AMUSEMENTS.

Hokitika Guardian, 29 December 1924, Page 1

AMUSEMENTS.

NELLIE BRAMLEY COY. A SPLENDID PRODUCTION. In Rough t mill I’iiiil I-or" tlic c*:i]iiiMi' principals ni' the Nellie Miamley ( oy excelled at tin? Princess Theatre mi Saturday night. when a orow-.1.-d ii-aiM' attain greeted the players. '''ho 1 lay is a very liiliuan one. and can 1 e c!i Understood as following true in li.n. Jt is all a probable play, : i ,-| iis potirtraynl on Saturday night made tla 1 story a very convincing one. The cast "as small numerically, luit it was most capaMc, and tlm whole play "as a finished production, heightened by pleasing staging and lighting effects.

Nellie Uramley as Virginia Mlaine. the telephunist. who hetome.s a niillionaire's wile, was in a part somethin.!; different from previous essays hero. Hut it was outstanding in its .self. localise til the reserve force displayed. A cupahle youne woman with principles and ideals for which she would sacrifice hero own happiness rather than live in an unreal atmosphere, was naturally done. Her virtues were not paraded. Imt they were self-evident in her manner of doing things. Quiet and reserved in the tense moments of the play, the popular and talented actress added greatly to her laurels, for there was no apparent effort after effect. The effect came naturally, perhaps from a pasture or a mood, or the inflection of the voice. It was all splendidly done. Mr Guy Hastings filled the character of the millionaire husband no less cleverly. In all his scenes he was the stronp. successful man. and his preatness lost nothing of its dominatin'; force even when he was stronp ciioiiph to capitulate to a wife of liiph principles who he riplitly puaped was worth his eternal love. All his detail work was characterised by a finish which showed the ability of the artist. This was manifested in the scene where his wife breaks from him because of his drinking habits. It was a stronp, impressive scene. .Miss Meryl Uarraeloiiph .and .Mr (leorpe Hewlett were the foils to the principals. They pourtrayed characters entirely different, bill very human, and the natural ness was never overdone. Indeed, both lady and gentlemen sustained the parts uniformly and assisted in no small degree, apart from the humor supplied, in the complete production of what was a very line performance. The Oku of Air \Vm. AlcGouan, though a small part. "as made an outstanding charm ter. the stolid Japanese stage butler being represented to the delight of the whole audience. Alixs Sylvia McNair was cast a.s a maid, but with restricted opportunities, though the fullest expression was put into the part. The whole cast was perfect fitting, and the entire presentation one of the most arresting a local audience has enjoyed. 11 was a play of real people, without artiliial const ruction, and with a plot which presented all the features of everv day life in this human world.

As Pefoi-e. the orchestra was a feature during the interludes. There are six instrumentalists with .Mr liestieaux at the piano. All the niiisir is bright and very modern, though the latter remark sounds like very false praise, for after all jazz, music pails, and il is a ease of having too much of a good thing, lint if was reieived very popularly on Saturday night, which leads one to remark in <om lusieu that after all. tastes do differ. FINAL I’lfOlM ( TIO.X TiiMCHI. “SUNDAY’’- CO.MKDY AND IIMA.MA “.Sunday", which will he played tonight (.Monday’) has for its central figure a young orphan girl brought up from babyhood by four stalwart miners, who “eddieale" her in their own rough way. A Snake in the grass" (Arthur Mriiithorpe) lories his way into the camp with the object of ruining Sunday. hut lie is shot dead by one of the “I’oys." The shadow falls later on when Sunday goes to visit English relatives and falls in love with the dead man’s brother. In these circumstamcs she ‘renounces love and returns lo the mining camp. However, everything works out happily in the end. Miss Nellie Hramley gives a memorable portraiture of the loving, lovable, untutored girl wrapt up in her guardians, and she skilfully eon trusts the moods in which the adventures of life had her. handling the emotional side with deep sincerity and ability. Ihe “boy.*; Towser. Jaeky, Dane and old Lively are delightful studies in charm ter. and the comedy is appealingly emphasised. “Sunday" should prove a filling fiend off to this elevei- Company. The Rix plaits are nn i iew at Mist M- Into -i’s sweet store.

EVERYBODYS PICTURES. IVOIT.f E STAR -WEDNESDAY. On Wednesday a s| eci.d double star holiday programme will be presented ill the l’rini OSS Theatre headed bv Tom Mix ill “Soft Moiled", a five reel comedy drama, produced at ihe "William Fox studios. Starling out for what he is, a cow puncher. Mix finally has to land a job. He heeames a shoe 'lerk. hut not until he discards the garments ~f the ranch and dons bell h-Homed trousers. spats and horn-rimmed goggles. It is a new 'Pom Mix' who steps into view then and the nudiemo shoaled. Laughs come in quick succession. Mix at tempts to fit shoes on a young lady. They dun t slip " n just, right so uncoils imi-ly he resorts to 1 1 is familiar method in shoeing, a horse and tries to drive them on with Plows from a slim- horn. Eventually he is permitted to return to his character and typical Mix action results. Tony his noted horse, is in the cast. Millie Move plays the leading feminine role and a gwrul supporting vast makes the pict live entirely worth -while. It, is so different that the audience instinctively awaits its action and when that comes satisfaction is assured. The second big feature on Wednesday is a United Artists’ special in six big reels entitled “Baddy the Next Most Thing’ and starving Mao Marsh in the leading On Thursday next the long looked lor picture “Hurtling Sands” a Paramount produet ion starring Maml a Haw lev. Milton Sills. Mohert Cain, Jacqueline Logan. Will he presented... It is a man’s answer to “The Sheik.