ENTERTAINMENTS.

Taranaki Daily News, 25 October 1920, Page 2

ENTERTAINMENTS.

THE PEOPLE'S. "SALOME" TO-MORROW AND

"Salome," with Theda Bara as the not- j orious ward of Herod, celebrated in song and story, will begin an engagement ex- j traordinary at the People's Theatre tomorrow. General attention was first dir- i ected to this scriptural siren, as transplanted to the stage, when Richard , Strauss' grand opera of that name, with Mary Garden in the title role, was banned at the Metropolitan House after its first performance. Naturally, tlie famous Dance of the Seven Veils, which cost John the Baptist his head, swings to a crescendo of dramatic intensity this "vivid story of an age of ■uncontrolled passions. So it ia that, even while the spectator admires the grace and daring of the dancer, his blood fairly runs cold at the realisation of the deadly game she is play- | ing. "Salome," as impersonated by Theda Bara, is probably the most sinister yet fascinating figure from the blood-, stained pages of Biblical history that has' ever been tlirown on the screen. It should be seen by every lover of the cinematographic art, and those who would estimate from the milestones of ' the pagt what progress towards civilisation the human race has made in the last 2000 years. The box plans are at Hoffmann's. Prices are: Circle 2s, stalls Is lid, plus tax. Booking fid extra.

LAST NIGHT OP "THE BROKEN MELODY." Possibly no male star of the screen has readied a higher plane of success in so short a time as has Eugene O'Brien. He was for some time leading' man in support of the most famous female stars, and it was these many and splendid performances that marked him out 11. worthy to star in his own right. In his initial "Selznick" success, "The Broken Melody," is a picture which has been described by the leading critics as "a dramatic triumph." Love, romance, adventure, sorrow, despair, the ups and downs of life, sunlight and shadow, poverty and riches, are all in this absorbing story, which has been prepared with all the care and artistic precision' that is so important a part of ahigh-elass production The bill includes a gazette, comedy, and "The Great Gamble," No. 5.

EVERYBODY'S. "A ROMANY LASS" TO-NIGHT. British pictures have been steadily improving during the present year until the mountings and photography have reached the same standard of excellence as the best American pictures. However, W added attraction of the allBritish film, and one that is causing its present wave of popularity over the whole world, is the unspoilt freedom and naturalness of the English players. This freedom from the American exaggeration and posing was never more clearly pronounced than in "A Romany Lass," a Harma feature which shows at Everybody's to-night and to-morrow. Scotsmen particularly will delight in the latest 'Hama production, a gipsy story with the scenes all laid in the heart of Scotland. The atmosphere is charged with the scent of the purple heather in bloom, and the freedom and romance of the Romany's life. Few will fail to feel tlie charm of this vivid story of the love of a gipsy princess for a colonel's son, who was a coward till he regained his manhood through the strength of his love. Technically, tlfe film is without a flaw. The cast includes Charles Rock, who will be remembered as "Ole Bill" in ''The Better 'Ole," Marjoye Villis, and James Knight. There is an exceptionally fine supporting programme, as a glance at the advertisement In to-day's issue will show.

DRAMATIC ENTERTAINMENT. j The dramatic entertainment and con- 1 cert in the Workers' Hall on Wednesday and Thursday promises to be most enjoyable. Miss Constance Reilly and Mr. Norman Day will provide the musical part of the entertainment, and Gertrude Jennings' sparkling comedy will be produced by Mrs. C. H. Weßton, the others taking part being Miss D, Bedford and Messrs A. .Smith, Hartman, and Etherington. All the performers are showing the keenest interest in their work, so that the production promises to be thoroughly up to standard, and will naturally be looked forward to with a great deal of interest. The. proceeds are to go to the fund for the girls' hostel.