ENTERTAINMENTS.

Hawera Star, Volume XLVIII, 17 November 1924, Page 8

ENTERTAINMENTS.

GRAND THEATRE, TO-NIGHT

“HAS THE WORLD GONE MAD?’

“Has the World I 'Gone. Mad ” is a dramatically pitiless and humourous! , entertaining exposure of the hollowness ot the life of jazz and the insatiable desire tor unending pleasures—a screen document on which is written in unrorgetable scenes the story of the forces that threaten modem life All the scenes in “Has the World Gone Mad>” are lavishly mounted—particularly the cabaret set. It stimulates interest all the V a y and is capitally acted bi Charles Richman as the gay adventurer ±iis subtleties of expression are finely executed Mary Alden makes the wife a pitiful figure, and Hedda Hopper as the giddy spouse gives a vivid portrayal of the modern woman who wor-‘ ships at the shrine of jazz. An entertaining supporting programme will be presented, including an excellent comedy, entitled “Keep Moving ” the latest Pathe Gazette, ami tfe fi.S natural colour cartoon, “Kidding Con programme "fill 1 lepeated to-morrow night. FISK JUBILEE SINGERS.

There is no other form of entertaini ment quite like that given by the Fi«k Jubilee Singers, who play a*short soason in Ilawera. opening to-night. By all the unwritten laws which determine the success of modern entertainments—both artistically and commercially—there should be no place in the modern selieme of things for such an organisation. But the Fisk Singers are different. Age cannot wither nor custom stale the infinite charm which has been associated with their concerts since the original singers toured the Dominion over 30 years ago. It was a different company in those days—the sickle of the Grim Reaper has been busy since then, but those on whom the mantle of the original stalwarts has fallen are proving worthy successors, maintaining in its fullest- splendour the great herb tage _ handed down to them. Rome familiar faces will be missed this time .notably that of the genial Professor White, who has been called to his long rest, but there still remains a link with the original company in Miss Belle Gibbons, who, in spite of her age, still sings quite a good song, and maintains an excellent reputation as a lady baritone. The newcomers to the party number some very capable performers among them, and at the conclusion of A really delightful entertainment one comes away with the feeling that no better company could have been gathered together to interpret the wonder ful choruses and quaint negro “spiritual” which form the greater part of the programme. The origin of these quaint old melodies i s full of interest. They date from the time when the negroes were slaves upon the plantations. Isolated as they were, ignorant and elemental in their ways, thev turned to the promises given" in the Bible, and used them as a basis of song expression—folk-song in its purest form. They improvised melodies and words of the most simple -character, their method of singing being to quote a line in colloquial language and repeat and.develop the fact embodied in it until it had taken up.