ENTERTAINMENTS.

Hauraki Plains Gazette, Volume XXXIII, Issue 4446, 28 July 1922, Page 2

ENTERTAINMENTS.

CENTRAL THEATRE PICTURES TO-NIGHT. “DESPERATE TRAILS. 9 Harry Carey at his best in one of the most dramatic screen stories of his career is the entertainment promised playgoers who see “Desperate Trails,’’ to be screened to-night. The story concerns a big-hearted westerner who believes that he loves a woman. A train is robbed and she tells nim her brother committed the crime To save him the hero take:; the blame and goes to prison. He there discovers that the robber is not the girl’s brother, but her lover, and returns to seek justice. In the swift climax he goes to the woman, who, with her two children, had been deserted by the man who robbed th.? train TO MORROW NIGHT. “ ISOBEL.” One of the most successful film dramas of; tlie day, “Isobel ; or the Trail’s End.” is the feature for tomorrow night. Adapted from a famous story by James Oliver Curwood and presented by a cast including House Peters and Jane Novak, this rugged romance of the Far North has; been the recipient of more praise by critics than any other production of the season; It is an epic of the North, being an artistic narration of the lomance between an honourable member ofl the Royal North-West Mounted Police and the faithful wife of the accused murderer he had sought for nearly two years. His love, however, was on an honourable sort, and the development of this affair is the fascinating high light of. the story. The photoplay is filled with exciting action, manly combats, and suspense. The plot oddly twists, but the denouement is logical and convincing. “THE SNAPSHOTS OF 1922.” QUALITY PERFORMERS.

The "Snapshots of 1922” played to a large and appreciative audience at the Central Theatre last evening, and again proved that they are aptly named. Each member ofl the company is indeed a quality performer. The entertainment presented by the Snapshots follows familiar lines, but there is a snap and a sparkle about the show that makes it very enjoyable, and there are one or two outstanding features, such as the “bloke’ 1 characterisations of; Mr. Leonard Nelson, that distinguish' the Snapshots from other costume comedy companies. Humour, bf course, predominates, but there is also some delightful singing, some gay dancing, and some clever sketches. The Snapshots certainly present a good tonic for these difficult t.’mes, and can be thoroughly commended to those seeking cheerful entertainment. Individually the members are 'talented in diverse ways, and in the concerted items they work together with the hapipest results. Mr. Leonard Nelson, the “dinkum” comedian, delighted the audience with some of those “Aussie bloke” characterisations which he does so winderfully well, and was recalled again and again. Indeed, so popular was he that he could have occupied the stage the whole evening. In “Dickin,” “Lor Blimy,” “Blimy. What Do You Know About That,” "The Labour Leadei,” and “You’re Drunk” Mr Nelson proved that he is not only a clever comedian, but a gifted cliaracter character, with great facial expression. He also sang a number of gay ditties of his own composition, including the popular “Wait Till You Get. Them Up In The Air.’’ Miss Hazel Fuller, the soprano of tlie party, has a voice of much sweetness and power, which was displayed to the fullest advantage in five operatic numbers “11 Bacio” and “Romanza,” and in the haunting “ Kiss a-Miss,” Mips Rose Fitzgerald, the contralto, also won popularity with “A Prayer” and "Annie Laurie.” Miss Beattie Wenban displayed a distinct gift for low comedy in “Buttercups ” and Miss Annette Lange danced gracefully and cleverly. Mr. Aneurin Morris is an unusually gifted tenor, with a cultured voice of good quality, excellent range and much power, and his 1 singing of “Little Mother o’ Mine” and the old favourite. “Sally Horner,” was one of the delights of the evening. Mr George Sharratt created much merriment with “Wild Women” and “The Bulgarian Bug” (a clever skit on a craze of the moment). Mr Os. Wenban, a pleasing light comedian, helped in the concerted numbers. A grand op?ra scena from “Cavalleria Rusticana” introduced the chorus "Who’s for t'.’e Road?” the soprano solo “Rnmanza,” a Polish* dance and the beautiful “Intermezzo,” and the company also presented a number of amusing sketches. A small, but capable orchestra, with Mr. Roy Brinsden as drummer, helped things albng.