Round The Shows

Sun (Auckland), Volume I, Issue 128, 20 August 1927, Page 15

Round The Shows

MAJESTIC THEATRE “ANKLES PREFERRED” Variety always was the policy of the management of the Majestic Theatre and in its new programme, which commenced before a packed house last night, this policy has been closely followed. It is a rare treat to find pictures and music that are somehow different, and to all who are seeking a happy evening and need

happy surround- | ings, the Majestic is I the place this week. 1 Such a gathering of I beautiful girls could I scarcely be found I anywhere, and the I part mere man I plays is infiinitesi- I mal. but that, of I course is a certain ] attraction. A truly j delightful comedy 1 is found in “Ankles j Preferred,” the

feature production. IN with Madge Bel-

lamy as Norah Young, the girl who found business men preferred ankles to brains. It was a happy role happily portrayed by this beautiful actress. The supporting cast has been chosen with discretion with the result that it is a splendidly-acted picture. A shop-girl with dreams of bigger and better things, a young man who has found success, two old business men, and a wealth of incident make this production one of the best seen here for some time. The frocking is a feature, and that, combined with a clever plot, is sufficient to prove a big draw. Then comes “Girls,” a clever comedy based on O. Henry’s story of the same name. It is a laugh from start to finish, and is a welcome change from the usual class of comedy which fails to be comic. A scenic, “Portugal of Today,” the Majestic News, and “Eve s Review,” complete the picture side of this excellent programme. A charming dance fantasy with 40 performers is presented by Madame Edith Baird. With an attractive background of colour the dancers gracefully step their way through a delightful scene. The costuming is magnificent, the colourful representations of flowers evoking a storm of applause. The solo efforts of Pierette and Harlequin were much appreciated, this pair proving themselves to be clever dancers. Last, but not least, was the Majestic orchestra, under the baton of Mr. John WhltefordWaugh. Throughout the evening the orchestra rendered delightful music and a novelty, “The Elephant and the Fly,” was an instantaneous success. Mr. Frank Poore, piccolo, and Mr. Syd. Sly, trombone, were featured in this musical interlude. The programme Is an excellent tone, and the Majestic Theatre should prove a popular rendezvous all the week. LAST OF THE SEASON FINAL COMMUNITY SING The grand finale of the communi y singing season will be held in the Strand Theatre on Wednesday. Every effort is being made to end the series of “sings” with eclat. The Mayor of Auckland. Mr. G. Baildon, will be in the chair, and Auckland’s most accomplished song-leader, the Rev. Jasper Calder, will wield the baton. The soloist will be Madame Anita Hardwick, and the accompanist.es Mrs. Osborne and Mrs. Snow. The doors open at 11.30, and the sing lasts from 12.30 to 1.30 p.m. Song books and admission are free.

HEIFETZ CONCESSIONS TO STUDENTS A tremendous amount of interest has been aroused over the two recitals at the Town Hall on Thursday and Saturday nights next of the worldrenowned violinist Heifetz, who recently in Wellington broke the records he established there six years ago. Plans for the 12s 6d and 10s 6d seats are now open at Lewis R*. Eady and Son, Limited. It has been said of Heifetz that so great is his command of the instrument and so wonderful is his technique that he can endow compositions usually considered musically inconsiderable with a new importance and with an added attraction that only a genuine master of the violin can command. Nothing is more assured than this eminent artist’s command of the instrument. The flying fingers are always certain in the most embarrassing devices of counterpoint, the almost uncanny accuracy and clarity of long passages in harmonics simply bewilder the hearer. - And in all this there is never any loss of his beautiful tone quality. “There is an elegance and grace in the playing of Heifetz,” wrote a Sydney critic, “that make a direct appeal, and small wonder is it that at all his recitals the vast audiences have been moved by the wonderful music of this wizard of the violin.” The dates of Heifetz’s recitals in Auckland are August 25 and 27, and as there can be no extension of the tour (Heifetz has to leave New Zealand in September to fulfil world-wide engagements) the management respectfully urge intending patrons to # book at once.

Special concessions will be made to students, particulars of which may be abtained at the box office. PRINCESS “EASY PICKINGS” Local film patrons who want to be thrilled should see the entertainment presented at the Princess Theatre.

The principal film. First National’s ‘Easy Pickings,” with Anna Q. Nilsson in the featured role, is a spooky mystery that has more varied and assorted thrills a reel of film than anything it has been our pleasure to review for these many years.

“Easy Pickings” is a picture with a crook conspiracy plot and a nervetingling mystery treatment. William A. Burton and Paul Cruger wrote it especially for the screen while developing their stage play of the same title. Kenneth Harlan heads the supporting cast, and between Miss Nilsson and himself a really appealing love story is woven. The thrills are contributed partly by the two “villains,” Philo McCollough and Jerry Miley, and by Charles Sellon, in an important character role. Billy Bevan, two-reel comedy star; Zack Williams and Gertrude Howard, coloured comedians, enhance the spectator’s hysterical state by introducing laughs between thrills. The plot is well constructed, and after so many surprises have occurred that no more are expected, the most unexpected comes at the end! However, we will not spoil it by tt single disclosure—just see it yourself. PARISIAN DANCE CLUB ARTS HALL TO-NIGHT The Parisian Dance Club will hold its weekly dance at the Society of Arts’ Hall this evening. Music will be supplied by the Boston Dance Orchestra, under the leadership of Mr. Roy Marson.

CARTER THE GREAT THE WITCHCRAFT OF CHINA In China there are many Ching Ling Foos. They, like the East Indian, have nothing new to offer. In truth, in the realm of magic—here or abroad —there is little new or startling. The science, like music, has seven notes, but unlike music, its harmonies have been exhausted. There are no new principles, inexplicable or awesome. As with necromancy so with necromancers. So says Carter the Great, who, with his boxes of tricks and assistants will appear for ten nights at His Majesty’s Theatre, commencing on Wednesday next. Sdme old trick is oftentimes dressed up freshly and passed for something new or a small trick is converted into an illusion, the principle whereof is as old as an Egyptian mummy. But about magic there is always a new factor; this is, the growing and the new generation. They are more difficult to

fool than their progenitors and more imposing apparatus is required than in the days of Anderson, the wizard of th 3 North, Maskelyn or Carl Hertz, but. they are equally credulous, for the trend of the times makes for credulity and the modernity of thought and innovations of science bring along in their wake the light of heart, the investigator, the thoughtful and erudite l\and in hand with innocent and childish wonderment, as personified in this and ever recurrent and successive ages. . China, the sleeping giant is awakening. Her present men are boys out of the new age. Her thought is occidental twisting and turning in environs oriental. She labours up hill. Her magic is potent only in her traditions: there are extant no great exponents of the craft: her face is toward the West: she welcomes the tricks of the white man, but is slow to absorb them whether her preceptors are magicians or merchants. Box plans for the short season will be opened on Monday at Lewis R. Eady and Son, Ltd.

AUCKLAND ARTILLERY BAND AT MT. *EDEN TO-MORROW The Auckland Artillery Band will play a select programme on Mount Eden to-morrow afternoon. They are endeavouring to raise money to purchase a modern set of instruments and a collection will be made for that purpose. The band will play at the new tea kiosk which has added greatly to the popularity of Mount Eden, commanding as it does the most beautiful view of the Waitemata and city. A very interesting programme has been selected including many popular selections and marches.

THE REGENT MENJOU’S “EVENING CLOTHES” Who could, imagine Adolphe Menjou with a beard? Adolphe, the immaculate, the debonair, whose smile is as mystifying as the Mona Lisa. Who could for one instant picture Adolphe as a country clod, more interested in livestock than the fleshpots of Paris? Yet Menjou is all this and more in “Evening Clothes,” the Paramount vervion of “The Man in Dress Clothes,”

which was presented to Regent patrons last night. Highly entertaining and well in keeping with the standard of the Frenchified farces in which this combination has been indulging for some time, it presents Adolphe Menjou in an entirely new light.

vvncn Lilt: Ulb u. - tois, played by Adolphe, realises that his bride, interpreted by Virginia Valli, could not preserve his own interest in the stock about the place, he trots off to Paris, and in the good old movie way, becomes in a trice a man of the boulevard. It is then that we recognise the old Menjou. Immaculately spruce, the moustache restored to its old position in his “make-up,” he at once shows his prowess in the night life of the gay city. There are few who can resist the appeal of the cynical man of the world, even if the Marquise will not look at him. The fact that he is reduced to want, forced to sleep all day, and wander round Paris all night, for the simple reason that the evening clothes in which he is dressed constitutes his whole wardrobe, does not dampen the ardour of this cavalier from the farmyard. All comes right in the end. Adolphe’s nobility under the unedifying spectacle of poverty appeals to the chaste heart of Virginia. A finished and polished actor, Menjou’s work is never mediocre. “Evening Clothes” is just another vehicle for the type which he personifies. It is farce complete. There is even the usual French bedroom scene. The Regent this week has, in addition, an extraordinary diversified bill. Amusing and delightful glimpses of “Sweden” are afforded by one of the Post travelogues, which are now such a popular feature on the Regent programme. The return of Colonel Lindbergh to his native America is also pictured with scenes of enthusiasm in New York even denied to Marie of Rumania. For once the Americans outdid themselves in this respect, and it was not the' k scion of a foreign family which occasioned the demonstration, but a simple, healthy, clean-limbed youth, who accepted the ovation with modesty and even nervousness. “Bertini,” who provides the vaudeville interlude, features his own composition, “My Pal is Mother,” a contribution reminiscent of the good old sentimental ballad of former days. He also favours “Silver Threads Among the Gold.” Equally sentimental was Eddie Holton’s selection, “Because I Love You.” The Wurlitzer was also called upon to resurrect “The Lost Chord.” On the other hand, Maurice Guttridge and his orchestra delightfully interpreted the entracte, “Orpheus” (Offenbach). The Regent Magazine and a Pathe Colour Budget, together with “Imported Love,” a comedy, completed the bill. DIXIELAND CARNIVAL NIGHT There will be a carnival night in the popular Dixieland Ballroom this evening. Dancing will continue from 8.30 till midnight, and the latest hits will be played in typical style by the Dixieland Famous Internationals, under the capable leadership of Mr. C. Howley.