SHOWS

NZ Truth, Issue 1128, 14 July 1927, Page 3

SHOWS

THE BEST -— AND THE REST =^

• ' * 7 . » ALLAN WILKIE

" WHAT PRICE GLORY "

FULLERS /"*REAT BUOOSBS has been achieved bY the Robert Roberts Company at His Majesty's. Theatre, where it is giving a n entertainment nightly that would be hard to beat. The company is composed of thirty performers, each of whom is a specialist m some form of laughter - making merriment. Judging from the enthusiastic reception that this company is receiving nightly, it is safe to assume that their prospective season of ten to twelve wee k a

<will be to the popular approval. The Bon Bon Company, under , its talented producer, Robert Roberts, has set a standard m vaudeville entertainment that is far and away above the average. The programmes continue to be of a bright, well-varied nature that will disappoint no one.

ALLAN WILKIE is again indubitably demonstrating Hhe popularity of England's master poet and playwright, and it is clear that playgoers m Wellington are. taking the opportunity of this Shakespearean festival by their heavy attendances to prove their pride m the fact that the world's greatest plays are m the English tongue. Following upon the enormously successful "Henry VII." and "Antony and Cleopatra" productions,, Wilkie is reviving some tried favorite plays. Allan's company, augmented considerably since his last visit to the Dominion, by several well-known English artists, has already endeared itself to Wellington playgoers, by its clever individual effort artistically subordinated to teamwork for the sake of the ensemble.

THE BALLET

"I)EADHEAD» raises a homeMJ made potae m acknowledgment of the various little "Smiling Bixes," "Radio Girls" and "Cute Cuties" who form the backbone of most revues which drift into Well-ington—--and the other near cities of the Dominion. They are tireless workers on. behalf of Terpsichore and their riiftlness has many a time saved the soprano's vocal efforts from the bird. May their form be always good. iiiiiiiiiiiiiiiitiiiiiiiiiMiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiniiiiiniiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiMiiiit

REGENT THERE are, per- * haps, many people who have intrigued with the name of Miss Bathie Stuart, New Zealand's own professional screen star, but to-mor-row (Friday) they will have their curiosity appeased. Bathie makes her debut to Wellington Regent patrons, ably assisted by a troupe of Maori maidens m rhythm and dance. Bathie who, by the way, is the only white woman acting on the stage at the present time m m conjunction with Maori maids, had

the unique distinction of performing before the Duke and Duchess of York when on their tour of the north. .' The Regent's pictorial portion of the programme was, as usual, up to a high standard. That popular actress, Madge Bellamy, will show her versatility m the society drama, "Ankles Preferred." ' # • ' * •.....-'

I IFE— its humor, drama and pathos, U this is "What Price Glory." A gripping story of conflict told "with startling realism. The stage play by Laurence Stallings and Maxwell Anderson on which this motion picture version is based took the nation' by storm. It was sincere, vivid, colorful. Director, Raoul Walsh has kept faith with the authors for he. has with uncanny skill translated these humans to the screen— not mere picture puppets, but pulsating men and women who live and breathe, laugh and cry, fight and love — a veritable orchestra of the emotions. And spectacle! There is the background of the war, of course, and yet, "What Price Glory" emerges m the main^as an epic of laughs behind the lines. Here is staged the drama of life, fierce and ugly, beautiful and rapturous, and the whole etched with touches of comedy so naturally funny that it awakens the risibilities to a newer and finer sense of humor.