ENTERTAINMENTS

Southland Times, Issue 19502, 17 March 1925, Page 9

ENTERTAINMENTS

ALBION—LAST NIGHT. TALENTED MAGGIE FOSTER, GEORGE ARLISS AND ARSENE LUPIN’S “813.” The cosy and comfortable Albion was again well filled last night, one and all voting the programme of vaudeville and high-class pictures the best seen locally for many a day. Miss Maggie Foster, the genius with the violin, again received a very flattering reception, the audience at the conclusion of her violin numbers being loth to let her go. To-night Miss Foster will render an entirely new musical programme as attractive as her opening bill, and it is hoped that the many patrons who have had the pleasure of hearing her in the items rendered will take this—the last —opportunity of hearing her new repertoire tonight. It was in 1906 that Maurice Leblanc jumped to the fore as a popular de-tective-story writer. At that time France was devouring Lecoq’s detective feats, as created by Emile Gaboriau, and England was boasting her contribution to detectivelore in the Raffles stories by E. W. Hornung. But both authors found themselves out-manoeuvred in the brilliancj' of Maurice Leblanc’s creation. While Lecoq was a detective and Raffles a gentleman thief, Leblanc’s Arsene Lupin was a thief, and a detective as well. His skilful conceptions make one wonder at times whether Arsene Lupin is in fact the head of a band of marauders or chief of the Paris Detective Bureau itself. In “813” M. Leblanc makes his character, Arsene Lupin, a triple being, posing at one minute as a Prince of Europe, the next as the chief of the famous detective forces of Paris and lastly as the attractive Lupin himself, a man with a keen destructive sense, a knowledge of international intrigue, and above all, a patriot. Do not miss the thrilling Master Picture of “813,” screening at 9 p.m. How much can a man live on ? That’s the question—and the rub. It’s a problem which confronts us all, and generally it confronts us just about the time of life when we are falling in love with the most beautiful, the most wonderful girl. How to solve the problem and how to get the girl make a fellow sit up at nights. Maybe you are not a candidate for sitting up all night, but you’ll sit up and watch this film with interest. George Arliss is the star of “Twenty Dollars a Week.” He has in his support such stage and screen celebrities as Taylor Holmes, Edith Roberts and Ronald Colman. Also there is a wonderful child actor named Joseph Donohue, six years old and chock full of pep. Forrest Halsey, who has written all the Arliss stories and recently has provided the scripts for Gloria Swanson and Rodolph Valentino, made “Twenty Dollars a Week” from a magazine story by Edgar Franklin. A big Mack Sennett c »inedy completes this royal programme, beats may be reserved by ’phoning the Albion 738. CIVIC PICTURES. LAST NIGHT OF BETTY COMPSON, PERCY MARMONT, AND DICK TALMADGE. “The Enemy Sex,” with Betty Compson, Percy Marmont and a full all-star cast in support will be shown at the Civic for the last time to-night. Which of the two is the enemy sex—and why? Here’s a rattling fine riddle to set every picturegoer guessing—and then perhaps being wrong. It’s the story of the first modern flapper, told in stirring fashion by a popular cast. Betty Compson, Percy Marmont, Kathlyn Williams and Huntly Gordon, mean a good deal to every picture-goer. They have never been associated in a poor picture yet, and then again, it’s James Cruze’s sixth winning hit since “The Covered Wagon.” Richard Talmadge is the central figure in “Let’s Go,” which is a succession of thrills woven into a highly interesting story. During the course of production of “Let's Go!” the star, in performing the many stunts which appear throughout the picture, was the victim of eleven minor accidents and one which laid him up for four weeks, causing the suspension of all work on the production. Richard Talmadge’s programme in this latest offering, includes a jump from house-to-house four stories high on Hollywood Boulevard, a dash on a motor-cycle twenty feet high in the air and through a twenty-four sheet sign, and a jump from the Fourth Street viaduct, Los Angeles, thirty-five feet high, to a box-car of a moving train below. There are a few of the stunts of which there are no less than one hundred in “Let’s Go.” Supporting the star are Eileen Percy, Tully Marshall and George Nicholls. H.MB. PINAFORE. OFFICIAL INSPECTION WEDNESDAY NIGHT. Probably no other production has excited such intense interest amongst local theatregoers as Gilbert and Sullivan’s popular Comic Opera H.M.S. Pinafore, which is being so eagerly awaited. So much has been heard of this famous opera with its wonderful music, beautiful scenery and gorgeous dressing that it is no wonder that the Box Plan shows a steady booking. All the members of the cast are talented performers and the chorus and orchestra more than help toward the success of the production. There is not a heartache in anyone of Gilbert and Sullivan’s operas. In all the mirthful, mocking, glittering scenes of these wonderful plays there is nothing to wound or shock. They take us out of a grey and anxious world, they soothe our ears with seductive harmony, and please our eyes with beauty, and afford us a blessed respite from worry and sad memories and rating cares. That is the reason for the increasing prestige of Gilbert and Sullivan’s operas. H.MX Pinafore is being eagerly awaited by local theatre-goers and it is safe to predict that bumper houses will be the rule. The music is bright and haunting. The ladies’ wardrobe of which Mrs J. Prentice is in charge, is a very spectacular one, all the latest in evening gowns of every shade being worn. It is rather unique that the recently formed Operatic Society should have as its Musical Directress Mrs J. Prentice( Miss Nellie Black), a native of Invercargill. One who has had a very wide experience in all branches of this department. A full operatic orchestra under the leadership of Mr W. W. Millar, L.A.8., L.T.CJI, will find favour with the audience. At the piano, Mrs A. E. H. Bath, A.T.C.L. Intending patrons are advised to book early at The Bristol, as there is a keen demand for seats.

Company, with Gladys Moncrieff in “A Southern Maid” and “The Merry Widow,’A on Monday and Tuesday next. A prominent Sydney critic writes:— “A Southern Maid,” which was hailed with a joyous wdedme, has all the fascination of comic opera, brilliant costumes, elaborate scenery, a delightful story, coloured with intensely interesting romance, beautiful ballets, and melodious music, with the touch of humour that an audience relishes in theatrical productions. The romantic story, of which Dolores (Miss Gladys Moncrieff), is the central figure, concerns the adventures of Sir Willoughby Rawdon, a young Englishman who owns the plantation in Santiago. His father, whom the leader of the vendetta gang Francesco del Fugo, curses as a “despoiler of the poor” had incurred the vengeance of the gang, and Dolores is chosen by lot and trickery to perform the deed of darkness with a stiletto. But Cupid gets to work; the young Englishman and the girl Dolores fall in love, and the story ends in a way to satisfy the lovers of the conventional.

The greater part of the music is by Harold Fraser-Simson, the composer of The Maid of the Mountains.” Miss Gladys Moncrieff achieved in the part of Dolores a brilliant success. Her singing and acting called for the most sincere tributes, which were accorded to her without stint, and she came through with flying colours in her picture of a girl of intense moods and vivid traits.

Mr Claude Flemming as the bullying chief of the vendetta, played the part in picturesque style, with a tinge of satirical humour that was well suited to it. The role of the Englishman, who did not care a rap for the threats of the loud-voiced swaggering bully, was in the capable hands of Mr William Perryman. Humour was supplied in big slices by Mr Arthur Stignant, as Walter Wex, the owner of a Santiago plantation, and Mr Blake Adams as Todo, the head waiter of the cafe. Mention should be made too of Misses Nellie Payne and Mabel Gibson as the daughters of the vendetta leader, and the clever dancing of Miss Hazel Meldrum and Mr Tom Moore. ‘THE MERRY WIDOW.” Of all the comic operas and musical plays that have been produced during the last 25 years there is none that has attained the wonderful popularity of “The Merry Didow.” Written by Frank Lehax an, Austrian -bandmaster, it was first presented at the Anwein Theatre in Vienna. Put up as a stop-gap it leaped into instantaneous popularity, which it has succeeded in holding for a decade. “The Merry Widow” will be presented by the J. C. Williamson Royal Comic Opera Company on Tuesday next at 8 o’clock. An exceptional cast is promised, headed by Miss Gladys Moncrieff, who will be seen as “The Merry Widow.” As “Sonia” Miss Moncrieff has been the recipient of extraordinary eulogy from contemporaneous critics. Writes an Australian critic of distinction of “The Merry Widow,” —‘Time has not robbed “The Merry Widow,” of her wide popularity. Last night’s revival proved that she is still one of the best loved characters of the stage, and her “book,” one of the most popular in comic opera. With Gladys Moncrieff as the name part, Leslie Holland as Danilo, and Baron Popoff in the capable and whimsical hands of Arthur Stignant, with evergreen strains of “The Merry Widow” waltz, and the beauty of “Vila,” the show could be nothing else but a success.” The Box Plans will be opened at the Bristol Piano Co., on Thursday next.

NEWCASTLE STEEL WORKS BAND.

PLANS OPEN TO-DAY. It is very many years since such glowing tributes have been showered on a visiting musical combination as was the case in the Christchurch newspapers last week when references were made to the opening concert in that city of the Newcastle Steel Works Band. One critic stoutly affirms that “this band is practically beyond criticism.” The playing of a bravura number is said to have “electrified the audience.” The general effect seems to have completely captivated both the audience and critics alike. This high praise for the visiting band certainly clears the musical atmosphere for the local appearance of these capable players, who are to play a brief season at the Grand Theatre next Thursday and Friday evenings. In the course of their interesting “musical pilgrimage of Empire” the band had the honour of playing before Royalty at Wembley Exhibition, and on that occasion the Queen of Rumania, who accompanied King George and Queen Mary, frankly declared that the Newcastle combination was “a perfectly wonderful band.” In these days of outer Empire achievements in the arts and on the field of sport, it is highly gratifying to realise that Australia has been so well represented musically in the Home Country; and it is to be hoped in the near future the Dominion bands will emulate the Newcastle players’ fine example by competing at the big English contests. The Box Plans are available at The Bristol.