ENTERTAINMENTS: STAGE. PICTURES, MUSIC

New Zealand Times, Volume LIII, Issue 12363, 5 February 1926, Page 4

ENTERTAINMENTS: STAGE. PICTURES, MUSIC

"THE MASQUERADER”

GUY CATES POST AT GRAND OPERA HOUSE.

Tho dramatic masterpiece, “The Masquerader,” in which Guy Hates Post, tlio eminent American actor,, has created such a furore of success, again attracted 1 a crowded audience on the occasion of the fifth presentation at the Grand Opera House last evening. In the portrayal of the dual representations of the brilliant John Chilcote, M.P., who, in other moments becomes John Loder, h struggling journalist, Mr Post displays remarkable histrionic ability, and makes full advantage of the abundant intensely powerful and highly dramatic situations. Indeed a revelation in dramatic ability, is Guy Bates Post's masterly handling of these dual roles. The supporting characterisations have been excellently cast, and the entire play is stamped with those hall marks of nioety of balance and finesse, which denote the true masterpiece. “The Masquerader” w T ill be presented this evening for the final performance. “THE BAD MAN” TO-MORROW BIG BOOKINGS. Big booking was reported yesterday for “Tho Bad Man” (which will he produced at the Grand Opera House to-morrow night), and for the five nights of “The Green Goddess,” whiqh will be Mr Post's final offering. Referring to the opening performance of “T*he Bad Man” in Auckland, the Auckland “Star” wrote; “Seldom does bn audience . accord an actor Much full measure of appreciation as was given Mr Post last night, when the auditorium rang with continued applause as the second act closed, while the final curtain was the signal For rounds of hand-slapping that brought him bowing to the front of the stage to deliver a happy speech in the broken English which he had sustained throuchout the evening. It was a fitting tribute to the genius of Mr Post, who gave the audience a brilliant and finished piece of character acting.” *

THEATRE DE LUXE

MARY PICTCEOPD IN “LITTLE ANNIE ROONEY.”

Mary Pickford, foremost screen artist, in her new screen feature, “Little Annie Rooney,” a United Artists’ Corporation release, which commences tonight at the Theatre De Luxe, has stepped out of the costume drama role and back into the ragamuffin, hoydenisb, comedy characterisation that so endeared her to the public and won her the title “The World’s Sweetheart.”

The scenes of “Little Annie Rooney” for the most part are laid in the tenement lower East Side district of New York City, and the famous old Brooklyn Bridge has an important role.

Little Annie Rooney is the twelve-year-old daughter of a New York policeman ; leads a band of street urchins in fiercely contended, rough and tumble, biting and kioking liattles with rival gangs; and is secretly and madly in love with a strapping truck driver, tlie pal of her big brother, Tim Rooney. Hor -garb consists of cheap calicoes, much-darned stockings, down-at-the-heel shoes, and, sometimes, a boy’:cap.

Ten different nationalities and races are represented among the lud types in the two score or so youngsters figuring in tlie picture. There also are many animals —dogs and cats, a goat, a pig, and a couple of horses. Lower East Side New York streets and district faithfully are reproduced in the picture. There are streets and areaways littered with old tin cans and all sorts of rubbish. Almost all of tlie picture waa made at the PickfordFairbanks studio, Hollywood. A Pathe News completes the programme. Special music by Mr L. D. Austin and his orchestra will be played during the performance.

“THE IRON HORSE”

GIGANTIC SCREEN PRODUCTION. The Wellington season of “The Iron Horse” is limited to six nights and one matinee on Saturday, 13th instant. Opening on Friday next, at 8, this great screen play will be presented on a 6cale of unexampled musical investiture. A complete ’phone service and telegraph office were established at Comp Ford, Navnda, immediately after tho arrival of Director John Ford and a troupe of actors and technical men - at the location on the Pyramid Lake, Indian Reservation, to film “’Jlie Iron Horse.” Telephone lines running from the company office on tho special train, which houses the company, to all parts of the sets and locations that stretched over a radius of five miles from the director’s office enabled him to keep in close touch with all sections of tho camp, and exercise greater speed in the performance of the many duties incidental to the handling of tho company. Private ’phono* were installed the sections of the cars used by the director and important members of the cast, including Madge Bellnmv, George O’Brion, Gladys Hulctte, Cyril Walling and Fred Kohler.

The telegraph office facilitated wire communications between the studio in Hollywood and Director Ford. Tlie plans will he opened at the Bristol Piano Company and Aitken’s Book Arcade on Monday next at 9,

EMPRESS THEATRE

“THE FIGHTING CUB,” AND “MARRY ME.”

The star feature at tlie Empress Tlwatre is “The Fighting Cub,” a newspaper melodrama. This film, which is packed- full of thrills and ex-citement,-stars Pat O’Malley and Wosly Barry. It is the story of a “cub” reporter who has a taste for adventure—which ho got. Barry plays the “cub,” and it is he who goes to any length to get ft “scoop” for his paper. Included in tho cast ore Mary Carr, George Fawcett, and Mddrod Harris. Florence Vidor is tho heroine of a comedy drama of mistaken identity. As Hetty Gandy, a school teacher, she* is waiting for one John Smith to come in answer to her note accepting his proposal. But tho egg on which she had hastily written the message was received by the wrong John Smith after it had been in cold storage for seven years, lie wanted to win a case 4 ngainvt storing eggs that long, so ho hunted up Helty.’ She thought he was “the” John Smith, and prepared to marry him. Then the fun begins in dames Cruzeh? Paramount picture. “Marry Me,” which will come to tlie Emprc-o: Theatre to-duy aa another feature. There will also he a comedv, a gar.ctle and a specially selected musical scoro.

HIS MAJESTY’S

REVUE AND VAUDEVILLE. -StiH playing to crowded houses at His Majesty’s, is “Chuckles,” tho latest revue presented by the Moon and Morris Company. Syd. Burchell, Ena Gordon. Nell Fleming, and William Bcresford are all heard to advantage in various numbers, Nell Fleming scoring a distinct hit in her solo, “Has Anyone Got a Little Yaller Dogi”’ in which she appears as a child iu rompers. Georgo Moon is of course George Moon under all circumstances, which is to say that ho ia a master of knockabout comedy, and as the hopeless lover of tho fair Mnrgherita, gets in some of his best work, whilst his fortune-telling act is pricc-

Tho first half of the programme opens with Mao Ragne, a talented dnnfccr who established herself immediately as a firm favourite with the audience. The Janetski Trio were as . popular as ever in their marimba musical specialities. Phil Lopaz, a newcomer, is most popular and amusing. The Romano Bros, in their poses reoresenting famous statuary groups maintain their place in popular favour. Sam Stern, the famous Jewish comedian, had to submit to repented recalls—his songs, “The Jew Bov Back from tho Trenches.” “She Was Wonderful,” excellent. The Littlejohns, seen in a dazzling and spectacular act, complete a first-rate bill.

The final performances of the current programme will he given this evening, and on Saturday evening, and there will ho a special matinee on Saturday afternoon.

KING'S THEATRE

“EXCUSE ME!” Norma Shearer, Conrad Nagel, Renee Adoreo, Bert Roach, and Walter Hicrs head tho excellent light .comedy cast selected to enact the multitude of thrilling and humorous situations which comprise Rupert Hughes’s “Excuse Me!” a Mctro-Goldwyn production to ho aeon at the King’s Theatre to-night. The picture was directed by Alf. Goulding. It is the story of a young couple who want to get married in a hurry, but are frustrated in their design by a sudden paucity of parsons. This is explained by tho fact that they are travelling on 9. trans-continental flyer which lias only one minister on its passenger, list. And this parson mysteriously disapTioars at the beginning of the trip. There are one or two other things to upset tho nearly-married couple, culminating in a train wreck. It is not until then that the parson reappears to perform tho ceremony. Written in the aptbor’s best style, “Excuse Me!” is a brilliant piece of entertainment, handled deftly and pleasingly by its talented personnel. Included in the programme is a Patho News, screen snapshots, a Now Zealand scenic, and a cartoon. Mr A. H. Jerome’s orchestra (shortly to be increased) will be heard hi‘most tuneful numbers.

AT THE TIVOLI

DOUBLE FEATURE BILL.

Commencing to-night ht the Tivoli Theatre is “The Forbidden Paradise,” starring l’ola Negri. Based upon incidents in tli© life of Catherine the Great of Russia, “Forbidden Paradise” a story of a series of love affairs. The queen in the story', with no will save her own to question her acts, amused herself by. a series of affairs with tho handsomest men of her court. Each new conquest was signalised by the pinning of a decoration on the tunic of tho young man to signify that he was then and there admitted to the particular favour of his queen. “The tlie two pictures forming a particularly strong attraction. Ricardo Cortez has his first real chance as atl actor in the Paramount picture, *TJie Spaniard.” He has the same kind of role that made Valentino famous in “The Sheik,” and Cortez will make feminine hearts beat even quicker when they see this picture. The Tivoli orchestra will render special music.

NEW PRINCESS THEATRE

TWO FINE FILMS. Commendin' to-night at the New Princess Theatre is ‘"Hie Shock . uneh,,” slnrring 1 lio athletic anrl handsome Richard. l)ix. This is a film. no one should miss. Richard Dix is n young fellow, who does not want to work until he meets the one girl. Ho cots a job on a skyscraper and then finds there is a lot to prevent the building being fmisheu on timo, Ho frustrates the plot and wins tlie girl. • addition there is Anna Q. Nilsson in Half-a-Dollar Bill.” A five-year-old outcast! That’s what two hardened seafaring men found ome night ashore. And because thov dfcln’t know what else to do, they took him aboard tho ship. They didn’t know who he was—their only clue, a half a dollar bill pinned to his clnthinr', and a note that the mother held the other h.nlf and would some day claim him. That was tlie storv that Curtis Renton wrote. And it, has been woven into one of tlie sternest, swiftest enthralling stories of the sea the screen has over had. Also screening is "Swinhad the Sailor,” with Rillv Sullivan, a comedy, a gnaette, ami orchestral items at tho night, performs nces.

STRAND THEATRE

A PROGRAMME OF THRILLS. Coming in the Sfrand Theatre today is* an imnsnal film entitled “On Thin Too.” This film stars Edith Roberts and Tom Moore, and is n s+ory of the mysterious underworld of San Francisco—an underworld that even tho groat, earthcnie’-o f’ouhl not obliterate. There are thrills in plenty and a strong nTideivurront of romance pervrdrs the whol« storv. Tlie second feature is “Hold Y»nr Brnatb.” fnaturire- Dorothv Devore. Thrills, love., (dean mmerlv, and Last fa roe—that’s “Hold' Your Breath.” tlm new Master Picture comedy with a wonderful comedy east.

Dornlhv D-vorc. star of a multitude of eomedies. is a* sivnot ,M,l • bn'MEmr as snda in “Ho'il Ynalh Breath.” the now Master Picture. G a - r«-ortcr FWMbv was a -end bom,,n-. Sbn t-esed tlm v-firdo f n -n and ;d-r,t brni-n h ■'r neck, lmt she mad- i) -rent collator rUo her an infrrviei-.

Th« Bo'-l fr-J-u-e is ‘“Tfi(v ” c(-«rr ; '-'» the over-popular Charlie Chaplin.

DAME CLARA BUTT

JHIRD CONCERT AT TOWN HALL. “The one of the few artists who can fill tlie Albert Hall in London” is the unique reputation borne bv Dame Clara Butt, who, witu Mr Kennerly Rumford, gave her third concert in the Town Hall last evening, and to no one of tlie big audience who listened enthralled to tho golden notes of the great contralto’s magnificent voice, will it appear strange that she \ should thus succeed where others fail. There is in the quality of her singing something which is more than the mere perfection of technique—a warm throbbing vitality which comes : straight from tlie liearc of tlie artist, something which grips her audience and carries them with her on a pulsing wave of emotion and enthusiasm.

Madame Clara Butt was first heard in’ Gluck’s magnificent aria “Che Faro” (Orpheus and Eurydiee), the poignant lament oJ_ urplulus berett of his Eurydiee. nereher wonderful voice had full range for its compass, and she for that dramatic interpretation for which she is justly renowned. Responding to enthusiastic encores this was followed by “Snowdrops,” as simple and heart-searching as the former was magnificent. In “Where the mind is without fear” the noble hymn of aspiration by the Indian poet Rabindranath Tagore, the effect of Madame Clara Butt’s rendering was enhanced oy the organ obligato by Mr Bernard Page, the deep and swelling uotes of the organ being admirably suited to the resonant timbre of the singer’s voice. “A Fairy Went A-Marketing” (Rose Tyleman), a simple little thing, ,the very sweetness of which touched the hearts of all, and “Yonder” (Edward Tecliemacher) followed, the concluding number, in which she was associated with Mr Kennerly Rumford, that perennial favourite, Keys of Heaven.”

Air Kennerly Rumford’s first number was a bracket from Handel’s “Senille” —“Where’er You Walk” and “More Sweet is filial Name.” His best efforts were probably the seachanty “Billy Boy,” and John Ireland’s setting to John Masefield’s wellknown “Vagabond.” “Silver” and “The Rejected Lover” were further numbers in which his excellent voice had full scope, and Tor which he had to respond to repeated encores. Tlie brilliant French pianiste, Marie Antoinette Aussenac, shared in the triumphs of the evening. She is a finished performer, and in such numbers r.s “Nocturne” (Chopin) and “Polonaise” by the same created ‘an immediate impression which was deepened when in the second half she played with rare sympa* thy and feeling Ravel’s “Jeux d’Eaux” and “Pouka Russe” (Racjimaninoff.) *

Mr Roy Ellett was accompanist, and with Mr Bernard Page, contributed not a little to the success of the concert. The final recital will be given in the Town Hall on Saturday night. THE FINAL CONCERT SOME SPECIAL ITEMS. Owing to tho remarkable impression the performance of the “Biblical Songs” (Dvorak) created at last Tuesday night's concert, av.d in response to the numerous requests, Dame Clara Butt will repeat them at the final concert to-morrow night. Other items to be sung by the great contralto will include “Land of Hope and Glory” (Elgar), “The Beautiful Land of Nod” (F. H. Cowen), “Tlie Little Bird” (Franco Leoni), “Ships of My Dreams” (W. Wilkinson Stephenson), and the duet with Mr Rumford, “Dear Love cf Mine” (Goring Thomas). Mr Rumford will include “Largo A 1 Factotum” (Barber of Seville) (Rossini), “Requiem” (Harold Craxton) and “The Two Grenadiers” (Schumann). Mademoiselle Marie Aussenac will plav “Bourree” (Bach), “Polonaise” (Liszt), “Jeune . Fille Au Jardin” (Moinpau), “Tristan and Isolde,” “The Death of Isolde” (Wagner Liszt).

"THE GOLD RUSH”

TRANSFERRED TO THE QUEEN’S THEATRE.

Following on the greatest week’s attendance since the establishment of the De Luxe and King’s Theatres, and establishing a record that is expected- to remain unequalled for a long time to come, “The Gold Rush,” the year’s greatest comedy achievement, enters into its third week in Wellington with this afternoon’s initial presentation at the Queen’s Theatre, showing thereafter daily at 2.30 and nightly at 8. “Tlie Gold Rush” is a comedy drama with .a story of laughter and tears and of hope deferred. A critic says; It is a rugged story with the spectacle of a valiant weakling in search of gold in the biting blizzards of the north. “Tho Gold Rush” is a United Artists’ release, and brings Charlio Chaplin to the topmost peak of his career. This story of the Alaskan gold rush, interwoven with all tho jabbings of fate that well can enmo to one who is typical of life—almost reaching the goal and watching its shadow disappear with the pained expression that only a Chaplin can wear—is a § story crowned with majesty of enterprise and tho futility. This picture of Alaska of bygone days is Chaplin’s greatest picture, tor two reasons: it represents his intellectual and artistic growth fresh from his dramatic triumph, and. secondly, it runs the entire gamut of human emotions, the blended panorama of life, the subtle and vital essence of it, the defeat and the victory and growlh of a soul iu struggle. Iu the role oi hard luck, Chaplin presents the biography of a life with complete understanding and sympathy, “while the pathos and sufferings of the characters are converted into laughter.” Others in a well-selected cast excel in their several portrayals, notably Mack Swain and Georgia Hale. A special programme of music hv this orchestra will be provided. An excellent, supporting pvngramme is promised in addition!' The box plans are available at the Bristol until 5.30 and ;“U' r theatre, telephone 22.331. There ere to he daily matinees at 2.30 imu.

VICTORIA UNIVERSITY COLLEGE

SOCIAL SERVICE CLUB.

A ccmccTl arranged at Ponrua Men tnl Hospital on Tuesday evening liy tho Victoria Coiicgc Social feci vice Clul, '.Vi'S, very mud) nppici mod hy the patients. Tint performers inclju.ed : .Miss A. McDsfvitt (soul-si, Mvs_ Imigt ami Mrs llynn (ukolvlo duo), Ms-s Klivvlo nnd Miss .7. Jnr.obs (dnuco duos Mrs Coo.vo (Mings at Hie l»a»n), Messrs A. ,1. Muzcngnrb (humorous soim'). Jlntlorsby (monologues), I'. (’ooze (songs). C. Mcrville (songs ami imitations), Val Jours (songs), fe. Giant anil Hlinn (violin). 11l addition a »w»; lv-r of enjoyable itcms_ were rvmieroil by tie' members of Kelly’s taniival Orchestra ec.mpnMng Messrs J. nnd A. M-K'.vcn (s.ivojihoiu';), K. Kelly (drums) and W. McKern (violin). Miss A. Duff and Mr JuvUson noted n.s aeeomp.'imsts Tlie organiser 'Vsires to then'.; the following persons who hindtv o I’d vide t im-tor-ri.r transport . Me-M-I L George, L, Tattle. Gibson. Todd Motors, Ltd., Adams, I.td.

ANOTHER PARAMOUNT SPECIAL

GREAT JOHNNY KTXES PICTURE. The patrons of tlie popular Paramount Theatre are being given a rare treat this week in “The Live Wire,” a First. National picture, starring Johnny Hines, that highly popular comedian, and produced bv C. C. Burr Hines gives a splendid account of himself iu this ingeniously humorous comedy and thrill drama. ‘ This clever screen comedian is at his best in this feature, for the action carries him into no end of amusing situations that bring continuous gales of laughter from the audience.

“Ths Live Wire” starts out with a punch when Johnny is seen as tlie star performer of a circus, nnd successfully keeps up tho high tension when the likeable star becomes a knight of the road, and dually makes good as a lamp and power salesman and puts over an amusement park proposition that ultimately is the means of frustrating the villainous: attempts of the “heavy” and winning the girl of his dreams. The audience is kept on edge throughout the entire six reolt, for coincident with the clean comedy vein of “The Live Mire,” the plot is rich in melodramatic moments, while the supporting cast includes such celebrities as Edmund Tfrceze. Purncv Sherry. Flora Finch, and Bradley Barker.