AMUSEMENTS.

Hokitika Guardian, 11 February 1922, Page 2

AMUSEMENTS.

POLLARD’S PICTURES.

"THE THUNDERBOLT,” MONDAY.

On Monday next Pollards are presenting a special First National feature with Katherine McDonald in the leading role entitled “The Thunderbolt,” and supporting this big picture is a Pathe Gazette, a Pathe lteview, and a Pa the comedy of two reels, “Capt Kidd’s Kids,” starring Harold Lloyd. “The Thunderbolt” which screens at the Princess Theatre on Monday night is a picture that is likely to create wholesale discussion. The stair is that remarkable combination of flawless beauty and rare ability,. Katherine McDonald who has earned the soubriquet of the “Aniericah Beauty.” A ybung girl who expects lpve and happiness irl marriage, is startled by the discovery that her husband has married her out of hatred, born of an ancient family feud He expects to ensure that she will have no child to bear her hated name, but is thwarted of his revenge by a strange and providential chain of circumstances. Thomas Meighan shares the honours with the beautiful star, who easily eclipses all her previous efforts in this powerful drama. In the appealing role of the woman who is prepared to fight for her sacred right to motherhood, Miss McDonald shows wonderful poise and emotional power, : her subtle and convincing presentation , grips the imagination and places her I among the greatest stars in tli film ! firmament. Pollards Symphony Orchestra will play a selected programme.

THE FAMOUS DIGGERS. c WEDNESDAY AND THURSDAY NEXT.

What a wonderful record the Diggers have had! It isn’t given to every theatrical company to be able to run for nearly five years and play iu eighti different countries to nearly a million people.

The management of (the company readily recognise that the show must now stand entirely on its merits, and with that in view, have engaged at big expense somei of >the*best artists that have ever been seen outside the big Australian centres. Two, at least, of the new artists have London reputations.

Frank Perryn, comedian, who understudied Geo. Robey at the. Hippodrome, London, is a finished artist, as a comedian, a singer and in character sketches.

Joe Valii is an important and expensive importation from England. He has been putting his sketch “Tickets Please,” on at the Palladium in the foggy metropolis with great success, and it speaks well for the enterprise of (the management that New Zealand is to h e given an opportunity of seeing this very fine artist.. Frank Moran was well-known as a comedian at the front. When the armistire was signed. Frank elected * try hi 3 luck on the English music halls, with tlie result that he was kept busy until recently when business reasons recalled him to Wellington, N.Z., and he was prevailed on to accept an engagement with the Diggers. Ivan Marshall is a tenor singer whose songs are sure to be sung in every homestead.

Besides the artists mentioned, there are still some of the old favourites, including Stan Lawson, the misleading lady, Tano Fama, the captain of comedy, and Gus Dawson.

The song numbers in the new show were specially selected in America, and the publishers are printing special editions of them for circulation in New Zealand. They are an exceptionally fine'lot of musical numbers. In addition to the comedy, which is the best ever, the show will have some very fine scenery, including the beautiful Oriental scene and the lovely Lantern Land —a miniature masterpiece of beautiful effects.

Th e dresses, too, are on a scale that brings them into line with the best London shows, as they were secured and imported from the great metropolis regardless of expense.

Lawson’s dresses range from a. beautiful creation of Comelli of gorgeous shimmering spangles and passementerie to a wonderful gold and jewelled Eastern costume with snake headdress. - The costumes used in the Oriental scene, by other members of the company, make a kaleidoscope of bizzare colouring.