What To See In Christchurch.

Star (Christchurch), Issue 18900, 26 October 1929, Page 33 (Supplement)

What To See In Christchurch.

NEXT WEEK’S PROGRAMMES.

PICTURE THEATRES. JjIfIRTBODT’S THEATRE “ THE VIKING” ITWIYBODrS THEATRE “THE LOVE TRAP ” (JRIATBR CRYSTAL PALACB " FASHIONS IN LOVE” LIBERTY THEATRE “THE CARNATION KID” OItAND THEATRE *. r . .. “ KITTY ” GRAND THEATRE “ ADAM'S APPLE” GRAND THEATRE - “THE PIRATE OF PANAMA STRAND THEATRE “ THE FORGER ” STRAND THEATRE "ME, GANGSTER” OTHER PLACES OF AMUSEMENT. THEATRE ROTAL Talking Picture. “ABIE'S IRISH ROSE” FULLER'S OPERA HOUSE NICOLA (Opening Wednesday) CIVIC THEATRE MALE VOICE CHOIR (To-night) CIVIC THEATRE ....... WESTMINSTER GLEE SINGERS (Opening Tuesday) CIVIC THEATRE WRESTLING MATCH (Monday)

MAGNIFICENT COLOUR PICTURE, “ THE VIKING,” DUE AT EVERYBODY'S.

Among scholars and historians. it has always been a moot point whether it was the Vikings or Columbus who discovered the American Continent. It is an idea that appeals particularly to dramatists, and Ottilie Llljencrantz’s story, “The Thrall of Lief the Lucky." deals in an absorbing manner with this fascinating subject. Coming to the screen under the title of “The Viking.”, produced throughout in magnificent colour, played by a cast of firm favourites. "The Viking” will be the principal film on next week’s programme at Everybody's Theatre. The story opens with a note of romance and adventure, the capture by Norse raiders of a Saxon Carl, and of his sale into slavery in pagan Norway, his purchase by a fair . hieftainess. their clandestine love, the ungodly villainies of two fierce warriors. and of the eventual sailing for Greenland of the Vikings and their uaptive. With the advent of the voyagers in Greenland, the story assumes the grand dimensions of some Shavian work. It is free from sentimentality, prettiness, any pandering to sensational tastes. It is a drama of wide sweep and power, of a theme so very unusual that it might be said that here is one of the nine plots in the world treated in a different way. Some of the scenes are reconstructed from the paintings or r'arl Oscar Borg, the artist; the only Viking ship in existence has been faithfully copied, and most of the players and supers are of Norse desecent. The second picture is The Dove Trap.” which is recommended to adult audiences. Laura La Plante, Neil Hamilton and Norman Trevor are in the leads. Albert Bidgood has arranged the following musical programme for the Select Orchestra: Overture, Haymakers Dream” (Golden); suites, ‘Joycue Youth" (Coates), "Merchant of Venice” (Rosse), "From the North (Sibelius), "Norwegian Dances , selections. "Rhinegold” (Wagner), Meis--efsingers” (Wagner). "Valkyrie* (Wagner), “Five O’clock Girl” (Ruby); overture "Fingal's Cave” (Mendelssohn). "Ballet Egyptien (LuigmO, "Liod” (Fredericksen). "Songs of the Norseland" (Lehmann>, “Rain and «?hine" (Agar); entr'acte, Annie Laurie” (art by Lake). Box plans are at the Bristol Piano Company, where seats may be reserved.

THREE LIVE GHOSTS,” A FINE ALL-TALKIE FILM. BILLED FOR THE CIVIC.

A cable was received in Christchurch this week from New York by Mr Gladstone Hill agreeing to a suggestion by him that the Australian and >ew Zealand premiere for the new all-talking t.lm "Three Live Ghosts.” should be given to the Civic Theatre, Christchurch. The film has only just arrived in Wellington and was passed by the censor yesterday. In a telephone message received last evening the statement was made by those who had attended the censorial screening that it was the finest talkie yet seen or heard in New Zealand, the speaking being of the clearest and purest English. When it is understood that Claude A lister—who created such a f urore as *’ Algy " in " Bulldog Drummond *• —is one of the leading actors in “ Three Live Ghosts," it may be taken for granted that the Wellington statement is not far out. The story surrounds three British sriidirts, Jimmie Gubkins, a Cockney: William Foster, an American; and " Fpoofy ” (Claude Alister), who cannot remember his identity, who escape from a German prison camp just before the Armistice and return to London to find themselves listed as “ dead Vin (he Armv reports. Foster is happy, for he feels he has a chance to start life anew. Space forbids further reference to the story now. hut it will be ” continued in our next.” In the meantime patrons should keep Friday t ext—the opening day—free and res»ive their seats at The Farmers and The Bristol on Wednesday.

GOOD VARIETY OF PICTURES TO BE SHOWN AT GRAND NEXT WEEK

Three big attractions are to be screen’d all next week at the Grand Theatre, besides a very interesting programme of < omedies. cartoons and gazettes. The picturisation of Warwick Deeping's novel. " Kitty," the comedy of a honeymoon entitled " Adam's Apple,” and the first chapter of the new chapter play, " The Pirate of Panama," are the three principal films. The filming of “ Kitty ' proved a most artistic and successful venture. Estelle Brody plays the title role, and John Stuart is opposite her. “ Adam's Apple ” is a scream from start to finish. Rarely has the screen seen such a truly humorous story acted with so much vim. Monty Banks, well known on the American screen, marries a wife, but is cursed with an ogress of a mother-in-law. who insists on accompanying them on the honeymoon to chaperone them. When a vamp and her •jealous husband make their appearance before the trio have crossed from Folkestone, the ogress is able to say in triumph to the bride, " I told you so. It is broad comedy, very exciting in parts, a fine tonic for the blues. “The Pirate of Panama ’’ stars Jay Wilsey (Buffalo Bill, jun) and Natalie Kingston The story is by William M'Leod Dain’e, and tells of piracy on the Spanish Main in the early eighteenth century. The box plans are at The Bristol Piano Company, where seats may be reserved.

EDGAR WALLACES AMAZING STORY.

The programme at the Strand Theatre Is hended bv "The Forger." Edgar Wallace’s amazing story, starring Nigel Barrie and Winter Hall. Mr Winter Hall is ♦he well-known Christchurch film artist. The second picture is " Me. Gangster, featuring June Collyer and Don Terry. The supporting programme includes a comedy. “ W r altcr's Frolics,” variety and topical films. ORGAN RECITAL. Dr Bradshaw will continue the series of organ recitals at the Cathedral on Tuesday next at S o’clock, when the following request programme will be played:— (a) Toccata in D Minor (Dorian); M» Aria from a Cantata, “My Heart Ever Faithful” (Bach): Organ Concerto in F Major. "Cuckoo and Nightingale. Adagio-Allegro < Handel > : Pastorale m E Major (Op. 19) (Cesar-Franck) . Andante Cantabile from the string Quartet, Op 11 (T^chaikowsky); Overture for full orchestra.." Tannhauser <waf; r.'-r »: Grand Fantasia in E Minor, The ?torm " (Lemmens): Melody in ITMajor (Rubinstein): War March of the Priests, from " Athalie ” (Mendelssohn).

ALL-TALKING COMEDY, " THE CARNATION KID,” COMING TO LIBERTY

A full-length feature talkie, the Fox Movietone News of the World, a talking comedy entitled “ Spontaneous Spasms,” starring the famous comedy team. Clapham and Dwyer. a Ufa Gem, "An Ancient Art,” and a delightful musical number, “ Music of Many Nations,” are some of the numbers on next week’s programme at Liberty Theatre Talkies. The principal picture is the Douglas M’Lean all-talking comedy, “ The Carnation Kid,” an amusing mixture of sheer comedy and the melodramatic atmosphere of the underworld and gangsters. Frances Lee, Lorraine Eddy and Francis M’Donald are in the supporting cast, all film players of long standing who learnt the acting and elocutionary arts on the stage, and who are an ornament to any talkie. " The C&rantion Kid” may be recommended as a capitally entertaining picture from the viewpoint of action, excitement, mystery and romance, and the voices are among the best heard on the speaking screen for some time. The story concerns the Carnation Kid, a notorious bandit, and a typewriter salesman. That the two become hopelessly mixed is due to the fact that the bandit carries round a portable machine-gun, easily confused with a typewriter. Douglas M’Lean is the innocent salesman, and he brings all his abilities as a comedian to bear On this part. There are some dramatic sequences where no one will believe that he is not the Carnation Kid, but for the most part this talkie is purely a humorous effort, liberally balanced with all the thrills attendant on a picture that deals with the lawless. It is a fast-moving fdeture, never letting up one moment on ts quest for excitement and adventure and the search for The Kid. Douglas M’Lean has never made a more amusing picture than this on*. and in the silent days he had many conspicuous successes to his credit. He bounds through the picture with all his old vim, and confounds the enemies of right, despatches the Kid, and, of course, wins the girl. Francis M’Donald, in the title, but not the leading, role, gives a battling performance as The Kid. This picture is one of the most enjoyable yet presented at Liberty. The box plans are at The Bristol Piano Cdmpanv, where seats may be reserved. On Monday the plans will be at the theatre.

WESTMINSTER GLEE SINGERS TO OPEN SEASON.

Great interest attaches to the coming visit of the Westminster Glee Singers, who will be heard in Christchurch at the Civic Theatre on Tuesday, Wednesday and Thursday of next week. This body of singers comprises both adults and boys, and consists of vocalists selected from the greatest Cathedral choirs In England and noted for their outstanding voices. They include.for instance, Charles Draper, a basso of the highest standing in operatic circles to-day and Operatic Exhibitioner Royal College of Music; James Parker, the eminent Scottish basso; Charles O’Connor, celebrated Irish tenor and harpist; Edward Branscombe, for ten years tenor soloist at Westminster Abbey; Albert G. Greene, from the London Opera House; Ernest M’Kinlay, the New Zealand tenor who made a conspicuous success with the company in Canada; Donald Reid, male alto from Westminster Abbey; William Lowry, male also from Christchurch Cathedral, England. The six soprano boy soloists are from the leading London Cathedral and Church choirs, and include Douglass Bar- . trip, Vincent Petley. Harry Fearn, Norman Clarke, Alan Goodered and Sidney Wall 3. These singers, while they perform both sacred and secular music, do not overload the programme with any one class, but present a judicious admixture of both, having due regard to the popular taste of the day for music that entertains. Their sacred music, as is to be expected of English Cathedral singers, is of the very finest, but particular attention is paid to the gems of English minstrelsy of old songs and ballads specially arranged for a capella singing. Tho recent tour of Canada extended over eighteen months, during which they visited 140 towns and gave over 400 concerts with phenomenal success. The New Zealand tour is under the direction of Henry Hayward, by arrangement with Edward Branscombe, who organised this tour of the Empire. The extensive repertoire allows of a complete change of programme being presented nightly. The box plans are now open at The Bristol.

DUSOLINA GIANNINI, FAMOUS SINGER, IS TO VISIT CHRISTCHURCH.

Not since the days of Adelina Patti has any singer captured the public imagination as has Signorina Dusolina Giannini, the remarkable young ItalianAmerican singer, who is touring New Zealand. The scenes that attended her triumphs in England and Germany during the past three years were remarkable. The “ New York Morning Telegraph,” reviewing her successes, says:—"Staid London stood on its feet and yelled, in Germany they followed the traditional habit of honouring their heroes and heroines: they pulled her in her carriage down the mnin streets, they climbed on the stage and kissed the hem of her dress, they sold out her concerts twenty-four hours after they were announced. They stood from five in the morning until noon to buy ticket?;—like they do here to buy baseball and fight tickets.” Her success in Australia has been equally as sensational. Although only twenty-six old, Giannini has risen to the highest position amongst contemporary singers, her successes in grand opera in England and Germany have been remarkable. whilst as a concert singer she is placed as the greatest that has been heard in this part of the world. Supporting the distinguished singer are two fine instrumentalists, who have won unstinted praise from the Australian Press, Miss Molly Bernstein, pianist, and Mr Sol Deutsch, a young American violinist. Two concerts will be given in Christchurch, at the Caledonian Hall, on Thursday and Saturday, November 7 and 9. The box plans will be available at The Bristol on Saturday morning next. Owing to the limited capacity of the hall, early booking is advisable. Signorina Giannini’s tour is under the direction of E. J. Gravestock, Ltd.

ADAPTATION FROM FAMOUS PLAY, “ THE CONCERT," FOR CRYSTAL

They all speak English, but they all think and act in French in the all-talk-ing comedy romance, “ Fashions in Love,” that is to be presented at Crystal Palace Theatre next week. This picture is adapted from the famous stage play, “The Concert,” the story of an incurably flirtatious concert maestro, whose wife combines forces unexpected people in an unexpected manner to cure him of his malady. Adolphe Menjou plays the maestro, and hay Cnmnton is his wife, and when Monsieur and Madame Martin enter into the little domestic drama everything becomefe deliirlitfully amusing. Menjou has a rple vfry much to hie liking, the role of a polite and quite harmless Lothario, who ♦ Viintra Vii<3 wife as a meek mouse, but whS fs very effectively brought to heel hy that lady Pay Compton is a good match for the Menjou her voice matches the t'wn maior ?o£sTrt n played‘b? Mil Jan and ond'husbaS a and n wife who* become embroiled in the domestic affairs of then trsss-f is? w*?«? thlnf to recommend it. numb ere inolud Hand.'' starring ! ,A 13 wiiaon and Jason Robards, ' surprising story that ? done. "The Harmony ™2ingirg the latest songs, telling Hoys, si I atories, breaking into the the Tokens and " The Carnival Man,’ newest steps, a gtorJ wjth Walt£ , r Husa pleasing 1” e a which he also sings ton » «te 'era, Tfie N<ws of the » win programme. p lan o Company, seats m»v ** reserved.

GtJEAT NICOLA SEASON BEGINS NEXT WEEK AT NEW OPERA HOUSE. Something entirely different and irresistibly appealing will be the Great Nicola and his famous mystery show to be presented at the New Opera House on Wednesday next by Sir Ben- \ jamin and Mr John Fuller. The famous Nicola has played In every country of the globe and caused a sensation by his remarkable performances. Nicola is supported by a company or star artists and assistants. ari “ brings with him over fif*y , of scenery and effects, which arc used for the staging of his- wonderful show. Interest in the Great Nicola’s coming visit to Christchurch is becoming more pronounced daily and there is every indication that he will appear before capacity houses at every performance. Nicola presents his big Thow in two huge acts and ten scenes. The nrst scene is at the Bm’peror’s court in Pekin, with Nicola as the Royal Chinese Conjurer, Ching Ling Foo, in a series of startling mysteries. The gorgeous costumes and draperies used for this scene were embroidered by the *oo Chou Imperial Embroidery Family, Shanghai. The next scene takes the spectator to India., with Nicola as the Hindu Fakir. Hassan Fux, presenting his Oriental Mysteries before the Durmntalla. Palace at Hyderabad, where he does the famous Hindu basket tuckin Egyptian surroundings Nicola appears as the Royal Egyptian Mys tlC - Prince Rameses Abbas, in a number of astounding, weird feats from the una of Pharaoh. His next performance is that of Gluey, an eccentric burlesque magician, from the Argentine, in a series of feats of necromantic f un ; 4 ~. s “ sfsted by Herman Holmberg, jn® world’s worst juggler,” in tricks anu chatter. One of the big scenes is tne stage of Nicola’s own theatre in Mon

mouth, Illinois, U.S.A., with paraphernalia, illusions and effects built in Nicola’s own workshop, under his personal supervision. Nicola will be seen in a series of tricks, illusions and scientific problems, which, it is said, surpass anything hitherto attempted in the field of magic, including the great “ Gaol-breaking Mystery.” The box plans for the season are now open at The Bristol, where big booking is proceeding.