MAJESTIC EMPIRE WEEK

Sun (Auckland), Volume I, Issue 162, 29 September 1927, Page 16

MAJESTIC EMPIRE WEEK

COMMENCING TO-MORROW To-morrow marks the occasion of outstanding entertainment at the Majestic Theatre, where an Empire Week will be celebrated. “Rule Britannia” is the title given to the magnificent spectacle, arranged by the Majestic management, introducing that “little speck,’’ the British Isles, and all her fair dominions. To give this Pageant of Empire a worthy and fitting musical accompaniment, there will be three great orchestras —the Majestie s New Orchestra, a full military band, and the band of Scottish pipers. An inspiring crescendo of music will pay tribute to the British flag that has braved a thousand years the battle and the breeze. There’s an old saying that a “Britcn even in love should be a subject, not a slave.” Dance spectacles will be introduced to add the poetry of movement to the pageant. Pictures will be shown of our navy, army and air force. “Songs of the Sea” will be specially featured by the combined orchestras. The big picture to be shown is “Lac.y Windermere’s Fan,” one of the most brilliant of English plays, written by one of England’s most famous playwrights, Oscar Wilde. The star is Ronald Colman, the popular British actor. “Lady Windermere’ 15 Tr '~"” **= by Lubitsch as one of the most perfect plays ever written. In his direction of this film version of the famous Oscar Wilde play, he has of necessity discarded the brilliant epigrams of Wilde and substituted action. The s„udible wit of Wilde will be seen changed to the visible wit of Lubitsch when the picture opens with one of the most sparkling casts assembled for any production. Irene Rich plays Mr. Erlynne, the sophisticated charmer, who returns to London after many indiscretions, determined to enter societjt May McAvoy plays Lady Windermere, and Bert Lytell Lord Windermere, whose marital happiness is threatened because he is kind to the fascinating Mrs. Erlynne. Ronald Colman (by arrangement with Samuel Goldv/yn) will be seen as Lord Darlington, whose love for Lady Windermere and whose schemes to separate her from her husband are frustrated by the fascinating Mrs. Erlynne. Edward Martindel plays Lord Augustus and Helen Dunbar, Carrie Daumery and Billie Bennett are seen as three duchesses. Julien Josephson adapted the play to the screen, to the complete satisfaction of Lubitsch, and the photography is credited to Charles Van Enger.