ENTERTAINMENTS.

Taranaki Daily News, 14 October 1921, Page 7

ENTERTAINMENTS.

EVERYBODY’S. ALICE JOYCE IN “THE PREY.” Tn “The Prey,” an Alice Joyce special production, unusual opportunities are offered the. popular star >to utilise her talent, her charm, her fascinating faculty of expressing emotions in graphic manner, to the greatest possible advantage. In the course of the emotional picture story Helen Reardon is forced by circumstances to realise that either her idolised father or her beloved fiancee is a person unworthy of respect; to feel that her lover is grossly ungrateful; to learn that her brother is in disgrace and danger of prison; to consent to a marriage exceedingly distasteful to her; to be filled with loathing for her licentious husband; to learn of her father’s tragic death; to discover, seemingly too late, that her true lover’s devotion to her had led him to permit her to. misjudge him; and in the end she finds happiness after all. As Helen Reardon, the prey, Alice Joyce runs the gamut of emotions, making the play one of the most notable productions of its type. The bill includes gazettes, travel, and comedy. The matinee to-morrow commences at 2 p.m. THE PEOPLE’S. LAST NIGHT OF VIOLA DANA. Finished to the last touch, asparkle with brilliant character play, uproarious with fun—such are the slight adumbrations to describe one’s impression of Viola Dana in “The Offshore Pirate,” the Metro special production which concludes to-night at the People’s. The bill includes “Diamond Queen,” gazettes, and comedy. For the matinee to-morrow, commencing at 2 p.xn., the management announce a special kiddie’s programme, consisting of comedies, cartoons, gazettes, and “The Moonriders.” The big feature fWar Brides,” shows evenings only. NAZIMOVA TO-MORROW NIGHT. “IN WAR. BRIDES.” “War Brides!” What a world of significance in the title oft applied to many thousands of young Australian girls; and now the name under which the great Nazimova’s latest picture will be screened. It is not a drama of war, but of war’s ultimate effect upon the girls, who, in the excitement of strife, become brides of men who never return to claim them, leaving thousands of “War Brides” to suffer in an agony of silence. “War Brides!” Even the name attracts. There is a sort’ of fascination about the name that suggests the bearers of the term are helpless little creatures to be protected and cared for. Nazimova, in her picture portrayal of “War Brides,” the Selznick De Luxe attraction, shows them to be not weak—but women who know what they want, and strong enough to see that they get it. “War Brides,” despite its title, is not a war picture, but a drama of a woman who rebels against. the dictates of mankind in regard to the so-called weaker sex. This picture shows at the evening sessions only, on Saturday and Monday, a special programme having been procured for Saturday’s matinee. WEST END ENTERTAINMENT. The West End Blackbirds are now in good form for their important part in the entertainment which is to be given next Wednesday and Thursday in the Empire 'Theatre, in aid of the West End School funds. This bright band of entertainers have been very assiduous in their attendance at practices, and do credit to the coaching of Messrs. J. Lovell and T. Petty, who are pastmasters iff the art. The spectacular dances by the girls, who have been trained by Mr. J. Hoskin, are sure to prove popular items, particularly as special lighting effects are being arranged by Patterson and Co. The songs, sketches, recitations and pianoforte dates all go to make up a varied and attractive programme. Miss Rita Sole is pianist, so that the accompaniments are in good hands. The prices for admission are fixed on a popular basis, and to ensure a seat patrons should book at Collier’s, where the plan opens to-day.