AMUSEMENTS.

Wairarapa Age, 10 February 1927, Page 3

AMUSEMENTS.

HUMPHREY BISHOP COMPANY. ' On Monday, February 14, this popular company will play a two night’s season at the Opera House. Among the old favourites in the company is Mr. Walter Kingsley, who had the ‘honour of being the selected baritone to appear with the Royal Philharmonic Society at the Sydney Town Hall on October 28. “The Sydney Morning Herald,” of 29/10/26, says: “At the recent performance of ‘The Golden Legend’ at the Town Hall, Sydney, by the Royal Philharmonic Society. Mr. Kingsley, the Humphrey Bishop Co.’s baritone, greatly distinguished himself. Mr. Walter Kingsley, who sustained the part of Lucifer, sang with great conviction and fine resonant tone, and was so effective in the opening scene that ar. auspicious beginning was thus made with the work. In the scenes following, Mr. Kingsley took up his share of the music with graphic power and was aptly -spirited as the interview with the distraught Prince Henry worked to its climax. Mr. Kingsley throughout the performance. was authoritative, forceful, and sang with clarity of tone and great distinction.” Mr. Kingsley has also made several records for the Columbia Company, and made the first record that was actually recorded in Australia. Among other old favourites are Mr. Egan Humphrey Bishop, Mr. Frank Egan, Mr. George Ros§, Miss Hilda Beaux, Mr. George Rox, and thirteen new artists of whom more anon. Box plans now open at Arts and Crafts. There will be an entire change of programme on Tuesday, February 15.

OPERA HOUSE. “The .Son of the Sheik,” w’hich opened its local run last evening at the Opera House depicts Rudolph Valentino’s much heralded sequel to the picture which brought the name “sheik” into repute all over the world. It proves that while a son may be like his father, he oftentimes is much wilder. The original sheik was content to sweep a lady fair off her feet with passionate embraces, then talk her into leaving the fogs of old London for the sandstorms and romantic nights of the desert; the son, however, is a faster worker; he falls in love on sight, gets tangled up with his sweetheart’s henchmen, then, in revenge, kidnaps the girl and drags her away to his tent. But the son has certain redeeming qualities which were absent in the makeup of sheik, senior. The youth becomes conscience stricken and decides tp send the lady, a professional dancer and all around heart-broken, back to her people, but en route, a villainous Moor does a Ijttle kidnapping on his own account, and emphasises his determination to keep her by murdering her father. The picture you have all waited to seen. Splendid supporting programme. Box plans at Henderson’s. Prices, 2s, Is 6d and Is.

COSY THEATRE. If, after seeing Pola Negri in “The Crown of Lies,” you do not feel the surging warmth of real romance, and if you do not walk with a regal air, it will be because you are heartless and legless.* The star’s new Paramount production opened last night at the Cosy Theatre and kept the audience in alternate moods of suspense and glowing admiration. In the story, written by Ernest Vajda, notable among playwrights, Miss Negri portrays an immigrant girl. She aspires to become a great actress and plays the role of a queen. When he is not selling flivvers, Robert Ames, her “steady,” puts in his time trying to persuade her to •marry him. Miss Negri’s chance to play the part of a queen.comes rather abruptly. Noah Beery, a suave conspirator from abroad, notes her remarkable 'resemblance to the missing queen of a Balkan country. Playing on her evident idealism, he arranges to impose her on the people as their ruler, seeking thereby to reap millions. Dimitri Buchowetski, the director, has cleverly transferred this fanciful theme into picture logic. Miss Negri is carried to the throne and frees the oowntrodden populace from a dictator. But her romance with Ames is always kept in the foreground. He is at her .side through a series of dangers, and in the end she renounces her throne because she loves him and longs only for a cosy cottage in America. Interesting supports. Reserves at Henderson ’s.