ENTERTAINMENTS

Southland Times, Issue 20206, 17 June 1927, Page 11

ENTERTAINMENTS

ALBION THEATRE. LAST NIGHT OF A SPLENDID PROGRAMME. THE CAMPBELL BOYS. A SLAVE OF FASHION” AND "THERE YOU ARE.” The Campbell Buys have you heard them ? They are great. Their rendering of standard overtures and the latest song hits are a masterpiece and will suit all tastes. This out of the ordinary vaudeville act finishes it’s season to-night, but Will leave pleasant memories behind of delightful music delightfully Tendered. "A Slave of Fashion” which screens for the last time to-night at the Albion presents a human story exceedingly well told and beautifully produced. It is entertaining from start to finish, and is keyed at a tempo that holds your interest all through. It is a Hobart Henley production released by Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer. Samuel Shipman wrote the story originally for the screen. He shows the same fine skill in mapping out screen plays that he does m the spoken drama. The story is that of a very beautiful and unsophisticated girl who has lived in a middle western village all of her life, but has longed to go to the city, primarily to be able to see and wear—clothes. She gets her wish, but almost at the cost of her good name, and the wrecking of her home. However, the family honour and happiness are saved; and the girl wins a wealthy husband to boot. Norma Shearer is starring as the girl, Katherine Emerson. She is a remarkable actress as well as being an unusually attractive and beautiful girl, and gives a brilliant performance in this newest role. Lew Cody is featured as Nicholas Wentworth, and makes an ideal romantic lover. As usual he gives a strong performance, for there is no more dependable player on the screen .than Mr Cody. Mary Carr, William Haines, Vivia Ogden, Miss Dupont, and James Corrigan all give splendid performances. Novelists and motion pictures have familiarised a certain type of "human triangle.” Unfortunately for screen enthusiasts, the humorous possibilities of these trios have never been so effectively depicted as in “There You Are,” the hilarious comedy to which patrons of the Albion Theatre will be treated to-night for the last time. In this instance two of the parties are an eloping couple, and the third is a munth-old baby whose presence the man finds difficulty in explaining. It is not his—and his bride-to-be weeps profusely at his stammering replies as to how he got it. How the infant is finally disposed of—after frantic flights from furious panbnts—after a convulsing tangle of cross-purposes and mixed matrimony—and after a ludicrously heroic rescue from a burning building—is told as a diverting and extremely funny story. Conrad Nagel is particularly impressive as a mild-mannered clerk who summons sufficient daring to elope with his employer’s daughter. His part is light and frothy compared with his portrayal in “Sun Up,” and his versatility is so rare that he makes the transition with consummate ease. Edith Roberts pleasingly portrays the main feminine part. George Fawcett, Eddie Gribbon, Phillips Smalley and Gwen Lee all fill their roles excellently. “There You Are” is a Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer picture directed by Edward Sedgwick. CIVIC PICTURES. LAST NIGHT OF CECIL DE MILLE’S ‘THREE FACES EAST” AND ‘THE PRINCE OF TEMPTERS.” Art intensely gripping melodramatic mystiry photoplay of the Secret Service, with a background of war and a highly

romantic story of love and a noble woman’s sacrifice for her country’s sake is unfolded in Cecil de Mille’s latest, “Three Faces East,” which is now on at the Civic for the last time to-night. Romance, picturesque and thrilling, lends a softening glow to the intrigue of espionage, the play of counter purposes, love, chicanery and sentiments of patriotism and loyalty to country, which form the elemental basis of this remarkable screen drama. The picture is packed with dramatic action and scenes that thrill, with a background of war with the tragedies and problems that follow in its train, the whole flavoured judiciously by delightful comedy interludes. In this respect, “Three Faces East,” is more than one hundred per cent, screen entertainment —it is from start to finish a breath-taking, alluring, fascinating spectacle second to none produced within the decade. Ben Lyon, Lya de Putti, Lois Moran, Mary Brian and a strong cast appear in First National’s “The Prince of Tempters.” But it is not in talent only that “The Prince of Tempters” is so big an attraction. There is a story—a real smashing, fine, big motion picture story, adapted from “The Ex-Duke,” a novel by E. Phillips Oppenheim—that has to do with an English duke who marries a poor Italian girl—and deserts her. Their child is brought up in a monastery—until he is twenty years of age, when it is discovered that the lad who has been sheltered under the wing of a kind old abbot is a titled young nobleman with the whole wide world and fortune awaiting him. Now everybody knows that it’s a merry world for a young man of twenty, good looking and wealthy—and especially when the young man has been brought up in a monastery. Given dispensation, and released from his vows, the young man starts out —and right at that point the story swings into the swiftest gait we have ever seen in screen romance—with comedy pacing drama every bit of the way and neither of these precious elements falling out of step at any point. The supporting programme is of the best. RENEE KELLY AND J.C. WILLIAMSON ENGLISH COMEDY COMPANY. Renee Kelly, the famous comedy star, will make her first appearance to Invercargill audiences with the latest J. C. Williamson’s comedy company in a repertoire of new comedies at the Municipal Theatre commencing next Monday, June 20, for a season of three nights presenting three different productions. “Polly with a Past” will open the Invercargill season to be followed with “The Last of Mrs Cheyney” and “Brown Sugar.” Miss Kelly is an English actress who made a name in America. She made her first big hit in her native London as Judy in “Daddy Long Legs,” a role which she created. The London Daily Mail, commenting upon the departure of Miss Kelly for Australia and New Zealand, remarked: “There is no doubt that Australians are going to take Renee Kelly to their hospitable hearts just as New York and London have done.” “Polly with a Past” is a three-act sparkling comedy by George Middleton and Guy Bolton, and gives Miss Kelly a fine chance to show her ability and also to display some magnificent frocks for which Miss Kelly is noted. “Polly with a Past” tells a pleasantly transparent story, where the main course of evdits is obvious from the first. But there are agreeable little surprises on the way—a state of affairs which is said to be the prime easential of light comedy. The producer of the piece is Hylton Allen, who will also appear on the stage. Mr Allen has produced many plays in which Renee Kelly has appeared, ‘Trench Leave,” which was so popular, was one of his London productions. The original opening date for the New Zealand tour of Miss Kelly had to be postponed on account of her terrific

success in Australia. The box plans are now open at the Bristol where big booking is proceeding. GORE ORCHESTRAL SOCIETY. Once again the Gore citizens are to be given a rare treat on Thursday night at the Princess Theatre by the Gore Orchestral Society which is so ably conducted by Mr Inglis W. Todd, .L.A.8., who has worked hard to produce a programme bigger and better than any previously given. The Inglis Todd Orchestra has been renamed, but the members still retain their old love and affection for their conductor, and can be relied upon to play their parts with skill and feeling. Among the instrumental items to be played are—Mozart’s overture, “The Magic Flute,” which ranks as one of his most notable compositions, and the famous overture “William Tell” (Rossini). This is the first opportunity given to the Gore public to hear this wonderfully descriptive overture. Another very delightful item is Kreisler’s “Andantino” arranged for strings by Mr I. Todd. The society has been very fortunate in engaging Miss Molly Vickers, L.A.8., who possesses a mezzo-soprano voice of exceptional quality, and is considered one of Dunedin’s most talented singers. Patrons can look forward to a delightful evening. Miss Vickers has learned thoroughly the art of concert singing. Mr L. Thomson who has been heard and appreciated before by Gore audiences will be in his best form, and his mellow baritone voice can always win an encore. Members of the society should book their seats early at Richardson’s, Main street, Gore.