AMUSEMENTS

Poverty Bay Herald, Volume LIV, Issue 16704, 23 July 1928, Page 5

AMUSEMENTS

ALFRED 6'SHEA. The critic of the Dominion, Wellington, writes: "It is long since such genuine* enthusiasm reigned at the Town Hall as was created by the great Irish tenor, Alfred O'Shea and his talented associate artists," and his contemporary for the Evening Post said : "The triumph of the great Irish tenor, Alfred O'Shea, was complete. No more artistic tenor has ever sung in Wellington." Those brief excerpts from lengthy and laudatory notices are sufficient to indicate that Alfred O'Shea has justified the adjectives used by the management in his praise. Mr. O'Shea, will give the first of two concerts in the Opera House tonight, commencing at 8.10 o'clock, under the direction of Mr. Henry Hayward. Mr. O'Shea's programme will include: "Agnus Dei," "Che Gelida Manina" ("La Boheine," Puccini), "Berceuse dc Joeelyn" ("Angels Guard Thee," Codard), "'Quest a o Quello." "La Donna Mobillo" ("Rigoletto," Verdi). "Faery Tales of Ireland" (Coalis), "The "Low Backed Car," "1 llcai' a Thrush at Eve," "The Snowy Breasted 1.Va.r1," "Annie Laurie," and a generous number of specially requested items. Mr. O'Shea's associate artists, Miss Claire Hartge (violinist) and Miss Kathleen Fitzgerald (solo pianist and accompanist) will feature respectively Schubert's "Ave Maria," Brahm's 'Hungarian Dance, No. 2," and the last movement of Beethoven's "Appassionafa" and Chopin's "Ballade in A Plat." Doors will be closed between each item. Mr. O'Shea's fulfil concert will lie given to morrow night. MAJESTIC THEATRE.

"The Canyon of Adventure," Ken Mnynard's 'latest Western feature, received a wonderful reneption at both screenings at Ihe Majestic on Saturday. "Tin! Canyon of Adventure" tells 0.1; the early days of California when the Spanish dons and grandees ruled willi an iron hand. It tells of their huge land groats, given tliem by the King of Spain, and the efforts oil the haled gringo land grabbers to SCsure this land, just before its entry into the Union. Maynnrd has (tie role, of a fruited Slates land agent. The cast includes Virginia Browne [•'aire, ftji'ic Mayne, and Bill Finney. "Tender Feet," tworeel comedy; English (lazotte, showing the Oxford-Cambridge boat race, 1928, and "Tipperary Tim" winning the Liverpool Grand National Steeplechase, are the supports. The last screening takes place to-night. Fox Films comedy drama, "High School Hero," which opens at the .Majestic Theatre ' to-morrow night, brings to the screen not only a new director but a group of youthful players as well who promise to be among those in the front ranks of their art in a short time. ' In fact, never before have there been so many new faces in a picture and all with -such unusual ability to portray the roles in which they are cast. David Butler deserves great credit not only for his able direction, but for his ability in selecting such a remarkable cast, made up principally of youngsters. There is Sally Phipps, wholly charming, apparently still in her teens and a splendid comedienne. Nick Stuart, who scored his first success as the college buy sheik in "Cradle Snatc.hers." improves over his former perfomance as one of the 'boy friends" to the dainty heroine as played by Miss* Phipps. Then there is John Harrow, another "boy friend/' and Charles Paddock, famous sprinter in the role of coach to the basket-ball team, while Brandon Hurst is the Latin teacher. All give a performance that is highly diverting and that proved a real treat to those who witnessed the premiere of this production. The director adhered strictly to the spirit of his subject, and gives a vivid picture of a high school, with all its activities, humorsy'boy and girl loves and athletic activities. ' It is,stated to be decidedly a photoplay worth seeing. THE PALACE "Cabaret" and "The Secret Hour," both special Paramount productions, will close to-night at the Palace. ."Cabaret" features Gilda Gray and Torn Moore and is the, story of a dancer whose brother gets into trouble with a "gang of crooks. He tries earnestly to get away from their clutches, and shoots in self defence one of their number. Then he is wanted by the police, and his sister protects him.' However, the surprise climax brings happiness to them all. The deliberation over a newl starring vehicle for Pola Negri ended when Jesse L. Laskv, Paramount's first-vice-presi-dent," announced the purchase of "The Secret Hour." The drama, a romance of orange blossom time, with a setting of endless acres of orange grove, finds. Pola. as an American girl of foreign parentage, her first American role in nearly two years. "The Secret Hour" offers a -powerful love drama against a natural setting that; has never really been taken advantage of in motion pictures. To-morrow night; and at the matinee "Our to Win," a sensational mystery drama, will be screened. A good double feature programme will be presented on Wednesday night —Priscilla. Dean in "The Danger Girl," and Wallace Beery and Raymond Ilatton in "Now We're in the Air," should attract largo crowds. It is all very well to be behind the enemy's lines at an altitude of 1000 ft, but when the gas in the balloon gives out and there are no more sandbags to throw overboard, the enemy antiaircraft .guns are splitting hot lead all around the passenger basket, it is sufficient to cause just a. little concern. This was the predicament of Wallace Beery and Raymond Hatton, as plain Wally and Ray, in "Now We're in the Air." "While Wally and Ray are on solid earth they are safe (more or less), and it is not. till they are mistaken for air pilots and sent, aloft that their real vicissitudes commence. Kadi one of these men would he ait entertainment in himself, but; together in "Now We're in the Air." nothing so screamingly funny could be imagined. Mistaken for German spies, they are lined against the wall-protesting wildly, until asked again to lake the air. Rather than this they face the guns quickly—almost willingly! OPERA HOUSE. "The Flat; Lieutenant,' 1 the British Naval film opening next Monday at the Opera House, boasts of an Australian actress in the east.. She is Dorothy Seal cbmbe, who is well known on the Australian stage. ' Hho plays the pari pi Mrs. Cameron, a pretty young widow in the picture, which, has been produced with the whole-hearted support of the British Admiralty. Dick Lascelles, flag lieutenant, R.X,,jis in love with Sybil Wynne, daughter of his Admiral. His friend, Major Thesiger, Royal Marines, is wiamored of a Mrs. Cameron, a wealthy widow, hut is too shy to declare his affection. Both men arc detailed to t.lto assistance of a. military outpost which has been suddenly attacked. The fon is finally saved through the heroism of Lascelles,' who. unknown to anyone,, carries out a scheme of Thesiger's, who is wounded in the attempt, _ losing his memory. Lascelles is missed and

Thesiger is hailed as the real hero, and Dick refuses to disclose his part in the affair, swearing to secrecy the Naval doctor, who was the only other man aware of I it. Even when disgrace threatens, he refuses to tell, but through Mrs. Cameron, now Thesiger's wife, the truth is disclosed to all except Thesiger. Henry Edwards. Fred Ruyriham and Lilian Oldland are the other players. DANCE REVUE. ; Much interest is being taken in Miss Ethne Paltridge's dance revne, which is to be staged this week on Thursday, Friday and Saturday nights. 'flic scenery for (his production lias 'lcon specially painted by Mr. T. G. Johns and is claimed to excel all bis previous efforts. A full orchestra under the baton of Mr. W. Lightori, will contribute largely to the enjoyment of the revue. Photographs of the ballets and soloists are being shown in town; these speak for themselves as to the quality, of the entertainment". Miss Paltridgu will be seen in a number of (harming and clever turns. Her work in the mime" play Pygrouleon and Galatea, with Miss Nellie Millard, is said to be a most graceful and finished performance.