ENTERTAINMENTS.

Taranaki Daily News, 9 May 1921, Page 7

ENTERTAINMENTS.

THE EMPIRE.

THE ENGLISH MASQUERADERS TO-NIGHT.

The Masqueraders, a costume comedy company, are to appear at the Empire to-night, and their work has been highly spoken of wherever they have appeared in New Zealand. Miss Clarite Norman, the possessor of a rich contralto voice, and a late member of the Gilbert and Sullivan Opera Company, will be associated with Captain Fairfax in his Maori numbers. Miss Gwen Lester, who comes from the same school as Mis Gertrude Johnson and Miss Strella Wilson, is forecasted to become one of Australia’s best sopranos. Messrs. Holme, Leslie, and Gordon are comedians of the Al type, who have won their laurels on the English stage, and bring rounds of applause by entirely different methods. Miss Wynpie Tee also has an English reputation, and will be making her first appearance in New Zealand. With a charming and bright personality, she has the happy knack of getting over the footlights. Miss Nellie Maguire and Miss Ethel Hartley are two young Australian comediennes who have made their way to the front quickly, and are sure to become firm favorites in this country. The box plans are now open at Collier’s. THE PEOPLE’S. LAST NIGHT OF GEORGE BEBAN. “An Alien,” screening finally to-night, is a story with a very strong moral lesson, telling of a man who sacrificed his dearest earthly possession for another. At the Christmastide all the world seems somehow to be drawn very close together—yet at the Christmastide also, the great gulf that separates the great multitude of the poor from their more fortunate brothers is opened widest—the bitter contrasts are emphasised more cruelly than ever. The bill includes- “ Smashing Barriers” and others. TOM. MIX TO-MORROW. Tom Mix is coming, not only in what is said to be his biggest production, but in a role which is a distinct departure from pure “stunt stuff.” William Fox will present him in “The Feud” tomorrow night at the People’s Theatre. The opening episode is laid in the Bluegrass region back in the days of hoopskirts and romance. A big “Sunshine” comedy will also appear on this bill, EVERYBODY’S. NORMA TALMADGE IN “THE BRANDED WOMAN.” Norma Talmadge is a fascinating figure in her latest feature, “The Branded Woman,” at Everybody’s, and is fully equal to the many demands made on her emotional ability in the stellar role. Excellence of production, a notable feature of all First National productions, characterises this picture, and in Percy Mannont, Miss Talmadge has discovered the ideal leading man. The young Australian has contracted to act as leading man for Norma Talmadge in several of her coming productions. The outstanding features of “The Branded Woman” are the personality and fine acting of Norma Talmadge. Her characterisation is one of contrasts; she does remarkable work. As the guileless young girl, fresh from refined college training and clean environment she is as sweet as an orchard breeze. “The Branded Woman” has plenty of dramatic fervour, and furnishes Norma Talmadge with some of those opportunities that seldom come to a star. Her acting throughout is a triumph of contrasts, ranging, as it does, through tribulation, fighting for a husband's and daughter’s love. The star is well endowed with histrionic abilities, and in her role of Ruth, she runs the gaunt of all the emotions, putting up a better showing than in any of previous successes. “The Branded Woman” has many scenes that will be memorable. “Dragon’s Net,” Gazette and comedy are alsd on the bill. t