AMUSEMENTS.

Otago Daily Times, Issue 20252, 10 November 1927, Page 15

AMUSEMENTS.

EM EIRE THEATRE. Probably the most versatile ami vivanous of ab screen comediennes, Colleen Moore, adds further to her popularity among pict me-goers by her acting m “ Orchids and Ermine,” which is this week’s principal attraction at the Empire Theatre Cast in the leading role, Miss Moove brings out all the humour i.. the piece without at any time straining For effect, and as Pink Watson, -he humble yet fiercely independent little ,-wifchboard attendant in a cement yard she gives one of her best characterisations. Pink dreams of the day when she will meet the man of her heart, but she is determined that lie shall be able to provide her with every luxury, and especially orchids and an ermine coat. This man. she is convinced, will never be found in the humble environment of the cement yard, so she determines to better her position. To this end she applies for and obtains a position in the telephone bcoi;i of a huge New York hotel, where all the wealth and beauty of the city assemble. Here, she makes up her mind to see life and take what the fates send her. She becomes friendly with the girl in charge of the hotel (lower stall, who has assumed the high-sounding title of Ermyntrude de Vere and who also has ambitions. She takes Pink under her wing and together they have several adventures on the fringe of New York's society world. Staying at the hotel is Richard Tabor, a millionaire, who, to escape the unwelcome attentions of strangers, has temporarily exchanged identities with his valet. Ho falls in love with Pink, who, imagining him what he pretends to be, returns his love, and consents to marry him. After the wedding, Tabor reveals his true identity, but whilst they are buying Pink’s trousseau at a fashionable modiste’s, the manager sees in a newspaper the photograph of Tabor’s valet (who has in the meantime married Ermyntrude), in which he is described as the millionaire himself. Tabor _is arrested on a charge of impersonating himself. Despite all his explanations,, he is imprisoned, much to Pink’s dismay, but she, knowing that a mistake has occurred somewhere, searches out the valet and demands that he should explain. The valet, however, until Ermyntrude goes away, persists in asserting that he is Tabor, but eventually admits his real identity, and Tabor is released. Jack Mulhall is cast in the leading male role, and as Richard Tabor gives an excellent characterisation. During the evening Miss Dale Austen appears in several sketches. OCTAGON THEATRE. Another novel by that master of historical romance, Rafael Sabatini, has been ■adapted to the screen. It is “ Bardelys the Magnificent,” and is now being shown at the Octagon Theatre. It is the story of Bardelys, a handsome courtier at the court of Louis XIII of France, whose boast is'that he can win any woman he chooses. From this boast arises the wager that he can win the heroine of the story, Roxallane de Lavedan. The King, however, has other views, and, to keep her fortune in the kingdom and change her father’s political views, sends Chatellerault to woo her. Chatellerault fails in his suit, whereupon Bardelys wagers his entire fortune that he will win the girl within three months. Taking the name of Lesperon, a man who is sought by the authorities as a traitor, he makes his way to Roxallane’s chateau, and, entering her room, shows her a wound which, he alleges, he has received in the chase. She listens to his love-making, but later, she is informed that Lesperon is engaged. to another woman, and gives him up. Bardelys, under the identity of Lesperon, is imprisoned, and eventually brought before Chatellerault, who denies any knowledge of the hero’s wager, and sentences him to be hung. He is led to the gallows, but just as the execution is about to take place King Louis approaches, and just at the critical moment Bardelys cuts the ropes that bind him and, leaping at the noose, swings himself over the heads of the guard and reaches temporary safety in the King’s coach. Louis orders him to be shot, but, impressed with his courage, eventually pardons him. Meanwhile, Roxallane, in an effort to save Bardelys’s life, has married Chatellerault, and Bardelys, still rankling under Chatellerault’s betrayal of him, challenges the latter to a duel, from which he emerges victorious. Thus, all difficulties are smoothed away, and Bardelys and Roxallane are reunited. ■ / QUEEN’S THEATRE. Sally O’Neill, supported by a cast, plays the leading role in “ ’Frisco Sally Levy,” which is being screened at the Queen’s Theatre this week. The story is a delightful blend of comedy and romance, and tells how Sally has to choose between a wealthy Jew and a goodnatured but poor Irishman for a husband. Unfortunately she does not at first realise that riches-are not everything, and encourages the Jew, only to find that he is anything but what her fancy painted him. Eventually the rivalry between the- Jew and the Irishman resolves itself into a fight between the two, and the latter wins, not only the battle, but the ghl of his heart. EVERYBODY’S THEATRE. A thrilling mystery story is told this week at Everybody’s Theatre in “ The Lone Wolf Returns,” a plot of which centres round an international criminal named Michael Lanyard, who, through a girl, gives up his evil ways and becomes a respected citizen. The supporting feature is an amusing comedy, “ Beware of Widows,” the theme of which deals with a widow who derives immense satisfaction from stealing other women’s fiances. Laura La Plante is featured in the leading lole. and is supported by such wellknown screen artists as Bryant Washbum. Paulette Duval, Walter Hiers, and others. PLAZA AND GRAND THEATRES. An entertaining programme is offered at the Plaza and Grand Theatres this week", the principal features being “ Too Many Crooks,” with Milred Davis and Lloyd Hughes in the leading parts, and a splendid picture of backwoods life, entitled “ The Lure of the Wilds.” KING EDWARD THEATRE. An attractive double bill is presented at the King Edward Thetare this week, the principal features being ‘‘ Orchids and Ermine,” starring Colleen Moore, and “ Beware of Widows,” an amusing comedy, in which Laura La Plante assumes the leading role.