the play ends happily. As Angela, Clara Bow takes a difficult part with much sucess,. and" is supported by a powerful cast. The -play is preceded by an appropriateprologue—a danoo. entitled “La . Champagne.” gracefully, performed by Miss Gwenethe Walshe, of Wellington, with full musical and reloured effects. The enjoyable music rendered by the efficient orchestra, under the conductoTship of Mr L. D. Austin, includes “Hungarian Airs” - and the prelude to “Lohengrin” (Wagner). There was a matinee yesterday afternoon, and the pneeemt programme will be rer.tinued during, the week. ARE YOU AN ACTOR? THE BEAUMONT SMITH TRIALS. There are many who think they have ■ a talent for theatre acting or motion picture woilk, and did l they but know it they possess talent for which producers are looking. A chance for these people is being given by Mr Beaumont fchmth, at the Empress Theatre again for three more diays this week, and every afternoon and evening he is having a hard' job to put through the great number of applicants in the vari- [ ous trials. To date lie, with his staff, i has put through over 360 people, and ■ there are some amongst this number , who will secure definite, appointments t if Mr Smith is satisfied with their • efforts. Wellington did not know it possessed Such likely movie stars, and • again last night a delighted house ap- ■ ptauded the efforts of' various "aSpiring J tragedians, who undoubtedly produced [ professional touches. These noael trials , were but part of an excellent bill, which included Baby Peggy’s new t vehicle, “Captain January,” and the r usual list of supports. The screen teste > will continue until Thursday next. - ; Baby Peggy’s new. effort is her latest ’ and by far her best* Jit tells the story J of a little, girl who 19 washed up at a 7 lighthouse, and is taken care, of by the ; old lighthouse-keeper. When' she’ is ; about five years old, some people appear who claim her as their child, causing great- consternation to the old' keeper; who has played mother', father, and' re- . latives included for so long. There is a series of most interesting occurrences, and the ending is. particularly I happy, showing as it does the old man cared' for by the newly-found parents,’ and the little girl happy in the thought I that she is not to lose her old chum. Hobart Bosworth is the lighthouse* , keeper of the story, and Baby ‘Peggy [ is, admirable, as the diminutive “Captain January.” t ■ CARNIVAL AT LOWER HUTT ' The! carnival which is being arranged ; by the Hutt Municipal Band for New Year’s Day promises to be a great suc--1 cess. It is being held in ideal surroundings oh the beautiful recreation ground an Lower Hutt. Provision is being made for picnic parties, and hot water 1 will be supplied l free. A large/refresh--1 ment marqu®® is being erected on the ground, together with numerous stalls and side-shows, ahd there is to be special provision for children, for whom a good programme of races has been arI ranged. Handsome books and toys are ; being given as prizes. Music is being supplied bv the Wellington'Caledonian I Society’s Pipe Band and the Miramar | Brass Band.