AMUSEMENTS.

Otago Daily Times, Issue 19529, 11 July 1925, Page 9

AMUSEMENTS.

EMPIRE AND OCTAGON THEATRES. RUDOLPH VALENTINO IN “MONSIEUR BBAUOAIRE.” Those romantic days when people wore periwigs and all sorts of other fripperies have given rise to innumerable talcs, and one of the best-known of these is Booth Tarkington's story, “Monsieur Beaucairo," which was screened at the Empire and Octagon Theatres for the first lime last night. The theme is a favourite one, and Rudolph Valentino plays the title role, and is supported by Bebe Daniels, Lois Wilson, and a host ■of others more or less well known. Into the dissolute court of King Louis XV of France, whore love and intrigue are the chief pastimes, and the unscrupulous Madame Pompadour wields a powerful influence, comes the beautiful Princess Henrietta straight from convent. She falls in love at first sight with the handsome Due de Chartres, favourite of the King. On learning, however, that he is just another of the flirting dandies of the court, she re.puisos his advances. Later, on seeing him perform a great kindness for a servant, she relents and makes a rendezvous with him to try and urgo him to forsake his life of pleasure and make a man of him. Chartres, used to having women forget the proprieties for'him, makes impassioned love to her, and is angry when sho rebuffs him. Madame Pompadour, whom the Princess has openly snubbed, sees that Chartres and the Princess have quarrelled, and maliciously suggests that the King should order them to marry. The King agrees. Although ho knows that ho is in love with llcnriotto, Chartres openly defies the King, and is forced to fight his way out of France. In England, posing as Monsieur Bcaucaire, a barber of the French Ambassador, Chartres comes to Bath. He becomes infatuated with Lady Mary Carlisle, the belie of Bath. Catching Lord Winterset, an English nobleman, sojourning at Bath, cheating at cards, he demands as the price of silence an introduction ot Lady Mary. Disguised as a nobleman, ho attends a ball, dances with Lady Mary, and starts an opeq suit for her hand. Winterset, seeking revenge, sets several professional swordsmen upon Bcaucaire, but they nro beaten off. But he is sorely wounded. Winterset openly accuses him, and he is forced to admit to Lady Mary that he is a barber, and she refuses to have anything further to do with him. Winterset exposes him to everyone, and he is forced to flee from the town, declaring, however, that ho will moot Winterset in the assembly room ot Bath Castle a week later. Elaborate precautions are taken by Winterset to prevent Beaucaire entering the castle, but ho eludes them all. He is pleading with Lady Mary when Winterset enters. Before they can remove Beaucaire, the French Ambassador comes into the room and tolls him that the King has pardoned him and sanctioned his return to France. His identity as the Due do Chartres is revealed to the discomfit of Winterset, and the humiliation Of Lady Mary Carlisle. Returning triumphantly to France, Chartres immediately seeks Henrietta, begs her forgiveness, and everything in the garden is lovely. An appropriate musical programme Is played by the two orchestras —the Otapon Concert Orchestra and the Empire Grand Orchestra. QUEEN'S THEATRE. “Love’s Wilderness” is the title of the First National Production, which made its initial appearance at the Queen’s Theatre last night. Corinno Griffith plays the part of an old-fashioned Southern girl, brought up by two stern maiden aunts'. Miss Griffith’s roles hitherto havo veered from the frail orchid of the society drawing room type to the frayed rose of poverty, but never before have her scenario writers hurled her against the primitive drudgeries of life. And that is where the surprise lies in “Love’s Wilderness.” Led by the vagaries of a restless heart, Corinno is confronted with the hardships of the Canadian wilds. The change iu environment enables the little stat to reveal new channels of histrionic ability formerly suppressed. It affords her opportunity to cast off the languid beauty of wealth and case and lend drastic action to her work. The result has boon that Corinnc enacts perhaps the most tensely dramatic role of her career on the screen. Miss Griffith is supported in “Love’s Wilderness” by Holmes Herbert and lan Keith. Another attractive picture, of an entirely different class, is “The Hurricane Kid,” a dramatic and tense story of the "Wild, Wild West, with Hoot Gibson helping to make it wilder. EVERYBODY’S THEATRE. The change over at Everybody’s Theatre last night was marked by the presentation of an attractive double-feature programme. One of the principal pictures, “Throe Women,” is a dramatic story told in an appealing fashion, and the cost consists of such well-known actors and actresses as May M'Avoy, Mario Provost, Paulino Frederick, Lew Cody, Mary Carr, Willard Lewis, and Pierre Gendron. May M'Avoy, us the wife of the fickle husband, plays her part in charming sincerity, while Pauline Frederick, who takes the role as her mother and former sweetheart to her husband, seems to have been made for the part. Marie Provost, as still another sweetheart, is the perfect vampire type. The plot has unusual complications, -jwhich all wind up to a very dramatic climax. 'The settings in the picture are exceedingly artistic, but havo a simplicity in their very massiveness. The story is of three women, rivals for the love of a man about town, a perfect lover, and an .unfaithful husband. With the revelation that two of the rivals are a mother and daughter, a delicate and intricate .position arises. Low Cody, ns the tempting villain, portrays his role exceptionally well. The other featured picture is “Up and at ’Em,” and there are good supports. DUNEDIN MALE CHOIR. The subscribers of the Dunedin Male Choir in this, the Exhibition year, may anticipate good musical fare in the coining season. The programme for Wednesday next is well balanced. The 150th concert in September will bo a memorable one. The committee, through the generosity of its president (Mr have been able to order a complete score of “The Song of Trafalgar” from Home, and this contains good solo items. It is hoped to perform this beautiful and complete work this year. Recently the ranks of the performers havo been strengthened, and as the men havo been regular in attending rehearsals, the concert on Wednesday should reflect the enthusiasm inspired by Dr Galway (conductor) and Mr ,T. A. Haggitt (pianist). Miss Phyllis West, L.A.8., is the soloist of the evening, and Mr Trevor de Clive-Lowe will play an obbligato on the violinccllo. An instrumental trio is on the programme bv Miss Elsie Ford, L.R.A.M. (piano), Mr M. F, Robilliard (’cello), and Mr Robert. Pettitt (violin), and the latter artist will give a solo. Notice of the first concert of the 29th season on Wednesday next is given in the amusement columns, and subscribers are urged to book earlv. _ Programmes will he on sale at the Bristol on Saturday, and the box plan opens Monday. There are a few vacancies for subscribers.