ENTERTAINMENTS.

Taranaki Daily News, 20 November 1920, Page 7

ENTERTAINMENTS.

" THE PEOPLE'S. To-day's new bill, commencing at the matinee at 2, presents another Selznick masterpiece, "The Perfect Lover," starring Eugene O'Brien. The 9tory used as a basis for the Eugene O'Brien feature, "The Perfect Lover," is by the wellknown autlhor Leila Burton Wells. The production is one of unusual merit gauged from an artistic viewpoint, and is, if not the best, one of the best pictures that Director Ralph Ince has turned out. Eugene O'Brien's conception of the role of '',e artist whose boyhood was spent on dreams of painting beautiful things, but who, at the voice of flattery, falls across the slender line that separates the beautiful i>- life from filth and sensuality, i 3 a fine dramatic achievement. The bill includes gazette, two-reel comedy, Great Gamble No 9, "Through Iron Doors." Beginning on Tuesday, at the People's Theatre, William Farnum, the famous screen star, will be seen in the stirring Fox photo-drama of Texas border days, "The Last of the Duanes," from the story by Zane Grey. Mr. Farnum plays the role of Buck Duane who, forced to kill a man, becomes an outlaw—though not a desperado. His reclamation comes ultimately through a girl, when he becomes a member of the Texas Rangers and earns his pardon from the State by cleaning up a desperate band of outlaws. EVERYBODY'S All the exotic splendor of the tropics, that hot passion of the Latin's blood, the fierce love of a Spanish girl for her sweetheart, and the dashing courage of an American army officer, are shown in "Under the Yoke," the Theda Bara superproduction, which shows at Everybody's this afternoon, and finally to-night. The programme also includes a five-reel English feature, "Nature's Gentleman." The management have made a new departure for next week, when, in addition to the picture programme there will be a star speciality act, Flaneur and His Dogs. This is one of the cleverest vaudeville turns brought to the Dominion by Messrs. Fuller and Brennan, and it is having a remarkably successful tour through the provincial towns at present. The two dogs, "Mop" and "Prince," are said to be the very extreme limit in animal sagacity. Flaneur and the dogs show for four nights. THE EMPIRE. Pathetic touches that compel a gulp —irresistibly interesting episodes and native humor lifted from life in great generous chunks without a semblance of caricature or burlesque, is claimed to characterise Raymond Longford's 7-reel pieturisatlon of Steele Rudd's famous book, "On Our Selection," which' com* mences its local season at the Empire Theatre this afternoon, at 2 p.m. Clean, wholesome and absolutely human, the story is wholly absorbing and almost Dickensian in its blending of fun and pathos. Like "Mrs. Wiggs of the Cabbage Patch" the characters are true to type, quaint, queer products of the Australian bush without a semblance of earn cature or burlesque—ludicrous, yet lovable withall. The management state that this is the most expensive Australia production to date. > "THE MESSIAH." Handel's Sublime oratorio "The Messiah," will be sung in the Empire Theatre, New Plymouth, on Wednesday, December S, by a choir of about 100 voices, and excellent principal soloists from Wellington, Auckland and Hawke's Bay, under the direction of Mr. R. Laurie Cooper. The committee lias been fortunate in obtaining the services of four most accomplished and experienced artists to sing the solo parts. Miss Teresa McEnroe, who was so enthusiastically received on the occasion of her recent visit to New Plymouth, is the soprano soloist. Mis 3 McEnroe has sung this pait for the Wellington Choral Union, and the opinions of her work expressed by critics have been of the very highest character. The contralto solos have been entrusted to Mrs. Basham, who is always a favorite with New Plymouth audiences. Her exposition of oratorio solos is always sound and characterised by deep religious fervour, evoking the warmest eulogiums from the most critical. Mr. Hubert Carter, Auckland's leading tenor, will make his first appearance in New •Plymouth on this occasion. He has sung this work and others for musical societies in his own city and in Wellington, and is everywhere received with the greatest enflhug'iasm. The bass solos are in the hands of Mr. Frank Charles, of Wellington, one of the foremost singers in the Dominion at the present time. Mr. Charles has received unstinted praise for his singing of this particular work, and his engagement to sing at New Plymouth should be a matter of great satisfaction to all interested. The box plan will open at Collier's on Saturday next. LEATHAM-SYMONS RECITALS. The appearance of Miss Constance Leatham and Miss Ava Symons in a pianoforte and violin recital in the Empire Theatre on Tuesday, November 30, is being eagerly looked forward to by New Plymouth music lovers, who realise that a rare treat in store when these two talented young ladies combine in presenting some of the finest compositions from the pens of the great masters, for their respective instruments. Miss Leatham is already well-known to the New Plymouth public who hold her in the very highest esteem for Iter work's sake. Miss Ava Symons since her return from further studies in London, has been creating something of a sensation wherever she has appeared. Her tone has developed enormously, and her captivating stage presence gives sin added charm to her appearance. ■ Reserved seats may be booked at Collier's on Wednesday next.