ENTERTAINMENTS: STAGE, PICTURES, MUSIC

New Zealand Times, Volume LII, Issue 12197, 23 July 1925, Page 7

ENTERTAINMENTS: STAGE, PICTURES, MUSIC

“WEE” GEORGIE WOOD A GREAT AUDIENCE DELIGHTED "THE BLACK HAND GANG” Georgia did it. Georgia waa the leader of a little band of wbuld-be desperadoes who called themselves the Black Hand Gang. They were passing thh Eolice station; Georgia had a brick in is hand which was doing nothing, so he heaved it at the policeman. The policeman ducked, a window of the police station got in the way, and Georgia went for, his life. Reaching home He breaks the news gently to mother, asking her out of her love to protect him if the policeman came. A knock at the door, the policeman had come. “Tell him you did it, mother,” says Georgia. In walks the limb of the law, inquires to make sure he has found the right address and people, and then asks Georgie’s mother to buy tickets for the benefit of a policeman’s widow. Georgia, overjoyed at his escape, buys the Tot, tells his mother to give the officer a bottle of beer, and was—in a moment of forgetfulness—almost telling the polioeman What he had done, and that he expected and feared his arrival. “What for?” asks the man in blue. “The wind—oh. I am always wondering what mother will he up to.” Of course it is punctuated with lots _of boyish fun and humour, especially in the highhanded manner in which he tried to talk to bis mother until she brought him back to earth with a sound spanking. The audience entered into the fun with all the zest of youth, and kept roaring with laughter. _ It was the inimitable .Georgie Wood, the world’s greatest little comedian, who made his first appearance in New Zealand at, the Opera House last night, and more than justified the description applied to him as the Peter Pan of vaudeville. His youthful appearance, statui#, voice and singing all lent themselves to ,the tremendous success he achieved, and this comedy sketch is one of the best items in his wonderful reEsrtoire. It is a great 6tudy of English ome life. The Part °f the mother is played by Miss Dolly Harmer, who will probably be remembered in Wellington as “Onr Mary Ellen” in the ‘'Forty Thieves” pantomime with Barry Lupino. She has been with Georgie Wood as his mother for eight years, and Mr ■Toni Blacklock, who plays the pblice,;inan,' has been with Georgia for :‘the same length of time. After the comedy the principal gave "a clever study of the forgetful lad trying to recite,, “This Little Pig Went to Market,” and then: give J. J. Bell’s famous Glasgow character, -“Wee MacGreegor,” in which his performance. with the bhg of sweets made the audience laugh , almost .to tears. To a vociferous encore he gave the recitation “Earthenware,” and as he retired was given a rousing reception. He returned and thanked the public, adding that he naturally felt anxious to please New Zealand people at his first appearance. He had done vaude- . ville in England. South Africa, and America, and Australia, and this was the. end of his vaudeville career. On leaving New Zealand he was returning to England, where he was going into pantomime, and then into musical plays for Moss Empires. ’

The supports include Jay Whidden, from the Palace Theatre, New York, .whose performance on the violin is artistic. humorous and versatile to a marvellous degree. He plays classical masie, Scottish airs, imitates orchestral instruments, etc., with ease, and is a star in his particular firmament. A refined cn tertainment is given by Mms Marie Lawton, an expert harpist and pianist, a particularly beautiful contribution being her song with harp accompaniment, .Gounod’s “Ave Maria.” Frank’s canine statuary, in which he poses in several figures with two white retrievers, makes a delightful and artistic series of studies, for the dogs are almost human in their-pose.and understanding. Billy Maloney, the Beau Brummel of vaudeville, achieved a good measure of success with 1 his patter, songs, and steps, appearing in evening dress and the shiniest of silk hats and swagger stick. A thoroughly enjoyable programme concluded with a number of acrobatic stunts hv the Aldor Trio, in which 'Marjorie is well featured. Some sensational feats are performed on the trapeze, with, some astounding displays of strength. A tribute is deserved by the orchestra, under Mr A. G. Frost, for the first-class accompaniment. SING'S THEATRE LAST NIGHT OF THE RICHARD DIX PICTURE. “Too Many Kisses,” which features Richard Dix, will be screened for the last time at the King’s this evening. TO-MORROW'S ATTRACTION “THE TOP OF THE WORLD.” , A picturisation of Ethel Dell’s widely read story, “The Top of the World,” was recently completed, for Paramount under the direction of George Melford. It will be the main film attraction at the King’s Theatre to-morrow. Anna Q. Nilsson, James Kirkwood, Raymond Hatton, and Sheldon Lewis afe the featured quartette" of favourite players who appear, in the leading roleh, and the strong supporting cast includes Joseph Kilgour, Mary Mersch, Charles Post, Frank Jonasson. ; and Mabel Van Buren. The story is a yivid melodramatic romanoe involving a "girl and two men in Darkest Africa. Briefly it concerns Sylvia Ingleton, the proud and spirited daughter of wealthy English parents. To escape a loveless marriage she runs away to South Africa fully determined to marry Guy Ranger, a childhood sweetheart whom she hasn’t seen for several years. Arrived there, she learns that the, passing years have worked , a great change in Guy. He is a physical and! more? wreck. Helpless and thousands of miles away from home and family, Sylvia is grateful to Guy’s cousin, Burke, who makes her welcome at his farm. Shortly ' afterwards, to .avert malicious gOBSip, Sylvia marries Burke upon the agreed understanding they are to be just pals. What happens when Guy tries to claim her and she finds her heart torn between the old love and the new. and how in the end husband and wife are reunited is dramatically developed in a series of tense, gripping situations that lead to a startling climax before the picture comes to a happy and satisfying, close. A choice array of supporting films have been chosen to accompany this feature including the latest Gazette, an Australian Government film “In and around Launceston,” and an exceptionally funny Christie Comedy “High Gear.” The musical programme to he rendered by the King’s select orchestra, under the baton of Mr A. H. Jerome, has been well chosen. A full orchestral matinee will he held on Saturday at 2.30. The box plans are now open at the Bristol Piano Co., or ring the theatre 22-212.

HIS MAJESTY’S A SPLENDID PROGRAMME. The large audience present at His Majesty’s last evening showed their appreciation’ in no uncertain manner at the splendid programme staged. Gayle Wyer and his brilliant Band Box Revue Company presented one of the most. hilarious comedies seen for a long time in “When the Cat’s Away.” The leading parts were taken by Mr Gayle Wyer, Messrs Sam Ward and Walter Cornock, the two Jews, and Miss E3sa S'cott and Miss Vera Benson, as the Jewesses. Miss Dixon’s dancing was particularly charming, but all the ballet girls w,ere deserving of mention. In the vaudeville, Arthur and Helena Buckley give a splendid exhibition of card manipulation and mental telepathy, while < Keith Wilbur is clever with his impersonation of animals, birds, and musical instruments. The Three Melfords, a trio of dancers from the Old Country, did first a quickstep and then an eccentric dance, which was a combination of quickstep and waltz. Nick Morton, the talkative songster from 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. This programme will be repeated nightly and at a special matinee on Saturday. THEATRE DE LUXE “THE LOST WORLD” A WONDERFUL FILM. In the picturisation of Sir Arthur Conan Doyle’s stupendous story, “The Lost World,” which commences a season to-morrow at the De Luxe Theatre, 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 as those reconstructed by scientists from the discoveries among the remains of these monsters. “The Last World” is unquestionably the biggest picture'ever made, and First National ate to be congratulated on the faithful picturisation of the most sensational hook in literature, the bqpk that aroused the comment of the civilised world. The cast • of over three thousand is headed by Wallace Beery, Lewis Stone, Bessie Love, and Lloyd Hughes. Earl Hudson supervised the production, therefore picture-goers can rest assured of the whole forming the most fascinating production ever released in th«i Dominion. The box plans. for the season are now on view at the Bristol Pi&no Company, Aitken’s Book Arcade, or reservations can be made by ringing theatre, ’phone 23-080. . A NOVRL ILLUSTRATION In Messrs Begg- and Go’s, window is a scene from the story of “The Lost World.” Tn the background is a vol-. cano belching forth lava, and in the’ foreground "are the great prehistoric animals fleeing through the forest before the awfuL stream threateningthem with annihilation." The working model in Messrs Begg’s window is ingenious and well constructed, “FORBIDDEN PARADISE,”, The above jncture which features Pola Negri, will receive its final screening -this evening. QUEEN’S THEATRE , “AS MAN DESIRES.” . Milton Sills and Viola Dana will be seen in the above picture this-even-ing when it will bo screened for the last timq. TO-MORROW'S CHANGE “THE TEN COMMANDMENTS.” “The Ten Commandments,” Paramount’s remarkable production returns to the Queen’s Theatre for its third' season, commencing to-morrow. This massive picture has broken records all over New Zealand and Australia. A celebration was held recently in Sydney at the Prince Edward Theatre, when “The Ten Commandments” reached its 400th screening there, thus marking the advent of the picture to the first rank in +he world’s long-run raoe. It is interesting to note the other number of performances, stage and pereen, which' have. established theatrical histotYs The stage production, of, “Sally’ ran for 208 performances at Her Majesty's. Theatre, Sydney, during 1923, “Our Miss Gibbs” was in the same .theatre for 256 performances several years prior to that. “The Sheik*’ stayed in the Globe Theatre, Sydney, for 33 screeninns during IU’SKL and this held the palm rmtil the advent of “The Ten Commandments.** - Owing to the tremendous 1 business that iB assured, intending patrons would be. well-advised to reserve at the- Bristol, the ; plans now being open for the entire .season. Performances will: be held daily at 2.30 and 8 o’clock, scornsifcOTfCEßi LADIES’ PIPE BAND. . The first concert of the Australian Scottish ladies’ world tour pipe hand was given in the Town Hall last.night before a moderate audience. There was an escort to the hall of the local pip e band, and the head of the society mad© an opening speech. A great deal of talent was displayed by the members of the band. In addition to playing the bagpipes each girl must sing, dance or recite, so there is plenty of variety in the programme., . „ The piping and dancing waß excellent all through, and the programme was diversified by other items, including songs, Piper lHojra, Ash being; the star vocalist. Some humorous recitations by Drummer Bates,, who has a deep and resonant voice, were much applauded. Piper Jean Madson did someclever step dancing, and Piper Gertie Oliver (champion Highland, dancer of Australia) was remarkably good. Drum-Major William Darwin made a short speech, outlining the aims of the party, which is an educational tour of 75,000 miles. All the performers, he said, were Australianborn, and of Scottish descent. The band was originated in war time, and did much voluntary work for the soldiers and other good causes until it was decided to go far afield. The drum-major then gave a spectacular turn in staff swinging. # A very stirring item was a drum solo by Drummer Doreen Scott with Prum--Bergeant Lavburn and Drummer Yeats. Reels, strathspeys, and jigs, and some fancy marching were also well done by members of the company, who looked verv well in their Scottish dress with black velvet tuuics, green, red and tar-

tan kilts and bonnets. Other performers were Pipe-Major Jessie Young and Pipe-Sergeant Dolly Macpherson. There will be another concert tonight when it' is to be hoped that the weather conditions wills be more favourable.