ENTERTAINMENTS

Southland Times, Issue 19256, 21 June 1921, Page 7

ENTERTAINMENTS

CIVIC PICTURES. To-night will see the final screening of the present fine programme at the Civic Pictures. May Allison shines in the role of Lady Kitty, the charming but irresponsible wife, in “The Marriage of William Ashe,” by Mrs Humphrey Ward. In addition to many amusing and highly daring situations—including the Lady Godiva scene at the Charity Carnival—there are some excellent and beautiful scenic effects throughout the picture, which alone is worth the price of admission. Buck Jones is also on the programme in “Just Pals,” in which Buck and his little pal—a waif from nowhere—go through some exciting adventures, and Buck does some amazing stunts. In the end he confounds the villain and wins the hand of the beautiful young school teacher. This is an excellent programme and all who have not so far seen it.should make a special effort to get to the Civic to-night. FATTY ARBUCKLE AND W. S. HART. The combination of two artists of such calibre is unusual on any picture programme but this is the bill of fare promised for tomorrow night at The Civic. Fatty Arbuckle makes his first appearance in a five-reel comedy, which is five times as funny as anything this big comedian has done up to the present. The new Arbuckle comedies, of which “The Life of the Party” is the first, are right away from the custard pie slapstick methods and depend on true comedy to get |hem over. “The Life of the Party” is a true gem of comedy, a guaranteed laughter-getter. Big Bill, Hart comes back to his own in “The Testing Block,” a virile Western drama with plenty of punch, manly action and thrilling situations. It is safe to say that few movie fans will miss this programme which will be showing only on Wednesday, Thursday and Friday. ALF’S BUTTON. pie war brought to light many things which the world had lest sight of, had forgotten, or allowed to stray. Since the death of the late .lamented Aladdin, nothing seems to be heard of his wonder lamp, and it’s mysterious doings. The theory is that the lamp must have laid about for years in odd corners, till at last when war broke out, it was acquired by the Government as part of a job lot to be melted down and make into soldiers’ buttons. The story goes that Private Alf Higgins got himself into a dreadful mess in the trenches, and had to draw a new tunic. He sat down outside his company’s billet to give his buttons their first clean up, but the moment his toothbrush touched the second button Alf was appalled to see an enormous Genie rise out of the earth, and hear him say after a low obeisance “What wilt thou have, I am the slave of the button?” Alf in abject terror could only exclaim, ‘Gorblimy, strike me pink!” The genie, surprised at this strange request, nevertheless granted it and dissappeared. Alf on walking next morning, found himself afflicted with a new disease which, when reported to the M.O. caused great consternation. Alf might have remained in this condition had it not been for the genie, who restored him to normal again. Besides many other adventures, the limit is reashed when Alf asks the genie for the prettiest girl in London, meaning his own donah, but the genie fetches a flag-selling arictocrat sweetheart of the platoon commander. She asks to see “No Man’s Land,” and the horrible desolate sight makes her take up nursing work seriously. Later, the genie transports Alf and his pal to Blighty; and with his unlimited wealth, is attracted by the idea of marrying the beautiful aristocrat. But, finding that she loves the platoon commander, and being impressed by the fact that his home of Oriental beauty, which the genie had brought, (and beauties) is making trouble (and scandal) in the village, he tells the genie to make things as they were; and he goes back to the donah. After the armistice and the marriage, the girl uses the buton once more, asking the genie that it may be a boy. Some months later, the nures brings a boy to Alf. Then she brings in two more, and Alf exclaims again that “Eustace” (the genie) always was “so-’olesale.” The production will be screened for three nights, commencing tonight at the Albion. Miss Rene Ward and Digger Wilson will be seen in a dainty opening to “Alf’s Button.” Seating accommodation is rapidly being booked and intending patrons are asked to reserve their seats at the Bristol or to obtain their stalls tickets at the same place to avoid congest ion at the ticket box. POPULAR PICTURE PALACE. “Li Ting Lang” the star picture selected for the programme now show’ing at the Popular Picture Palace is a drama of America and the Orient, with Hayakawa in his greatest role. Li Ting Lang was a nobleman of his people, and the girl a noblewoman of America. In mind they were equals, and love, the strongest thing in the world, drew them together irresistibly, but the conventions of ages said “Thou shalt not!”—and they went their way, the Oriental Prince to bring order out of chaos from the bloody revolution in his native country, and the American girl to her American lover. When their paths crossed again in that far off land of mystery and sudden death, fate placed the girl in Li Ting’s hands. The highbinders x would have killed the girl if Li Ting had not waded through blood to rescue her and prove that his heart was white even though his skin was yellow. There are a number of supporting pictures including “Cash Customers,” a Snub Pollard comedy. SIGNOR NOTARIELLO. Messrs J. and N. Tait, the well-known concert entrepreneurs, to whom New Zealanders are indebted for almost all the star concert attractions of the past fifteen years, have arranged for a tour of Australasia by Antonio Notariello, a well-known Italian Operatic tenor. Signor Notariello conies to New Zealand at the very zenith of his powers. Until about three months ago he was singing the principal tenor roles at the Theatre Constanza, Rome, where he was claimed by the leading critics to be one of the finest singers of the day. This brilliant young artist who is only twenty-six years of age, has had a meteoric career. He holds the qualified artist’s diploma and the teacher’s diploma of the Royal Consercatorium of Music, Naples, and was the winner in a field of thirty-eight competitors, of the institution’s well-known 5000 franc prize. For the New Zealand tour Messrs Tait have engaged three exceptionally fine assisting artists. Mi Gordon Short, solo pianist and accompanist, recently arrived in Wellington after eight years’ study abroad. He is a brilliant exponent of the relaxation methods of Teresa Carreno, with whom he studied several years. Miss Ray Fox, a brilliant Australian violinist has created something of a sensation in New Zealand. A leading Wellington newspaper described her as “the most promising Australian violinist who has appeared in Wellington.” Miss Elsie Kell, of Wellington, is a cultured soprano with fine temperament and technique. The Invercargill concerts will take place in the Municipal Theatre next Monday and Tuesday evenings. The plans will open at the Bristol to-morrow morning.