ENTERTAINMENTS

Dominion, Volume 13, Issue 161, 3 April 1920, Page 5

ENTERTAINMENTS

ICING'S THEATRE. An attractive holiday programme received its initial screening at the Kind's Theatre last evening before a crowded attendance. It was headed by a'most acceptable Goldwyn production, "Heartsease," featuring that doyen of film . actors.. Tom Moore, supported by a particularly strong cast. "Heartsease" is a light drama somewhat out of the ordluavy run, and its theme is very cleverly conceived and admirably interpreted. Tom Moore fills the role of a young English composer of aristocratic lineage, hut impoverished resources,. who is somewhat roughly handled by the world of sycophants in which 'he moves. All liis hopes are centred on his life's work, an opera entitled "Heartsease." This opera , is (stolen by a in ember of the Peerage,; who is his rival for the hand of a beautiful and winsome daughter of one of his musical patrons. His rival appropriates the opera and actually produces it. Then it is that interesting situation's ensue, in the courra. of which a great wrong is richted. The attendance followed the picture with keen interest. The supporting films wore well in- keeping with the high standard set. by.the Kin.i's. They included a whimsical and\ novel nature study. "In the Air after Alligators,' . with Florida us'its setting, and a pood ''Gazette."---'Added interest was lent to _ the programme bv an entrancing trio of sorrgs,'."Wn.:nta'Poi," "Come Back to Erin," and "Heartsease" contributed ( by Miss Eileen Driscoll. Miss Briscoll was in good voice; and all of her mini- '. bers were very favourably received.- The orchestra was splendid. EVERYBODY'S THEATRE. Commencing at Everybody's Theatre to-day, "The Man Who Turned White," starring H. B. Warner, the noted English actor, will be screened. It. is a spectacular drama of the great Sahara desert. ■ In order to realistically portray the big scenes with their Bedouins, Deryishes, Mohammedan?, Oriental dancing girls and Arabian atmosphere, particular care had to be taken in selecting the proper types. Camels, too, had to bo secured, for a caravan is shown traversing the desert with Bedouins in wild pursuit on horseback.. H. B. Warnerplays the' role of a man who, because, he had ' been wronged and his lips sealed by his sense of honour, turned his back on his own nenple, swore vengeance on .the white race, «hd became "AH Zaniah,'!'' the "Scourge of the Desert." But the woman whom ho tried to degrade saw that lie- was ."white," and regenerated him, with love. Incidents in the picture are a. spectacular fight with desert brigands, camel caravans, Bedouin dare-, devil horsemen, and beautiful. Oriental dancing; girls. •''.'' . EMPRESS THEATRE; I In "The Little Intruder," there is a. . young lady who intrudes herself into a man's home, is lured by 'him to spy on his wife, and who also- intrudes her way iilto a young man's heart. Who is this mysterious,', winsome, lovable,' little intruder? It is not until the very last few feet of the picture that the mystery is solved in the production, showing today, at the Empress Theatre. Louise Huff, who lias endeared herself to thousands upon thousands of picture lovers, is starred in the role of the intruder, and it is one of the. best parts,that she has ever played. The sixth chapter of "The Man of Might" is also on this week's bill, and is -called "The Height of Torment," u dramatic avalanche of sensational escapes. The usual .Gnuinont Gazutte and a colonial educational film, "The Lion Cubs," will ako bo shown, ■ \" 'POSSUM PADDOCK." At the Grand' Opera House to-night the Kate Howards Comedy Company wijl produce for the first time in Now Zealand the successful Australian comedy, "'Possum Paddock." The play, which was written by Miss "Howarde, had a great 1 reception in . Sydney arid Melbourne, where it was played to packed . houses. It, is a pure comedy, and poitrays life in _the great Out Back in - Australia. "'Possum Paddock" received great praise from the Australian .Press. Mr. Fred'.' MncDonald; whose Dave in i "Our 'Selection" will bo well rememberI ed by playgoers, ha's the principal com-', j edy part, and he is. supported by Mr.' J Jack Sou tar, Mr. .Tack Kirby,' and Miss | Kate Howardc. The box plans are 'at. S the.Bristol.; ....'■<' I ' •'' ' COSTUME RECITAL, j All lovers 1 of poetry and dramatic-art I will be interested in Hhe costume rc--8 ital of Marieda Batten's Maori Love | Legends, to be held in the Concert Cham- | ber on Friday, April 9, under the' patI . ronage of Her Excellency thqf ( Countess of I Liverpool. The poems are m the form 11 of poetical dramas, which will bo acted |by the following:—Miss Knola Innes and S .\fr. Alfred Spencer, Miss Lali Benbow t and Mr. Eric Rishworfh, and Miss Linda jj M'lnlyre and Mr. Leonard Power. Mr. | Robert Bell, a baritone soloist new to 3 .Wellington! audiences, will sing l "Ka I Mate," and "Waiata; Poi," and Mr. C. 1 Tucker will play incidental fluid music. | Handsome kiwi feather mats_ will be | worn by the artists, and special Ughti ing and stage cll'ects have been arranged. ! ' ' ORGAN. RECITAL , a • ■•' —; ——* : !j ,-The organ recital given by the City | Organist (Mr. Bernard F.;|Page) in the i Town Hall last night opened with | Chopin's Funeral March; from the | Pianoforte Sonata, Op. 35. This impres- | »iive number, which, was played at the i composer's, own funeral seventy years | ago, has exquisite melody and deep | meaning. The organist played it pari ticularly well. The prelude to Act I of ! w "Parsifal" (Wagner) followed. This favourite concert number contains some of Wagner's most beautiful and most emotional music- It is fittingly described' as "full of tender emotion, and yet charged with a noble passion" The » i.lood Friday Music from Act 111 of I "Parsifal" was the third number in I the first part of the programme. This composition, reflecting the calm and 5 quietness of Easter morn, tells of the 1 meeting between Parsifal, and Kundry j in flower-decked meadows, and it is one | of the most' beautiful and popular parts | of. tho opera. The second part of the. \ programme was occupied iby the First \ Movement from the "Symphony in ]) i Minor" (Cesar Franck). ..This, majestic | symphony, written in 1886 when Franck's | genius was fully developed, is apt to be -« regarded as \ severely classical by those j who are not advanced students of syznI phonic music. But even the uninitiated I can appreciate the rich complexity d j its structure and the harmony that re- | veals itself throughout its passages. Mr. | Page played with skill and understanJj ing, and earned the gratei-ul applause of I his audience.