ENTERTAINMENTS.

Taranaki Daily News, 27 November 1926, Page 5

ENTERTAINMENTS.

EVERYBODY’S THEATRE. COLLHEN -MOORE AS CINDERELLA. “Ella Cinders” is the story of a kitchen slavey who graduates through a beauty evntest to finally reign as a ■brilliant and beautiful movie star. None but Colleen -Moore w'ould be eligible for such a role, and she invests it with a light, airy comedy and her own inimitable paixius so as to make the entire picture wholly irrestible. Her portrayal of the raw and simpering movie recuit is delicious; but when the Cinderella bursts into the front rank of stardom, her work becomes more difficult. She carries is over with eclat, however, and. has the most generous share in the picture’s brilliant success. Lloyd Hughes is again her leading man, and with every successive production he becomes a more polished actor, a more precise exponent of moods. The supporting east includes many old favourites, “Ella Cinders” will bo screened twice more only, this afternoon and evening. A fine supporting programme is also shown and in conjunction with the British li'ed Cross Society a film entitled “Lest We Forget” which records a pilgrimage to the British war graves in France will be exhibited at both performances to-day.

THE PEOPLE’S THEATRE.

JOSEPH CONRAD’S ADVENTURE STORY.

And now a Conrad story on the screen. The brilliant works of Joseph Conrad are as widely read as those of the most popular modern authors and William Fox has selected the most romantic of this author’s wonderful writings to transfer to the screen. In “The Silver Treasure” all of the adventure, daring, reckless spirit and bravado of Conrad’s “Nostrom” are vividly depicted. In the colourful role of “Nostromo,” the central figure of the absorbing story, is George O’Brien, who, since his phenomenal success in “The Iron Horse,” has risen to spectacular histrionic heights. His smiling, buiyant personality dove-tails perfectly wiih the rich description Conrad gives the dauntless adventurer of the South American coast. In the leading roles opposite Mr. O’Brien are two of screcnland’s most beautiful daughters—Helen L’Algy and Joan Renee. Lou Tellegen is admirably cast as the villian, and Stewart Rome, the noted Britisher star makes his debut under the Fox banner. Included in an admirable supporting programme is the final eventful episode of “The Radio Detective."

THE OPERA HOUSE.

“WILD HORSE MESA."

Paramount’s eight-reel pieturisation of Zane Grey’s well-known novel “Wild Horse Mesa” is showing for the last time this evening at the Opera House. The picture is full of action and the cast headed by Jack Holt, Billie Dove atad Noah Beery, is well chosen. A comedy, travelogue and gazette together with a bright musical programme by the orchestra, complete an excellent evening’s entertainment. Reserves may be arranged at the Opera House (telephone 1164) this evening. Satisfying the public demand for feature comedies, the Christies of. Hollywood, in conjunction with Ideal Films, LtL, London secured the biggest prize the stage ever had to offer. It is “Charley’s Aunt” one -of the most successful farces ever written. With Syd. Chaplin in the title role and supported by a brilliant cast, “Charley’s Aunt” is said to be one of the high spots of motion picture comedy. The Opera House management have secured this laughing classic for a three-night season commencing Monday next. “Charley’s Aunt” from Brazil, where the nuts come from should prove very popular in picture form and it is anticipated the attendance will be large during the Opera House season, “THE UNFAIR SEX.” English stage successes visit New Zealand at intervals that are all too rare, and thus the advent of the New English Comedy Company, which will open its season at the Opera House on Friday next, will key the local theatre goers up to a pitch of great expectations. Mr. Joseph Cunningham, who has been responsible for the organisation of the company, has with him a number | of the most famous players of the preI sent generation, and in addition' has been able to secure the rights of some of the great works of recent years. The production “The Unfair Sex,” by Eric Hudson, is a brilliant example of the type of new comedy that is creating greater interest thau any other type of modern play. It is a happy combination of farce and satire. “There is no doubt,” says the Evening Post, Wellington, that the New English Comedy Company has fast attained the popularity it deserves. It is a rattling good company, each and every artist a star in his or her own particular line. Eric Hudson’s clever comedy, with its witty dialogue, complications of action, its pretty tracking and its reference to’ such debatable subjects as the birth rate, divorce, and philandering between married couples could easily be made farcial, but in the hands of these clever players it is purely good comedy. Miss Zilla Bateman, a charming blonde, is oiitstanding in the role of the youno wife, and Mr. Campbell as the husband also does some very line work. Mr. Norman Carter, and ‘.Mr. Prank Bradlev are prominent in the east, and daintv Vera St. John is a modern flapper o'f no mean charms, suitably exhibited in modem fashion. The box plans for “The Unfair Sex” will open at Colliers on Wednesday morning, wheie patrotie can now reserve their seats. “ELIZA COMES TO STAY.” ’ The second production to be presented will be H. V. Edmand’s comedy in three acts, “Eliza Comes to Stay.” This delightful comedy-drama met with instant success when staged in London, and has, in fact, been' acclaimed the greatest of its kind since “Charley’s Aunt” caused the world to laugh. The dialogue, as well as the other “business,” which is such a material part of a comedy, all denote the touch of the master hand. Box plans , for the second production will also open on Wednesday morning at Collier’s. “HLAWATHA.” The final concert of the New Plymouth Choral Society for the 1926 season is announced for Wednesday. December 8, when the society will present

Coleridge-Taylor’s “Hiawatha” at the Opera House. Longfellow’s picturesque story is a familiar one, and ColeridgeTaylor has fully depicted the spirit of the poem in the music to which he has set the various scenes. The wedding feast, the death of Minnehaha, and Hiawatha’s departure are all portrayed in distinctive fashion and the work has been a most popular one with the members of the choir, as it is confidently anticipated it will be with the public. The names of the artists engaged provide a sufficient guarantee that the solo work will be equal to any yet presented by the society. Madame Winnie Fraser and Mr. A. B. Macdonald require no introduction to music-lovers in New Plymouth, while Mr. Harold Prescott, who has not previously sung here, is undoubtedly one of the leading tenors of the Dominion. A full orchestra will be a feature of the production, the plans for which will open at Collier’s on Monday, December 6.