HEUGHAN CONCERTS

Sun (Auckland), Volume III, Issue 709, 8 July 1929, Page 14

HEUGHAN CONCERTS

MAUD BELL AND HER ’CELLO Miss Maud Bell, the distinguished English ’cellist, who is an associate artist with William Heughan on his world tour, is famed in many countries, even outside the English-speak-ing world. She has played with success in many of the leading: cities of Germany, France, Italy, Norway and Denmark. In each, the critics have written about the beauty and power of her playing and her art. She appeared with marked success in London and the principal cities of the British Isles. According: to ‘‘The Times” (London) “she shows great interpretative gifts, good tone and fluent style.” That opinion is echoed in the Press wherever she has appeared. Miss Bell studied in Berlin under the famous Belgian ’cellist, Marix Loevensohn (now professor at Amsterdam), and at the Brussels Conservatoire. She is the proud possessor of a remarkably fine “Gagliano” ’cello (1745), from which she is never separated. Miss Bell takes an important place on the Heughan programmes. “She plays music of the finest type with great beauty of tone and with a compelling, unforced eloquence,” as the Melbourne “Argus” said. The Heughan concerts are to be given in the Town Hall on July 11, 12, 13 and 15. The box plan is at Lewis Eady’s. TIVOLI AND EVERYBODY’S “THOROUGHBREDS” “Thoroughbreds,” an exciting drama of the racecourse, starring Marion Nixon, is now at the Tivoli and Everybody’s Theatres. When Ellis, a clever jockey, refuses to “throw” any more horse races in which he rides for the Racing Combine, a crooked organisation which makes its money by giving the publicfalse reports on the horses, the professional gamblers at the head of the Combine are forced to select a new jockey. Thir choice is Johnny Spencer, a youthful jockey, working for Mrs. Calhoun in Virginia and training Lady Courageous, the most promising horse in he.r stable. By telling Spencer he will win great honours by riding for them in New York, the combine induce him to leave Mrs. Calhoun and her daughter, Lucy, who is in love with him. Spencer is successful at first, while the gamblers are training him, but begins to dissipate under the clever tutelage of Sybil Morrissey, a beautiful blonde adventuress. When she promises to marry him if he will

“throw” a big race the following day, Spencer, completely infatuated, carries out her wishes, but he holds his horse back in such an obvious way that his jockey licence is revoked and he is disgraced. Friends get him a job training Lady Courageous, but when Mrs. Calhoun learns of it, she fires him. The jockey scheduled to ride Lady Courageous in a big .race, injures his foot. Lucy Calhoun induces officials of the jockey club to reinstate Spencer. He rides the greatest race of his life, coming in first and saving Mrs. Calhoun from loss of her fortune. He realises that he loves Lucy, who has already forgiven him for liis former disgrace.

Bright supporting films are also shown, including a colourful Parisian story, “A Knight of Nights.” RIALTO AND REGENT, EPSOM “THE BATTLE OF THE SEXES” D. W. Griffith, the noted motion picture director, recently gave all his energies to the making of a film about the average American family of today, living a life reflecting the attitudes and habits of modern civilisation. This film is entitled, ' The Battle of the Sexes,” and is notv at the Rialto and Regent, Epsom, Theatres. Jean Hershort has the role of the father of the family. Belle Bennett is the mother, with Sally O’Neill. Phyllis Haver and Don Alvarado as the young folk. The story is intensely interesting throughout. “The Jade Cup,” which is also being shown, is an unusual story starring Evelyn Brent. SUBURBAN THEATRES At the Prince Edward Theatre the films this evening will be “A South Sea Bubble” (Ivor Novello) and “Children of the Ritz” (Dorothy Mackaill and Jack Mulhall). At the Grey Lynn Cinema the films are “The Case of Lena Smith” (Esther Ralston) and “Honeymoon Hate” (Florence Vidor). The films to be shown at the Parish Hall, Devonport, are “Marquis Preferred” (Adolphe Menjou) and "The Windjammer” (Billy Suilivan). ORGAN RECITAL PROGRAMME AT TOWN HALL An excellent programme, consisting chiefly of music appropriate to Thanksgiving Sunday, was offered by the citv organist, Mr. Maughan Barnett, in the Town Hall last evening. The selections included “Laus Deo” (Harvey Grace), Bach's “Fugue” on the tune set to the hymn. “O God, Our He J p e- I , n Ages Past,” “Land of Hope and Glory' (Elgar), “Festive March” (fcmart) and a fantasia on national airs. WEST COASTER’S ASSOCIATION A benefit social evening in aid of the Earthquake Relief Fund has been arranged by the West Coasters’ Association, and will be held in St. Benedict’s Hall on Wednesday evening. Musical items will be given by leading Auckland artists. Charles Gilpin, a celebrated negro star, will make his screen debut under the Fox banner in the all-talking, allnegro production, “Hearts In Dixie.” A mixed chorus of 50 negro voices' singing spirituals and plantation -ongs . is a feature of this production.