GREATEST SHOW IN NEW ZEALAND

New Zealand Times, Volume LIII, Issue 12609, 20 November 1926, Page 13

GREATEST SHOW IN NEW ZEALAND

Cheered at the conclusion of the performance was the unique and pleasing experience of the Midnight Frolics on the opening night at Auckland last week, and phenomenal business has obtained ever since. “The greatest show that has ever been to Auckland” and accorded “the most wonderful reception that any company has ever had,” is the Press report on this brilliant combination of “all star” artists, which goes on to describe the revue as “just one thing after another, worked that fast that you have’nt got time to applaud an item before another one is before you, and evidently the Auckland audience on the opening night were not to he outdone, and saved up their applause till the finish, when three hearty British cheers were given the performers. An Eric Edgelv himself says, never in all their history have they had such a reception. And well they deserve it, for the paper goes on to say that not only are the sketches good, hut the singing, danoing, scenery, wardrobe, lighting effects and general atmosphere is something altogether different from what the Auckland public have been having. The lighting effects in. particular are exceptionally brilliant, and intensify the beauty of the wonderful scenery carried by this company. “Fast, I have never seen anything worked faster,” is the opinion of one Auckland critic, and the company’s appearance in Wellington can only he awaited for with what patience one mav possess. , • • • • A POPULAR TENOR Oscar Beck, the handsome young Norwegian tenor, appearing with the Midnight Frolics at Fullers, is a vocalist of more than ordinary calibre. Although yet in the early twenties, he has had a wide and varied experience in grand opera. Following a long course of training at the Royal Musio Conservatorium, Copenhagen, he joined the Christina Opera Company, controlled by the Government of Sweden, and for four years sang important roles in many operas. _ During his season, with the Midnight Frolics Mr Beck has been heard in many delightful numbers from his extensive repertoire. • • • • Doreen May, who played in the Morris Revue Company at Fullers, is to take a part in “Bettv Lee,” the new musical comedy at Sydney. » • * • Irvings’ Imperial Midgets are still in New Zealand. After the conclusion of the Auckland season, a tonr of the whole Dominion will be made. * * • • WONDERFUL SAMOA

“Moana,” Paramount’s wonderful film of Samoa, New Zealand’s mandate in the Southern Seas, was screened privately to a number of prominent persons in Wellington last week. The soreening was held in the projection theatre of the Government Department of Internal Affairs, and there were present Sir Maui Pqmare, Min-ister-in-Charge of Cook Islands; Hie Hon. It. A. Wright, Minister ior Education; the Hon. G. J. Anderson, Ministor-in-Charge of Publicity; Mr J. D. Gray, Secretary of Internal Affairs; and representatives of the New Zealand Government Publicity Offioe, also Lady Pomare. The film “Moana” proved to be a most interesting story of the scenery, life, and customs of the Samoan people. The picture will be released throughout New Zealand at an early date by Paramount. *m' « • THE BIG PARADE John Gilbert has mounted to the topmost rung of the ladder of film fame in Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer’s recordbreaking attraction, “The Big Parade." He is seen as the hero in an action part, and reveals a totally different John Gilbert—he of the passionato eyes with whom patrons have been previously familiar. As preparations are already well under weigh for the release of “The Big Parade” in New Zealand in January next, the public will be able to see for itself and form its own estimate of the remarkably fine work which has won for Gilbert a further five years’ contract with Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer at a princely salary. Renee Adoree also appears to unusual advantage in “The Big Parade.” • • '• A TRAGIC EVENT A tragic event happened a few weeks ago at Santa Monica when Joe Moore, brother to Owen and Tom Moore and also a well-known picture actor, was drowned while bathing, apparently through a heart seizure. Moore’s wife was on the beach at the time, but had not gone in the water. She was formerly Grace Cnnard, well known in pictures for her work in

serials, and the couple had been married since 1917. None of the other members of the Moore family were in California at the time, Owen being in New York, Tom in Yellowstone Park on vacation, and Matt on his way to California from New York.

"Leave It To Mo” is William BeauWarnors. The cast is headed by DoroWarnej'H The cast ie headed by Dorothy Devore, John Patrick, and Montagu Love, supported by Uyorgh Pearce and Jim, fiordom

“MIDNIGHT SUN” AT DE LUXE As the dancing girl, who becomes the premiere ballerina of the Imperial Russian ballet, Laura La Plante is playing her first serious role. Up to the present Miss La Plante has scored her greatest successes in frivolous, farcical roles. No\Vj as Olga Balashova, the dancing girl in “The Mid-

night Sun/* Miss La Plante has a role that critics say will stamp her as one of the most capable of the younger actresses of the screen. “The Midnight Sun/* which is Universal's latest Super-Jewel, was directed by Dimitri Buchowetzki, and is now drawing crowds to the De Luxe Theatre. In “The Midnight Sun” she is playing the role of a light-hearted dancing girl who suddenly discovered that life has its serious and tragic side. In this picture, Miss La Plante has taken another step up the ladder which for her has no topmost rung, for she believes there are always new heights to reach. ALL-STAR CAST * * Miss La Plante finds herself at the head of a great all-star cast. Pat

O’Malley shows his versatility by giving a powerful impersonation of a Russian Grand Duke, whose power is only second to that of the Czar. Itis easily the best thing O’Malley has done. Nineteen-year-old Raymond Keane, who plays the hero, unlike Miss La Plante had fame thrust upon him. Buchowetzki elevated him from a youth who had never even played in a picture to one of the leading actors in this impressive production. • #■ • .

George Siegmann. whose screen fame dates back to “The Birth of a Nation,” impersonates a banker, whose sensuous

desires almost overshadow his equally great desire to possess the roubles of all Russia. Arthur Hoyt and Earl Metcalf are two other sterling actors who contribute to the success of the picture, and Nina Romano comes to the front with an excellent piece of screen acting. Russia contributes its foremost comedian in the person of Mikliael Vavitch. Other notable players are Nickolo Soussanin, Charles A. Hancock, Cesare Gravina, Medea Radzina and William Von Hardenberg.