ENTERTAINMENTS.

Taranaki Daily News, 27 January 1922, Page 2

ENTERTAINMENTS.

THE PEOPLE’S. LAST NIGHT OF “LITTLE SHEPHERD OF KINGDOM COME.” The chivalry of southern gentlemen, the sturdy texture of Kentucky women, the wholesome, hardy character of its mountain folk, the thrill of pre-war days of ’6l, supply the atmosphere for Jack Pickford’s first Goldwyn production, “The Little Shepherd of Kingdom Come.” As the mountain lad whose sturdy character and sunshiny charm attract the attention and friendship of those whom he meets, Jack Pickford is unusually interesting. This is conceded to be John Fox junr.’s best book, and no one who has read the book should miss the treat of seeing it pictureised. The bill includes a big two-reel comedy, gazettes, and “The Fatal Sign,” Selznick’s mystery detective serial. TO-MORROW AND MONDAY. VERA GORDON IN “THE GREATEST WVE.” Vera Gordon is a living argument on the side of those who contend that, in order to portray a thing or an "'emotion, an actor must have experienced it. Without taking either side of the argument, this fact is simply stated in order to bring it to the attention of people who champion this theory/: and to present the case of Vera Gordon, who is starred in the Selznick De 1 ' Luxe attraction, “The Greatest Love,” which will be the big f.eature attraction at the People’s Theatre commencing at the matinee to-morrow at 2 p.m. Miss Gordon says, looking back on her life, that it seems to Jier that shd can’t remember when she was not a mother. Of course, this is an exaggeration, yet the fact is when she came to' this country from her native Russia, she brought her first baby with her, and at that fime she was not yet 18 years old. Miss Gordon has always whntdd* to be an -actress, and she has worked as few people ever worked to achieye )i(er ambition, but she says her love dffi- her ! home comes first, the stage comes second. Her role of Mrs. Latini in >‘The Greatest Love” is the strongest part she has ever had, and, indeed, it would be difficult to imagine an author creating a character for which Vera Gordon is more ideally fitted, both by training, appearance, and personality. The bill includes gazettes, Flynn detective, comedy, and “Branded Four” No. 10. Box plans at Collier’s. EVERYBODY’S. NAT GOULD’S “A DEAD CERTAINTY.” “A Dead Certainty,” the starring attraction at Everybody’s Theatre tonight, is a pictureisation of the popular racing novel of the same name by Nat Gould. Co-starred in this popular feature are Gregory Scott and Poppy Wyndham, and Cameron Carr, all of Broadwest fame. The picture has the element of “the sport of kings” set in an unmistakable atmosphere of English aristocracy. The acting of the three stars is well carried out. Cameron Canas the scheming'old uncle, is seen in a role which is by no means conventional melo-drama. Gregory Scott is the hero, a man of honor, who refuses to become a party to the “crooked” scheming of the old uncle. Poppy Wyndham is in the charming role of the niece whose fortune the uncle is trying to secure. All told, the picture is one that furnishes vast entertainment for those who can appreciate true melodrama. The bill includes gazette, comedy, and “The Lost City.” The matinee to-morrow -commences at 2 p.m.

‘OLD MOTHER HUBBARD” PANTO MIME.

“Kiss a Miss” and “The Bamboo Tree,” two pretty duets by the principal boy and girl in “Old Mother Hubbard” pantomime, to be staged at the Empire Theatre on Monday and Tuesday, January 30 and 31, should become very popular. At present, they are being whistled and sung all over Auckland by thousands of people who visited the show during the big run of 22 consecutive performances. Other pretty numbers that have proved very popular are “Saucy Girlie,” sung by Sally Horner, “Girls, Girls, Girls,” by Robin, “In the Sea,” by Bluebell and a bevy of pretty girls in bathing costumes, “Allee Samee,” by Robin and girls, “The. Tin Soldier,” by Archibald, and “The Navy,” by Miss Lulla Fanni • < and chorus of ladies dressed ns sailors. Besides these songs of the lighter order, Miss Ethel Osborn, from the N.S.W. Conservatoriurn, is to sing “The Pipes of Pan,” “The Nightingale’ Trill,” and “The Last Rose of Summer.” This young lady has one of the finest lyric >prano voices ever heard in. New Zealand, and residents of the country towns may consider themselves extremely lijjcky in having an artist of the calibre of Miss Osborn brought right to their doors. Although singing occupies a fair portion of thf programme, there is ample room for some very clever dancing and excellent specialities. The scepery is very beautiful, and includes a striking transformation scene depicting spring, summer, autumn, and winter, while the dressing is by the Maseottes, Sydney — a sufficient guarantee of its excellence. The whole pantomime is on a most lavish scale, nothing having been left undone in the endeavor to give patrons the very best. The box plan is at Collier’s. The children are to be specially catered for by matinees each day. at which they are to be admitted at nominal charges.