EXCELLENT VARIETY

Sun (Auckland), Volume III, Issue 869, 13 January 1930, Page 13

EXCELLENT VARIETY

CIVIC’S BIG PROGRAMME LAUGHS AT “THE FALL OF EVE” A programme which must rank as one of the finest ever presented in Auckland delighted the large audience at the Civic Theatre on Saturday vening. TEE> HENKEL and his Civic Unit orchestra of 30 players opened the programme with excerpts from Verdi’s beautiful opera, “Rigoletto.” Mr. Henkel has added a bit of modern colouring to the original orchestration, which is interpreted in his own inimitable manner, and was very warmly %pplauded. At the Civic grand organ, Fred Scholl again demonstrated his remarkable versatility. His two pieces were the haunting “Dream Melody” and “An Automobilious Episode,” a tale of many i cars, which was easily the most popular item of the evening. Following a lively Fox News and a Vitaphone item, “The Three Melody Maids.” came another of the stage band entertainments for which the Civic has already earned a reputation. This week’s show has a South American setting, and is entitled “La Fiesta.” The dancing side of the production is well catered for by the popular duo, Ramon and Madeline, and by another graceful pair, Edna and Pedro. Their items leave nothing to be desired. The work of the ballet has to be seen to be believed. A young army of tall girls, all bewilderingly alike, step through . complicated measures with rare precision. In one ballet, “The Dance of the Shawl,” the girls wear lovely Spanish shawls, and this dance is well worth seeing. The remaining items in this section were the playing of “La Paloma” by Mr. Henkel’s stage band, and the dancing of the Argentine tango in miniature by two dainty tiny tots, Patricia and Koanui, who received well-merited applause. The entire production is admiraly mounted and dressed. Accompanied from start to finish by roars of laughter, the talking comedy, “The Fall of Eve,” opened its Auckland season most auspiciously on Saturday. The story opens when a New York business man, Tom Ford, finds he won’t get an order from a Chicago buyer, Ed Mack, unless Mr. Mack has a good time among the hectic excitements of New York—in short, “makes whoopee.” Mrs. Tom Ford happened to be out of town, and in desperation, Mr. Ford turns to his secretary, Eve Grant, to assist him. Most unexpectedly, Miss Grant was mistaken for ! Mrs. Ford, and to prevent exposure they had to “go through with it.” Tom Ford, jun., was called in to assist, but being in love, with Miss Grant, demanded immediate explanations, which of course were not forthcoming. After a round of cabarets, the party ' arrives back at the Ford home, where I the maintaining of the deception ! causes “Mr. and Mrs. Ford” considerable embarrassment. Then the real Mrs. Ford arrives back in town, and calls the police to assist her in getting an explanation, much to the embarrassment of the party, but to the evident amusement of the audience. The story is an uproariously funny farce—comedy all the way through—and the audience at the Civic on Saturday thoroughly enjoyed itself. The players were excellent in their I different roles. Betty Farrington as Mrs. Ed Mack, the woman who caused all the trouble, gives a spirited and artistic performance, undoubted acting ability being coupled with a voice of most pleasing tone. Patsy Ruth Miller was a bewitching Eve, and Jed Prouty, Arthur Rankin, and Ford Ster-

ling share the honours among the men. From first to last “The Fall of Eve,” for crisp dialogue and amusing situations, can stand comparison with anything that has been shown in Auckland since the talkies arrived. After the pictures, dancing was enjoyed in the winter garden. _