ENTERTAINMENTS: STAGE, PICTURES, MUSIC

New Zealand Times, Volume LII, Issue 12194, 20 July 1925, Page 8

ENTERTAINMENTS: STAGE, PICTURES, MUSIC

“WEE” GEORGIE WOOD J. C. WILLIAMSON ATTRACTION. ‘‘The very best of vaudeville must be the verdict of the turn provided by ‘Wee’ Georgie Wood and company, who attracted a crowded house at the Tivoli on Saturday night,” says a Melbourne “Sun” critic, who continues: “The new sketch provided is the most brilliant and delightful seen for a long time, and the applause which rang out from the entire audience on frequent occasions endorsed this impression.” “Wee” Georgie Wood, the Peter Pan of vaudeville, heads the new company of super-vandeville from J. C. Williamson theatres, which inaugurate a season on Wednesday evening at the Grand Opera House.' “Wee” Georgie Wood is London’s most popular vest-pocket comedian, and his appearance when at the Hippodrome or in pantomime is a sure box office attraction. The star is supported by his own company, Dolly Harmer, Thelma Kurtzman, and Tom Blacklock, all of whom have been associated with Georgie Wood in his English, American,' and Australian successes. Included in his repertoire of sketches to he presented during the season here are “Black-hand George,” “Daddy,” “His First Love,” and “Nobody Loves Me.” In London “Wee” Georgie is called the “Peter Pan” of vaudeville for he’s the little fellow that never grew up. Lots of theatregoers who remember him years ago say he looks the very same now as he did then—only he’s a bit more mischievous and ever so much more delightful. The specially-selected company of international vaudeville • supporting the star includes: Harold , Waldron (London’s most popular humourist); from, the Moss Stoll theatres are the Aldor.Trio (expert trapezists); an act of delight and cleverness is Frank’s canine statuary. From the most exclusive corners of the theatrical world comes Marie Lawton, with her piano and harp. The dancing violinist U Jay Whedden, entertainer and composer; everything he does is original. The box plans open this (Monday) morning at the Bristol for seven nights and two matinees. KING’S THEATRE ‘“TOO MANY KISSES.” . “Too Many Kisses” is a picture that is outstanding in merit and attractiveness. The film is chock full of interesting situations. It abounds in humour, arid through it like a sparkling stream flows a delightful romance. The picture opens with Dick Gaylord working hard in his father’s office in New York City. Gaylord. senr., thinks his son pays too much attention to women and not enough to business, so he ships him aboard v presumably in search for an unknown valuable metal —in reality to make him forget about his many girl friends for a while, and perhaps get a little work out of him. Immediatelv upon his arrival in the little town of Potign.v, in the Pyrenees. Dick meets and falls in love with the beautiful Yvonne Hurja, while fiitnmons, a faithful old fellow sent by Dick’s father to keep the boy out' of trouble, does his best to break up the affair. More interested in young Gavlord, however, is one Julio. He claims Yvonne, and . even has Gaylord kidnapped and carried a captive to the mountains, while he goes about the love-making with Yvonne, who despised him. Dick escapes and appears on the sefene. Then follows one of the most realistic fights ever screened. It abounds in thrills, and in turn the combatants gain the upper hand until Dick finally emerges victorious. Having settled his rival he carries the girl off in triumph. A finer selection of smaller films is shown, while the music is of a high standard. EMPRESSTHEATRE AN ORIGINAL PICTURE. “The Lover of Camille,” which is an adaptation of Sacha Guitry’s great play, “Deburau,” provides a fascinating portrayal of some of the suffering which the refulgent footlights transform into an' apparent sphere of romance. The story tells of .a great actor who falls in love with a woman who admired him. The woman leaves him for another man, and tho actor is despondent. He leaves the stage, but is persuaded by the lady to 'go back and he does. He finds strength in the stage tradition, “The Show Must Go On,” and hiding his broken heart behind the grinning mask of the clown, he coaches his son, Charles, to take his place before the great public which had raised Jean Gaspard Deburau to the pinnacle of fame and also dashed him down to the depths of despair. The picture, besides a first-class ‘cast, possesses the qualification of disposing of -tense dramatic scenes with creditable relief. Monte Blue does the work of the disillusioned lover, and Marie Prevost is Camille, “The Lady of the Camellias.” Harry Beaumont directed this classic of the screen. In the supporting cast are Willard Louis. Winifred Brvson, Pierre Gendon, Brandon Hurst and Carlton Miller. QUEEfTSTHEATRE “AS A MAN DESIRES.” “As a Man Desires” is a glamorous and thrilling tale of the South Sea Islands. Milton Sills and Viola Dana are the leading players, and there is a good supporting cast. Sills established himself as a screen star of the first magnitude by hit work in “The Sea Hawk,” and he easily lives up to this reputation here. He leaves nothing undone to'complete the realism of his transition from gentleman to brute, then hack ,to the sphere of gentleman again. Miss Dana’s work is equally as Vivid and sure. There is a strong supporting programme. The box plan i 3 now open at the Bristol. “The Ten Commandments” will he shown for one week onlv, commencing Friday week. July 24th. Matinee performances will be held every day at 2.30. On account of the reception given this mammoth production on its last two soasons, intending patrons would bo well advised to book at the Bristol where the box plan is now open for the entire season.

HIS MAJESTY’S CHANGE OF PROGRAMME TONIGHT.

Another new musical playlet will \e submitted for the entertainment of Fuller patrons this evening by F. Gayle Wyer and his Band Box Revue Company, entitled, “When the Cat’s Away.” This is a real rib-tickling comedy, with Mr Wyer happily placed as Reg Worthington, one of the boys, who flirts audaciously with two Jewesses, Mrs Wazzi Long and Mrs Izzy Short. The husbands of these two respectable ladies appear unexpectedly on the scene, and their remarks, as they secretly watch their flirtatious feminine halves, will keep their hearers convulsed with laughter. As the husbands the comedians of the company have big opportunities for keeping the ball of fun rolling . merrily, and the rest of the company give ample support. An outstanding feature of the show will be the pretty ballet group with their exquisite fracking schemes. The latest acquisition to the vaudeville programme is the act presented by the Three Melfords, a trio of dancers, recently arrived from England. They present, amongst other things, a vision of three fentlemen who have dined not wisely, ut too well. Their burglar’s and policemen’s dances are said to be remarkably well carried out. Another newcomer is Nick Morton, also from the British Isles. Billed as a “talkative songster” he is said to he one of those rare entertainers who can tell a good si fry effectively enough to gain a la igh every time. Keith Wilbur returns to Wellington with a number of new and clever imitations. Arthur and Helena Buckley are to present an entire change of programme, and during the course of their act will hand tp members of the audience printed astrological readings, persed. THEATRE DE LUXE “FORBIDDEN PARADISE.” “Forbidden Paradise” is adapted from tho stage play “The Czarina.” end is a romance of love end intrigue in an unnamed Balkan kingdom. Rod La Rooque,' Adolphe Menjou and Pauline Starke are featured in support of the star. Pola Negri, as the Czarina, has an iron will, meeting all the intrigues of the court with masterful assurance. Underneath it all, however, she is a woman, tempestuous, elemental. Adolphe Menjou, the chancellor, is her faithful ally; Rod la Rocque, as Alexei, ie a young officer in the army. He discovers a plot to overthrow the Czarina, and rides to warn her. The conspirators are sent to prison, and Alexei she rewards with her favour and advancement. They fall in love, but difficulties ensue. Alexei is thrown into prison and is a doomed man. The solution of the difficulty comes suddenly, dramatically, and Alexei is pardoned, restored .to the aririy. and united to Anna again. As the Czarina, Pola has a role which offers her every emotional opportunity. Gorgeously gowned, bejewelled, queen of hearts sb of a kingdom, she is given a part which only her tremendous personality could adequately sustain, and succeeding she has produced a picture which no follower of the “silver sheet” should miss. In addition there is a strong supporting programme. The De Luxe orchestra under Mr L. D. Austin, renders delightful music. “THE LOST WORLD” Surely the ingenuity of .those engaged in the making of motion pictures can go no further than it has done in the adaptation of Sir Arthur Conan. Doyle’s story of romance, love, and adventure “The Lost World,” which commences a season at the De Luxe on Friday next. The beho]der will: be absolutely astounded when it is flashed on the screen, and will ask, “Is this possible?” The. picture opens showing Sir Arthur at work at his desk writing the dedication, and immediately moves on to the story which takes place in the 50,000 miles or so of the unexplored country through which the Amazon river flows, country in which a dis- i credited explorer affirms live the' pterodactyl, the brontosaurus, the dinosaurus, and other fearsome and huge animals that roamed the earth centuries ago : said to be extinct. The intrepid band of explorers that sets out from London to prove their existence,’ encounters adventures that have never before been witnessed on a picture screen. The cast selected for this noteworthy First National production includes Wallace Beery, Bessie Love, Lewis Stone, Lloyd Hughes, and a supporting company of over 3000. There are numerous scenes with rich humour running through this delightful romance, and as event follows event it keeps the spectator thrilled and entertained throughout its entire showing. Box plana for the season are now on view at the Bristol Piano Company, Aitken’s Book Arcade, or .reservations may he secured by ’phoning 23-080. STRAND THEATRE AN APPEALING PROGRAMME. Beaumont Smith, the foremost Australian producer, commenced making the “Hayseeds” series some years ago, and the success accorded the first picture demanded that he produce others depicting life in the bush, in its humorous aspect. The latest. “Prehistoric Hayseeds,” now showing at the Strand, is said to lie by far the best. He has a very capable cast, which includes Hector St. Clair, Lotus Thomson, and Gordon Collingridge. “There is more to be learnt at college than will be found in books.” and in “Daughters of ToDay,” featuring Patsy Ruth Miller and Ralph Graves, this fact is demon strated with great vividness. What does a country girl going to college for the first time know of jazz, ■ cocktails, cigarettes, and wild motor drives at night? Nothing until she enters the environment of a set whose object in life seems to be to turn the 24 liours of tho clock into perpetual daytime, with rest only when necessary. An excellent programme of music gives zest to the entertainment.