ENTERTAINMENTS

Southland Times, Issue 18928, 30 April 1923, Page 7

ENTERTAINMENTS

CIVIC PICTURES. Saturday night’s overflowing audience at the Municipal Theatre was literally convulsed at the antics of Richard Talmadge, a clean and clever athletic actor, who is to be seen again to-night (for the last time) in “Watch Him Step,” a picture that is chock full of good fun, quick action and clever acrobatic stunts. The other star picture “The Face in the Fog,” featuring Lionel Barrymore, contains mere solid fare and the two combine to provide ideal entertainment. The mystery of the Romanoff diamonds, that wonderful collection owned by the late Czar of Russia, has never been satisfactorily solved, but every now and then they turn up in the news. The disappearance of Grand Duchess Tatianna, youngest and favourite daughter of the late Czar, is also another mystery that has never been solved. Accounts agree that she did not submit tamely to the fate of the rest, of the royal family, but made her escape in the disguise of a peasant girl. Some declare that she was overtaken and murdered by the Reds, while others insist that she got away—and there was a rumour that she reached the United States in safety, and has since lived there incognito. Mr Boyle’s ingenious solution of this twin mystery makes the fate of the last of the Romanoffs and the crown jewels—which were the last relic of royalty—rest upon the skill and cleverness of the reformed American crook, Blackie Dawson. How his early criminal career enabled Dawson to see through the machinations of the Soviet representatives and foil their attempts to recapture the Grand Duchess and her diamonds forms the plot of that fascinating photoplay, “The Face in the Fog.” Lionel Barrymore, Seena Owen, and Lowell Sherman portray the principal roles. The production is massive, and the supporting cast all that the most exacting taste could demand. Brownie, the Wonder Dog, opens the programme at 7.15 in a clever Century comedy. ALBION THEATRE Crowded at an early hour the splendid programme screening at the Albion to-night for the last time, was received with rounds of applause. Some quaint touches are seen in the English racing drama “The

Sport of Kings” screening at 8.45 p.m. Tlie heroine, distracted by her lover’s headlong race to ruin, attends a creche as a voluntary worker, and there a kindly stepfather hands her a parcel of fish and chips for an infant’s breakfast. Special mention should be made of the fine racing scenes of the smart English courses, the luxurious interiors of English clubs and the lovely views of the great English racing stables. The love story is very enthralling, and the whole drama belongs to the de luxe class. William Russell plays a dual role in the William Fox production of “Mixed Faces,” which will be shown at 7.45 p.m. He is seen as a live-wire salesman for a fire extinguisher company and as the egotistical candidate for mayor of a small American town. The Lupino Love Comedy “The Reporter” is worth going a long way to see. Seats may be reserved by telephoning the Albion. SEQUAH TO-NIGHT IN G. W. WOOD’S GARAGE. There are many who will remember the stir caused in many parts of the Dominion some 28 years ago by Sequah, whose ability to relieve pain aid suffering was irghtly in evidence in every town visited. During his recent tour of the whole of the North Island, Sequah hase been inundated with applications from sufferers, so much so that in many towns he had perforce to extend his seasons. The opportunity now presents itself to the residents of Invercargill, of hearing and seeing this world-famed specialist, and will no doubt be availed by many to whom Sequah’s fame has been substantially evidenced by the press reports of the provincial papers. Sequah’s triumphant tour of the world has been a series of successes at each and every hamlet visited, and though time has dealt with Sequah, at it does with all of us, l.e is just as keen, quick and brilliant in bis work as in the days when he appeared ir “buck-skin.” No doubt this announcement will recall among the older residents the many marvellous cures effected by him in years gone by, which accompanied by his phenomenal success throughout the Dominion, will add lustre to his personality and fame to his name. He speaks to-night at 8 o’clock in G. W. Wood’s Garage; the Regimental Band will be in attendance and admission is free. THE FAMOUS DIGGERS. TO-MORROW NIGHT. The N.Z. Diggers have been going from triumph to triumpfi and their latest revue is described by the Wairarapa Age as “perfection of its kind.” Harcus Plimmer, the well known Wellington critic, said of the r vue: “It is an obvious pun but nevertheless true that the revue Tip Top’ is tip top in every way. A thoroughly good evening’s fun with surprises at every corner. More laughs from it than many a more pretentious show.” High praise indeed from one of the prominent critics in the Dominion. Mr Wycherley, the Dunedin Star critic, says: “The Diggers again, only better than ever.” The box plan is at the Bristol where patrons are advised to secure seats as early as possible. “SCANDAL” THE CHARMING BEDROOM COMEDY The Sydney Sun said of Cosmo Hamilton’s play, which comes to Invercargill, under the direction of Harry I. Cohen by arrangement with J. C. Williamson Ltd., that enormously interesting comedy “Cosmo Hamilton has written with a sense of style and verity. It is easily the most workmanlike of all the bedroom comedies of the last ten years and always produces a genuine dramatic thrill. You rarely feel the piecing of situations. It is beautifully and audaciously wrought. Virtually the whole third act is made with wit, sense and skill. There is more than a scare ir. “Scandal.” They are human character; brilliantly composed of nerves, brains and humour. “Scandal” aroused much con-

troversy in Sydney nd the four New Zealand centres owing to the nature of the play. Thia did not, however, mitigate against the success, but rather tended to increase the interest on the part of the public to see it. The opinion was that in staging “Scandal” popular taste had been evidently accurately judged. The piece is wonderfully acted and has an exceptionally strong cast. There are in the cast, the following: George Brond, Harold Moran, John Galway, Doris Duane, Graham Newton, Arthur Ellis, Lucy Carter, Mary MacGregor, Arthur Adams. In the big cast are first and foremost Doris Duane, who has played in this play no less than 500 times. Her American and English career has been meteoric. With her is Eric Harrison, one of the best known matinee idols of the English stage. Among his more distinguished roles are that of Paul Vandayne in Elinor Glyn’s “Three Weeks,” Danilo in “The Merry Widow,” and he has also played lead for Doris Keane. Miss Duane presents a performance that has elicited the highest encomiums from the press and public whereever she has appeared. In her versatile piquancy and charm she possesses the qualities essential for an adequate interpretation of the part in which she has been cast. Box plans open at The Bristol on Monday morning.