EDNA THOMAS

Hokitika Guardian, 20 May 1925, Page 1

EDNA THOMAS

TU-XIGIIT, A GREAT TREAT. Something quite out of the ordinary in lho way of musical entertainment is provided by the vi'it to Hokitika tu-nig!n. of .Miss Edna Thomas. There is something so irresistibly fuscinati>i«£ ahoiit negro 11 io!otliii.'s that they never fail to make an appeal. Though Mi" Tliomas lias a repertoire of plan-

fat ion -mips, her programmes are made up for the most pail of soups and melodies more I hail a hundred vein's’ old. They were sung in the

old slave days ami have never hoeii published.

The reason why Miss Thomas is aide to give these soups with such great success is that she was horn and educiilcd in New Orleans In ihe Southern States. She was brought up amonp-l the negroes and negresses and had learned to sing their soups when quite ii child. Her nurse or ".Mammy," as she is called in America, used to sinp the live-lotip day. Nothing can stop

a neprii from sin- ing, and -o MiThomas naturally pn-w Up the smu way. And it is with these little nepr soups that she has seared her great

Reside:. having appeared in every

Am rie.in town from coast to coast Mi'S Thomas has seoi-ed print Sacco's es in London. It v. a ■ from the Eng li-h capital that, she was engaged Ii lour Australia Li-, year. She lias a.ls tun 1 on 1 lie font Incut. and a I Ih,

conclusion of her present tour of New Zealand and Australia she hopes to make a trip through South Africa. She will then, have piven concerts in every Anglo-Saxon country in the world.

Miss Thomas opens at the Princess Theatre this (Wednesday) eveuinp. In association with the lady from Louisiana are l,n< ih Lawrence, harpist and Constance Piper, pianistc The hex plan is al Miss Mclntosh's.

Tho Grey “Argus” in tho course of a lintleriup reference to tlie. performance in the Opera House. (Ireynumth last evening says: Miss Thomas is an artist none can afford to miss hearinp.

berate,- slie interpret.', a strange transitional period of a primitive people adapting themselves slowly and painfully to Kuropet'.it civilstttutu. Few of her like will e\'-r lie heard in (ho future. Her M'cmnptiuists. Misses l.itci lie Lawrence (harpist) and Const ar.ee Liner (pianist) are both elegant artists also, and their plavinp of “KCiitiaky Home." the melody being taken by each in turn was very heauiifu! and loudly applauded. Miss Law nin e is a master of her instrument. while Mi-s Piper Inis the art I hat loticeals nri. being never oh-tru-

si re and never wanting. It is safe to say lhut the performances last evening were all so papular and so beautiful that a bumper home on the next appearance of Miss Thomas at Greynnllll It is assured,

SVEKYBODYS PICTURES

DOROTHY VERNON OF HAD DON lIAI.L THURSDAY. Without exception the un miters ol the east of Alary Bickford's new and latest photoplay for baited Arti'U, Corporation “Dorothy Vernon of Haddott 11 :i 11. ” which will he shown at- the Princess Theatre on Thursday, constitutes an even greater aggregation of stage, and screen slats than any list of players that ever supported Iter in any ol her previous offerings. .Miss .Pule ford in the role of Dorothy Vernon is again the grown young woman. This character, however, i.s wholly diH’eivut from that of tho little street singer ro exquisitely portrayed in ‘‘lioxiia’’ the picture in which Miss Picklord first assumed a grown-up role. The part ttf .Sir .lullit Manners is played hy Allan Forrest, wlm rceonll.v worked :it .luckie (slogan's “In the Palace of the King." Anders Kamloll, who a.;.pearill “The Plight .'shawl." takes the pari of Sir Gorge Vernon, and Mare McDermott. well know ti on stage and screen, makes an iidniirahle Sir,Malcolm Vernon cousin of Dorothy, to whom she has keen hetrot lied against her will. Queen Elizabeth is interpreted liy (lare Emms. well known it) l;oth this country and Furope lor her brilliant work as England's famous queen. Lsielle Taylor, popular screen star now married in .lack Dempsey, who has just finished with (Veil De Mill,, in “The Ten Commandments.” was che.se ll as Queen Mary. Mine. Carrie Datimcrv, widow ~f Hie famous violinist, Ysave. has the part ol Lady Vernon, mother of Sir Malcolm, and Lonl Burley. Counsellor to Queen Kliza|,."t!i. is ahly handled hy F.rie ALiyne.

\v|m did notable wo 1 1: in “Simaim.i and -‘The Eight tliilt Failed.“ Clitic l’ii kl'oi-d Forrest sister of the star, mid who has not lioon seen on (lie screen for more than two years, is < ast as Jenny Fax ton, maid and eoniidanto of I Inrniliy Vernon. and the part of Perkins, servant and retainer of Sir John Manners, is played liy Malcolm Waite. Tn the role of the Karl of Ti nt land is Wilfred I.liras, while Courtenay Foote portrays the Karl of Leicester. Each of these tun players has had extensive ex] Kiri-