Round the Shows

Sun (Auckland), Volume II, Issue 430, 11 August 1928, Page 18

Round the Shows

FUN AT FULLERS

LEAGUE OF NOTIONS REVUE SYD BECK GETS THE LAUGHS Fullers has once more come into its own. Last evening the League of Notions Revue ushered in the accustomed regime, when audience and players became extremely intimate and jokes ] sometimes forget their drawing-room ■ manners. Once or twice, perhaps, the jests i were not quite in keeping with the dignity of the new St. James Theatre, but revue lends itself to a certain freedom of expression, and tastes nowadays are as wide as the Waitemata. The first essential of a revue is that it must never be dull—the second that it must be tuneful and up to the minute. There must he colour and melody and humour, with more serious moments to allow the laughing audience to simmer. For the most part the League of i Notions Revue possesses the necessary ingredients. Although it bears no relation to its namesake at Geneva, Aucklanders willingly joined the organisation last evening. They realised that it was more like the old days j when people went to Fullers’ for a ! really good laugh—and got it. Mr. Mike Connors and Miss Queenie j Paul, who head the company, axe indefatigable workers. Their motto must be that “Laugh a day . . one. Mr. Syd Beck, droll fellow, reminds one of a Dick Henderson-Harry Weldon combination. He is so carelessly amusing that one could wish that he would leave male decadence alone. His knockabout comedy is excellent, and his facial expression would banish gloom from the darkest night.

Mr. Earnie Paulasto is second in command in the laughter department, and an able support for Mr. Beck. He and his brother, Mr. Fred Paulasto. excel in the simultaneous dance which they perform with amazing speed and perfect precision. Mr. Les Pearce lifts a melodious voice in song. His “Yeomen of England” was excellently sung. Miss Valerie Rougal and Miss Gladys Shaw are two exceedingly useful members of the company who dance and sing and act with equal ease. Miss Phyliss Baker and Mr. Bert R&yne specialise in the dance, tripping measures grave and gay with rhythmic grace.

Then there is Linn Smith and his jazz band, a syncopated organisation which has delighted Auckland on more than one occasion. Last evening their lilting melodies set the whole house tapping. The League of Notions Revue contains everything that a revue should have. There is a sparkling introduction by the combined company, and then Mr. Beck and Mr. Paulasto indulge in a session of nonsense which puts the house in the greatest of good humour. Miss Paul and Mr. Connors follow on with syncopated songs which they put over with a maximum of effect. “High, High, High up in the Hills” is a refreshing number, delightfully sung by this energetic couple. “The Sweethearts’ Parade” gives every member of the company the opportunity to show his or her worth, not forgetting Mr. Beck again as the worst soldier in the world. The League then shortens the drama in a series of short, pithy sketches, each one more amusing than the last. But one could go on indefinitely like this. The programme is a generous one. Every number is short and snappy, so that the audience has little chance of getting tired of any one thing. Mention must be made of the commercial traveller stories, each one full of possibilities and to the point; of Regal and Rayne’s Apache Dance, in which the lady is thrown about the stage by her arms, legs and hair; of the “Old-Fashioned Garden,” with Miss Paul singing her solo number; of the domestic wrangle championship between Miss Paul and Mr Beck; and the final family affair when much is made of Mr. Connors’s efforts to find a wife and a baby almost immediately. Naturally, Mr. Beck steps in and does the wrong thing. The “Exquisite” Six is rarely off the stage. These hard-working little ladies of the chorus flick their nimble limbs in every kind of dance and make an excellent background for the principals. Their work is neat, and never once do they let up during the whole show.

The League of Notions will be the attraction at St. James Theatre for some weeks to come.

ORGAN RECITAL

TOWN HALL TO-MORROW Mr. Maughan Barnett, city organist, will give a recital in the Town Hall to-morrow (Sunday), evening when his programme will consist of works by Rheinberger and Widor, Bach’s Toccata and the great Dorian Fugue in D minor and Guilmant’s impressive funeral march and Hymn of Seraphs. He will also play Mendelssohn’s Spring Song and the popular Andante from Haydn’s Surprise Symphony.

“BLOOD WILL TELL” AT EMPIRE

A novel story of human emotions and typical Western action, Blood Will Tell,” starring Buck Jones, will be shown at the Empire Theatre tonight. The story tells of a young ranchman returning to his property on the open range who encounters a girl and her brother from the East, also bound for their ranch. He is amused to learn that they are under the misapprehension that they have become owners of his ranch. The Westerner Is so charmed by the girl and so curious as to her reactions when she takes possession of the property that he whimsically determines to say nothing of her error. Instead of identifying himself as the rightful owner, he goes to work on the ranch as a common “hand,” under direction of the lovely “owner.” “The Bush Leaguer,” a baseball story, starring Monte Blue, will also be shown.

“The Cameraman" has been chosen as the title of Buster Keaton’s new comedy. In the picture Mr. Keaton appears as a newspaper cameraman, and Marceline Day plays opposite him In the scenes recently taken the Xew j; ork Town Hall was turned into a temporary studio, lights installed, and Mr. Keaton photographed acting as Mayor and occupying the Mayoral chair. Prominent New York officials became actors for a time to appear with the comedian in this scene of the picture.

WILLIAM HEUGHAN

FINAL NEW ZEALAND APPEARANCE William Heughan, the famous ... singer, who is now engaged second tour of New Zealand u J j eidered to be the most travelled in the world to-dav. H e J? "**?■ looking for new worlds to conquer ,? as .„ well-known Amifc. publication expressed it," he ha. V? in ever>- part of the world with , exception of Central Asia, the aJ.’ Regions. and South America.” r understand that a tour of So' America is being arranged for hta ' that will be another to the list aM? will have to eontine himself to theH of song he hae blazed around ■ world. Judging from the enthusiastic u». batlon of the large audiences have greeted his every appearawT New Zealand, the public of the tv/ inion will be quite ule.-tsed at thi,„

will give them the opportunity hearing him again in due course. On completion of his tour of Australia, which follows his present tonof the Dominion, he is paying a tkn to the Orient where he is always fltof an enthusiastic reception. Betuv concert seasons he often wanders fir from the beaten track in search of tb* new and interesting. William Heughan’s last appearances in New Zealand before he leaves for Australia will be at the Auckland Tour Hall on Saturday, September 1, anc Tuesday September 4.

PRINCE EDWARD

“LATEST FROM PARIS” Norm«a Shearer’s new picture, *Tb* Latest from Paris/* to be shown tonight at the Prince Edward Theatr should be a treat to all feminine p:cturegoers. Norma plays the role of t travelling saleswoman in this Metrc-Goldwyn-Mayer presentation, and caries a line of more than a hundred advance spring models of gowns, coats and suits. Norma is seen in the role of a saleswoman, competing with half a dorr male salesmen, outselling them H and winning the heart of her keen**: rival—as well as a partnership in he firm. Ralph Forbes is seen in the leadir? romantic male role. The cast includes George Sidney and Tenen Holt, Jewish character comedians; Margery Landis, Bert Roach, William Bakewe.. and others. Jack Holt is the star in the drama-' picture, “The Tigress/* which is als being shown.

MISS BEATRICE ELLIOTT

SECOND RECITAL SHORTLY Miss Beatrice Klliott, who create: quite a furore at her first recital hK month, has been induced to give s second series of group songs at t v * Town Hall Concert Chamber on Tuesday. August 21. Those w ho fortunate enough to hear Miss EHk> : at her last recital will doubtless welcome this further opportunity to hea-’ this gifted vocalist, and for those were not privileged to / further opportunity is afforded - witness the triumph of this not« artiste. Group songs in seven different ■*' guages will be rendered, and will elude works seldom heard before ~ Auckland. The programme wu* •' varied and will include numbers suit the musical tastes of all. Further particulars will be founu - our advertising columns.

ADELPHI, GREY LYNN

“TILLIE S PUNCTURED ROMANCE “Tillie’s Punctured Romance,” the most hilarious comedies everj>duced, will be screened at the Adelphi Theatre. Grey Lynn, this evening. No less than three stars head the cast of this big comedy. W. C. Fi e 1 ds. Chester Conklin and Louise Fazenda. “New York.” _ starring Iticardo Ri do Corte* Cortez and Lois Klcaro ° Wilson will also be shown. Trams leave for all parts at elusion of the performance at

‘ THE STREET ANGEL"

■The Street Angel," the J‘, special production to be ® t«* Broadway theatre within th receP !i ' months, received a splena G ; c y at its world premiere at m Theatre recently. ing company has had tnr - e a being screened at the ® an ? c the theatre capital, it J= VaC br <* "Four Sons” and "Mother are the others screening. ..—arise to obtain a theatre caused jte which had run for 28 tt< Times Square, to be $ “Mother Machree" couM a o *',' the New York newspaper mousiy agreed that Stree - {or 10* a splendid film, and a siiT* 1 * Gaynor. Charles Farrell Frank Borzage.