SCREEN and STAGE

Star (Christchurch), Issue 17220, 11 December 1923, Page 5

SCREEN and STAGE

NOTE'S ON CURRENT AND COMING SHOWS

All lovers of Hoot Gibson’s pictures will see him at his best in “ The Bearcat,” now screening at the Queen’s. Full of life and dramatically told is this tale of the Western plains, where people live amid hatred and love uu- j restrainedly. Madame Lydia Lipkovska will give | a farewell concert in the Theatre Royal to-morrow night. A special programme of selected music has been arranged, which will include many wellknown and popular arias. Mme. Lipkovska will also sing the wonderful 'aughing song “ Laissez-moi Hire,” with which she scored such a great success in two of her previous concerts.

• Sadie, of Jack Trent and Sadie, is one of the brightest and funniest comemiennes who have appeared at the Opera House for some time. Possessing a stentorian voice she is able to introduce a great deal of extra comedy tit-bits into her songs. In patter work she is equally funny and an excellent foil for her partner. As a burlesque performer she would bo hard to beat. The new turn presented by this couple last evening was thorough- ■ ly enjoyed, by the large audience. It was one of the brightest spots on a i really bright programme.

The favourite picturo star. Tom Meighan, is featured in “ The Frontier of the .Stars,” a Paramount production now screening at the Grand. It is a stirring drama of the life of an East-side gangster, who, /through the uplifting influence of a cripple girl, decides to run straight. Many realistic scenes take place on the roof of a tenement where he first meets the girl, and where he later risks his life to save her from the burning building.

Some of the world’s most famous pieces of sculpture were copied in life and posed for the garden fete scene in Norma Talmadge’s latest picture, “ The Voice From the Minaret,” a First National picture now screening at the Liberty. * The scene was a replica of the exotic gardens of a. club in Bombay, far-famed for its oriental splendours, its beautiful women. Cosmopolitan atmosphere, and the daring of its entertainments. In the centre of the garden a pool was built where beautiful, native women bathed during the progress of the fete. And here and there groups of lovely statuary added to the beauty of tbe scene. Among the various jiving statues posed were the much discussed Mar-Monmes “Bacchante,” Carpeauxe’s Sgroup of dancers and “ The Three Graces, ot Thorwaldson’s.

The longer eonfe performers stay in a town the better the public like them. This is certainly the case with Fred Keeley and Ivy Aldous, who have been appearing at the Opera House for the past four weeks. They entered upon their fifth week last night and were accorded a fine reception the moment they appeared in front of the footlights. Their turn was a most enjoyable one. It* consisted -of a couple of pretty duets, much bright and witty patter of a very original nature, an artistically played pianoforte solo by Miss Aldous. and as a finale Mr Keeley responded to prolonged applause by giving an eccentric dance. The couple left the stage to the accompaniment of well-merited applause.

The failure of the light at the Opera House last evening did not prevent the audience from thoroughly enjoying the show. On the other hand they took tilings as philosophically as riid the performers, who would be singing in front of bright footlights one mo-

ment, the next in semi-darkness, and then in total darkness. The vaudeville turns were all got through before the current failed and it was the revue artists who had to work under such a great handicap as by candle light and other artificial lighting. Under the circumstances the performers did splendidly. Doddy Hurl, Harry Evans and A 1 Mack rose to the occasion by craojvirig good jokes each time the theatre was plunged into darkness, and the audience joined heartily in the singing of such choruses as “Yes, We Have No Bananas,” while the impromptu lighting arrangements were being carried out. The orchestra also played under great difficulties as being a first night show they were not sufficiently well acquainted with the melodies to be able to play them in the darkness.

“ Flames of Passion ” is tli© picture on the programme now screening at the Queen’s. It is a Fox production with a notable cast. From n scenic and dramatic point of riot*/. “Flames of Passion,” with its rich and colourful settings midst a forest and lumber camp, is an undoubted success. | “ The Voice From the Minaret,” featuring Norma Talmadge. and “ Love Bound,” with Shirley Mason as the star, will be shqwn for the last time at the King’s, Sydenham, to-night. Heading the bill on to-morrow’s new programme will be “From the Ground TTp,” Tom Moore’s latest star jiroduetion, “ Women Who Wait ” will als° be shown. It a stirring drama of the sea. In “ From the Ground Up,” now showing at the Liberty, Tom Moore arts the role of Terence Giluley, “valet to a steam shovel,” who soon becomes a contractor and wins for his wife tho daughter of the man who planned the giant skyscraper about which much of the action hinges. HeJone Chadwick, who had appeared in a number of Rupert Hughes’s photoplays, is cast as Philena Mortimer, daughter of the builder, } ind keeps that character always interesting. Others in the cast give a faithful characterisation of their various parts.

“My *Lady Friends,” featuring? the popular pair, the Carter de Havens, is now showing at the Grand. For real comedy drama this picture is very good, and is highly diverting in all of its many phases. The story details one of Smith’s attempts to spend surplus wealth, but his wife, always cautious, prevents him, until he gets off on a business trip, and then things happen.

A drama that will set your nerves tingling aptly describes the effect of witnessing “ Is Divorce a Failure?” an Associated Exhibitors’ production, featuring Leah Baird, now screening at Greater Crystal Palace. The story details the difficulties of a young married couple, and how after they are dir r orced fate throws them together with two other men upon a desert isle.

The big feature now filming at Everybody’s is a splendid interpretation of Peter B. Kyne's novel, “ Tbe Go-Getter.” with T. Roy Barnes in the leading role. Barnes takes the part of Bill Teck. the energetic salesman for the Ricks Lumber Co., who always bobs up smiling. He goes after a thing and gets it, even to the extent of capturing the heart of Mary Skinner. the daughter of the manager.

,lohn Sainpolis, one of the finest character actors of the screen and widely known for his work in the title role of “ The Great Lover.” as the husband in “The Four Horsemen,” and other famous screen plays, will be seen in a strong role in “ The Untameable,” the. Universal production starring Gladys Walton, now showing at Greater Crystal Palace. He plays the part of a physician, who uses a hypnotic influence over the girl he desires, changing her entire nature and personality at will. The play is a screen transcription of the famous novel, The White Cat,” by Gelett Burgess. “THE BEGGAR'S OPERA.” " It’s a mighty strange piece,” the Beggar explains himself. “ 1 hope 1 may be forgiven, but I have made my opera unnatural like those in vogue. This is the most natural opera in the world. It begins in the house of a receiver of stolen goods, and ends in the condemned hole. Each personage in it is either a highwayman, a fence, b jailer, or a pimp; in short, there’s not an honourable man or an honest

woman among 'em. But it’s all human.” ' The good folk of Sydney suffered many disappointments liefore “The Beggar’s Opera” was finally put on the boards, but here in Christchurch the statement is definitely made that it will appear at the Theatre Royal on Monday, January 7, whether the audience will be inclined to devote its attention to any single phase of tbe work—tire music, the story of the captain and the women who are so infatuated with him, or the spectacle from a theatrical point of view—-re-mains to be seen. The people will have a better opportunity of preparing their minds for this opera than for any other of the theatrical events that havo preceded it for a long time, for the storv of Gar's work is so well known. * To enjoy it thoroughly, it would bo as well to regard tho work as a whole, and to endeavour to associate it with the traditions of the period in which it was written. This will not be difficult, for the efforts of the producer have been directed at realising the effects of the famous London production, which has just terminated a thiee-year’s run. Hilton Osborne will portray tbe amorous Captain. Macheath, and Reginald Roberts will have the role of Peachum Miss Pauline Bindley, the well-known concert artist, has been specially engaged for the part of Polly Peaclmm. and the solo.:; allotted her are of a melodious nature.