ENTERTAINMENTS

Dominion, Volume 20, Issue 43, 15 November 1926, Page 12

ENTERTAINMENTS

DE LUXE THEATRE. The art of a clever motion picture director, and of two great authors, Mary Roberts Itinebart and Avery Hopwooa, guarantee the entertainment quality of "The Bat,” now at the head of the programme at the De Luxe Theatre, where audiences are held tense throughout the famous melodrama. “The Bat” runs the gamut of thrills and excitement to the final revelation. It is marked by the vital spark generated by the treatment given the plot by Roland West, the two playwrights, and the scenario writer, which lifts it from among the ordinary melodramas. It has the quality to transmit from the screen the sheer tensity of situations that succeed each other in rapid series of nerve-jolting perplexities. Many inexplicable events occur in strange circumstances, which prevent the cleverest in the audience perceiving the explanation. “The Bat,” as a play and as a motion picture, is in a class alone. The music rendered by the orchestra is delightful.

“THE MIDNIGHT SUN.’’ International politics threatened for a time to balk one of the big scenes in “The Midnight Sun,” the Universal Super Jewel to be screened at the De Luxe Theatre, commencing Friday next. In the “Midnight Sun” there is a scene in which a warship pursues a private yacht. On board the warship is a Russian grand duke, while the yacht holds the persons of the premiere ballerina of the Imperial Russian Ballet and Russia’s most powerful banker. The girl is desired by both the grand duke and the banker. Wfieu the time arrived to take this particular scene the company asked the American Navy for permission to use one of its warships on the Pacific station. The Department had heard that the action of “The Midnight Sun” was laid in Russia. As America was not on terms with the present Russian Government, the Department hesitated to grant the request. However, when the authorities were assured that the period if the jlay was 1913, during the reign of the Tsar, the request was readily granted. One of the navy’s swiftest submarine chasers was placed at the disposal of the motion picture people—officers and crew—and for perhaps the first time in the history of the navy certain of its officers tcok “orders” from a civilian. For BucliOwetzki, the director, was given complete authority during the time the chaser was being used for the picture. The director even went so far as to paint out the number of the chaser and paint its Russian name on ts bows. In addition to this, for the sake of kinema art and accuracy, American “gobs” doffed the regulation blue cr white and appeared as sailors of the Tsar’s ravy. Universal has given “The Midnight Sun” an excellent cast. I “THE UNFAIR SEX.” The big successes of the English stage visit these shores at intervals that are all too rare, and thus the advent of the New English Comedy Comnany, which will open its season at the Grand Onera House to-morrow night, has keyed local theatregoers up to a pitch of great expectations. Mr. Joseph Cunningham, who has been responsible for the organising of the company, was fortunately able to engage a number of the most famous players cf the present generation, and in addition lias been able to secure the rights of some of tho greatest works of recent years. The initial production, Frank Hudson’s “The Unfair Sex,” is described as a brilliant example of the lyne of new comedy that is creating greater interest than al”" other class of modern plar. It is a lianpy combinafion cf farce and satire, and its New Zealand premiere comes at the same time as it is being acclaimed by th" critips of America. Commenting on the ouening performance by the comnanv in Australia, a Sydney pauer stated: “Every possible laugh was obtained from the snapny dialogue of the farce. Honours go on this occasion to Frank Bradley, the “post-Sliavian,” as he describes himself, with an engaging drawl. His exclamation- “ticket-tv-tock,” as he lilierally helped himself to the decanter became positively hilarious as the comedy proceeded. Miss Bateman was at all times convincing as the woman who nearly landed in the divorce court ps the result of one innocent kiss. The talented English actress gave a thoroughly artistic performance Equally convincing' was Campbell Copelin as her husband, a hot-tempered young man who eagerly fell for the schemes of his uncle, and who excelled in the part. It was a joy to hear Miss Henrietta Cavendish speak English. _ Not one word of the witty Mrs. Delisse was missed.” The box ’ plans for the production are now open at the Bristol. HIS MAJESTY’S THEATRE. Hector St. Clair is well known as one of the most versatile and whimsical comedians on the Australian and New Zealand stage. His long experience has given him a knowledge of exactly what the public wants—and he gives it, with the support of several clever artists constituting the Hector St. Clair Revue Company. Mr. Victor Roberts, the producer, Introduces many comedy sketches along original lines and his productions are becoming well and favourably known for their laughter provoking qualifies. This week, His M a .i es ty’s Theatre will see another presentation entitled “Exit Laughing.” a concoction of frivolous nonsense, song and dance numbers and novel comedy sketches. "Hector” possesses the capacity of getting into sympathy with nis audienefe and carries on a desultory conversation with any of his listeners who are within earshot. This revue company presents the tabloid form of entertainment with considerable success and each production seems to excel its predecessor. A brilliant attraction on the vaudeville bill is Lorna Lance and Co. These remarkable children created considerable interest and enthusiasm on their first appearance here some months ago and the return of this wonderful juvenile act will be warmly approved. Baby Leslie, the tiny jazz drummer and probably the youngest of his kind in the world, is indeed a little wonder and only one of a quartet of really remarkably clever children. It is seldom indeed that one family possesses four artists in its midst and more unusual still for each and every one to be so talented .and achieve such success as Lorna Lance and Co Bertini and Byrne, in their last week, will be heard in an altogether new musical offering, combining comedy and music in its best form. Such skilled musicians can be heard again and again and always with real pleasure. Paul De Bur, Hie 'pnperolocist, is to create many new and interesting things with his large stock of newspapers. Ibis is a unique performance and au interesting studv. An entertaining bill will be comnleto with the addition of the Carthy Bros.. English comedians, in a new programme of original humour and song, not to mention dancing in various forms.

PARAMOUNT THEATRE. J Now showing nt' the Paramount Theatre is Constance Talmadge s latest success, “The Duchess of Buffalo,” a gay I

story of Russia, in which Miss Talmadge has the role of an American girl who wins stage fame abroad and plays havoc with the hearts of handsome Xpung offiwre and wealthy noblemen. Marion Duncan, an American dancer, becomes the hancee of Vladimir Orloff, not knowing that a Grand Duke is in love with her.. Both fly from his rage, but he pursues,, his Jealous wife following him. The arrival^ of the grand duchess brings about the denounce ment. Tuliio Carniyali plays Miss Talmadge. The second senes of “Amundsen’s Polar Flight” is also shown, together with a gazette and cartoon, and, delightful music. . NATIONAL REPERTORY THEATRE SOCIETY. ~ Th© National Repertory Theatre bociety is now a firmly established msti tute in Wellington. . The National Repertory Theatre Society has tor its director Mr. Leo du Chateau, the wellknown actor-manager, and it can oe candidly said that it has been, responsible for two splendid productions in "Pvgmalion” and “A Bill of E l \ or 9P' ment." The society claims that its forthcoming engagement in, the Concert Chamber of the Town Hall to-morrow and two following nights, when A. A. Milne’s clever comedy in three nets, "Ariadne, or Business First, preceded bv Oliphant Downs’s one act fantasy, "The Maker of Dreams," will .be presented, with Mrs. ,E. J. Fawcett, Miss Louise Fitzberbert, Miss K. Stocker, Miss Constance Morice. Miss Thyra Baldwin, and Messrs. W. S. Wauchop, Vivian Rhind P. B. Broad, Norman Byrne and E. S. Baldwin participating in the casts. The standard will be maintained find every painstaking effort will be made to win ’he approval of the public. Mr. William Beck will renovate the scenery, Mr. D. .Lesson will supervise the effects, and Mr.- P. Macpherson will act as stage manager. Mr. Leon de Mauny has arranged the entr - acte music, which will he played by Miss Frances Honry and Mr. Keeble Thurkettle. The box plans are at the Bristol. KING’S THEATRE. Now showing at the Kings Theatre is the noteworthy Metro-Goldwyn production, "Lovey Mary." The story of this new picture is based upon the book of that name by Alice Hegan Rice, author of "Mrs. Wiggs of the Cabbage Patch." Essentially a comedy, there is an undercurrent of pathos and drama that affords the principal players .remarkable opportunities for a convincing display of their histrionic abilities. Bessie Love’s artistic and sincere portrayal of the lonely orphan girl who lavished all her pent-up affections upon > a baby waif, ranks as one of the screen s greatest characterisations. A delightful supporting programme embodies both quality and quantity. ' QUEEN'S THEATRE. -Edmund Lowe, Madge Bellamy, and Leslie Fenton, are featured in “Blaek Paradise,” the thrilling Fox production now showing at the Queen’s Theatre. Miss Bellamy has the role of a girl who falls in love with a young, crook, who steps into a trap while doing his last “job.” In the exciting chase that follows, the detective, Edmund Lowe, chases them aboard a ship which turns out to be a rum runner headed for the South Seas, and owned by an old enemy of the detective. From this point on events shape themselves with melodramatic rapidity. Besides those in the leading roles, the cast includes Paul Panzer. The supports are a comedy, news, and scenic, with capital incidental music. ARTCRAFT THEATRE. House Peters will be seen for the last time to-night in “Combat, a thrilling story of the great Forth woods, at the Artcraft Theatre. Blessed with an exceedingly strong personality that few stars possess, Peters transfers nis personality to his screen character, which gives an unusually strong interpretation of the rowdy lumberpack which the star portrays. Action starts in the openIng reel and grows more and more intense until the climax, which is the iTappinv of the principals in a forest fire. The three supports are excellent. The music is by James Haydock vhose entr’acte "Variations on an Old Plantation Melody,” merits great attention and much enthusiasm. .- Commencing -to. morrow, for three nights only, is "Kings of the Turf." ADELPHI CABARET. . Oriental week will be opened to-night at the Adelphi Cabaret, when special Eastern decorations and' special lighting will be features. The well-known character comedian, Sam Stern, has been engaged to appear nightly, and exhibition dances have been arranged by Miss Margaret O’Connor and Eastern ballets by Mrs. Knowsley. ORGAN RECITAL. The weekly orran recital was given at the Town Hall last evening by Mr, Bernard F Page (city organist), r The programme comprised: Fragment d unq Suite, by Bach; Sonata No. G, by Mendelssohn; I.ied des Chrysanthomes, Op. 3 (No. 1), by Bonnet: Scherzo (Op. 70), by Hoffman; Choral (No. 2. in B Minor), by Caesar Franck; and Rimsky-Korsa-koff’s Third Movement from "Scheherazade’s "Suite Symphoniqae for Orchestra), Op. 35.