ENTERTAINMENTS: STAGE, PICTURES, MUSIC

New Zealand Times, Volume LIII, Issue 12423, 17 April 1926, Page 7

ENTERTAINMENTS: STAGE, PICTURES, MUSIC

“PRIMROSE” ON MONDAY ! ENTRANCING MUSICAL PLAY. Of “Primrose/* the latest 'J. O. Williamson musical comedy offering to ho seen at the Grand Opera House on j Monday next, interpreted by the Engi lisli Musical Comedy Company, headed jby Margery Hicklin, who will make her first, appearance in Wellington-r-tlie critic of the “Melbourne'Age” writes: Tf ever a comedian had a part made for him, Mr George * Gee has it in “Primrose/* and the popular comedian makes the most of his numerous opportunities. As-Toby Meopham (pronounced Moppaml, he is in the picture all the time. The librettists George Grossmith and Guy Holton have liberally .endowed the part with witty lines and amusing gags, all of which aTe put across in the inimitable Gee ' style. * •

! If only for the reason that it is one | of the best mirth-provokers have seen for a long time, “Primrose” is sure to be a success. But it has other attractions, not the least of them being the sumptuous ’staging and beautiful dancing. The producer and the ballet mistress have'excelled themselves. Remarkable effects are’ obtained by clever arrangements of lighting and colour. A group of girls ’ dressed in oldtime Quaker costumes are suddenly transformed into a negro plantation chorus. Statues painted on a curtain suddenly. come to life. These are examples of the scenic novelties which lift “Primrose” above the average musical comedy. The story is that of Hilary- Vane, a novelist, and Joanr Falls, the leading figures. They fall in love, quarrel and make it up again in at series of tuneiful songs 'and duets. Toby Meopham and Pinkie Peach, Dorothy Lepa (a beauty specialist), also have their little romance, and Lady Sophia I Meopham (Miss 'Rosie le Varde) dis- ' courses on the illustrious .deeds of her ancestors. As Toby explains, the French were swept off the carpet at Orecy by the O’Ceda Meophams. Pinkie Peach is amusingly represented by Miss Dorothy liena. Pinkie serves as an excellent i foil to'Toby’s wit. Miss Margery Hicklin endows '.the character of Joan with the requisite amount of ingenuous charm, and Mr Leyland hfodgßon, as •Hilary, is an appropriately ardent ' lover. Mr Hugh Steyne (Freddie Falls), Miss Reita Nugent (May Hooker), Mr Harry Wotton (Sir Benjamin Falls), and "Mr Jack Testro (Jason) are also ' prominent in the fun making. Individual dancing honours are shared by Reita, Nugent and Freddie MoKay. _ Of the songs and duets one of the most amusing ■is “Mary Queen or Sootts” by Messrs Gee and Steyne. A quartette, '“Four Little Sirens We, suite by bathing girls, promises to be one of the most popular numbers. The box plana are rapidly filling at the Bristol for th« season. THEATRE,DELUXE BUSTER KEATON IN “THE NAVIGATOR.” One of the greatest humorists in filmland to-day, Buster Keaton, appeared in a Metro-Goldwyn supercomedy at the- De Luxe Theatre last evening. The title is “The Navigator,” which utterly fails to give one any idea of the wealth’ of fun it af-. fords. Time and again the house was rocking With laughter at the comicalities which ripple all through the piece. Last night's houses were composed mainly of adults, who quite let themselves go, But-here and there one could hear juveniles also enjoying the delightful humour, and there should be a good, crowd at ■ the matinee at 2.30 to-dayl The overture, played by the Do Luxe Orchestra, under the direction of Mr L., D. Austin, was Tschaikovsky’s “Mardh Slave,” and b?as a most enjoyable rendering. Bright and sparkling was the entr’acte to the star picture, “Molly’ on the Shore,”- an Jrish reel by Percy Grainger, while the incidental music was selected from various light operas, and was particularly appropriate. , With such a large and efficient orchestra the music at Do Luxe is always a feature. The news topical film and the comedy put the audience in good humour for i big,feature, 1 “Th Navigator.” Deserted almost at the altar, Rollo Treadway uses his honeymoon tickets, and sets out on a trip to forget his sorrows. Unfortunately he takes the wrong ship, and hoards a vessel marked out for destruction by Central American revolutionists. ' By accident ' the girl who refused tofmarry him is also aboard when the wreckers cast off the= lines df the- Supposedly empty ship. The liner drifts to sea, misses the rocks . and wanders aimlessly/over the ocean. Rollo and the girl try' 1 to navigate the vessel, hut are not very successful, and the ship comes to a cannibal isle < and grounds. Rollo g overboard in a diving suit to repair a leak, and the’ ’ cannibals" capture the girl. Rollo ‘ rescues her, and they are about to' bo recaptured by the natives, when a sqb- 1 marine appears suddenly itnd they are ' sijyed. ' : ’ “The Navigator” comedy hit j of tho year. The principal Actors are ; Buster Keaton; a girl, Kathryn McGuire; and the “Navigator,” a big c ocean-going liner. The three get to- ] gether out at sea, when Bustop and s the girl, the only people on the'drift- i ing vessel, out of necessity try .their c hand at navigation and sundry'other a duties of the sea. The, results emt bp h imagined dimly, but by no means com- T pletely, for the frozen-faced comedian. )’ brings to bear on the situation tho " most original bunch of gags ever !•’ thought out. Each’ ono is carved ex- 1 quisitely out of a rippling laugh. u STRAND THEATRE t HAROLD LLOVD IN “HOT li WATER.” " After -having played to capacity !’ houses for a week at the Empress Thelitre, Harold Lloyd’s latest comedy, j, “Hot Water,” has now been tran§? ■, ferred to the Strand Theatre where it opened yesterday. In this film Har- c( old Lloyd is seen as a . confirmed btich- p elor, who swears that he will never fall for a pair of soft eyeß. But >at this point Fate takes a hand in the proceedings, and throw’s a monkey ; r wrench into the smooth-running rat- p chinery of his existence. , The monkey wrench is an irresistibly charming one, in the person 'of Jobyna Ralston, - than whom there is no fairer in this land of beautiful women. The result is, that poor Harold’s dream ot a life of single blessedness fades into darkest oblivion. After a glorious honeymoon, he finds that there are many thorns along tho primrose path SJ ! of lore. These are presented in this grent comedy which is a veritable jf scream. i Also screening is “Before Mid- ’“J night,” a .clever mystery story show- y ing how "a “live-wire” detective ran (C down a crooked one, and in doing so won a beautiful girl. There is a ( n good supporting bill and excellent ( b music by Mr H. Averv’s orchestra. s 0 Patrons are advised to book their S.l seats. Oj

AT HIS MAJESTY’S “ANY OLD THING” AND VAUDEVILLE. The final presentation of “Any Old Thing,” the popular .Phil Smith revue, will, take place at His Majesty’s Theatre to-night. This revue is a “potpourri” of mirth, beautiful settings, and many entrancing numbers by the vocalists wlioj in this company, are particularly strong. Peggy Pcate is at her best in “Amorella.” a lilting Spanish number. Robert Raymond’s rendering of .“Pale Moon,” sung in a picturesque setting is a great hit in the show. Phyllis Nicholson and Nellie Deane are valuable members of. this talented company. Nat Hanley has the audience rocking in their seats whenever he enters. .William Green gives a good rendering of “Bachelor Days,” and is good in the sketches. Phil Smith it the life of the show. When he entWs as “Birdie” in search of a man to love “her,”.he has the audience shrieking with laughter. His coyness and the frequent use of the lip stick is about the best piece of acting Mr Smith has ever done. The Smiling Six are better than ever this week, and their dances are beautiful.

\ In the vaudeville half of the programme a .welcome reappearance is made by. popular Joe Brennan and Ida Newton m clever comedy and dialogue. Lesley Elliott proves just as popular as ever in songs at the piano. The Rev. Frank Gorman, “The Singing Parson," is heard in Borne new numbers, and the Oarthy Brothers present'a novel dancing and comedy turn. ), t There will he a spdwak matinee at 2.30 p.m. to-day. FULLERS’ 1926 MINSTRELS . ' In reference to the. old-time minstrel show, soon to be seen (and hoard) in Wellington, a patroll of Fullers’ Thea,tres writes: —‘'(file wondered if the resuscitation of the nigger minstrels would be a success. Now, when one sees the reception accorded the Old Time Fun Showe at Fullers’ Theatre, one can wonder no longer. Like a skyrocket the performance starts off with a bang. The curtain goes up on a company of black-faced old-time performers, but there is an up-to-date touch in the addition of Lvnn Smith's Jazz Band. At the back of the stage the musicians stand arrayed in white and black, with a touch of scarlet on 'those ruby lips.’ That the innovation is a success is proved by the reception given. It Is a wonderful show, and it will ■ be an instantaneous success in your city or town —make no error about thaj, Tell the world it’s one of the greatest shows ever seen!’’ „ •

“ ' "SO THIS IS MARRIAGE!” BIG' FEATURE AT THE KING’S. ' It seems that the beauty and grandeur of Biblical stories is at last recognised by screen producers. In the film “So This Is Marriage,” a shrewd 1 study of married life as lived to-day, ■ which_ has commenced a season at'the - King’s Theatre, the experiences of a k modern ycrtmg couple are told, with - an interlude in natural colour pliotoi graphy to illustrate the Bible story - of how Bath-Sheba betrayed Kef hus--3 band through desire for David, and - the punishment meted out by God. All the magnificence of ancient 1 Babylon are shown, and with t}ie ex- . travagantly clad figures of the Old 5 Testament, the modern .story is quite j a contrast. ’ j It tells of Peter Marsh, whose means t are somewhat limited, And who mar- , ries Beth Merry, a girl of extravagant' tastes. He asks her to econo, mise and she is willing, but in reality | she does not know' the meaning of 1 the -word. Consequently their affairs ’ approach- a crisis, aggravated by the * fact that a .wealthy bachelor has )be- * come interested in Beth. Peter’s ■ jealousy finally drives Beth away, but " he has misjudged the bachelor, who 1 points out to her the error of her 1 ways. ' ‘ , . , , > Thb picture, which is supported, by • a g|ood comedy, and a pictorial re- : view, is screened in the best ■ surroundings. The music, stayed by • the select orchestra under Mr A. Jti. i Jerome, is a feature,, while the lighting at the overture and entr acte add i a, most enjoyable touch to the whole t entertainment. , , . [ This programme will be screened tor i a weak. ’ 1 ________ t THE WONDER DOG GREAT NORTH-WEST PICTURE. Two star pictures are featured on the change bill at the Empress Theatre. First there is a gorgeously exeiting melodrama of the trackless north called “Tracked in the Snow Country, which features the wonder dog, Rm-lm iin, and also Mitchell Lewis, the . rugged outback actor. Secondly there is shown a four star triumph under title, ine Trouble With Wives,” a fine combination of smart story, good acting and intelligent'direction. ; “Tracked in the Snow Country” is. one-of those surefire melodramas ot the liar North in which the amusementseeking public have been showing keen interest for many years. There e the old miner with the beautiful daughter and his faithful dog living near a fabulously rich gold mine he has discovered. There is the handsome young fforest ranger who is in love with the daughter. And there is the villainous halfbreed who is plotting to weal the mine for himself; —and has unholy designs upon the daughter. _ In “The'Trouble With Wives” thero v is a complex of domestic blundering. The story, written especially for the screen, is a comedy of ilewly married life* AS tho wife, Florence Vidor waiit3 only to he left alone with her husband, to sit before the fire with him and memorise the days of their courtship. But someone is always taking t&e joy out of lile, and in this instance it’s not strange to relate, the mother-in-law and one of Hyatt s old, college chums, A 1 Hennessy (Sterling). Things take some straightening • out., tool All things considered the Empress is this week showing a programme equal in standard to that of any in the city. The sheer variety is worth the money.

ORGAN RECITAL ;

Mr Bernard F. Page (city organist) will give hie usual weekly organ recital at the Town Hall to-morrow (Sunday) evening, and the programme has been arranged as under: —Preludio (from oth Sonata for violin), by Corelli; Fantasia and Fugue in A Minor, by Bach; (a) Lento, (b) Andantino in E Flat, by Cesar Franck; Fantaisie (Op. 101), by Snint-Saens; Cortage (from Suite for Strings), by Debussy; (a) “Twilight at Sea,” Qp. 89 (No. 2), (b) “Tho Feast of, the Cherry Blossoms,” Op. 89 (No. 3), by Niemann; Symphonic Poem) “Danse, Macabre,” Op.* 40, by S'aiiit-Saena,

J. C. WILLIAMSONS’ PANTOMIME COMING TO OPERA HOUSE. J. C. Williamson’s pantomime, “The New Aladdin,” will be staged ut the Grand Opera House, commencing on Wednesday, April 28th, i and for eight nights only. This pantomime was presented at the Palladium Theatre, London, where it broke all English records for pantomime. Mr Ernest Rolls, the producer, has staged it for J. C. Williamson, Ltd. An unusually attractive cast has been secured by J. C. Williamson. Ltd., including Bruce Green, as Widow Twankey, Gus Bluett as Wishee, Floie Allen as Aladdin, Roma Phillips, Have LofPman, William A. Hassan, Reg. Roberts. The twelve "Wonderful Williamson Girls in a thrilling sc£na and the El Radiants in an electrical novelty, and others. The fourteen scenes v,*i)l incluite many spectacles and features including several specialities wbicji have been brought from England and America. Miss Minnie Everett will have charge of the dances and ballets, - ths musical director is 1 Harry Burton, and the stage pictures have been designed and painted by W. Coleman, w„ Coleman, Jr., and Geo. Upward. Box plan opens at’The Bristol Piano Company on. Wednesday, April 21st.

PARAMOUNT THEATRE “THE KNOCKOUT.’’ ■ Before an enthusiastic audience at the Paramount Theatre last night was presented '‘The Knockout” starring the screen’s strong, silent hero, MiU ton Sills. The film is essentially one belonging to the great “out doers” and the settings are magnificent. Sandy Donlin {Milton Sills), after winning the world’s light heavyweight title, is told ho will never fight again because of a torn ligament in his right arm.- Barred from the ring by his injury, he accepts a position as. manager of the north woods lumber camps of J. Van Dyke Parker, millionaire lumberman. Parker, ignorant of tho injury to Sandy, has hired him thinking his fighting ability will aid him in a crooked scheme to take the timber property of John Farot. Parker holds notes which Farot will not 'be able to pay unless be can get his logs to the mills. Parker plans to jam the logs and place Farot in his power. But one day* while Sandy is at the Farot cottage, Parker’s men dynamite the dam where Farot’s logs are stored. They crash through the dam and iam in the riter where they will be held a year l because 'of lack of water. Sandy finally uses his injured right and Black jack is whipped. | ■ Learning of Parker’s scheming, Sandy decides to fight again to raise money to meet Farot’s notes. Sandy is taking a terrible whipping in the ring. He is knocked down and , is taking the count when the sudden appearance of Jean brings him to his feet and under the spell of her encouragement, he knocks his opponent out. As he steps from tho ring Jean removes his gloves and folds him in her afgis. Farot is saved and Sandy has won-a lifetipie of happiness. Lorna Duveen, aB Jean, and John Kobb as Black Jack, 'are excellent in their respective parts. Tho supporting bill includes • a “Graphic,” £ “Felix Cartoon,” and a “Canadian Scenic.” The orchestral items, especially the overture and the entr’acte, are a feature of the programme.

QUEEN’S THEATRE “•Wages for Wives.” One of the funniest comedy-dramas screened in Wellington for a long tune is “Wages for-Wives,” the Fox screen adaptation of Guy Bolton’s Broad wav stago success, “Ghiclccnfeed, which commenced 'a popular season at the Queen’s Theatre last i evening. Every laugh is clean, and the laughs oome m bunches. . ~ “Wages for Wives” is a highly entertaining picture and it contains a sugar-coated moral which r»oy ho taken or left alone, as the , spectator prefers. The plot has to do with the family hanksroll,'and whether it should be divided equally or doled out by the theoretical lord and master of the household. Jim Bailey, portrayed by Claude Gillingwater, is one of those husbands who feel that, since they earn the money, they should also handle it without question. His wife accepts his views, also the dollar or two which he chooses to allow her on pay-day. However, his daughter (Jacqueline Logan) is convinced that that plan is all wrong, and she devotes' the whole picture to convincing others, including her own husband, • that it is wrong. How she does it will he made clear when one sees the picture. Many of the situations are sreamingly funny, and Borzage has shown a master hand an> developing the humorous possibilities. To David Butler. as the village wit, falls the burden of the comedy in his portrayal of a typical small, town wisecracker. However, Dan Mason runs him a close secoitd as Old Tevis, the station agent. Others in the cast are Margaret Livingston, Znsu Pitts, Earle Foxe, Margaret Seddon, '■ and Creighton Hale.

■ ' An excellent' supporting programme is also screened, and includes the latest topical gazette and a mirth-provoking comedy. A Bpecial attraction is the delightful musical score submitted t>y the Queen’s Select Orchestra, under the baton of Miss Eileen Dennehy. v ORPHEUS MUSICAL SOCIETY CONCERT CHAMBER ON -TUESDAY. Henry Hadley, the great American composer, has many successes to his credit, but no work of his has 6uch an appeal as “The New Earth;’’ which is to be sung by the Orpheus Musical Society on April 20th in the Concert Chamber. Written after tlio Great War to the memory of the fnl-y len of the nations, it ends with a great note of triumph of Life after Penth,-‘‘the song of the Marching ’Ten of the World.” In addition to this work “The May Queen” by Sterndalo Bennett will be given. This is, light in character hut with haunting melodies. Patrons of ,tho last concert will remember the fine singing by the chorus under the baton of Mr Len Barnes, and they are assured of a performance of the sauie excellence . on this occasion. Good soloists and good pTanists will help to make the concert a notable one. The plan is at the Bristol.

NEW PRINCESS THEATRE

DOUBLE FEATURE PROGRAMME. At the New Princess Theatre last night, was presented “Lost and Found,” a romantic and dramatio film of the South Seas, told in. a daring, straightforward manner. The romance, the beauty, and the drama of the South Sea Islands make this great moving picture story one of the .most thrilling and entertaining screen offerings of the year. It is the first big motion picture to be filmed in thd real South Sea Islands, and it will anjaze the audiences with its originality and daring.

The story concerns the fate of a Captain Blackbird, a) well-known figure in the South Seas, who daresjtnany things to regain his wife and' daughters, who have been taken from him. He saw a girl dance beneath the South Sea moon! And then he graved l a thousand perils to win his love-princess from the most powerful and cruel chieftain of the tropic wilderness. A flaming love drama of the romantio South Sea islands! Pauline Starke has the stellar role. Others in the cast of “Lost and Found” are House Peters, Antonio Moreno, William V. Mong, George Siegmann, Rosemary Theby, Mary Jane Irving, and Carl Harbaugh. \Also screening is “Marry Me,” the story of a girl who waited for her lover and then found happiness with another. Florence Vidor is the heroine of this comedy drama of mistaken identity. As Hetty Gandy, a school teacher, she is waiting for ono John Smith to come in answer to her note accepting his proposal. But the egg on which she has hastily written tho message was received by the wrong .John Smith after it had been in cold, storage for seven years. He wanted to win a ease against storing eggs so long, so lie hunted up Hetty. She thought he was tho John ■Smith and prepared to marry him. Then the fun begins. Miss Vidor is supported by Edward Horton. There is a good supporting bill, and, in addition No. 4 group of the Shingle. Contest is being shown,. The orchestral items are a feature of the hilL ‘

“THE DEVIL’S DISCIPLE” The Repertory Plays Club, which was the first organisation to be formed in Wellington for the purpose of producing standard plavs by modern authors, has selected Bernard Shaw’s fine drama, “The Devil s IDiscipiine,” as its first effort. This will be given in the Town Hall Concert Chamber on Thursdny. Friday, and Saturday of next week, and should secure the support of all devotees of/the drama and admirers of Bernard Shaw. Several ivell-known performers are included in the cast. The box plan for the season is now open at the Bristol. This production is under the, direction of Mr A. S. Warwick.