ENTERTAINMENTS: STAGE, PICTURES, MUSIC

New Zealand Times, Volume LII, Issue 12195, 21 July 1925, Page 7

ENTERTAINMENTS: STAGE, PICTURES, MUSIC

• HIS MAJESTY’S SUCCESS OF THE NEW 7 COMEDY. Gayle Wyer and liis brilliant Band Box Revue Company had the house locking with laughter at His Majesty’s Theatre last evening when they presented one of the most hilarious comedies seen for a long time in “When the Cat’s Away.” Gavle Wyer is seen in the part of Reg Worthington, obviously one of the “bhoys,” and his flirtations with two Jewesses, Mrs Jzzy Short- and Mrs AVazzi Long, are of a very audacious character. The two husbands come on the scene, and seeing how their wayward partners are smitten they lay low for a while, and their antics during the eavesdropping and spying are too funny for anything. Of course the Jews are the comedians of the company, and their ready wit and pigeon English keep the audience convulsed. The scene takes place in a cabaret, and the dancing in the limelight was very effective. The dresses, too, lent themselves to the many picturesque scenes, and the choruses went with a real swing. The leading parts were taken by Mr Gayle Wyer, Messrs Sam AVard, and Walter Cornook, the two Jews, and Miss Elsa Scott and Miss. Verti Benson, as the Jewesses. Miss. Dixon’s dancing was particularly charining, but all the ballet girls were deserving of mention. The ‘.■nisical numbers , were bright and racy, the most popular. being Gayle Wyer’s “The Dream I had Last Night,” and Miss Benson in, “A Pretty Girl is Like a Melody” (with chorus), Mr Frank Crowther and. his orchestra played the accompaniments for the musical numbers very ably. In the vaudeville, Arthur and Helena Buckley commenced their last week, in AVellington. At card manipulation he is a master, and the cutting. of a. piece of Indian muslin and joining together again was neatly performed. The lady partner, blindfolded, then -described a number of gentlemen in the audience very accurately; and by a prooess of telepathy described an assortment of articles in the possession of members of the audience. She also cast horoscopes for a number of those.' present, and offered to send a free hordsoope to all sending the date of their .birthdays and a stamped envelope. Keith AA’ilhur, with his clever impersonation of animals, birds, and musical _ instruments, is paying a return visit, and received a hearty round of applause. The Three Metfords, a trio of dancers who have only just arrived from the Old Country, were an instantaneous - first doing a quickstep and then , an eccentric dance, which was a combination'of quickstep and waltz time, neatly and perfectly done. The., burglar scene and the policeman’s holiday were both clever pieces of work, and in the subdued limelight were ; novel in j character. Nick Morton, the talkative songster front the Old Country, gave a couple of enjoyable songs, one being “Captains of Industry,” a take-off of commercial men fond of the lighter side of life, while he shone, as a raconteur, and told several pointed and amusing yams, hew ones, too. It was a very enjoyable programme all through, and. will he repeated every evening during the week. QUEEN’S THEATRE / MILTON SILLS AND VIOLA DANA. Milton Sills and-Viola Dana, are featured in the glamorous and thrilling picture entitled “As* a Man Desires.”, which is now being screened at the l Queen’s Theatre. Sills - established himself as a screen star of the first magnitude by his 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 spheio of gentleman again. Miss Dana’s work is equally, as vivid and sure; There is a strung supporting programme. The box plan is how open at the Bristol. "THE TEN COMMANDMENTS” “The Ten Commandments” will be shown for one week only, 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 seasons, intending patrons would bO well advlsed to hook at the, Bristol where the boi plan is now open for the entire season. “MERRIE ENGLAND” PERFORMANCE IN WELLINGTON. The concert, version of Edward German’s tuneful and popular light opera, “Merrie England,” will he performed in the Town Hall on Saturday, August Bth. This interesting musical event is the contribution of the Terrace Congregational choir .to the Karitane Hospital appeal, and in view of the popularity of , German’s music and the high reputation of the choir, the production should he highly successful. The choir is under the conduotorship of the well-,, known singer, Mr Len Barnes, who is bringing to bear upon it the fruit of his extensive experience of, opera' abroad. Two pianos will be. used for the accompaniments and incidental music, and will he plnved .bv Miss Gwen Wing Rnd Mr Alec Mill. The soloists will he Mrs Alice Harris, soprano, as Bessie Throckmorton, Miss Lily, Mnekie, contralto, as Jill arid Queen Elizabeth, Mr Arthur Coe, tenor, ,as Sir ’ Walter Raleigh, and Mr Ernest A. Bradshaw, bass, as the Earl of Essex. Mr Bradshaw comes from Christchurch, and will have ample opportunity of introducing his resources to Wellington listeners. The choir, which is in very fine form, will he augmented to a strength of forty-jive for this performance. SCOTTISH PIPERS TOWN HALL WEDNESDAY. When AVilliam Darwin, F.R.G.S., returned to Melbourne and adviaed the people that he intended taking a Lassies’ Pipe Band on a tour of the world, the “wise ones” shook their heads knowingly, and said—nothing. Neither did they do anyiliing, hut others did. Mr Darwin being one of the latter. After two years’ hard work the world’s tour was begun, thus' confounding the critics, and Wellington will have an opportunity of hearing this wonderful combination on AVednesday. Thursday, and Friday, Many members of the band are bedecked with medals won in open competition throughout Australin, including medals for dancing, singing, and elocution. Drum-Major Darwin is the proud possessor of , quite an array of medals, the most valuable one being a present froni the people of Canada for bravery.

“WEE” GEORGIE WOOD VAUDEVILLE AT OPERA HOUSE TO-AIORROW. Commencing to-morrow. AVednesdav evening, at the Grand Opera House for a short season with matinees on Saturdays and Wednesdays is t-lie seventh company of vaudeville from J. C. Williamson theatres in Sydney and Melbourne. all the acts being of international fame having originally been selected by the firm’s representatives in London, New .York, and the Continent. The new' ’company is headed hy the “Peter Pan” of vaudeville, “AA T ee” Georgie Wood, who is assisted by his own company, including Dolly Harmer, Thelma Kurtzman, and Tom Blackloek, all of whom have been associated with the star in his English and American successes. The opening sketch will be “Black Hand George” to be followed du ring the season with “His First Love,” and “Nobodv Loves Me.” “Wee” Georgie Wood 'Comes with a reputation made in the leading theatrical centres of the world. He is recognised in London as one. of the most popular comedians seen in pantomime for years. His return visits to Sydney and'Melbourne proved wonderfully successful. One Sydney critic says: “The Tivoli was packed for the reappearance of Sidney’s favourite artist, “Wee” Georgie Wood. He hasn’t changed a bit, and his remarkable characterisations of a small boy disappointed' in love are inimitable. Georgie took up practically the second half of the programme. and if he had been willing the audience would have gone into the night listening to him; Ho revealed himself again ae a consummate Tartist—a most delightful turn.” The company supporting the star'include the Beau Brummel of vaudeville. Billy Maloney, in up to date steps and songs. A star from the most exclusive corner of the theatrical world' is Marie Lawton with her songs at the harp and piano. “The act is beautiful,” is a. critic’s description of Frank’s canine statuary. From the Moss-Stoll circuit are the Aldor Trio in acrobatic and trapeze/surprises, featuring Marjorie, the world’s youngest sOrriersaulfist. The dancing violinist. Jay AVhidden, is'an entertainer and composer who presents everything entirely original! The whole' programme will be presented on the same' complete Scale as the previous J. C. Williamson shows. A specially selected orchestra is under the baton of Mr A. G. Frost. The box plans are open at the Bristol, for seven nights and) two matinees. THEATRE DE LUXE A SPLENDID PROGRAMME. “Forbidden Paradise” is a romance of love and intrigue. Pola Negri, .as the Czariria, haa an irbn will, meeting all the intrigues of the. court- with masterful .assurance. Adolphe Menjou, the chancellor, is heir faithful ally; Rod la Rooque, as Alexei, is 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," arid' 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 I difficulty comes Suddenly, dramatically, and Alexei is pardoned, restored to the army, and united to Anna again. In addition, there is a, strong supporting .pro.grannn?*!- . s The Do Luxe orchestra under Mr L‘. D. Austin renders delightful music. ' “THE LOST WORLD” ROMANCE OF UNKNOWN. The romance of-exploration, the joy of pitting human strength and romance against nature, the itch for knowledge. What impels them? Whatever it be it is a driving impulse, deep-rooted. And yet, though exploration is as old as the human race, great tracts of the world still remain unknown. Take the map of the world and glanoe at it, say, south of the equator. Here at the head waters of the mighty Amazon, a British expedition is at the present moment examining this vast area, and it is reported that interesting evidences of an‘early civilisation have been discovered, to say nothing of the fossilised remains of the gigantic monsters—the prehistorio dinosaur, brontosaurus.nllqsaurusea, and others that walked this world millions of years ago. It has remnihed for the picture screen to bring these ereatures'back to earth in a picturisation of Sir Arthur Conan Doyle’s stupendous story, “The Lost World,” which commences a season on Friday, July 24th, at the De Luxe Theatre. In the “Lost World,” which has taken bysr seven years to make, .First National has produced the greatest romantic venture ever screened. While a tense love story, designed strictly as screen entertainment, runs through its fourteen thousand feet, “The Lost World” presents a picture of highly scientific value. The prehistoric monsters reincarnated for the film are exactly the same ae those reconstructed by scientists from tbe discoveries among the remains of these monsters. “The Lost World” is unquestionably the biggest picture ever made, and First National are te he congratulated on the faithful picturisation of the most sensational book in literature, the book that aroused tbe comment of the civilised world. The cast of over three thousand is headed bv AVallape Beery. Lewis Stone, Bessie Love, and Llovd Hughes. Earl Hudson supervised the production, therefore picture-goers can rest assured of the whole forming the most fascinating production ever re-: leased in the Dominion. ’ The box plans for the season are now on view at the Bristol Piano Company, Aitken’s Bnok -Arcade, nr reservations can be made by ringing theatre, ’phone 23-080. SING’S THEATRE .“TOO MANY KISSES.” Richard Dix hends the . cast in the above ' very thrilling' picture. The picture opens with Dick Gaylprd working hard in his father’s office in New York City. Gaylord, senr.. thinks his son pays too much attention to women so h-e ships him aboard. Immediately vrx>n his arrival in the little town of Potignv, in the Pyrenees. Dick meets and falls in love with the beautiful Yvonne Huria, while Simmons, a faithful old fellow sent hy Dick’s father to keen the hoy 6ut of trouble, does his best to break np the affair. More interested in vouivo- Gavlord. however, is one Julio. He claims Yvonne. and . oven has Gaylord kidnapped and carried a captive to the mountains, while he £Oos ahoiit the with Yvonne v who despised him. Dirk escapes and appears op the Then follows one of the most rc-nl.istic fights ever screened. Having s*'Tied his rival he carries the girl off in triumph. .A well-chosen selection of other films, if. shown, while the music is of a high standard.