ENTERTAINMENTS

Dominion, Volume 20, Issue 52, 25 November 1926, Page 3

ENTERTAINMENTS

"ELIZA COMES TO STAY.” "Eliza Domes to Stay.” th? second offering by Joseph Cunningham’s English comedy company, is now playing to appreciative aulimces at the Grand Opera House. The comedy, which is full of subtle satire and clever dialogue, has a tilt at the proneness of society to judge by appearances The story describes the horror of a young bachelor, when he discovers that a girl, well described as a "perfect fright,’’ has been willed on to him. and is coming to stay. After a. week, the bachelor can “stick it” no longer, and flees to Paris. Eliza then undergoes a decided change for the better, and when her guardian returns from abroad, he decides that the best tiling to do is to marry Eliza, who now calls herself Dorothy. Miss Zillah Balemen is at ber best as. Eliza and reveals rare artistry in her ihange to the beautiful and charming Dorothy. Mr. Copelin is well suited to the - character of Sandy, the care-free bachelor, who surrenders completely to the charms of lu~s beautiful ward. Miss Henrietta Cavendish is dignified rs Lady Pennybroke. while Miss Sylvia Clifton is well suited as the designing actress. As Monty Jordan, the music n aster, who also succumbs to the charms of Eliza, Mr. Frank Bradley gives —n outstanding performance. 'Eliza Comes to Stay” will be repeated to-night.

EMPRESS THEATRE.

"Thar She Blows!" Ai the magic cry half a hundred sailors, hard-listed men, are instantly alert. A mile away a stream of water rises like a fountain from the crest of a living island. Boats are lowered. The chase of the whale leviathan of the deep Las begun. "Moby Dick.” the great white whale that circled the globe three times, carrying in his skin more thau a hundred broken harpoons, is a figure iu the tale of Oaptain Ahab Guby, maimed by the monster, cheated out of his life s .happiness by his brother, and searching the seas in a frenzied endeavour to find and kill the monster that ruined his life. This is told in "The Sea Beast,” the screen version of Herman Melville's "Moby Dick," that powerful classic < f the old whaling days, which will commence at the Empress Theatre to-morrow. John Barrymore, the great screen actor, adds to his characterisations as Captain Ahab, a role in which the shy, tender love of youth tires to paision beneath the soft moonlight of tropic nights, then transition upon transition occurs. until finally there is the Terror of a soul struggling against the madness of revenge unsatisfied.

DE LUXE THEATRE

The dramatie and tensely gripping story of “The Midnight Sun,” the Universal Super-Jewel now being screened at the De Luxe Theatre, is a picture story of life in Russia in 1913. directed by Dimitri Buchowetzki, a Russian himself, and one of the foremost European and American directors. Laura La Plante. Pat O’Malley, Raymond Keane, and George Siegmann are the ttars. The supports and incidental music are excellent. Beautiful Marion Davies, heroine of so many romantic roles, plays one uulike any other in her career - n "Beverly of Graustark,” the Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer screen version of George Barr McCutcheon’s well known story, which is to commence to-morrow at the De Luxe Theatre. Antonio Moreno has the leading male role, while a powerful cast interprets the remaining parts. The picture is produced on a lavish scale, and there are some remarkable settings, de-■'u-iing European castles. Charming Marion Davies never had a more appealing role than' in this picture. It is the tale of a fascinating girl, made to take the disguise of a bo.vish prince, who is whirled along the road cf adventure and romance. The supporting programme will include a gazette and a comedy, white pleasant music is to be played by the orchestra. The Lox plans are open at the Bristol. Aitken’s Book Arcade, or seats may be reserved by telephone at the theatre. PARAMOUNT THEATRE. Chester Conklin and ileeu Pringle are seen as a wealthy Alaskan miner and his daughter, who goes to New York to spend a million dollars, in "The Wilderness Woman,” the First National production now showing. at the Paramount Theatre. Their adventures are both humorous and melodramatic, and a commendable entertainment balance has been struck in presenting them in the right proportions. A bear cub is responsible for a large treasure of the comedy of the picture. Lowell Sherman, formerly master villain cf the screen, is seen as the hero, while Henry Vibart and Robert Cain take care of the melodramatic action. A gazette, scenic, and comedy are the supports, with capital incidental music by the orchestra. A picture of post-war Vienna, once the gayest city in Austria, is shown in "The Greater Glory,” June Mathis’ First National release, which will commence tomorrow at the Paramount Theatre. "The Greater Glory” is an adaptation of Edith O’Shaughnessy’s famous novel, "The Viennese Medley." The picture shows the changes in the. lives of a well-to-do Viennese family before and after the war. The scenes in the picture are authentic, and should give a new insight into conditions iu war-wrecked Austria not hitherto revealed. Heading an exceedingly large cast are Anna Q. Nilsson, Conway Tearle, lan Keith May Allison, Jean Hersholt, and Lucy Beaumont.

NEW PRINCESS THEATRE. The absurdly funny adventures of two American ’privates at the front are shown in "Behind the Front," the Paramount war-comedy now showing at the New Princess Theatre. with Wallace Beerv and Raymond flatten as the two unkempt soldiers, who. going from one amusing incident to another, make the picture the most humorous one of its kind shown here. Mary Brian has the role of the heroine. The second feature is "Let’s Get Married.” starring Richard Dix and Lois Wilson. The picture ‘tells the story of a young man fresh from college, who. after running wild for some time, falls in love, and is wrongly nuprisoped. How he keeps up his courtship while there causes one loner laugh, "The Life of Jack Hobbs," which gives interesting ’slows," is also shown, together with a gazette, serial, and a further group of the children’s beauty contestants.

Commencing to-morrow are Douglas McLean and Margaret Morris in "That’s My Baby,” in which McLean is stated to be seen at his best. "The Snowshoe Trail" is a clear-cut drryna of the open air, starring Jane Novak.

KING'S THEATRE

"His Secretary." a delightful Metro-oldwyn-Mayer comedy, starring Norma Shearer and Lew Cody, supported by Willard Louis. Gwen Lee. and Karl Dane, is the current attraction at the King’s Theatre. The story, a modern version of the ugly duckling theme, tells of a plain business girl, who is in love with her employer, to whom she is secretary. but it is all too clear to both girl and the other employees that her affection is, not requited. The manner in which she wins his regard, astounding her little world by a sudden transformation from an unattractive dowd to a surpassingly beautiful woman, makes an excellent picture of high ouality. The supporting programme includeo a gaz-' ette. a comedy, screen snapshots, and a New- Zealand scenic while delightful music is offered by the King’s orchestra. Commencing to-morrow is "The Sky Raider." a melodrama which includes some during stunts by Captain Nungesser one of the bravest of French aces. The second feature is "Don’t.” a store of the romantic adventures of a modern flapper, who rebels against conventions. starring Sally O'Neil, supported l.v Bert Roach and Karl Dane.

HIS MAJESTY'S THEATRE. Hector St. Clair’s new revue, "StopPress," now being presented at His Majesty's Theatre, maintains the standard of its predecessors. Hector St. Clair is in hie happiest vein, and has the bouse in roars of laughter. aU-the .time. In "The Harrassed Comedian, he coovulses the audience with bis clever fooling. Other amusing sketches in which lie excels himself are ‘Taken by Burprise," ’’Matrimony,” and “Painless Extraction." The whole show abounds with bright numbers. In the vaudeville half Bertini and Byrne are as popular as ever with violin and piano. The Carthy Brothers, the popular English comedians, keep the audience in high humour with their merry jokes and eccentric dancing. Lorna, Lance and Company, the clever juvenile musicians, provide a first-class turn, while Clyde and Yvette are two clever novelty dancers, Clyde also being an accomplished whistler.

MISS MILLICENT KNIGHT. Miss Millirent Knight, assisted by Mr. Harold Whittle and Mr. Leon de Mauny, will give a song recital at the Town Hall on Monday night. Miss Knight, who is a mezzo-soprano of gift and attainment, will sing items by Hugo Wolf, Brahms. Schubert, Hughes, Harold Oraxton. John Ireland. Gustov Holst, Keel, Robert Jones. John Dowland, Moret, Guillermoz. Pierne, Duparc. Gluck, Marcello. Scarlatti, and Astorga. The full programme wUI be announced later.

QUEEN’S THEATRE. Heading the curernt programme at the Queen's Theatre this week is “The Bat,” Roland West’s all-star feature. , adapted from the Mary Roberts Rinehart and Avery Hopwood melodrama. It causes a hundred gasps, laughs, and surprises for every episode. Complications hare been added to baffle even the thousands who saw the spoken drama. A powerful lore theme runs through a story of murders, robberies, haunted houses, and a terror reign launched by a seemingly superhuman law-breaker. The action . when "The Bat's" real identity is disclosed takes audiences completely by surprise. The massive sets and beautiful photography in “The Bat" stamp the produetion as one of the most lavish. A gazette and a scenic are in support, with * suitable score of music. ARTCRAFT. THEATRE. The last screening of he eleven-reel production. “Yolanda,” starring Marion Davies, will take place this evening at the Artcraft Theatre. Mario i Davies has never been greater than she is in this picture. Beautiful romances, chivalric steel-clad battles, subtle court intrigues, death faced for a lady’s favour, a sudden treacherous poniard stroke, and two countries warring with old-time verve and dash, are to be found in this swift-moving story of a kin-r’s daughter who rebelled against her lot and sought adventure in the highways of the world. Commencing to-morrow, for three nights and one matinee, is the thrilling story of London coster life, "My Old Dutch.” From twenty to eighty—this is the gamut of years bridged by Pat O’Malley, in "My Old Dutch.” Universale spectacle of London life. The huge coster festival, with its sensational race, and other striking bits depicting life in London over a period of forty years, are shown in connection with the stirring story. Special music will be played by Janies Haydock, and will include the famous old song, "My Old Dutch,” by Albert Chevalier. HARMONIC SOCIETY. For the final concert of the Harmonic Society of the 1926 season, to be held in the Town Hall Concert Chamber oh Saturday evening, an excellent programme has been arranged. Under the conductorship of Mr. H Temple White, the choir of picked voices will be heard in a great variety of rumbers, includ-* ing "Ay Waukin O” and "Banks -o’ Doon” (Robertson). "Early Morn” and "Spring” (Rutland Boughton) "Diaphenia”—one of a series of six Elizabethan pastorals set to music by Stanford—"ln the Merry Spring” (Bavenscroft), "Evening Scene” (Elgar), "Jack and Joan”— a seventeenth century poem set to music by Granville Bantoek—aud "Blossoms born of Teeming Springtime" (Dvorak). The society will be assisted by Mrs. A. E. Burge (soprano), Mr E. W. Bobbins (tenor), Mr. and Mrs. R. R. Orr., nnd a male voice quartet. Mr. Harold Whittle will be the accompanist. The box plan is at the Bristol, where there are a few seats left for non-subscribers at popular prices. MR. TEMPLE WHITE'S PUPILS. An excellent programme has been arranged oy Mr. Temple White for a recital to be given in the Concert Chamber on Wednesday next, at 8 n.m., by some of his selected pupils. The first part of the programme will be operatic tramand includes such well known and popular numbers as the “Quartet” from Verdi’s- “ Rigoletto," and the "Sextet" . from "Lucia di Lammermoor” Donizetti). The seebnd part will be miscellaneous. Practically all of those taking part are well known public singers, and include Mrs. Eleanor Hemuton and Miss Myra Sawyer (sopranos). Mrs W. J. Coventry and Miss Nellie Amies (contraltos), Frank Bryant and Samuel Duncan .tenors), . ■ Charles ITickmott (bariton-?), and Len Daniell (bass). Programmes may le obtained at local music warehouses, or at the hooking office-of the Bristol, where seats may be reserved on payment of a fee of Is. id.