Round the Shows

Sun (Auckland), Volume II, Issue 408, 17 July 1928, Page 14

Round the Shows

LOVELY “SUNNY” MUSICAL SPECTACLE COLOUR AND COMEDY AT ST. JAMES “Sunny,” a musical comedy in two acts and 11 scenes. Music by Jerome Kern, book and lyrics by Otto Harbach and Oscar Hammerstein. Presented last evening at St. James Theatre by Sir Benjamin and Mr. John Fuller. CAST: Siegfried Peters .. .. George Willoughby Tom Warren Leonard Rich Wendell Wendell .. .. Charleton Morton Sue Warren Nellie Deane Sam Jack Smith Sunny Peters .. .. * Elsie Prince Jim Deer ing Jimmy Goclden Weenie Winters Betty Lambert Marcia Manners Elsie Parkes Ship's Captain .. .. Royston McDonnell Nothing in the musical or comedy line has been left out of “Sunny.” It is complete with everything, even unto an elaborate stage wedding. Spectacle follows spectacle, and scene follows scene with machine-like precision. The whole production is welded to a slender tale which begins outside a circus and ends in a field of Flanders poppies. “Sunny” resembles more than anything else the super-revue of which American producers are so fond. It gives them such wide scope and unlimited possibilities for scenic effects and elaborate “stunts.” Sunny is a little circus girl who pursues her lover relentlessly across land and sea. She even becomes wedded and divorced in her efforts to come to a definite understanding with her rather laggard lover who, as in most musical comedies, cannot be brought to heel until three hours of crowded life have passed on the stage. And as “Sunny” is more like a cheerful, colourful and charming adventure than anything else, let us repeat a little of what we enjoyed last evening. Outside a circus tent Mr. Willoughby, to the manner born “spruiks” for the show and the chorus stunts to its heart’s content. A black-out and Miss Prince is singing “Who?”, one of the most popular refrains of the piece, in company with Mr. Rich, and urging him to profess his love—which, of course, he won’t do. Another flick of the lights and Mr. Godden brings a bright touch to the proceedings by carrying on a ridiculous courtship with his lady. Everything is going smoothly and Umefully. Another transformation and we are on the s.s. Triumphant, bound for New York. By one of those curious mischances so common to musical productions, everyone else is there too. Mr. Godden, Mr. Willoughby and Mr. Morton indulge in various comedy interludes, all equally diverting. The scene on shipboard at night is a fit setting for more spectacle. Misir Prince gathers everyone around her and sings “Do You Love Me?” so charmingly that the audience has no option over its feelings. Act 1 culminates in the elaborate wedding scene where dozens of bridesmaids follow the gorgeously-gowned bride to the altar. How they all frock themselves so beautifully in mid-ocean is another musical comedy mystery which might be answered by Edgar Wallace. A conservatory with fields of scarlet poppies and undulating hills in the distance makes a beautiful background for Act 2. Groups of lithe young ladies call in from the neighbouring gymnasium and cavort attractively. Mr. Godden and Miss Prince put over one of the best numbers in the show, “When We Get Our Divorce,” and the audience settles down for another burst of splendour. Mr. McDonnell and Mr. Smith engage in a comedy dance which is excellently done. Miss Dean, who seems to have a key to a particularly smart wardrobe, tells us about “Sunshine,” and the chorus supports her in frocks which have been garnered from mediaeval Italy and modern Paris. And so it goes on. Miss Prince and the ballet suddenly forsake the story altogether and step out in a “Blackbottom.” Mr. Morton and Miss Lambert then find themselves among the Flanders poppies and are intensely diverting in a burlesque number, “Strolling,” which they do very cleverly. Then everyone goes - hunting—• with Cupid in the field. And that is not all in this very fine production which leaves “Archie” in the shade in every way. Everyone is provided with excellent material and uses it to the best of his or her advantage. It seems unnecessary to add that Miss Prince was in excellent voice and danced amazingly well, that Mr. Godden was his droll, amusing self, and we forgive him the joke about Mr. Ford, that Mr. Morton was more amusing than we have ever seen him before and that the ether members of the company all seem to have taken a new lease of life in making “Suny” live up to its title. “LADY BE GOOD” AT EVERYBODY’S AND TIVOLI As versatile a troupe of comedians as ever was gathered together in one production is to be found in the cast of “Lady Be Good,” the First National picture which comes to Everybody’s and Tivoli Theatres on Thursday next. Heading the cast are Dorothy Mackaill and Jack Mulhall, First National featured players, and both excellent farceurs. Mulhall made a tremendous hit with his characterisation of “The Poor Nut,” a farce comedy success, and Miss Mackaill has been featured in “Subway Sadie” and several other farces. In the supporting cast, Dot Farley and James 'Finlayson stand out as comedy players of great experience. Finlayson, as a comedy villain, has appeared in literally hundreds of one and two-reel comedies. Miss Farley appeared for several years in Mack Sennett comedies. CAPITOL ARGUS AND PICTURES Argus, the boy whose remarkable powers of telepathy have already amazed Aucklanders, will appear this evening at the Capitol Theatre. “Argus’ ’is able to answer questions in sealed envelopes and to describe correctly anything which passes through his father’s mind. The pictorial side of the programme is headed by “The Noose,” Richard Barthelmess’s latest picture. Barthelmess’s role is one of the finest he has ever had, and he makes Nickie Elkins a flesh-and-blood person and not a mythical screen character. An exceptional cast surrounds th*» star. Lina Basquette, former “Follies” dancer, is cast as Dot, the cabaret girl, who sticks by the boy. Thelma Todd is the blonde society queen, and Alice Joyce plays the governor’s wile.

ENJOYABLE RECITAL BAIRD-HANSARD CONCERT Variety was the keynote of the excellent programme presented at a song and dancef recital given by Miss Amy Hansard and Madame Baird at the Lewis Eady Hall last evening. The programme was comprised of works from contemporary British composers and included numbers by Auckland song-writers. These were presented by Miss Hansard, a mezzo contralto who combines a very pleasing voice with interpretative powers of no mean order. This was clearly indicated in Bantock’s “Lament of Isis, ’ in which Miss Hansard was particularly successful. Another number very well sung was Bantock’s setting of the 150th Psalm. Other very enjoyable numbers were Harold Craxton’s “Bless My Brooms,” “The Scythe Song” (Hamilton Harty), “A Garden is a Lovesome Thing” (Mallinson) and “The Snowdrop.” From the Auckland composers, Miss Hansard sang four numbers, which were by no means overshadowed by the other works, “Here Where the World is Quiet” (Renee Satchwell), “Hay Harvest” and “There is Quietness Among the Lilies” (Mary Brett), and “Nod” (Amy Hansard). Considerable variety was imparted by the artistic dances of Madame Baird, M. Woolcott, N. Syms, N. Fuller, O. Smith, P. Groves, I. Lucas, J. Welsh, J. Aitkenhead, B. Young and M. Needham, which were a popular feature of the programme. Violin solos by Miss Jean Allen also proved very enjoyable. Good tone and capable technique was shown in John Ireland’s “Romance From the Sonata in I> Flat,” and Cyril Scott’s “Lotus Land,” both of which were well received. A number of extra numbers were also played. Mr. Leo Whittaker provided the accompaniments in his usual artistic manner. EVERYBODY’S LAST 2 DAYS OF “METROPOLIS” “Metropolis,” which is in its last two days at Everybody’s Theatre, depicts the city of the future, full of wonderful devices that are only in the experimental stage to-day. And, supplying power for all this, are enginerooms filled with extraordinary machines of enormous proportions, controlled by strange levers and electrical devices. Tending the machines are workmen, who are little better than serfs, forced to toil in ten-hour shifts, and made to live an unnatural life in an underground city of their own. And over all is the master brain which rules the city, John Master-man. Clever and ruthless, he has but one dream unaccomplished—a mechanical man which will enable him to do without human aid in carrying out his projects. To this end Rotwang, the inveptor, works incessantly, and the ultimate result of their experiments provides one of the biggest thrills of a picture which deals in thrills. EMPIRE “WEST POINT” “West Point,” a story laid in the American Military Academy, will be shown to-night at the Empire Theatre, with William Haines and Joan Crawford as the stars. The story throws into bold relief the incorrigible optimism and desire for life of the average youth who enters college. Thus Haines, 'as “Brice Wayne,” makes friends and enemies —friends who flatter him and, consequently, enemies he unconsciously adds to. He becomes too “fresh.” Even the girl he meets resents his bravado, and the course of their first love ceases to run smoothly, and real drama enters their lives. “Rash Privates,” a happy war comedy, will also be shown, with Malcolm McGregor and Lya de Putti in the leading roles. INSTRUCTIONAL FILM FREE SHOWING THIS WEEK An instructional film of more than usual interest will be shown at various theatres in Auckland during the next few days. This is a film dealing with the processes of cocoa manufacture in the model factory in England, and the life and work in the “garden city” of the employees. Admission to the showing of this film is free. It will be shown at the Strand Theatre, Onehunga, to-morrow afternoon, at the Embassy Theatre on Thursday afternoon, and at the Rialto Theatre, Newmarket, on Friday afternoon. FAIR AT Y.W.C.A. SIDESHOWS AND STALLS A “Mother Goose” fair will open at the Y.W.C.A., Upper Queen Street, tomorrow, and will include a cooking demonstration and waxworks and baby show, as well as numerous sideshows, such as the “Chamber of Horrors,” a lightning artist, and an eastern goddess. There will also be sweets, fancy goods and produce stalls.

TUDOR, REMUERA TWO BIG COMEDIES TO-NIGHT Two big comedies head the new programme to be presented at the Tudor Theatre, Remuera, this evening. The first is “Wife Savers,” starring the two great comedians, Wallace Beery and Raymond Hatton. This hilarious comedy begins with the Armistice instead of ending with it. It is said to be even funnier than those two howling successes, “Behind the Front” and “We’re in the Navy Now.'” Wallace Beery is Louis Hozenozzle, the baker of a small section of the American Army stationed on the Franco-Swiss frontier. Raymond Hatton is a second lieutenant, and is much sought after by the ladies, especially by Colette, a pretty little village girl, played by Sally Blane. An order comes for the American troops to head for home, and Hatton is in a bad way. Sally Blane tells him that General Lavoris will be coming home to the village and forcing her to marry him unless there is someone left to devotedly and dumbly protect her. Immediately he thinks of Beery. “Tilly’s Punctured Romance,” another uproarious story, is the second feature, with W. C. Fields, Louise Fazenda and Chester Conklin in the leading roles. A delightful musical interlude will be provided by the Lyric Quartet. MUNICIPAL CONCERT TOWN HALL TO-MORROW The programme to bo presented at the municipal concert in the Town Hall to-morrow evening will include selections by Guilmant, Bach, Arne and Hollins. Varied numbers will be given by Miss Mina Caldow, vocalist, and Mr. Maughan Barnett, city organist. Mr. Leo. Whittaker will be the accompanist* SONG RECITAL MISS BEATRICE ELLIOTT A song recital to be held at the Concert Chamber of the Town Hall on Saturday next by Miss Beatrice Elliott, is one that should create more than ordinary interest. Miss Elliott is a New Zealander who has won marked success abroad, and her return to her native shores will be welcome. Throughout her American and Canadian tour Miss Elliott has received the most flattering of receptions, and it now remains for her own people to set the crown of success more firmly on her brow. Booking arrangements and prices are advertised. CONCERT IN ONEHUNGA A concert will be given in the Foresters’ Theatre, Onehunga, to-morrow evening, by the Onehunga Orphans’ Club, in aid of the Onehunga Ladies’ Benevolent Society Relief Fund. THE WHIPPET CAR TESTS SHOWN AT NEW REGENT Pictures of interest to all motorists are contained in part of the gazette now being shown at the New Regent Theatre. These show official speed tests being conducted at Brisbane on a “Whippet” car. which establishes a record speed of 70 m.p.h.

LECTURE ON CHIROPRACTIC CONCERT CHAMBER TO-NIGBT When Marconi gave his wireless telephonic principle to the world, and persisted in giving expression to bis belief in it, he met with great distrust and derision. To-day his ideas, because of their foundation upon natural law, have secured universal knowledge. The vast majority of the worlds greatest discoverers have invariably met with scoffing, persecution and often prosecution. The reception meted out to chiropractic has differec very little from that meted out to other great truths. It is remarkable that although tnhuman body has been studied for 9,w> years, it is approximately only years since the discovery of blood ctf* culation, and it is no less rfemar ~*Y that chiropractic remained unoisco* ered until 33 years ago. It is to P*** sent in simple everyday language theory of chiropractic, to show . is being done, and why this profess has succeeded, that Miss Freda Dug?a* will be giving a popular lecture on subject to-night. . Miss Duggan’s lecture will beJ? e in the Concert Chamber at 8 ©cioc* EDENDALE ARGUS AND PICTURES Argus, the boy prophet, whose rtmarkable performance is creating * terest everywhere, will appear evening at the Edendale Theatr • Argus is able to answer on any topic whatever, including sf** " business, matrimony and (Xaram* _ and many remarkable cases of &n----coming true have already been - known. On the screen there will be Pj\ sented Lon Chaney’s picture, “L° After Midnight.” The story of “London After ** night” revolves around the suicide of Roger Balfour, whose pre daughter Lucille is then ad °Pj“L, : * Balfour’s executor, Sir James Burke, a Scotland Yard man, in T*7T gates the case, but reports " Five years later Burke gets a s } a f s Tt . ing, dramatic clue, and decided to open the case, employing in elucidating the mysterious crim • DIXIELAND CABARET WINTER SHOW BALL Dixieland Cabaret at Point CM lier will be the scene of the spe lar Winter Show* Ball to-morrow * On m. v Dancing will continue from * v1 a.m„ and there will be numerc£ spectacular cabaret items ana tions of new' dances. be The Dixieland Dance Bana nce mer : in attendance, and every arra zf’ n jen fe made for the comfort and con of all E*-' A demonstration of the la T^b je*. lish dancing craze, the will be given by Miss 1 vcnn and Colin Shorter.