NEW REGENT

Sun (Auckland), Volume I, Issue 273, 8 February 1928, Page 15

NEW REGENT

SENSATIONAL VAUDEVILLE The Kwong Sing Wah Chinese troupe, who are appearing at the New Regent this week, must certainly rank as the best-dressed and most sensational troupe of Oriental wonder-work-ers ever staged in the Dominion. Worthily do they uphold the high reputation that preceded their opening, for their whirlwind entertainment of almost miraculous feats has never been excelled by any other vaudeville act ever seen on the stage. Their illusions and mystifying magic are in themselves an entertainment, but by no means the strangest feature of the act. As jugglers it, is d-oubtful if one has ever seen their equal. The contortions and tumbling of the boys prove them to be adept acrobats. One Chinese, the leader of the troupe, is a magnificently-built man, who performs feats of strength which are almost incredible; another rivals the famous Long Tack Sam in his illusions; * a third swings bowls of water round his head and with his head, while he adopts all sorts of postures, and finishes off with a spectacular fire-fling-ing performance; the comedian of the party dives through two frames edged with sharp knives and another fringed with genuine flames. The act is rapid from start to finish and interest in the whole performance does not flag for an instant. Applause is generously and frequently accorded these performers throughout. Bebe Daniels, is just about ready to appropriate the title of “fiimdom’s champion all-round athlete.” Furthermore, she has a genuine claim on it. The whole business started some time ago, when the dashing comedienne made “The Palm Beach Girl,” and took the part of a swimmer and the pilot of a motor-boat. Now she is in another picture of college sports, "Swim, Girl, Swim,” which is the chief pictorial attraction at the New Regent. Here she |s shown as an expert swimmer, and her training comes from Gertrude Ederle, first woman to swim the English Channel, who has an important role in support of the star. Mr. Arthur G. Frost ably officiates at the Wurlitzer organ, while Mr. Maurice Guttridge and his orchestra maintain the high standard of the Regent’s musical programme. NATIONAL AND LYRIC RIN-TIN-TIN TO-MORROW "Tracked by the Police,” to be shown to-morrow at the National and. Lyric, is a story of the Arizona, desert during the building of the Laguna Dam which supplies water to a vast tract of land formerly untillable. Rival companies vie for 'the job and threats of violence come to Bob Owen, the husky young foreman, and to Bob Owen’s righthand man, Rinty. There is a girl, too, who adds to complications. And there are landslides, whirling

torrents, explosions of powder magazines, snipers, bad men, a sheriff’s posse! And beetling crags \yhich menace the, blinded girl and prove the undoing of the villain when Rinty, the avenger, comes on the scene. It is a rip - snorting story and RinTin - Tin fights

his way through it with his usual uncanny insight. Such well known players aid him as Jason Robards, Virginia Browne Faire, Tom Santschi, Nanette. Theodore Lorch. Dave Morris and Wilfred North. Ray Enright directed. The Wonder Dog has never been given a better opportunity to display his unique talents than in “Tracked by the Police.” “High School Hero,” starring Sally Phipps, will also be screened to-mor-row.

‘ The Merry Widow,” as the Franz Lekar comic opera, proved one of the most delightful innovations of the lighter stage, its gay music, romantic settings in a mythical kingdom, and its story of a prince and a- dancer, having intrigued and amused audiences all oyer the world. The film version of this opera is soon to be seen in this city, John Gilbert having the role of the dashing prince, and Mae Murray dancing her way through Paris as Sally O'Hara, the Merry Widow.