AMUSEMENTS

Otago Daily Times, Issue 19966, 7 December 1926, Page 13

AMUSEMENTS

OCTAGON THEATRE. The scene of the dramatic story of “The Volga Boatman,’’ now being screened daily and nightly at the Octagon Theatre, is laid in the unhappy land of Russia, in which, so much interest is centred at the present time. The play is staged on a magnificent scale, and abounds in the stirring scenes that accompany a great popular revolution. William Boyd plays the part ot Feodor, the Volga boatman, who is in love with a Russian princess, who in turn falls in love with him. Tne princess comes into his power when the revolutionaries are successful, and he agrees to kill her-, but finds he cannot do the deed. He carries her off. and introduces her as his wife, but when the deception is discovered Feodor is ordered to be shot. He is, however, rescued in the nick of time by his comrades, and it is at his orders that the captured aristocrats are harnessed to a boat and compelled to drag it. There are startling changes of fortune and obstacles to be surmounted, before Feodor eventually finds happiness with hie princess. Appropriate music is provided by the Octagon Orchestra under Mr L. D. Austin. EMPIRE THEATRE. Probably the widest range of characterisation and emotional interpretation ever afforded Norma Shearer is seen in her latest starring vehicle for Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer, “The Devil’s Circus,” the first American production of the Danish director, Benjamin Christianson, which is now being shown at the Empire Theatre. Miss Shearer is presented first as a lonely orphan c.. the brink of womanhood, then transformed from her girlhood by the awakening of love; now as a circus girl in tights and spangles; here the woman of the world, disillusioned, despairing, and lastly as a crippled peddler on the streets, maimed by the act of a woman insane with jealousy. Here is a test for the greatest of actresses, but Miss Shearer, by the convincing fidelity and rare realism of her portrayal, makes light of the task. Her dazzling beauty and quiet strength of character in this role are the means whereby a criminal, both clever and handsome, is brought from the stormy sea of the underworld to the haven of honesty and domestic happiness. It is a simple story, simply told, and therein lies its greatness and charm. Telling of everyday people in the trials and joys that enter into every life, “The Devil’s Circus” has a foundation of sincerity that is in itself a message to the world. It shows the inevitable triumph of right; the eventual happiness of the woman and man who struggled from the depths to the heights. Also in the cast are Carmel Myers, Charles Emmett Mack, John Miljan, and Baby Joyce Goad. QUEEN’S THEATRE. A rollicking, joyous comedy is now being shown at the Queen’s Theatre. It is “His Majesty, Bunker Bean,” a Warner Bros.' classic of tho screen, with Matt Moore as his Royal Shyness. Bunker Bean is a timid clerk who becomes convinced by two cha.rlatans that ho is the reincarnation of Napoleon, and later the reincarnation of an Egyptian king. Once his conceit is awakened, there is nothing he cannot dono one he cannot conquer. “His Majesty, Bunker Bean,” in which Matt Moore and Dorothy Devore are featured, Js founded on the novel by Harry Leon Wilson from the play by Lee Wilson Dodd. Julien Josephson wrote the scenario and Byron Haskins photographed the production. EVERYBODY’S THEATRE. There are two leading pictures in the current bill at Everybody’s Theatre —“A Social Celebrity” and “The Light That Failed.” Adolphe Menjou has the star pare in “A Social Celebrity.” appearing therein as a country town barber who later goes -to New York, as his sweetheart has done before him. It is in the big city that tl,r> suddenly blossoms into a social celebrity, but in the end he is glad enough io get ouck to his own home town. ‘The light That Failed” is a film version of Kipling’s painful story, but it is relieved by a brighter ending than its author do vised for it. PLAZA AND GRAND THEATRES. “The Demon” is the appropriate title ot a typical Wild West drama, which is entertaining patrons of the Plaza and Grand Theatres this week. Jack Hoxio has the title role and earns the name by riding and fighting and shooting like a man possessed. He joins in with a band of marauding outlaws for the purpose of bringing them to justice, and when they discover the real intentions it can readily be understood that things become lively. And all the while the Demon has his eye on the pretty stenographer of the loader of the crooks, and eventually their little romance reaches a happy conclusion. A whirlwind comedy called “Dance Madness also finds, a place in tho programme. COMBINED BANDS’ CARNIVAL. The final act in connection wth the recent combined bands’ carnival will take place tonight at the Kensington Drill Hall, when Miss Thelma M‘Milian, assisted by Miss Marie Osten. will crown the queen of the carnival. Miss Nancy Blaney. Besides the ceremony which partakes of tho spectacular with gorgeous robes, the bands will render music of an attractive nature. This further opportunity of assisting the funds of the four combined bands will doubtless bo taken advantage of by a very large number. ALBANY STREET SCHOOL BAND. An entertainment of a very bright and versatile nature was given before a large audience in Burns Hall last evening. Hie concert was promoted for tho purpose of augmenting the fund to purchase instruments for the Albany Street School Hrass Hand. At tho interval tho president of tho Albany School Association (Mr W. R. Sinclair) presented Miss Thohna M’Millan with a framed life membership certificate of the association. A lengthy programme was submitted, and encores were asked for and responded to in manv instances. ’I he St. Kilda Municipal Danil enlivened the proceedings with several choice selections. These were plaved to tho evident enjoyment of the audience. The following contributed items Mr G. Christie (cornet solo, with band accompaniment), Miss Geddes (violin solo), Miss M Thompson (military dance), Mr Leslie Moller (humorous recitation). Misses L Budge, R. Beal, D. O'Sullivan, and O Scots (Irish reel and Highland reel, with accompaniment by Piper W. Budge), Mr Howie (violin solos), Mr C. H. Russell (monologue), Kaikorai Young Ladies' Club, under tho leadership of Miss P. Hanna (Eastern song and dance and deportment exercises), Mr Leslie Moller (musical monologue), School Band (selection), Mill. Hawkins (recitation), Miss M. Thompson (dance), Mr D. Forsyth, Mr B. Rawlinson, Mr Ferguson, Miss Wallace, and l'x W. H. MaoKenzie (songs).