“THE BELLE OF NEW YORK"

Sun (Auckland), Volume II, Issue 461, 17 September 1928, Page 14

“THE BELLE OF NEW YORK"

HIS MAJESTY’S ON THURSDAY “The Bell© of New York” is the next offering of the Auckland Amateur Operatic Society, and will be staged at His Majesty’s Theatre on Thursday next. The story of "‘The Bell© of New York” opens in a mansion in New York. Harry Bronson, son of Icabod Bronson, multi-millionaire, is celebrating his 21st birthday with a number of youths of his acquaintance. With the dawn comes his secretary to remind him that he is to be married at nine o’clock to Cora Angelique, the queen of comic opera, a lady who has already been married nine times, but who considers the son of a multi-millionaire an agreeable tenth. Cora and her wedding-party arrive at the mansion to find that between daybreak and nine o’clock the impressionable and none-too-sober Harry has fallen in love with Fifi, the chic little daughter of his chef, who, dressed as a fairy, was to be used to decorate the enormous wedding cake. Fifi thinks Harry the most adorable male she has ever seen and loses her young heart to him at sight. A further complication is the arrival of Harry’s father, who forthwith disinherits his over-festive son before all his guests, they promptly fading away like snow in the sun, leaving Harry alone with Fifi, the only one who will remain true to him. The disinherited Harry secures employment in a candy store, and strolling through New York’s Chinatown with Fifi one evening, sees Violet Grey, a Salvation Army lassie, whose beauty and virtue have earned her the sobriquet of “The Belle of New York.” Harry again falls in love definitely and finally to the dismay of the faithful Fifi. The box plan is now open at Lewis Eady, Ltd. SOMERSET MAUGHAM AND “OUR BETTERS” In connection with the forthcoming production in New Zealand of Somerset Maugham’s highly-successful Play, “Our Betters,” by the brilliant J. C. Williamson Company, headed by Miss Margaret Bannerman, the author, in a special foreword, ascribes the success of the play in a great measure to the wonderful collaboration between the author, the actors, and the audience. He expresses the opinion that the three parties may take equal credit to fiiemselves. The actors have given, not only what was expected of them, but also “that little more which makes all the difference between adequate and exceptional performance.” Mr. Maugham says it is not necessary to go to France or Germany to see good acting, and concludes: You will have to go far before you see Dexter acting than that of Miss Margar Bannerman.” “PIONEER scour’ AT ROYAL A story of the British Air Service in China, entitled “The Flight Commander.” will be shown this evening ai the Royal Theatre, Kingsland. A leading role in “The Flight Commander” is taken by Sir Alan Co* ham. K.8.E., the noted British aviator. The story tells of a small Bntisn outpost in China completely cut ° from the outer world through a name rising. The senior trader, at great danger to himself, gets to a wireless transmitter and shortly afterwards a squadron of aircraft arrives as a relief. A love story runs through the pa ture, and leading parts are taken John Stuart and Estelle Brody. “The Pioneer Scout,” starring Thomson, will also be shown. More than 40 police dogs appear in Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer's “Under Black Eagle,” which will be releas shortly throughout New Zealand, picture shows the heroism of the Py dogs during the World War, espec on the Russo-Austrian front \ n province of Gallicia. The pic . directed by W. S. Van Dyke, c<>irta“£ a beautiful romance between a yp officer and a nurse. The role oi officer is played by Ralph Forbes, . that of the nurse by Marceline U&J*' “A Girl in Every Port,” a Fox story of the sea, featuring Victor Laglen, is a thrilling journey to most interesting and romantic Py of the world, and its theme is tne * affairs of a rough, soft-hearted mate of a tramp steamer. El^ t 1 1 1^wo0 d ladies, a dazzling array of Eoil3Laii—beauties —one for each port of and a supporting cast that inc g| many favourites, aid in the succ the screen story.