ENTERTAINMENTS.

Waikato Times, Volume 102, Issue 17076, 13 April 1927, Page 8

ENTERTAINMENTS.

THEATRE ROYAL.

The rise of Syd. Chaplin, who portrays the role of “ Old Bill" in Bruca Bairnfather's “ The Better ’Ole,” the Warner Exceptional Master Picture, which will show for the last time tonight at the Theatre Royal, is one of the most interesting stories that the picture industry has to offer. Under the war helmet of “ Old Bill ”* lies a brain that for sheer shrewdness of judgment has few .equals, and even fewer superiors in the industry.

STRAND & FRANKTON THEATRES.

An intensely human story, done' in the inimitable style which made Lois Weber one of the screen’s greatest producers before her retirement a few years ago will come to the Strand and Frankton Theatres to-night. It is “ The Marriage Clause,” a vivid human document of a girl’s rise from obscurity to stardom on the stage, of her mental and psychological changes. Billie Dove, as the ambitious girl who becomes a star, gives what must be the greatest performance of her entire screen career. Francis X. Bush-, man is a revelation as the stage director who makes a star of the girl, through his love for her and his own brilliance and knowledge of the drama. The supporting cast contains many; striking personalities. “ABIE’S IRISH ROSE.” “Abie’s Irish Rose,” to be presented at the Theatre Royal, Hamilton, tomorrow (Thursday) evening, for one night only, is described as a comedy in three acts, by Anne Nichols, and comedy it is of a most hilarious type. "Abie’s Irish Rose,” says a critic, is the most entertaining play that one has seen for years—in fact, it is difficult to remember a play that has caused one to laugh so heartily. It is pleas-, ant to be able to witness a play which, does not rely on vulgarity or unpleasantness for its appeal, and one can heartily wish “Abie’s Irish Rose” a long and successful season. Jack Trainor, as Solomon Levy',- is the outstanding success of the piece, while Alfred Gordon, as Isaac Cohen, is excellent. Grace Stafford is very sweet as Rose Mary Murphy, the Irish girl, who married a Jewish husband, and so caused all the trouble with which the play deals, for the play is really a fight between the Irish and the Jews. George Duryea is sound as Abie, .while others who sustain the very even cast are Bertha Walden, Henry Mortimer, John McCabe, and David Wall. “Abie’s Irish Rose” is still running in New York, and is in its sixth year, having beaten the world’s previous longest run, that of "Chu Chin Chow.” The box plans are rapidly filling at Lewis R. Eady and Son’s.

THE N BIG PARADE. Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer’s remarkable Picture production, “The Big Parade” which has been the subject of much discussion in England and America, lias been secured ror the Theatre Royal, commencing the season on Easter Monday. The records established by this celebrated film are remarkable. In England “The Big Parade" showed at the Tivoli Theatre, London for over seven months, a record for the British Isles. Gharacterisations by John Gilbert Karl Dane and Tom O’Brien arc regarded by -the press of England, “as three of the finest character delineations ever seen together in one- picture.” Renee Adoree presents a portrait of Melisande, a French Girl who can “spik no luglis” with marked skill which has won for her a position amongst the first flight of actresses for the screen. A special musical score (the identical one used in London) accompanies- ihe picture and this will be rendered by an augmented orchestra under the direction of Mr Harold Piper. Box plans for the se.ason are available at the Theatre Royal and the management desires to impress upon patrons the- 4 necessity of making early reservations. A prologue will precede ihe picture and will be 'presented with the same scenery and effects as were used in the Majestic Theatre, Auckland.