AMUSEMENTS

Poverty Bay Herald, Volume LII, Issue 16201, 26 November 1926, Page 5

AMUSEMENTS

FULLER'S VAUDEVILLE TO-NIGHT. To-night, at. tho Opera House, the first company under the direction ot John Fuller and Son fi will appear at tins theatre. In years none by the Lidlers catered well for local theatre j>oers, and in /sending along the combined companies ot living's Midgets and Chcfalo and Palermo thev are offering their incvsl expensive importations. The Auckland Herald stale.s: "It would not be itnlair to artists who have recently appeared at the Opera House to say that this week's programme is one of the most entertaining that Auckland theatregoers have ever seen. By their noyelh alone the various items are placed m a class of their own, for it is seldom that such a combination of interesting spectacles is witnessed in one evening. Irving Midgets, small in stature, but large' in their capacity for dispensing amusement, agon present a plethora of sonps. dances, ensembles, and humotou,s interludes, all of which prove that good things often come in small measures, as the tiny, but engaging conductor, Willie Hollo, informs his audience by way of introduction. The parade of the wooden soldiers by the company of midgets, in (plaint costume of scarier and gold, was exceptionallv well carried out. The performance of the mystifying Chefalo kept (he audience in constant, wonder, whether he was engaged in producing chides, doves, pigeons or human beings from some unexpected source. Chefalo has a disconcerting practice of doing the expected, and completing it with the unexpected." The company can only appear hero for two nights, with a matinee at 2.30 p.m. to-morrow.

GILBERT AND SULLIVAN OPERAS

The hooking for the return season in Auckland for the Gilbert and Sullivan operas was. as large as that for the original one, which lasted for over three weeks, and the return season in Christchurch witnessed the local theatre taxed to its utmost capacity on every occasion Only the six nights can he devoted to the" Gisborne season, which begins at, the Opera House on Thursday night next, when "The Gondoliers" will be staged. Ctu Friday night next " The Yeomen of the Guard " will be presented, and on Saturday (afternoon and evening) "The Pirates' of Penzance " will be revived. On Monday, December 6, " The Mikado " will be produced, and on Tuesday, December 7,

" lolanthe.'' The 'season will close on Wednesday, Decembers, when 'j H.M.S. Pinafore " (preceded by " Trial byJury "I will be performed. Anticipating'a large demand for seats, the management will have a staff of ushers in attendance at the box office on Monday, so as to assure that the earliest arrival may be .sure of having first choice of seats when the plans open at 9. a.m. All the operas will be staged with new dresses and scenery recently made for the Melbourne revival. It took over 1.2 months to get together the artists who will appear in the operas, and while. some of them are well known to New Zealand playgoers, the others come with bi u - reputations won in Gilbert and Sullivan operas in London. The latter include Sydney Granville, baritone and comedian; Leo. Damtou. and! Miss Winifred Williamson. Charles A. Walenn was the leading comedian of the last Gilbert and Sullivan company that toured New Zealand, and James Hay was the tenor. Miss Strella Wilson created a sensation in Australia by her brilliant, singiug in " The Gondoliers," and Miss Patti Russell (soprano). Miss Mabel Gibson (contralto), and Lance Fairfax ibarilone) are others who have assisted in making the present company the strongest that ha.-, ever appeared in Gilbert and Sullivan operas in Australia.

THE PALACE. Aflolphe Menjou in his latest picture for Paramount, " A Social Celebrity," .showing at the Palace to-night, enacts the part of a .small town barber who arrives in New York, and invests his whole fortune in an outfit 00 smart, clothes. Episode two shows our hero at the apartment, of a society youth, who is much impressed when he sees the sprucely clad gentleman who has arrived to shave him. Thinking ,0 amuse himself, he persuades Menjou to pose as n foreign count " just for tonight." So, much against his better judgment, he is presented at a society function as Count Havre do Marin. He then proceeds to fall in love with the most beautiful girl in the room. And she does not try to discourage his attentions. With' the passing of time, ho gels deeper and deeper into j the social swamp. Menjou has tho | finest role of his career; and is surrounded with an excellent- cast, headed bv Chester Conklin and Louise Brooks.

Elinor Glyn has been one of the most successful of authors in the matter of transferring her novels to the screen. "Three Weeks " was a nation-wide hit, and " His How " even outdid the former in popularity. Now arrives " Man and Maid," the story of a war

hero's loves, in which Lew Oody is seen as tho man. Harriet Hammond, the ex-Sennett beauty, i.s the maid. This picture will he here to-morrow, commencing at the matinee. If you want to see a picture full of love and intrigue, do not fail to see this production, Just briefly edged with tho story of the laic war, with no battle scenes, it fells the story of two people who are oddly thrown together, and suddenly come to realise that they lovo each other. Lew- Codv, as the cripple millionaire, much sought after by the gay women of Paris for what hi.s wealth ea>. huv them, has an exceptional role, and gives a wonderful interpretation.

EVERYBODY'S. Tn upholding the enviable reputation of Lariat Productions, Universal has given an unusually brilliant cast to Pete Morrison in "Bine Blazes," the picture which screens to-night for the one night only at Everybody's. Every member of the cast was chosen for some special talent which he or she. possesses. Pete Monison, the star, is large, handsome,

perfectly formed, an admirable actor, used to'be a cowpuncher and possesses a rare ability at acting. Barbara Starr, llje leading woman, was chosen for her beauty and her ability to do (be numerous dangerous stunts required by this story. Leon de la Mothe, the principal character actor, used to be a director end understands the motion picture business from every angle. In addition "Flying Wheels," ' (Century comedy), "The Dumb Friend" (comedy), and International News will be shown. ''Memory Lane," to be shown to-mor-row will provide local screen lovers with something really new, in that the theme is altogether different from the usual. )t is a picture too, that will take its audience through a medley of emotions, thrills, and pathos. It is a medley that, holds an appeal to young and old. fn addition to Eleanor Boardman and Conrid Nav] there is a bis; east of support, ".loch includes the V? beauties chosen "s bridesmaids in the big wedding scene. These girls were chosen from hundreds of Hollywood's applicants, and the final selection was only made after most careful deliberation. "Memory Lane" is in every respect a memorable production. and one that provides convincing nroof of the wonderful advancement made in sereon-craft during recent years. There will be the best of supports, including "Fares, Please." "South Seas," travel scenic, and English Gazette.