Round the Shows

Sun (Auckland), Volume II, Issue 584, 9 February 1929, Page 16

Round the Shows

FINALE TO-NIGHT

VANBRUGH—BOUCICAULT COMPANY

“NELL OF NEW ORLEANS”

Irene Vanbrugh and Dion Boucicault will make their farewell to Auckland audiences at His Majesty’s this even-

The production to be staged by their company will be a revival of “Nell of New Orleans,” which was so successful as the opening production of a bright season.

The play was staged last evening before a good attendance, and was again a triumph for Miss Vanbrugh and Mr. Boucicault. Miss Vanbrugh’s

•‘Nell” was a scintillating, convincing person. The vivacity of the part was infectious and the audience was kept cognisant to the fullest degree of Nell’s flights of temperament and her extraordinary gift of humour. Miss Vanbrugh showed everyone that it was perfectly within the realm of possibility for Nell Daventry to emerge from an “old-maidish” cloak and go back to the days of romance. A garden in the French quarter of New Orleans had a good deal to do with the return to romance and also the humbling of Georges Durand, a part which gave .J. B. Howe excellent scope. In spite of a sudden temper, an overwhelming sense of righteousness and a lack of sense of humour, Georges and to meet the will of Nell in the end.

Then there were the gentle ministrations in unravelling the problems involved in the affections of four people by Pere Clement. Mr. Boucicault had the part and made it a remarkably fine characterisation. His comprehension of the part was impressively genuine. And Pere Clement had the satisfaction of knowing that his efforts to solve all the troubles were certainly not in vain. Rowena Ronald was a popular figure as Delphine Falaise, Nell’s niece, who was so startled when her aunt made her return to youth. Delphine had to pass through a variety of emotions before she was assured of the uninterrupted attention of Felix Durand. Mr. A. Turner had been called upon at short notice to play the part of Felix, in the plac e of Ronald Ward, who was indisposed. Mr. Turner’s work was warmly applauded. Minor parts were filled by Beatrice Fischer, Pressy Preston, .Eileen Morris and Reginald Wykeham. The delightful shading of humour in

“Nell of New Orleans” has been responsible for its exceptional popularity in Auckland. The Vanbrugh-Bouci-cault Company tells the story cleverly and the acting is finished. As a production for the company’s finale, “Nell of New Orleans” is well suited. When the curtain is rung down on the company’s season this evening there is certain to be a warm demonstration of the popularity won in Auckland by Miss Vanbrugh and Mr. Boucicault by their clever characterisations in all their plays.

Auckland will vrant to remember Mr. Boucicault’s Pere Clement and Miss Vanbrugh’s Nell Daventry.

FIDDLER’S FEE A BIG CONTRACT The famous Viennese violinist. Miss Erica Morini, who sails from Europe next month for a concert tour of Australia under the direction of E. J. Carroll, is probably one of the highest paid women that has ever come to this country. Her fees will amount to over £I,OOO a week, wording out at the rate of £2OO an hour. Although only 23 years of age, Miss Morini is placed by critics in Europe and America as the greatest woman violinist of the day. She has played the violin since she was four, and first played in public when she was eleven. She has played in practically every country in Europe, and is a strong favourite in England. Miss Morini has made four big tours of the United States. She plays on a Stradivarious violin, for which she recently refused £ 5,000. For practice she uses a copy of the St rad. Miss Morini also has a beautiful Guunerius violin which is also very valuable. Her. first concert will take place in the Sydney Town Hall on Easter Saturday. “Show Boat” has been completed with the exception of the extensive sound features which will accompany it. These have been entirely planned, and are waiting for the completion of the studio equipment. Harry Pollard has already cut down the working print to 30 reels, and in this length it has convinced the studio officials that “Show Boat” will be one of the milestones of moving picture history.

A PARIS BOULEVARDIER

ADOLPHE MENJOU AT HIS BEST “HIS PRIVATE LIFE” All the secrets of the gay life of a philanderer of the Parisian boulevards are revealed at the National Theatre this week. Intimate s-tories of boudoirs and hotel apartments, romantic country inns and bachelors’ quarters follow’ une another in a most delightful fashion, albeit quite innocently. “His Private Life” is a gay little comedy, with Menjou, still the ladykiller, acting with his usual aplomb. That sophisticated lift of the eyelid, and that cynical smile, together with tli 3 faultless dress, must have already made a flutter in the hearts of hundreds of girls, and there will be many more who will get a “thrill” out of “His Private Life.” Not that the story is too serious—not at all. It’s a frisky tale of two girls, fr ends, ono of them an old flame of Georges JSt. Germain (Adolphe Menjou). The other is gorgeously beautiful and Georges falls, for her on sight in a Parisian restaurant, following her up closely to her great indignation—publicly expressed, that is. George’s efforts to see more of her make the first girl, Yvette, think he is trying to reopen their old “affair,” and she is delighted because she is tired of her f£.t, jealous husband. To be near Eleanor, the girl of liis dreams, Georges takes residence in the hotel whero the two girls live, but the first “awkward situation” comes when the suspicious husband finds a strange man in his wife’s room. She gets out of it by saying that Menjou is the fiance of Eleanor, so in the true Menjou manner he rises to the occasion by publicly kissing the girl, much to her (public) disgust. .

Then follows the “affair” of the country inn, and one or two other “affairs” t do. However, eventually Menjou really wanted Eleanor and Eleanor really wanted him, but Yvette had still to be considered. To tell her again that the old affair was quite dead was riot a very easy thing, especially as the latest girl looked in at the wrong moment, and the egregiously jealous husband also turned up at the wrong moment.

Sheer luck sets him free, and everyone is agreeably pleased to see the beauteous Kathryn Carver become his. wife on the screen as well as in “His Private Life.”

The rest of the programme is also most enjoyable and includes a comedy, .gazette and cartoon, also scenes of the recent Mount Etna eruption. Excellent music is provided throughout by Mr. F. Bartlett’s orchestra. RIALTO AND REGENT, EPSOM “THE WARNING” A fine picture entitled “The Warning,” starring Jack Holt and Dorothy Revier, will be shown at the Rialto and Regent (Epsom) Theatres this evening. Intrigue, mystery, tense action, sus-

pense and thrills follow one another in rapid succession in “The Warning.” It is a powerful picturisation of the British “Silent Service” at work in Shanghai, China. T h e action is filmed against the subtle atmosphere of an opium den called the “House

of a Thousand Delights,” and a secret

temple in the hills. The fight on the stairs, and the explosion in the temple are exeting moments which hold the audience at high tension. Jack Holt lias a two-fisted, red-blooded role in which he fights his way to success, and wins the love of the heroine. An enjoyable Marie Prevost comedy, •'Bobbed Hair,” and a “Collegians” picture, will also be shown.

PUCCINI MUSICAL SOCIETY SECOND SEASON COMMENCING The practices for the second season of the Puccini Musical Society will commence at St. Benedict’s Hall on Wednesday next. There are a few vacancies for new members.

BRITANNIA “HER CARDBOARD LOVER” Fashionable Monte Carlo is the setting of “Her Cardboard Lover,” Marion Davies’s latest comedy success, now showing at the Britannia Theatre. Known as the most becomingly dressed woman on the screen Miss Davies displays many beautiful gowns in this clever production. The story concerns a modern American schoolgirl and a beautiful woman, who are rivals for the affections of a. prominent athlete. The experience of the woman of the world pitted against the unaffected charm of the girl produces a bright and amusing comedy. The cast includes Nils Asther and Jetta Goudal, as the sophisticated rival. “The Foreign Legion,” the powerful drama, starring Lewis Stone. Norman Kerry and Mary Nolan, will also be screened. “THE PAVEMENT BUTTERFLY” Anna May Wong the British International star, arrived last week at the Ufa Studios and commenced work immediately on the new picture “The Pavement Butterfly.” This is the first picture to be made I)3' Ufa with sound effects. It is directed by Richard Eichberg and photographed by Gartner, who has again signed a contract for another two j'ears. Gartner is considered to be the best cameraman in Europe and he was responsible for the wonderful anu artistic photography in Miss Wong’s first picture for British International, “Show Rife.”

EVERYBODY’S “THE FOREIGN LEGION” Adventure and romance, picturesque ; scenes and a stirring story of revolt ; are combined in “The Foreign : Legion,” which is now being shown at the Everybody’s Theatre. The picture is an adaptation of I. A. R. ! Wylie’s sensational novel, “The Red j Mirage.” The story concerns a British society man and Army officer, who becomes infatuated with an unscrupulous woman of great beauty. His fate is to be cashiered from the. army and to drop out of sight. He joins the Foreign Legion as a private under the command of his own father, who had similarly disappeared before him. The adventuress arrives at Algiers. Flow father and son, their identities unknown to one another, fight over her, the unusual military results that ensue, and the final working *out of the romance, make one of the most gripping dramas ever screened. From jazzy night club to burning factory, and from luxurious boudoir to grim night court —the settings in the colourful jazz drama, “The Romantic Age,” the second feature, offer a wide range of background for the picture’s humorous and dramatic action. Credit for the realism achieved in these settings is due Art Director Robert Lee. Eugene O’Brien is the star. Lars Hanson, who is under contract to Metro-G oldwyn-Mayer, has been loaned to U.F.A., it is reported, for a production upon which Joe May Is engaged. The literal translation of its title is “Homecoming.”

NEW CLASS BEING FORMED GIRLS AND BOYS CHORISTERS A new class is now being formed of the well-known Girls and Boys Choristers of Ponsonby. This organisation is run by a private committee and has already given two concerts. It exists to give children practice in part-sing-ing. Intending members will be enrolled in the Leys Institute on Thursday evening next. Parents interested are cordially invited. BAND AT ZOO TO-MORROW The Municipal Band plays at the Zoological Park to-morrow (Sunday), at three o'clock. An exceedingly fin ft programme ineludes the overtures “Harmoniana” and “The Northern World”; patrol, “The Wee Macgregor”; waltz, “Weiri. Weib und Oesung”; selections. “Princess Ida” and “Classical Meirfbries,” the latter introducing .many gems of musical thought, instrumental solos by Messrs. McLennan and Bqwes, tone poem, “Night's Enchantment,” and stirring marches.

Alfred Hitchcock, who is directing “The Manxman,” one of Cinema Art films’ releases for this year, has completed exterior scenes for this picture. This well-known novel of Hall Caine’s has a cast which includes Carl Brisson, featured in ’’The Ring.” Anna Ondray and Malcolm Keen.