ENTERTAINMENTS.

Taranaki Daily News, 21 August 1922, Page 2

ENTERTAINMENTS.

EVERYBODY’S. RICHARD BARTHELMESS IN “TOL’ABLE DAVID.” How love and adoration on th© part of a carefree mountain youth for his big brother lifts him from boyhood to manhood in a single day and causes him to scale insurmountable heights oh -behalf of his brother is the story which Richard Barthel Mess portrays to the public in “Tol’able David,” which is to be shown at Everybody’s to-night and tomorrow. The play, replete with thrilling adventures staged in the mountains of Virginia, is full also of heart thrills wound around simple family life. Mr. Barthelmess, as David, reaches the hearts of his audience through his appeal for sympathy for the ideals of the romantic country iboy, and he thrills them with revelations of indomitable courage and tenacity of purpose at the risk of his own life in defending these ideals. Richard Barthelmess, whose wonderful portrayal in “Way DoWn East” marked him as one of the screen’s foremost stars, has in this picture the finest role of his career. The management announce that this big special feature is screening at usual prices. THE PEOPLE’S. LAST NIGHT OF “REPORTED MISSING.” ' Owen Moore proved himself one of the most entertaining of screen comedians when he burst in upon a packed house at the People’s on Saturday night in the Selznick melodramatic masterpiece. “Reported Missing.” In “Reported Missing” he has one of those melodramatic farces that are never wholly melodrama nor farce, but a happy melange of both. The pictfire whirls with incident," with escapes—absurd arid otherwise-—with rush and push and vigor and vim. There are moments when everybody ie racing after everybody else, revolving, circumnavigating and generally rough-housing. Why? There’s a reason. But “Reported Missing” needs no more criticism than does the most nimble of comedies. It talks for itself and it talks loudly; it skulks in no silence, and it is irresistible; there are no custard pies and no lemon meringues; there are, moreover, admirable subtleties, filled with mirth. The heroine was not too frightfully pretty, but just comely enough. In a word, don’t be “reported missing” from the final screening at the People’s to-night. THE EMPIRE. “MAID OF THE MOUNTAINS.” The world’s record-breaking comic opera, “The Maid .of the Mountains,” is announced to be staged at the Empire Theatre on Saturday and Monday next, 26th and 28th inst. The production is said to be the most complete theatrical offering ever submitted to local playgoers; a full Company, together with chorus and orchestra, are features' Of the initial tour. Special attention has been paid to the scenic and lighting effects, and several novelties, in stagecraft all go towards the success the performance. “The Maid of the rsfquntains’” position as the mopt opera of the day cannot hq.-queßtißnqa.; it ran four years at Daly’s Theatre, London, and its opening season in Australia created fresh records by running six months in the Theatre Royal, Melbourne. A new company will appear in the present production with Miss Florence Lusk as Teresa (the maid) and the English comedians, Mr. Percy ton and Mr. Phi] Hewstead. as General Malona and Tonio respectively. The Ibox plans will be opened at Collier’s on Thursday morning, when heavy bookings may be anticipated for this popular opera.

EMPIRE THEATRE TUESDAY AND WEDNESDAY. - “THE PRINCESS OF POPPYLAND.” At the Empire Theatre to-morrow night and Wednesday will be staged C. King Proctor’s operetta, “The Princess of Poppyland.” This operetta is by the same composer as “Princess Chrysanthemum,” which was staged here some years ago, and proved so popular. Brightness is the keynote of the whole entertainment. The stage shows scenes of Poppyland, while both principals and chorus are attired in costumes suitable to their parts. An orchestra, of ten instruments will play the introductions to the acts, and also accompany the chorus throughout. The mu£ic Will ibe found particularly bright, especially in the chorus parts. There are several fine solo parts, one of the best being “Dreamland” in the third act. Humorous dialogue is introduced throughout by the Court Chamberlain Fizzletop and by the Hon. Dozey, a sleepy member of the Court, who also gives a , song, “Beautiful Bed,” in keeping with his part. The last act closes with a gipsy* song and dance, and a national scene with representatives of various nations in national costume. HIAWATHA. A very attractive programme for the recital of “Hiawatha” has been arranged for to-night at the Empire, and there is no doubt that the theatreloving people in New Plymouth will thoroughly enjoy this glimpse into the life of the red man. The elocutionary portion of the programme is under the management of an extremely clever and capable lady, and the beautiful story is told naturally and effectively; The story opens with the “Childhood of Hiawatha,” and after dealing vdith the mystic manner of his birth, goes on to describe how he became so skilled in all the arts of hunting, etc. After the ‘'wooing,” which tells of Hiawatha meeting and loving the wayward Minnehaha, the "wedding takes place. In this episode Miss Mamie Ellis, Paupaukeewis, will render one of her delightful original dances, and Mr. Fredric will airg Coleridge Taylor’s magnificent “Onaway, Awake Beloved.” The “famine” comes next, in direct contrast to the brightness of the wedding feast, but the beautiful language of this episode, the wonderful depth of sadness which Longfellow has infused into the lines, make it something'to be ever remembered by all lovers of the beautiful. From the famine we pass on to “Hiawatha’s departure,” which deals with the coming of the white man, and describes how Hiawatha sails away for eVer in the “Purple Mists of Evening” to the “Portals of the Sunset.” Mrs. F. Boyle, who is well known as a performer of the highest merit, will sing “The Winds are Calling” and “Sometimes in Summer, and Miss Ivy Campbell, who is also a very promising young singer, will be heard in “The Magic Month of May.’ The box plan for the one night is now open at Collier’s, so those intending to book ««ats arte urged to do so at once. »