AMUSEMENTS.

Timaru Herald, Volume CXXIII, 14 April 1926, Page 5

AMUSEMENTS.

THEATRE ROYAL. ATTRACTIVE BILL OF FARE. “Wild Oranges/’ tlio headliner at tho Theatre Itoyal last evening, was greeted by a very large audience, and made a distinctly lavuurable impression. Tlie pieture is charming as far as natural beauty scenes are concerned, and somo of the views of the coast of Georgia, where most of the interesting action takes place, are wonderful. Somo of tho realistic views from a yacht as she ploughs her way through tho seas cannot lail to delight. The principal part, out of a line cast, is allotted to Frank Mayo, while Virginia Valli is the girl around whom most of Lho play centres. Adapted from the story of Louis J. Gasnier, it concerns a young husband whose wife was taken from Jilin in tho early days of their honeymoon owing to her being thrown out of a trap and killed. Ho takes his loss very badly, and determines that no other woman shall come between him and the memory of his bride that was. In order that lie might escape the allurements of the sex, he purchases a yacht, and with a male servant for company, sails around tho American coast, taking care not to touch at any place where there is a likelihood of meeting a woman. One day ho is forced to call in at a lonely spot, where the only inhabitants ore an elderly man, his pretty daughter, and a gigantic fellow, a fugitive from justice, who has attached himself to them. The man who believes himself to be a woman-hater, does the girl a service, and, despite all his efforts to avoid falling beneath her charms, lie discovers that he is violently in love with her, and that she lias succeeded in doing what lie thought would not bo possible— taking the place formerly occupied by his dead wife. Tho supports are excellent, and include a newsy “Gaumont Graphic,’’ a line and educational scenic film, while all the laughs necessary . are derived from a bright comedy entitled “Hot and Heavy.” The Royal Orchestra, with their well-varied and tastefully selected musical luinibeis, could not fail to please.

“THE SPORTING VENUS. ”

ROMANCE AND HUMOUR. AT THE GRAND. An excellent blending of romance and humour, with a sprinkling of pathos, are the essentials of good pieture entertainment, and with ail those, and perhaps a. little move, “The Spoiling Venus,” which delighted tho largo audience at the Grand Theatre last evening, is a picture ill a thousand. A robust romance with tho “heart interest,” a disappointment, and a reconciliation. It tells ot the love ot I a. Scottish heiress lor a. commoner, a 1 young surgeon, she Lady Gwen, lie Donald MeAllan. Of course, Lord Graylo . objects, and,, lie shouk n t, rcallv, . since lie had lelt Ins daughter an orphan lor 18 years. However, Ills objections don’t count lor much, as lie, dies after introducing an impecunious prince to his daughter, a prince, by tho way, .surrounded b.v creditors, who are forced to finance the prineo in the marriage market. Tho princeling drops a falsehood or two into tho caff of Hie surgeon, who throws a menial somersault, so to speak, and leaves tho prince the sole suitor Lady Gwen lets her sporting blood have lull pin.', and fritters away a fortune in Itiarrilv. I and other plaoes. Meanwhile, Donald j slot's it lot of thinking, and having

“saved up” in tho intervening rears, buys the Graylo ancestral home, to which Gwen, broken in health and finance, returns to make amends. And tho prince is married by his creditors to an ample lady with plenty of. money and a swarm of dogs. Blanche Sweet makes a capital Gwen Graylo; Ronald Colman is the braw lad; and Lew Cody the embarrassed prince. The supporting subjects . are no less interesting, and include a bright “Patlio Nows,” a charming New Zealand scenic, “Screen Snapshots,” and a clever animated cartoon. A featuro of the entertainment was tlio work of the orchestra, which gave an excellent account of itself, with tho best of music.

ENGLISH FUTURISTS,

OPEN TO-NIGHT. Surprise and delight were registered at tin: Paramount Theatre last evening, says the “Dominion” of January 9, when “Tho Futurists,” a company •of Ui clever people, with youth at the prow, gave a bright, zippy and always interesting song, dance, sketch programme that proved excellent entertainment all through. Coming without any special flourish or trumpets the “Futurists,” by their ease and competence as entertainers, made an immediate impression. Practically too only performer known here was Mr Gus Dawson, one of the “Digger” combination of post-war days, a pleasant light comieclian. of natural poseless manner, and a nimble and gracehil dancer, t hou with Miss Eily Dalgleish, Mr Dawson gave a .singing double dance, the rhythmical patter ef which caught immediately. In Mr George Corelli the company possesses a tenor of real quality, who exercised his silver voice in an Italian ballad. Miss Ira Love is a very lively soubrette, equally at hoc in song and burlesque. Her numbers included a. jazz version of “Annie Laurie.” and “Where the Lazy Daisies Grow.” Mr G. W. Desmond is a dancing comedian, whose “Cop” song, with its amusing introduction of the district, bully, was -cleverly done. Miss V inure Edgerton is a fresh-voiced soprano ot some culture. She was also the soloist in the well-arranged finale. ‘‘Voii’re in Kentucky Sure as lou’re born.' Mr Barry Ross is a very presentable baritone, and Mr Cyril NorLheote an outsize in robust comedians. A feature ot the programme is the number of clean, clever sketches, each of which is loaded with laughs. Miss Kily Dalgelish is also a clover and refined singer and dancer. The English Futurists are to appear at the Theatre Royal to-night and Tliurs<lav. The box plans are now open at tho Bristol and the prices arc us, As and 2s.

“RIP VAN WINKLE.” The box plan for “Rip” Opera opens to-morrow at tho Bristol. r Jho management- wish to impress upon patrons that the season is limited to two nights only, next Monday and Tuesday. A rehearsal will be held at the u entworth (not Stafford) to-morrow at /.JO p.m. sharp of the full company anil orchestra.. Everything is now in readiness for tlio, opening night of tho season, and patrons are requested to.book early. Popular prices of is, 3s, 2s will be charged.