SCREEN and STAGE

Star (Christchurch), Issue 17183, 29 October 1923, Page 5

SCREEN and STAGE

NOTES ON CURRENT AND COMING SHOWS

Charlie Chaplin may he seen at the Grand all this week in “ Pay Day,” a. comedy into which ho introduces some very funny stunts. Supporting “Die Face on the Barroom Floor.” lhe leading attraction at the Quen's to-night, will he “ Merely Mary Ann,” featuring Shirley Mason, a. Sunshine comedy and the Fox News. “Up in the Air About Mary,” a comedy starring Louise Lorraine and Joe Moore, will he the second feature of Greater Crystal Pa la re programme to-night. “If Winter Comes,” so successfully staged at the Theatre Royal on Saturday evening by the J. C. Williamson Company, will he followed bv “ The Cat and the Canary.” Alias Auette Kellerman, accompanied by her husband, Mr J. Sullivan, left for the nortlfo u Saturday to join the Tahiti, by which ship they will, travel to America, where Miss Kellerman has an important picture engagement to fulfil. Prior to their departure they Christchurch ai friend?. * New items in the vaudeville programme to be given at the. Opera House {to-night wil] he staged In- Joe Brennan and 'Jda Newton, musical comedy artists; ißill.v Elliott black face comedian ; Carlton Max, ventriloquist. ; Ray Kemble, female impersonator ; Jack Birchley, contortionist; Hilo duo, Hawaiian specialists; Sinclair Bros., hand balancers; and Mablc and Malfe, comedy sketch artists. Mr Joe Brennan and Miss Ida Newton are having but a brief tour of the Fuller vaudeville circuit as they are due back in Mel bourne next month to fulfil engagements in Hugh J. Ward’s Christmas pantomime “ Mother Goose.” Mr Brennan will probably play- dame, while Miss Newton will 1 have one of the leading feminine characters. The cast will also include Miss Dorothv Brunton and Mr Jack Hislop, an English comedian who is being specially brought out by Mr

former. Her voice is a light and bright soprano, which she uses with facility and skill. In the bravura type of composition she does very well indeed, and she was heard at her best in Goring Thomas's “ The Willow," which suited her style admirably. The trills and runs were skilfully treated, and there was a pleasing brightness about her singing. The. same might be said about her rendering of “ Moonlight Elves ” (Temple). In the second part Mrs Rule sang two songs by Franz Schubert, and as an encore. “ Yest.erday and To-day” (Gosse). In these, she was scarcely so successful. Some of her notes were indifferently produced. Mr Prescott sang “Morning" (Speaks), and “ Lolita ”(Buszi-Peccia), and made a favourable impression. He has a good tenor voire and plenty of temperament, but is deficient in power. “Lolita” demanded more robust treatment than he could give this classical serenade. Mr Heatley was much at home, in the dramatic atmosphere of “ Will the Red Sun Never Set?” (Woodforde-FindenL His second number, “ Only a Rose." furnished a studyin contrasts. He was at his best in “Sing Heigho!” which he sang almost at well many years ago. The accompanist was Mrs Vere Livingstone. who carried out her arduous duties with credit and satisfaction. ' The programme will be repeated in the Choral Hall to-night.

Odivo’s Seals at the Op®ra House to-night. “ Torchy’s Big Lead,” a Paramount comedy featuring: Johnny Hines. a Burton Holmes travelogue, and the latest, gazette will he the supports to “Sherlock Holmes” at Everybody's to-night. “The Olrl Nest,” a true and human story of everyday life, with its comedy and tragery. is being screened at the Grand, and judging by the attendances 1 on Saturday at this theatre the picture is going to have a big second week '‘ Sherlock Holmes/ the picturised version of Sir A- Conan Doyle’s famous detective story, will he the leading feature at Everybody’s to-night. The title role is in the capable hands of John Barrymore, recognised a'S one of the greatest dran&tic actors of the day. * “The Fare on the Barroom Floor.” to be shown at the Queen’s .to-night., is not only a great drama but a great moral lesson. Tt isn't preachy quite the reverse, in fact, hut it unfolds a story that causes every person who sees it to recall some moment in his ,own career when he might, have made a. similar sacrifice os’ Robert Stevens does, a.nd to wonder whether in the final analysis he. would have the courage to undergo what the screen star characterised. Lon Chaney, starring in “Shadows'” at the Liberty, lias reached the point continual demand by recognised producers in Hollywood. T ulike many others in the profession, he never experiences a period of enforced idleness between picture. # His engagements are usuaiTy more than lie can make time for. Producers find themselves planning pictures in which Chaney is to appear with more than ordinary care so that they can employ him for the number of davs that they actually need him. His yearly earnings reach

The intimate life, of the Persian harem is depicted in a vivid manner in “’Omar the Tentmaker,’’ a First National attraction starring: Guy Bates Post, which is now being shown at the Liberty. A thread of the interesting story leads into the harem of the Shah of Persia, where dozens of beautiful girls are held prisoners until such time as they lose their beauty and fall from grace. Of old the Persian shahs were the most, despotic and powerful of all rulers, and they were able to commandeer any maiden they desired for their harems. In “Omar the Tentmaker,” Shireen, the beloved of Omar Khayyam, is “drafted” in such a manner, but the girl proves obstinate and is thrown into the dungeon, where she spends many years before she is released. Then she is sold as a slave, and goes through tortuous adventures before she is reunited with her lover. Virginia Brown Faire is cast as Shireen. and she has given the role a po v erfu 1i n ter pf eta tion. Edward Earle, who plays one of the leading roles in " The Streets of New ork,” to he shown at Greater Crystal Palace to-night, has won an enviable position in the ranks of screen stars, building up his reputation and following over a very long period. He was the original “O. Henry man,” appearing for Vita graph in many tworeelers adapted to the screen from the works of the most popular short story writer America has ever known. His leading woman in the O. Henry pictures was Agnes Ayres. One of the reasons that Mr Earle’s work upon the screen is invariably possessed of infinite finish, polish and charm is both at, most, difficult of all schools stock. Some years ago he was playing juvenile roles with the Valentine Stock Company, a famous organisation in Toronto, Canada. Included in their repertoire was the. old barn-storming favourite, “Hie Silver King,” which they played at least once a month. T()-NIGHT’S SHO\YS/ Opera. House.- Odiva’s Seals and vaudeville. Theatre Royal. Grand.—“ The Old Nest..’ and “Pay Dav.” Queen’s. “ The Fare on the Barroom Floor. 1 ’ Greater Crystal Pal are “The Streets of New York." and “ TTp in I the Air About Mary.” Liberty.—“ Shadows,” and “ Omar the Tentmaker.” Everybody’s.— “ Sherlock Holmes.” King’s, Sydenham. “Omar the Tentmaker,” and “ Just Tonv.”