NEW EMPIRE THEATRE.

Otago Witness, Issue 3889, 25 September 1928, Page 70

NEW EMPIRE THEATRE.

OFFICIAL OPENING CEREMONY. GOETHE’S “Fat’ST” ON THE SCREEN. The New Empire xueatre, complete in every detail of luxury and comfort, beauty and splendour, was officially opened ® n Friday evening by the Mayor (Mr W. lavenier) in the presence of the largest audience that has ever faced the screen in Dunedin. There were not many vacant seats, and the attendance must have been over 2000. The beautifully-executed decorative works on every hand were impressive in themselves, but when bathed in the richest and most perfectly-blended tints of numberless lamps and artistic flood lighting the effect was matchless in charm and endless in its variety’, lhe most devoted disciple of beauty and could not hope to grasp to the full the glorious dream of loveliness that is Dunedin’s latest house of entertainment, in one evening. It will take a great many hours of the most careful observation before the immensity of the place can be fully appreciated. It was a most successful premiere, and one that should reward the promoters of the new venture in some measure for the great effort they have made. After the playing of the National Anthem by the Empire Symphonic Orchestra the theatre was opened by the Mayor. ’ My Thomas v Brien, the creator of this great new picture house, first addressed the audience They were offering to the public that night, he said the latest attempt to introduce something new into the kinema world, and he hoped that Dunedin would be pleased with it. Rapid strides had lately been made in theatre construction and decoration, but he could assure his hearers that nothing better could be seen anywhere in the Dominion, f< the new theatre was based on the best that could be found everywhere else. What had been borrowed, however, had been improved upon. Many ideas had been taken from the famous Capitol Theatre ,n Sydney, but an exact copy had not been sufficient for the New Empire. They would find that even the Capitol had been improved upon. While he was speaking he would like to take the opportunity to express his appreciation of the work done by those who had built and designed the building. He particularly mentioned the architect, Mr E. Anscombe; the builders, Messrs William, M’Lellan, Ltd.; and the. artist, Mr John Brock, who liad carried out so much of the interior decoration in such distinctive style. To the many contractors and subcontractors,. all of whom had put their best work into the theatre, he extended bj? heartiest thanks. He then called upon Mr Taverner to declare the new theatre open.

Mr Taverner said it gave him the greatest pleasure to do so, because he considered that the people who had had sufficient faith in Dunedin to spend nearly £lOO,OOO on a house of entertainment were deserving of public rccognitio*. Tm result of their labours was

certainly a most beautiful and luxurious theatre, and he could quite believe that it was the finest in New Zealand. He sincerely hoped the reward of the promoters would be as great as they deserved. On behalf of the people of Dunedin he wished them every success. He then formally declared the theatre opened. The programme of entertainment was a long, one, and 11 o’clock had struck before it was finished. The featured film was Faust,” an adaptation of Goethe’s immortal drama of the same name, in "■b'ch the principal player was the inimitable Emil Jannings, who brings to the screen some new wizardry and a greater triumph in the art of impersonation every time he appears. The story is a familiar one and a great one. “ Faust ” is too great , ar too grand to be perfectly exploited in a moving picture studio, despite the amazing necromancies effected ii un * ino ?’ n magic. The film is undoubtedly a triumph of technique and production, and the impression it creates makes it very easy to imagine a great deal that the picture omits. The roles of the chief actors in the story are well disposed of. Camilla Horn gave an intense and moving performance as Marguerite and Goesta Kkmann was well cast as Faust. Emil Jannings creates a startling portrait of Mephisto, a lecherous and obscenely repellent incarnation of evil, but one cannot imagine Goethe looking with anything out the keenest disfavour on some of the smirking tricks and semi-comedy that the producer has introduced into the character* mus * score was a revelation and effectively presented the orchestra to the Dunedin public as a combination of great merit. It was arranged bv Sir Landon Ronald, and Mr Charles Aves, distinguished himself by the masterly fashion in which he conducted. “The ooldiers Chorus, 33 from Gounod’s opera, was rendered in characteristic stvle bv the Returned Soldiers’ Choir, and proved a feature of the evening. As .an entr’acte the orchestra discoursed an attractive selection of the latest music. The supporting programme was as good as it was lengthy. The Topical News Gazette was supplemented with the budget of local pictures, which proved such a success in the old theatre. A remarkable picture of deep-sea life provided some unique entertainment, and served to demonstrate the astonishing perfection «xt been reached m kinematographv Neath Arctic Skies,” a long and intensely interesting travalogue, was de-, ciaed acquisition to the programme, and the comedy side was not neglected.