The Shows The Thing Hetty King, male impersonator.

NZ Truth, Issue 1152, 29 December 1927, Page 2

The Shows The Thing

Hetty King, male impersonator.

Eighteen Carat DENOVATIONS at His Majesty's ** Theatre, Wellington, are completed, and a very beautiful result has been obtained. The decorations have been carried out in cream and gold. Electric fittings have been entirely renewed, the shades for which are also of cream and gold blending. A magnificent old gold plush curtain (the cost of which approximates £500) replaces the red plush act drop recently used. Lace web upholstering produces the acme of comfort in the new seating installed throughout the dress circle and stalls; new floor coverings, carpets, etc., and various minor improvements now make this theatre a distinctive and altogether comfortable and up-to-date amusement house. The whole effect is very beautiful indeed. • # * 'The Flag Lieutenant 9 /*[REAT preparations are at present ** being made for the Wellington premiere of the British production "The Flag Lieutenant." with %vhich the Reg-ent, Wellington, will open the New Tear on January 6, 1928. Elsewhere, the heartiest co-opera-tion has been given by Navy Leagues, Ministers of Education, Returned Soldiers' Associations and kindred societies, and various representative people, who have all lauded the special significance of the film which is to date the most striking example of what the Motherland can really achieve in the way of motion pictures.

Wirths' Stars THE exceptionally strong 1928 pro- , gramme which Wirths 1 circus will present in Wellington on Thursday, January 5, tor a short season only, means that the world-famous circuses of Europe and America are the poorer for the loss of no fewer than five wonderful acts which' George Wirth was enterprising enough to secure on his recent world tour. The location is Webb Street, at the top of. Cuba Street, Wellington. Chester Dieck, a marvellous Indian, who will be seen for the first time on this side of the globe, dashes into the ring with a motor-cycle and side-car, but these do not remain long in their conventional shape as they are gradually disintegrated until the defter of all the laws of gravity is careering round on one wheel, riding down staircases and thrilling beholders with all manner of bewildering -daring and apparently impossible feats. In the Redam troupe, a man of abnormal strength is seen with three beautiful partners in some remarkable feats of strength, and a tableau of classical posings in which he shows his splendid physique. This act is finished by the man holding a sort of merry-go-round on his hqad with the three Avomen driving 1 three separate aeroplanes at- ! tached. Then there are Hilary Long and little Jessica, who do some remarkable head balancing feats on a revolving trapeze, the star concluding with a slide down an inclined wire on his head. The latest novelty, tin hare racing, will be introduced. Besides this unique entertainment, Wirths' famous zoo will also be on view, both before the performance commences and also from 4 to 5 in the afternoon when the animals will be fed. # # # Maxim Brodi "fIVE ME THE STARS"— "When the ** Love Bird Leaves the Nest."' Sung by Maxim Brodi, tenor. (Columbia 0745). Those who remember hearing this fine Russian tenor at the Regent Theatre, Wellington, and elsewhere in New Zealand, will need little persuasion to purchase this record, which reproduces two of his most popular numbers. He is accompanied by the well-known pianist Gil Dech, whose interesting technique still further enhances the V-alue of these records.

Encore Ballet IT is generally admitted that the great Totel ballet in the spectacular musical comedy "Rose Marie" (coming to "Welling-ton on January 28) lifts the dancing girls to star rank — thus a wellknown Australian theatrical critic; on Saturday night these wonder dancers took four calls. That was after encores. As a rule a ballet just builds up the show and merges into the background directly a number is finished. The most recognition these team dancers can expect is perhaps an encore if the ballet is received with more than ordinary enthusiasm, but it is many a long day since an Australian ballet has had the honor of v taking calls. Not since the days when the late J. C. Williamson reigned has the Australian stage presented a ballet up to the standard of the Totem. In the old days, J. c. Williamson often placed more value on the ballet than the chorus. Duringhis personal super-"" 1 " 1 " 1 " 11111 "" 1 """ 1111 '" 111111111111111111

vision many magnificent ballets were staged both in pan - tomine and comic opera, but it is so long ago that only olcl theatregoers remember. The Totem Ballet simply "makes" Rose Marie "

iiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiuiiiiiiiiiiiiiiMiiiiniiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiii Madame Pompadour PROM a modest Parisian home to the position of king's favorite, feted by many, loved by few — but feared by all. Such was the step taken by the little girl who was born plain Jeanne Poissons, and became Madame la Marquise de Pompadour. If you think that such a life held nothing but triumphs, see Dorothy Gish's latest Paramount release, "Madame Pompadour," which has its initial screening at the Regent Theatre, Wellington, to-morrow (Friday). Antonio Moreno, well-known player, is Miss Gish's leading man. Moreno played the lead in "Mare Nostrum," "My American Wife," and "Bluff." He "heroed" for Clara Bow in "It." The production is a very real episode from the life of France's most colorful woman, the Cleopatra of the court of Louis XV. Romance and dashing adventure in the days of Parisian pomp and ceremony. * * ' ■« Splendid Overture «r\ER FREISCHUTZ" overture (C. M. von Weber), recorded by the Berlin State Opera Orchestra, under Dr. Leo Blech. H.M.V. D1249. The overture to Weber's opera, "Der Freischutz," is nowadays (alas!) almost all that we hear of one of the greatest operatic masterpieces. Like most overtures of the time, it is constructed from the principal melodies of the opera; thus, we get in turn a fragment of the weird music accompanying the "Wolf's Glen", scene and the "Huntsmen's Chorus." Considerable use is also made of the music of the wonderful sceria of Agatha (known as "Agatha's Prayer") With such ingredients it is small wonder that the overture remains one of the most popular items on any concert programme.

Below: Jim Gerald and May Geary in "The Honeymoon Girl" at Fullers' Theatre, Sydney

Always Remembered IN no other business — and acting is as much a business as selling sox or gramophones — do the names of the "heads" linger so long- with the public as in acting. Where is So-and-So now is an oft-asked question of players who long since have gone into retirement. The names of popular actresses and actors are spoken in the camps of outback New Zealand, in the islands of the Pacific and in lonely places wherever men foregather.

When exiles have lost interest in all else of home affairs matters theatrical still seem to stimulate them, and under some foreign sky the legs of some chorus girl are remembered and celebrated.

Politics, sport and all else may go — but the theatre and its delightful people are the last to be forgotten. The surest way of calling these voices from the void is to touch in some magazine

or newspaper upon iiiimiiiiiiiiiiimimiiiiiiiriiiiiiiinii n a controversial matter of the theatre. You may misquote the classics without fear, but the most trivial matter of error in connection with plays and players will arouse the ire of half New Zealand.

Bright Fare THE "Chocolate Soldier," revived at * the Grand Opera House, Wellington, on Boxing Night is a good show. At the head of the company is Miss Sti/ella Wilson (soprano), and James Hay (tenor), together with Messrs. Charles Walenn and John Ralston, M'xsses Winifred Williamson, Pattie Russell, and Messrs. Bernard Manning, Leo Darnton, Lance Fairfax, John Byrne, Mabel Gibson, Lilian Crisp, Effie Armstrong and others. The "Soldier" will be staged for six nights and a short farewell season of Gilbert and Sullivan operas will follow. # * # A Favorite "OINK, RED SUN" and "The Banks " of Allan Water," sung by Muriel Brunskill, contralto. (Columbia, 4259). Muriel Brunskill is apt to become a habit. She can so invariably be relied upon to give of her best on every . record and to provide worthwhile material, that many people mako a point of purchasing every record she produces. Not a bad investment, either. She sings the Teresa del Riego air with warmth and power and adds considerable charm to the oldfashioned ballad that is coupled with it. » * * Delightful Duets yiVIEN LAMBELET and Dorothy ™ Lebish in "The Old Sweet Song" (Kreisler) and "Lovely Night, O Night of Love" ('"Barcarolle," "Tales of Hoffmann"). H.M.V., 82471.

There are some melodies which are so lovely that their beauty seems to catch at our hearts. Kreisler's "Caprice Viennois" is one of these and in its arrangement, for two voices its wistfulness is even accentuated. <

Worth & Girth DIG John Kirby f now doing well on ° the London stage, hails from Dunedin, where in his youth the guid folk regarded the theatre and its people as "tools o' the de'il." Despite this fact and the promptings of his father that he should become a lawyer, the lure of the stage proved more attractive than elusive briefs. Eventually Kirby graduated from Sydney amateur ranks and made his professional bow with George Marlow in "The Monk and the Woman." Later he was "with Alan Wilkie, Julius Knight, Kate Howarde and Hugh Ward. Worth, girth, and a genial wit arc the outstanding features of the gfenial John. # # # I Leon Again IT may interest theatre-goers to know that Leon Gordon, the well-known actor-playwright who toured this country with "White Cargo," in which he appeared as Witzel, is to make an early return to Australia next year, under the J. C. Williamson management. In making this announcement, Sir George Tallis, in the course of an interesting letter to the firm, said: "I was glad to be able to get Leon Gordon to come back to us for another season.

After combing out England and America, I am more than ever convinced that he will again be an enormous draw, especially as we have got some fine pieces for him.

Brand New THE New Opera House, Christchurch (previously known as the Opera House), will once again open its doors to vaudeville and revue on Boxing Day. All who have passed through Tuam Street during the " past four months have had an opportunity of seeing the extensive alterations which have been made to this theatre and, with the exception of three outside walls, it is now an entirely new building. The furnishings are both comfortable and beautiful; the upholstering throughout being executed by the Lace Web Co., of Christchurch. The interior decorations are the last word in simple elegance. Christchurch theatregoers have waited a long time for an up-to-date and comfortable House in which to enjoy their amusement and now they are as well catered for, in this respect, as in any other city of the. Dominion. The George Wallace Revue Company will 'have the honor of opening the new theatre and "Off Honolulu," a sparkling and hilariously mirthful revue, will be the Xmas attraction. The company make their initial appearance at a matinee to be given on Boxing Day, December 26. # # \* Defying "Wings" TO "Rod' Rogers, famed as a pilot but unknown as a motion picture actor, is given the credit for performing the greatest death scene ever recorded on the screen. An aviator, mortally wounded and shot down in flames from an altitude of 6000 feet! Director Wellman required this scene for "Wings," but he refused to ask the pilots in the company to undertake the danger; Rogers heard of it from other sources. "I can do it," he said. Taking the plane up through and above the clouds, and facing an elec-trically-driven camera which was fastened to the front of the cockpit, he deliberately plunged the "ship" into a tail-spin. Down and around he went. When the negative' was developed, the members of the company who viewed the proofs declared it the greatest scene of its kind they had ever witnessed.