ENTERTAINMENTS.

Waikato Times, Volume 106, Issue 17268, 14 November 1929, Page 2

ENTERTAINMENTS.

HEUGHAN, ACTOR-SINGER. FAREWELL TO HAMILTON. William Heughan bade farewell to Hamilton last night, prior to his departure for America —'and the talkies. What a supreme artist Mr Heughan,is. With his fine bass vo'ce, his gilts as actor, his commanding presence, his likeable personality, his rare artistry, his finished technical equipment and those expressive hands of his, he lacks nothing as a stage figure, and there Is wide regret that changing conditions in the concert world have brought about his decision not to visit New Zealand professionally again. me general desire will be that conditions will again so change that this grea aolor-singer will again be seen and heard here “in the flesh.” Last night, as on previous visits, Mr Heughan delighted his hearers wit almost every variety of song, ranging from grand opera to the simplest font song- Each was a veritable picture in melody, the scene being painted colourfully and vividly with voice and action. As an interpreter Mr Heughan would be hard to excel, and his explanatory remarks regarding each number added greatly to their interest- On each appearance the great actor-singei was enthusiastically received, and at the close was accorded an ovation of which he must have been proud, for it was a great tribute to his popularity both as artist and man. Mr Heughan was again assisted by Miss Gladys Sayer, pianist, and Miss Maud Bell, 'cellist, two gifted artists who have played a big part in making the Heughan Concert Party one of the most popular musical trios heard in New Zealand. At the close of the concert, “Auld Lang Syne ” was sung, and there was real feeling attached to this farewell of a great artist. Coming Back in “Tin Box.” In announcing last night that the present was his final tour of New Zealand professionally, Mr William Heughan, actor-singer, referred to the changed conditions brought about by the popularity of the “talkies,” and stated that his next visit to the Dominion would he “in a tin box,” as a talkie film. He said he and his associates had grown to love New Zealand and had made many friends here, and no success in the talkies would .compensate them for the personal contact with an audience. However, they must adapt themselves to the new conditions. Mr Heughan thought that people hardly realised what the new mechanical age meant. New Zealand was particularly unfortunate,' for artists would not cornc so far afield and run the risk of doing poor business, when they could stay at home and make good money in the talkies. Thus the young people would grow up without seeing and hearing the great artists except in “canned” form—a poor substitute for the real thing. Mr Heughan concluded by saying that he and his wife hoped to return some day, on holiday, to renew acquaintance with the many fine friends they had made here.

STRAND THEATRE. “The Donovan Affair,” the Columbia 100 per cent, talking picture which opened at the •'Strand Theatre last night .will be remembered by many as the great Owen Davis stage success. It concerns the mysterious murder of Jack Donovan at a dinner table and the later murder of another guest in the same manner and by the same means—a oarying knife. Suspicion is cleverly directed at every member of the oast. False clues suddenly appear and .are .as quickly discarded. The action of the play is very confusing until the conclusion, which comes as a complete but logical surprise. “The Donovan Affair” is . a picture with a real story, developed logically and with adequate suspense. The supporting subjects Include “Old Man Trouble,” a great novelty; Horace Britt, 'cellist; and the English singers, in folk songs. ROVAL AND FRANKTON THEATRES. Bringing with it the spirit of the old West the latast Tom Mix thriller, which concludes to-night, is one of the most intriguing Mix pictures seen here for some time. The picture is “Painted Post.” a tale of the far West. An interesting feature of “Mrs. Brown from Chicago,” the second feature is a parade of fashions from 1868 to 1928 and beyond. To-morrow patrons will get a complete assortment of 'thrills and exciting moments during the showing of “The Last Warning," a mystery melodrama. It is another Paul LeniLaura La Plante picturo. TALKIES AT CAMBRIDGE. To-night and to-morrow night the Cambridge Town Hall will be given over to the Cambridge flower show. On Saturday "The Show Boat,” talkie version of the great stage success, will be screened. Laura la Plante and Joseph Schildkraut arc the featured players. This is Edna Berber's best selling novel, and Forenz Ziegfeld’s Broadway stage production combined into Carl Laemmlc’s glittering, glamourous talking and singing picture, directed by Harry Pollard. Helen Morgan is heard singing “Bill” and “Can’t Help Loving That Man”; Jules Bledsoe, “Old Man River”; Aunt Jemima and the Zicgfeld Plantation Singers rendering "Hey, Feller," and “Come On, Folks." REGENT CABARET DANCE. To-night (Thursday) a popular Cabaret Night will be held at the Regent Ballroom. The dance hall will be laid out with small tables and the real cabaret atmosphere will prevail. The Regent Band will again supply snappy musical numbers. Ice cream, drinks, etc, will be obtainable. Patrons are advised to reserve tables by ringing phone 3306. “THE DESERT SONG.” “Without any doubt whatever,” says an Australian critic, “ ‘The Desert Song’ is a rattling good sho\y. It caters lavishly for everything that the entertainment-loving theatregoer is known to demand—a plot that is definite, picturesque, and exciting; music that is rich in its concrete form and-tuneful enough-to be hummed as one leaves the theatre; a w’ell-trained chorus to do justice to the music; a

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ballet of exceptional merit; and a succession of beautiful scenes that do much towards raising Morocco to the rank of an earthly paradise." Lance Fairfax, as head of the Riffs, presents a magnificent spectacle as, on his Arab charger, with flowing robes of splendid colouring, he. sings many songs that seem as if written specially for his fine baritone voice. When “The Desert Song” opens at the Theatre Royal on Monday for a season of two nights only theatregoers will be afforded the opportunity of seeing a musical play that has been placed ahead of “Rose Marie” (Of which this is the logical successor), "The Vagabond King” and “The Student Prince." Herbert Mundin is a comedian of the true humorous school, and in Rene Murphy he has a splendid foil for his own spirited rallies. Box plans are filling rapidly.