NEW REGENT

Sun (Auckland), Volume I, Issue 277, 13 February 1928, Page 13

NEW REGENT

VAUDEVILLE AND PICTURES The mammoth programme of vaudeville and pictures being presented, at the New Regent this week is drawing crowded and enthusiastic audiences at every performance. The Kwong Sing Wah troupe of Chinese wonder-workers is indeed an ; entertainment on its own. For 30 min- ; utes these Oriental magicians, acrobats, and comedians present ; a whirlwind act that keeps one gasp- • ing from beginning to end. The audience has scarcely recovered from the ■ astonishment of one amazing trick than something still more astounding is provided. Their tricks of legerdemain ; are performed with an originality and ; neatness 'that evades discovery of the i deception. Producing bowls of water, ; flowers and rabbits is, however, only a • small part of their act. Marvellous ; feats of strength and balance are given j by members of the troupe, assisted in no small manner by two little boys. ■ Juggling with plates, with bowls of j water, and with balls of fire, mystify- . ing illusion tricks, a series of whirl- « ing somersaults round the stage w-ith- • out once touching the floor with his hands, all this and much more is capped by a daring dive through two frames of wild-looking, glittering steel knives and another frame of flame. The 1 thunderous applause that greets the final curtain is ample testimony of their wonderful performance. j Beauty q,s well as comedy adorns the railway story, “Tell It to Sweeney,” which is the chief picture attraction. Chester Conklin and George Bancroft make their debut as a Paramount comedy team in this highly enlivening vehicle. Doris Hill has the leading feminine role, while the handsome Jack Luden, who is one of Paramount’s new western stars, is the clever juvenile. Doris and Jack carry the romantic theme, while Conklin and Bancroft supply the comedy, of which there is no end.. Kerry Clark and Percy Heath wrote the original story; and a strong supporting pictorial programme concludes a screamingly funny screen comedy, “Dr Mack,” featuring Jimmy Adams; an interesting budget of world happenings and an Australian Gazette giving an interesting shot of the New Zealand bowlers at the bowling carnival in Melbourne. Arthur Frost, at the Wurlitzer, plays “Echoes of the South,” and '‘•When You and I Were Seventeen.” The Regent Operatm Orchestra under the baton of, Maurice Guttridge provides an excellent musical programme.