Round The Shows

Sun (Auckland), Volume II, Issue 398, 5 July 1928, Page 15

Round The Shows

MAJESTIC

“SILK LEGS" TO-MORROW To-night will see the final presentation at the Majestic of “Love Hungry” and the brilliant supporting programme which accompanies it. Aucklanders will have their last chance this evening of seeing “Jasper’s, Limited,” the clever troupe of performers who have been presenting a sparkling programme in aid of their City Mission funds. All Majestic patrons, and, indeed, all Aucklanders anxious to “do their bit” are urged to make the most of this opportunity and visit the theatre this evening. To-morrow “Silk Legs,” starring Madge Bellamy, comes to the Majestic The picture “Silk Legs” is a whirlwind story of the perils an unprotected girl might undergo if she tried to compete with seasoned veterans of the road as a travelling saleswoman. Undaunted by the failure of a week’s work, Miss Bellamy, as Ruth Stevens, hosiery saleswoman for the Blue Ribbon Company, prepares for a little relaxation at Atlantic City. Ruth is kept busy repulsing the objectionable advances of a number of beach mashers. One, more persistent than the rest, follows her to the hotel. Amused by his audacity, Ruth leads him a merry chase, and is dumbfounded to discover that he is the salesman for a rival company who beat her to the biggest deal of her career.

Ruth pretends that she is a little “Dumb Dora,” and Phil, the man, unwittingly lets out a few trade secrets that enable Ruth to gain the upper hand. James Hall has the role of Phil Parker, the audacious Gold Medal salesman, who is bent on capturing the heart of Ruth. A big attraction on the supporting pictorial programme will be the first photographs of the Bremen, held fast in the ice of Belle Isle Strait. The pictures were made by “Duke Schiller, the first man to reach the stranded German and Irish aviators, and were carried by him to the outside world when he 'brought out Major Fitzmaurice to Murray Bay, where anxious watchers were waiting for the appearance of the rescuing plane. Included among the many scenes in the Majestic News are those of a sixday bike test, Japanese battling for good-luck beans, elks at Yellowstone Park, a Chinese camel train, a oneman zoo, and h o r s e-racing u.j np R«,n = ~,„ ln France. A merry Madge Bellamy comedy> .<j ack and Jilted” and Fox variety film, “Vintage,” concludes a very notable programme. The musical side of the programme will be exceptionally good. Miss Christina Ormiston, well known to Aucklanders, will be appearing on the stage, and will sing "The Land of the I Sky Blue Water” (Caiman) and “Serenade” (Schubert), and “A Fat LiT Fellow with His Mammy's Eyes.” ■ A special musical programme will be presented by Mr. Whiteford-Waugh and his Majestic Orchestra. In addition to the stirring introductory march, this talented combination will play ■Per Omnes” (Chomel) as their overture. ,

OPENING TO-NIGHT

ST. JAMES THEATRE ELSIE PRINCE IN “ARCHIE” Two thousand people are waiting for the opening of the new St. James Theatre this evening. The grand gala performance of “Archie” will make new theatrical history in Auckland. “The brightest show for years” is the description applied to “Archie,” the sparkling musical comedy to be staged at St. James Theatre this evening, for the gala opening of the magnificent Puller playhouse. A lively, laughable and spectacular play, it is generously pervaded with musical gems that appeal to the ear, and with exquisite colour tones and blendings that enchant the eye. Outstanding features are “Cairo Moon,” a distinctive piece of character work in dialect portrayal by Miss Elsie Prince and Mr. Jimmy Godden; “A Lane in Spain,” a tuneful ballad charmingly vocalised by Miss Nellie Lean; “C’est Vous” and “My Idea of Heaven,” poem-songs by Miss Elsie Prince, and “On a Side Street,” by Miss Elsie Parkes. Spectacularly, the ballet shines in novel numbers, and particular admiration is given to the scena “Underneath Your Parasol,” “On the Ritz,” and “I Know All About Girls.” Mr Godden’s reputation as a comedian is enhanced by the hilarious situations he creates and contrives in the course of his domestic tribuations, conspired by Miss Prince, as his wife. There is a delightful spontaneity of humour all through the show, and the clever company supporting the principals consists of accomplished experts in musical comedy. The box plans are receiving keen attention, unusual advantages being offered theatre-goers.

“THE SILENT HOUSE”*

MOSCOVITCH AT HIS MAJESTY’S From the rise of the curtain in “The Silent House,” the J. C. Williamson attraction now at His Majesty’s, the audience is treated to a rapid succession of blood-curdling happenings in a house of ill-omen, with a ruthless Chinese doctor as th© central figure in a drama of horrors. Bodies are strewn round the stage with entertaining abandon, revolvers go off, and knives hurtle through the air, to the accompaniment of mysterious sliding panels, grisly torture cabinets and a grimly realistic lethal chamber. As a convincing display of higliclass villainy, the story is wonderfully well sustained. The Moscovitchs, father and son, gave amazingly vivid characterisations, and not a little of the success of the play is due to the Moscovitch flair for thoroughness in every detail of stage setting.

LYRIC

“OLD SAN FRANCISCO” Dolores Costello in the Master picture “Old San Francisco,” is the Lyric Theatre attraction this week. And “Old San Francisco” is a thrilling melodrama of the colourful days before the “great fire” when the glamorous City of the Golden Gate had a Barbary Coast, known as “the mile of hell,” and a Chinatown which burrowed deep in the earth and hid a thousand gruesome secrets. The story has to do with a Spanish heiress who is kidnapped by a halfcaste boss of the underworld and offered for sale in a subterranean auction room dim with the fumes of the poppy and garish with teak and sandalwood and gilded dragons. There is a burning story of love and unselfish devotion and the climax, one of the most terrific ever pictured, is the “great fire” which ended the sway of the underworld. Others in the cast are Warner Oland and Joseph Swickard. A second feature will be presented this evening in “The Man from Oklahoma,” starring Jack Perrin.

NEW REGENT

VAUDEVILLE AND PICTURES TO-MORROW The brilliant and dazzling musical play by Oscar Strauss which scored such a success at the Gaiety Theatre, London, “The Last Waltz,” has now been made into a film, and is being shown at the New Regent Theatre. “The Last Waltz” tells of the conflict in love affairs between the Crown Prince of a certain Balkan country and his aid, Dimitri. The Prince orders Dimitri to be condemned to death, but allows him one hour of freedom. Finally even this is transferred into a duel against the Prince. Dimitri flings off his coat and removes a cigarette case from his breast pocket. This is the case that the Prince had given him for having saved his life, Dimitri will not use it as a shield, and he removes it. Alexis follows the gesture and repents. The Prince shoots, but only hits the pendulum on the clock. ’The sentence is revoked, and the picture ends with Dimitri and Vera dancing their way through the dark and empty ball room, to the strain of their waltz, which is played for them by an old violinist who is on his way home. George Bancroft in “The Showdpwn” will also be shown. This is a dramatic story of the search for oil in Mexico, and the supporting cast includes Evelyn Brent and Neil Hamilton. To-morrow’s programme will be headed by Bebe Daniel’s greatest comedy to date, entitled “Feel My Pulse.” In this picture Miss Daniels interprets the role of a girl who has been brought up to imagine she is frail, whereas in reality there is nothing the matter with her. She visits a sanatorium bequeathed to her, but finds it the headquarters of a bootlegger gang, and in the exciting and humorous incidents which follow finds her health and womanhood. Richard Arlen is the leading male player. The musical side of the programme will as usual be provided by the Regent Operatic Orchestra ander the baton of Mr. Maurice Guttridge.

“OUTWARD BOUND”

SEASON OPENS THIS EVENING This evening Auckland will see “Outward Bound” for the first time. Its presentation by the Little Theatre Society is the theatrical event of the year, and an excellent cast has been chosen for its interpretation. “Outward Bound,” by Sutton Vane, is a remarkable play. The subject is an extremely delicate one, but Sutton Vane handles it with earnestness, charm and skill. The comedy is mixed up with moments of intense seriousness, but so sure is the hand of the author, so sincere and excellent his work. that nothing strange or inconsistent is apparent. There are many parts of the play where Sutton Vane climbs to great heights. His creations are real. They live, and are remembered long after the play has been seen. The season will be played for four nights at tlio Concert Chamber,