ENTERTAINMENTS.

Taranaki Daily News, 8 December 1919, Page VIII

ENTERTAINMENTS.

"THE DIGGERS." A SPLENDID ENTERTAINMENT. One of the,, most remarkable features which stood out through all the trials and sufferings of the war was the wonderful spirit of the men, not bravado or recklessness, but just some subtle and undelinable trait in the character of every soldier which made him smile at tragedy, laugh at death, and enjoy himself under the most sickening conditions under which men have ever been compelled to live. And if you set out to examine the reason for this, it will not necessarily ]ead you into the murky depths of a psychological study, because you will find that the remarkable organisation for modern Avar provides entertainments and other recreations for soldiers with just as much exactitude as it supplies shells. The life behind the line in France aimed at cheering up the soldier. Under shell-fire there were

theatres ambitious enough to venture to produce pantomines (and they did remarkably well). Every division had its concert party, and from the thousands of soldiers it was not strange to find plenty of splendid talent. There were few divisions better placed In this respect than the New Zealanders, for their Pierrots ranked with the best concert parties in France, and they provided many a pleasant evening for many a weary soldier. Now that the ivar is over they have come home, but before disbanding they are touring New Zealand with the twofold object of showing the people how their boys were cheered up in the battle areas and with the idea of raising funds for their disabled comrades. They have already gathered a sum approaching £3OOO. On Saturday night the party—they have changed their name to "The Diggers," which gives them a thoroughly New Zealand war flavor—opened a season in New Plymouth at the Empire Theatre, and they received a fine reception. The theatre? was packed, and many could not obtain seats. The programme follows the lines of such combinations as The Dandies, and it is full of bright and tuneful music, clever dancing, and smart comedy. The singing is distinctly good and as the company has not long left London the programme is full of good things which we have not had in New Plymouth before. If there is anything lost by the absence of ladies in the troupe, it is quickly recovered as the programme proceeds by Mr. Stan. Lawson, whose impersonation of a girl is very clever. In fact raany find it difficult to believe he is not a girl, so artistic is his performance. He comes along early in the evening and in several bright, numbers Mr. Lawson soon becomes on genial terms with his audience. ■ Mr. Lastell Exton has a particularly fine tenor voice, and he and Mr. Frank Perkins, a pleasing baritone, won immediate favor. "Love, come from your Hiding Place," by Mr. Exton, was one of the gems of the evening. The male quartette, Messrs L. Exton, G. Proctor, F. Perkins and R. Simpson, gave several very fine items, their plantation melodies being especially good. The programme was liberally interspersed with humorous items -and sketches, and in these the principal performers are' Tano Fama, G. P. Hanna, Cyril Sccbell, and B. Simpson. Mr. Hanna's sketch, entitled "The Padre," was distinctly clever, and kept the audience in continuous merriment. His "sermon" should be listened to attentively, for it is full of good thoughts of a real "digger" nature. "Th e Leave Train" was a merry sketch. The "Jock" and "Old Bill" were clever characters, and the "Aussie" and his souvenir were splendid. It was just the sort of souvenir au "Aussie" might be expected to collect at any time, ft 'was a very nervous Hun! The burlesque sketch, Music Hall," was also very good. A picturesque touch was lent to the performance of Mr. Scobeli's elocutionary contribution, "The Shooting of Dan McGrew," a fine thing well handled, while further variety was provided by Mr. Hanna's lightening sketches. Altogether it was a thoroughly good evening's entertainment, and the audience was a very happy one. The orchestra of ten players, all "diggers" like the members of the company supplied incidental music of high quality and also played two selections. ' The programme will be repeated tonight, and there will be a cqmplete change to-morrow night.

EVERYBODY'S. "WHItVL OP LIFE" AND "THE JAZZ." A unique dramatic offering conies forward in "The Whirl of Life," now showing at Everybody's to-night and tomorrow. This is the real life story of Irene Vernon Castle and her husband, Captain Vernon Castle. She was the daughter of well-to-do parents, and her runaway match and its subsequent strange results are woven into a most tescmating romance. The couple, after their Parisian success, opened in New xork and were bitterly opposed by an opposition show company who stuck at Po villainy to prevent the dancing pair having a successful first night. Tho dancing scenes in the film are little short of marvellous, particularly those shown at Castles-by-the-Sea,» the luxurious dancing palace which the Castles built at the seaside in New York, and which became the rendezvous of all the Yankee capital's millionairedom. There is also shown a quaint and clever short film of the adventures of Egnert McWowse, who went to a "Jazz" dancing party to put down the evils which he imagined existed there. He thinks the Jazz is fiomething to drink, but soon gets undeceived Another adventure of "The Scarlet Runner is also showing. THE PEOPLE'S. "VENUS IN THE EAST."

The capital double bill at the People's, starring Bryant Washburn in •'Venus in the East" and pretty little Emmie Gorman in "The Little Mother," screens nnally to-night at the People's. The programme contains a wealth, of pleasing and delightful entertainment. TO-MOKROW'S BIG CHANGE. Douglas Fairbanks, the world renowned stunt actor and athlete, heads tomorrow's big bill in his latest red-blood-p • P t a * T , of the weßt ' "Arizona." Douglas Fairbanks aboard a broncho dashes up to the ranch house and .yells to a bunch of cow punchers, "Come on quick, we're going to fight!" "Fight who ?" "Who. hell! What diffcerace does it mtfu-? Come ow!" and away they go—a thunder of hoofa and a dust'cloud—Douglas Fairbanks and his Tery own army. That's a scene from "Arizona," a scene typical of this great stnge success now produced in the bis out doors where the story belongs. The latest from Mack Bennett's 1 oomedy successes is also on the Wily 89

well as "The Fighting Trail"—next episode. A special matinee on Thursday commences at 3.30. THE AUSTRALIAN TENOR'S SONG RECITALS. Mr. Frank Amoore, whose singing has caused a good deal of interest in the Taranaki district for the last couple of months, announces that his song recitals are coming to a close. Those of our readers who are interested in goa.l singing -should take this opportunity of hearing this artist in his final recitals. A press notice of Mr. Amoorc'ii recital at Waitara state?: "The programme submitted was very varied and the manner of his singing and the control of his voice was admirable. He showed to the best advantage in the dramatic rather than in the lyric, while his selections from the oratorios, and particularly from Handel, were finished performances. Throughout Mr. Amoore proved himself a singer perfectly trained." The Inglewood Record (Oct. 29) states: "Mr. Amoore possesses a splendid voice, and is without question the finest singer ever heard in Inglewood, and at the conclusion of each item he was rapturously applauded." Particulars concerning Mr. Amoore's recitals will be found on page one.