THE REGENT

Sun (Auckland), Volume 1, Issue 92, 9 July 1927, Page 15

THE REGENT

“MISS AUCKLAND” INVESTED For the last time the four semifinalists in the ‘’Miss Auckland 1927” contest met tog-ether last night on the stage of the Regent Theatre. The win of Miss Billie Andreasson, as announced to readers by THE SUN yesterday, was communicated by the Mayoress of Auckland, Mrs. Campbell. This intimation was the signal for sustained applause. There was no doubting the fact that Miss Andreasson’s win was a popular one. ‘■T only wish that there were four positions to fill so that we all could have one,” said “Miss Auckland” amidst applause after she had been invested with her sash of honour by the Mayoress. ‘‘There is only one thing to say,” announced Miss Hildred Graham, “Maid of Honour.” The audience expectantly waited. “And that is—thank you very much indeed!”

For brevity Miss Graham’s speech could hardly be surpassed, and the audience signified approval in no uncertain manner.

Miss Queenie Graham and Miss Billie Sim participated in the bountiful supply ©f flowers with which the candidates were rewarded.

Miss Andreasson will now go South, accompanied by her “Maid of Honour.” to meet the representatives of the Southern cities in the final for “Miss Mew Zealand 1927.”

Richard Dix is always popular. His comedies, clean and healthy, invariablv demand respect. “Paradise For Two,” however, in which he is featured at the Regent with Betty Bronson is a farce on distinctly' French lines.

In his latest comedy Dix is cast as a bachelor who has to borrow a wife for a fortnight. Betty Bronson is, of course, the girl in the case, and successfully fills a role which demands considerable ingenuity. Eventually, the young couple find the experiment has so much to recommend it that they decide to make this temporary arrangement a permanent fixture.

Jeanette Gerard is as much at home with a bundle of rags as the conventional artist is with his palette and colours. A fantastic desert scene in which camels trot across a crimson horizon, or a field of gaudy tulips surmounted by the usual windmill of Holland, are placed on the canvas with equal ease by Miss Gerrard by means of coloured ribbons. Her initial appearance was a popular one.

The turn had certain novel features which highly intrigued the audience. The accordion introduction is hardly essential, however, and might well be omitted.

Maurice Gutteridge and his orchestra gave even the hackneyed “Poet and Peasant” overture a new appeal. Eddie Horton, at the Wurlitzer organ, had an equally familiar theme in the inevitable “Melody in F” of Rubinstein. “Demande et Reponse" (Coler-idge-Taylor) was his second number.

Some entertaining views of the ancient city of Warsaw, part of a series of European features which is immensely popular with Regent patrons, and the Paramount and International gazettes concluded a diversified bill.