ENTERTAINMENTS

Dominion, Volume 20, Issue 53, 26 November 1926, Page 6

ENTERTAINMENTS

“ELIZA COMES 'L’O STAY.’’ ’I’Uo second ottering of Joseph Cunningham’s English Comedy Company, "Eliza Comes to Stay,” was played again to a delighted audience at the Grand Opera House last night. This comedy is full of subtle satire and clever dialogue, and tilts at the proueuess of society to judge by appearances. The horror of a young bachelor, when he discovers that a girl who Is well described as "a perfect fright” has been willed on to him, and is coming to stay, is the cheif theme of the play, Which goes on to show how the single young man's fancy changes. In his 'first horror, he decides that, lie can stand .it no longer, and dees to Paris and safety. Then, however, Eliza undergoes a decided change lor the better—a change which is still noticeable when her guardian returns from abroad. He then decides that, after nil, the best thing for him to do would be to marry Eliza, the change In whose character is typified iu the cln.nge in her name, which is now Dorothy. As Eliza, Jliss Zillah Bateman is seen at her best, nnd in her change to the beautiful and charming Dorothy she reveals rare artistry. ■Mr. Copelin is well suited to the character of Sandy, the care-free bachelor, who takes ou the greatest care of all. .Miss ' Henrietta Cavendish is dignified iis Lady I’ennvbroke, while Miss Sylvia is well suited as th 6 designing actress. An outstanding performance is .given by Mr. ‘Prank Bradley, in the role of Mony Jordan, the music master, who is also not unsusceptible to the eharms of Eliza. “Eliza Comes to Stay” will be repeated to-night, and for the last time to-morrow Bight.

EMPRESS THEATRE. * "In 'The Sea Beast.’ an adaptation of tho novel ’Moby Dick. I hope to make :,live again before the eyes of America and ths world, 000 of the most auvepvturous, colourful, and characteristically American of industries, that of whaling, now defunct and living only in all ns •glory and glamour in the traditions of New Bedford and of such novels as Moby Dick ’ ’’ In these words. John Barrymore summed up the attitude of the entire Warn r Brothers West Coast studio force /engaged iu the making of "The Sea ' Beast " which will commence at the Empress Theatre to-day. "There was a - wealth of romance in the whaling industry of New England in 1840." said the actor. "On the blunt bowed, drop drafted whaling vessels were bred the hardy Yarkce sailors. ■ Now, of course, those brave times are nothing but a memory in such towns as New Bedford, once brimming over with the bustling activi ties of the bluff New England ’•e.-i people, proud with the task of supplying light to the entire civilised world. Beason 'after season the great winged ships braved the perils of Arctic seas, bearing ,on their decks the best and the. worst of America's manhood. Whaling ships and whaling men pushed iiito the far unknown comers of the earth, braving all weather and all danger to follow /wherever th. whale might lead Here was engendered that dogged determination, ready ingenuity, and unfailing ■ sportsmanship which is the foundation ■of modern America. It was a rugged, eventful lite, full of sudden death and everpresent danger. Crew-killing captains ruled with the closed fist and the

belaying oin. Ships fought each other for disputed quarry. Some turned pirate -*or smuggler, but iu the main the officers and men of the whaling fleet were up- , right and God-fearing, ft is tho mighty spirit of the New England whalers, that swe have attempted to capture for the silver sheet in the production of ’The Sea Beast.’ ” Bess Meredyth adapted this stirring Herman Melville story to the screen, and Millard Webb directed it. Jn the cast are Dolores Costello. George O’Hara. Mike Donlin, Sam Baker. George 1/ Burrell, Sam Allen. Frank Nelson Mat- ! ■ hilds Coraont, James Barrowes. Vadin Uranoff, Sojin. and Frank Hagncy. W. C. Fields and Louise Brooks will be seen in "It's the old Army Game." which ■will be shown at tho day sessions only, excepting Saturday, when “The Sea Beast” only will be shown. PARA MOUNT THEATRE. About 2000 persons figure in tlio cast of "The Greater Glory," which will 'commence to-day at the Paramount TheT atre. The story is a poignant, drama of Vienna before, during and after the war. Vienna was once the gayest capita) of Europe except, perhaps, Paris. After the war Vienna went through a complete metamorphosis, Rs defeated population j was gay'no more. Instead, it was hungry • nnd tired. There were bread riots. June Mathis reveals in "The Greater Glory” >. a phase of tho war which has not hitherto reached tho screen. The drama is based on the celebrated novel. “Viennese Medley,” by Edith O’Shaughnessy, wife of an American diplomatist in Vienna. The picture chows the changes in the lives of a well-to-do Viennese fam ily before and after the war. The scenes in tho picture nre authentic, nnd. should give a new insiclit into conditions in war-wrecked Austria. Anna O. Nilsson. Conwav Tearle, May Allison. Tan Keith Jean Herslinlt, and Lncv Beaumont nre the featured nlavers. The usual 'unporta will ho shown nnd tho orchestra will provide the music.

NBW PRINCESS THEATRE. Starring Douglas McT.enn, sunnorfed hv Margaret Morris and Made Batcho lor. "That’s P.'.Lv” L fnnl-.’-r.

which is to commence to-dav at the New Princess Theatre. “That’s My Baby” is a rollicking force-comcuy. full of laughs, thrills, and funny gags. Much of the important actioir is played against a background of a huge charity bazaar. Oriental colour, picturesque Turkish costumes, ami dozens of pretty girls add a touch of extravagant beauty to the hilarious humour. The second feature is "The Shoe-shoe Trail,” stairing Jane Novak. Founded on the novel bv Edwin Marshall, it depicts in dramatie sequences the story of a beautiful society girl who goes adventuring umid frozen, silent spaces of the North, in search of her missing fiance. The supports are a gazette, comedy, screen snapshots, and No. 5 group of tho children’s beauty"contest.

JUS MAJESTY'S THEATRE. Hector St. Clair and his splendid company have further ample .-.pportunities for tlieir undoubted fun-making abilities In "Stop Press.” the current revue at His Majesty's Theatre 'As The Harassed Comedian." the principal simply convulsed rile large house last night. His spoutancous. _ effortless, vein of humour, never failing in its quaint succession of original mannerisms, posturing. etc. He wa« cqua.ly amusing in the sketches. “Taken by Surprise. •Matrimony." and "Painless Extraction, i’hc revue abound' in bright, catchy vocal numbers. Leslie Pearce mailing decided hits in Til Take Her Back" and "Because Thev all Love You.” The vaudeville frst part is up to the theatre's usual high standard. The Lorna. Lance Company, a clever band of juveniles, continues popular in their vocal and instrumental offerings; Clyde and Yvette present really up-to-date dancing; Bertini and Byrn° are neard in tasteful piano and violin duets, and the Carth.v Brothers, talented English comedians, contribute merry jokes mid humorous duet.-. KING’S THEATRE. Two star attractions are ou the bill commencing at the King s Theatre tonight. "The Sky Raider" is a tbrilliug picture ot the air. Startiig with the World War, and ending with the attempts of a gaug of thieves to rob the air mail in peace time, this picture should be sensational enough and thrill mg to please anyone. in addition to the stunts in the air, there is ai, absorbing romance. The chief parts are taken ov Jacqueline Logan, who is well known, and by Captain Nungesser the greatest living French ace, who performs the stunts in the air. The second feature is the Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer picturisation of the new Rupert Hughes story. "Don t." the three main comedy roles are entrusted to Sally O'Neill, Bert Roach, and Karl Dane. Cast respectively as a rebellious modern (tapper, a bibulous but benevolent uncle, and an escaped lunatic, this trio perform amusing and thrilling escapades. Alf Goulding. who directed a former Rupert Hughes oomedj' hit, "Excuse Me," was again the supervisor of this production. MISS MILLICENT KNIGHT Miss Millicent Knight, a mezzo-soprano of high repute, will give a recital at the Town Hall on Monday ’light. Assisting artists will be Mr. Harold Whittle (pianist), and Mr. Leon de Hauny (violinist). The programme will be announced later, but it is to include tbc works of Hugo Wolf, Brahms, Schuueit. Hughes Harold Craxton. John Ireland, Gustov Holst. Keel. Robert Jones, John Dowlaud. Moreit, Guillermoz. Pierne. Duparc, Gluck, Marcella. Scarlatti, and Astorga. The box plan ii at tho Bristol. DE LUXE THEATRE. Marion Davies, heroine of many romantic roles, plays one unlike any in her career in “Bevel-lev of Gr-mstark,” which will open to-night at the De Luxe Theatre. Royalty goes through its devious political bargaining- and romances, hut it is all strictly up to date—so much that, a goad deal of modern history is. perhaps unconsciously, echoed in the stor.y. Miss Davies plays the heroine, a cousin to the crown prince of a European kingdom, who, to aid her royal relative. epgages. in a daring masquerade in which, in his uniform and with her hair clipped short she impersonates him to foil the plot of a pretender to tho throne. A notable cast surrounds the star, with Antonio Moreno in the leading male role, and Roy D’Arcy. Creighton Halo, Paulette Duval, Albert Gran. Max Bnrwvn, and Charles Clary. Included in the big supporting programme are a comedy, screen snapshots and gazette, with a splendid score of music by the orchestra. QUEEN’S THEATRE. "The Gentle Cyclone," Fox Films Western picture, starring Buck Jones, will be shown at the Queen’s Theatre to-night. Buck Jones is the "cyclone,’' and despite the suggestion of gentleness in the title of the picture, he nt times is extremely vigorous. Tn fact in main of the scenes of "The Gentle Cyelplic’’ Bnr-k swings a nair of verv In-tv and decisive fist' The role presents Jones in ,: ne contrasts for nt times he is as gentle nnd apparently ns harmless as the title suggests. Again, he is flu wild-riding, fear-defying Buck Jitn"' of manv a valiant Western picture. "The Gentle Cyclone’’ has been made under