SCREEN & STAGE

Star (Christchurch), Issue 17349, 14 May 1924, Page 5

SCREEN & STAGE

i —— £ Y NOTES ON CURRENT AND COMING SHOWS. T

An inspiration on the part of the uc *** rs 'khe Grand Orchestra (Miss Agnes Shearsby, A.T.C.L., L.A.8.) this week is the playing of the song “ My Wild Irish Rose ” as an entr’acte prologue to the Irish picture. The music synchronises excellently with the theme and action of the picture, and the Irish atmosphere is maintained throughout. The music is a decided- feature, as is the singing of Mr Wilfred Scott’s song, “ My Wild Irish Rose ” during the screening, and also the finale of the picture. He is receiving ovations. The music this week reflects great credit on Miss Shearsby for her skilful handling of the orchestra in such a difficult picture. The musical programme is as follows: Overture, “Raymond” (Thomas); new waltzes, “ Arrawarra ” aud ‘" Romany Rose”; selections, “The Lily of Killarney,” “ Away in Athlon©,” “ Where the River Shannon Flows,” “The Mountains o’ Moujne,” “ Molly,” “ Fairy Tales of Ireland,” “ Eileen Aroon.” “ Kathleen Mavoumeen,” “ Molly Brannigan,” “ River Shannon Moon,” “Fancy Nancy Clancy” and “Irish Dances.” The test of a woman’s affection for her husband proves also to be the test of another in “ The Butterfly Girl,” which stars Marjorie Daw ‘at the Queen’s Theatre. “ The Butterfly Girl ” is an original comedy-drama pointing a moral to the flirt of to-day, the subject being treated in a satirical style.

Mexicans are the bad men in “ The Bad Man,” a film coming to the Liberty Theatre bn Saturday. In fact there are three bad men in tlio story, but the one who is supposed to be the bandit ultimately proves to be not so desperate as be has been painted. The story, it is said, was suggested by the American-Mexican border operations of the late Pane'll u Villa. The film should be very interesting, for Holbrook Blinn.' the star, was also in the foie in the original stage ploy.

Ail that makes a successful picture will be seen in His Children's Children ” when it is shown at the Queen’s Theatre on June 2, together with a Jack Holt feature, “ Gentleman of Leisure.” The story breaks away from the stereotyped and deals with a home which has been spoilt by parental laxity, too much money and still more given to making money and finding pleasure. Bebe Daniels is the star and Sam Woods is the producer.

“Wait!” they said when everybody said glowing things of Pola Negri’s

“The Cheat.’’ So those who have waited will see Negri’s next film in a yery short time. The colourful title of “ The Spanish Dancer” conveys the nature of the story and settings. The Queen’s Theatre will show “ The Spanish Dancer,” whfi;h has Antonio Moreno as leading man, on May 26. After a. temporary retirement from the stage of over twelve months George Edwardes has been re-engaged by Sir Benjamin Fuller and Mr John Fuller for a lengthy tour of their vaudeville circuit. Since he was last seen here Mr Edwardes has completed a tour of the world and brought back with him a series of diverting comedy sketches. His opening act is entitled “An Indian Night.” Joyous jazz, a Salome dancer, a romantic theme, sprinkled with smart- dialogue and a love lyric, will be found in the new offering, which should prove extremely popular.

Nell Crane, the charming vocalist, end the Miranos, with their flying torpedo and loop-the-loop act, continue to ; find favour at Fuller’s Opera House. ( Perhaps the most beautiful feature of “Venus of the South Seas,” which is showing at the Grand Theatre, is the fairy tale episode. Annette Kolloman is seen in fantastic garb walking on the sea bottom, picking shells hidden ! beneath the marine growth. “Venus of , the South Seas’’ is of more than average interest in that the film was made in New Zealand, and Christchurch was the locale for much of the action. j Public applause is the best appreci- I ation of popularity. That being so, it must be said that the Folies Bergeres Quartette at Fuller 1 s is decidedly in favour. Their items well merit the popularity. With Alf. J. Lawrence at the piano, the quartette also comprises a violinist, flautist and cornetist, all clever girls. They ploy everything from “Cavalliera Rusticana” to the latest jazz songs. The ventriloquial turn presented at Fuller’s Opera House by Victor the Greo-t, not to mention his partner, is one of the cleverest given three. Everywhere Victor the Great and his dolls have something new to say and sing. The closing box stunt is excellently clone. Jovial ('lias E. Lawrence has a fewmore jokes and songs for Opera House patrons ths week, “The Wife” comes in for a few more hards words, and the chldren are not forgotten when Oh as. hurts atrabilious invectives at the homo and its contents. And then he sings of houses to let, and between a dscourse on courting, he packs a serenading song, as sung by a would-be Italian. Chas. Lawrence can raise a laugh any night of the week. Old Ireland is the setting for the story of ‘‘My Wild Irish Rose,” a picture which is popular with Grand Theatre audences this week. “Con, the Shaughran” was the original title of the piece, Dion Boucicoult, the father of the Boucicoult, new in Australia, producing plays, playing the title role Pauline Starke is the star of the fine Irish drama. “Au revoir, good folk,” says George j

J Wallace to his a.udiences this week. ; “We have had a wonderful time in Christchurch, socially and in business. | we’ve got plenty of laughs and ap- ; plause, and the box office receipts are i as high as for any previous revue comj pany‘” The last was ouly to be exj pected. George Wallace and his merry | band has gone through a season of ten ! : weeks without presenting one revue j which has been dull in any way. The ! crowds have simply flocked to see him. j and how many people will be turned away from Fuller’s Opera House on the last night (Friday) is no small mat- j ter of calculation. “Athletic Frolics” : is the last revue. The humour of the adventures of a Scotch lassie who goes to London to be instructed in the style of the aristocracy makes “ The fortunes of Christina M’Nab ” quite an enjoyable picture. It is a novel and most amusing romance, beautifully staged in the way that the English producers have. Norah Swinburne pleases greatly as Christina, a conventional lass who cannot realise how wealthy she is when her thrifty j father leaves her an income of £30.000 a year. The salient features of ” Woman to Woman ” in concise form :—Acting— Betty Compson plays like one inspired ; direction—brilliant ; lighting—exquisite ; photography— beyond criticism ; settings—magnificent ; whole—loo per cent. “ Woman to Woman ” which was shown for the first time at Everv--1 body’s Theatre 3 r esterdav. is a worth while film. It gives another taste of what England can do in the producing of films. The story is very well-known, the play having been produced not so long ago at the Theatre Royal bv one of .the most gifted players who” ever graced the New Zealand stage. Gertrude Elliott (Lady Forbes-Robertson)

h° nour exists among thieves. “ White Tiger,” starring the fierv Priscilla Dean, at Greater Crystal Palace, endeavours to prove that. Priscilla Dean has the part of an underworld queen, with the blood of an aristocrat running in her veins. She is one of three famous, or infamous, international criminals who operate in the exclusive circles of society and who scorn the taking of jewels worth less than thousands of pounds. “ White Tiger ” is as thrilling and dramatic as anybody could wish, and Priscilla Dean's acting is great.

The action of “ Thundergate ” is featured by a series of thrilling incidents, perhaps the most realistic and vivid being the hand to hand fight in a Chinese inn between Orientals and Caucasians. Jn the double role of Robert Wells and the Chinese lord, Owen ,*° ore is seen in a character essentialiy different from anything he has previously portrayed. He handles the dual role cleverly and proves that .he is equally at home in drama as well as in comedy. “Thundergate” is showing at the Liberty Theatre.

Whether it. is Florence Vidors' and Monte Blue's masterful acting or the strength of Sinclair Lewis’s story that makes “ Main Street ’* a picture of power is difficult to say. But it can be said that these elements combine to make a picture which is. outstanding in its appeal. The cast live the parts of the. people living in the small towns, one of which is dealt with by “ Main Street.” " Main Street ” is ‘ rich in human interest and the drama is engrossing.

Picture Lifted are misleading. “ Buggies of Red Gap,” which, comes to vue Qucou’s I heati e on Aloud ay, is not a tale of tfie Vs tst oi uie nays when a but a story .of ail English * valet who imas himself introducea to a Western town as a colonel Then the fun starts Cullen Landis is the fellow who exchanges an up-to-date racing car for a one-horse chaise and a country maid in “Watch Your Step,” his latest and speediest Master Cometlv, due at thi Liberty on May 24. The conductor of the Queen’s Orchestra (Mr H. G. Glavsher) is a son of the late 0. M. Glavsher, Bandmaster of the Royal Artillery Band, Sheerness. His father was an organist of great repute. At the age of 11 years he enlisted in the Royal Artillery Baud. Woolwich, as a violinist. At 21. when a sergeant, he was appointed organist of the Garrison Church. Woolwich, and 12 months afterwards was complimented by the great Frenci composer. Charles Gounod, on being appointed to Sheerness. He was offered the position of organid of His Majesty's Dockyard Church, which position he held for 2o years. Ho also formed and conducted the Royal Alfred Orchestral Society. There was a family of six sons and one daughter. All six sous followed the military life. Two are still serving and up to the present time have compiled 112 years army service. The mother died following an air raid One son was killed in France, aud another badly wounded. The conductor of the Queen’s Orchestra served 27 years in the Royal Artillery Band Woolwich as harpist and played clarionet. in the military band. During that period he attended a great number of Royal functions, including banquets at Buckingham Palace and Windsor Castle. The Queen Victoria Jubilee celebrations (including thanksgiving service, St Paul’s Cathedral ; naval review at Spithead, and military tattoo at Windsor.) At the latter function the following staff bands were massed:—Royal Artillery. Royal Engineers, Grenadiers, Scots, and Coldstream Guards, Ist and 2nd I Life Guards and Horse Guard.s, and also 7-50 massed pipers of the Scots j Guards and London Scottish.