AMUSEMENTS.

Wairarapa Age, 7 March 1927, Page 6

AMUSEMENTS.

MISS PHYLLIS LETT.

Miss Phyllis Lett, the great English contralto, who comes to Masterton to-morrow night, made her first appearance in. New Zealand at the Town Hall, Wellington, on Saturday, February 5, and created an enormous sensation, not only with her beautiful singing but with her charming personality and gracious presence. The “Dominion” critic in his review of the concert,wrote: “Miss Phyllis Lett is one of the very few contraltos heard in recent years whose singing makes an indelible impression upon the memory. Miss Lett has the true contralto voice, deep pitched, and as round and mellow in tone as a well played ’cello—sonorous and vibrant on top and of fine breadth in those tragic notices well below the stave; and, big though the voice is when it is exerted, Miss Lett can with no effort at all sing with airy lightness and charm, when the theme and nature of the song demands such treatment. She comes to New Zealand with a good reputation from the land of her birth, where she achieved high honours in severe tests, and in her work, not only as a singer, but as an interpreter of great lyrics, she exerted a spell on her audience that reached its climax at the end of the programme, when the applause was so insistent and hearty that she had to sing four encords before she was permitted to depart in peace.” Miss Lett will give one concert in Mastcrton in the Opera House to-morrow night. Box plans at Arts and Crafts. Special concession to students and members of societies. OPERA HOUSE. Showing finally to-night are “The Arizona Sweepstakes” and a “Trip to Chinatown. Into “The Arizona Sweepstakes” has bene woven an appealing love story of a cowboy and a girl pieced out here and there with lively bits of comedy. The big thrill of the play comes in the cross-country horse race in which Hoot Gibson gives another masterly exhibition of horsemanship. There is nothing soft about this race, no beautifully kept track with grandstands filled with cheering thousands. It is a mad, whirling race of a dozen or more cowpunchers on galloping horses, the course leading along level plain, *up and down hill or over ditch, fence and hedge. An excellent cast is in support of Hoot Gibson. The other star item is Earle Fox in “A Trip to Chinatown.” Much of the action is laid in San Francisco’s romantic Chinatown, reproduced with the utmost fidelity, and many of the interiors are gorgeous in the extreme. , It is said to be the most costly fivereel comedy ever Thousands cf extras were necessary for the revelry scenes in Chinatown. Critics have pronounced this the best comedy released in recent years. Also the final chapter of “The Radio Detective.” Book at Henderson’s or theatre 1048 after 6.45. COSY THEATRE. “The Flaming Youth” is more elaborately presented than the customary Curwood tale and Reginald Barker’s flare for vivid out door tales gives this a more interesting and realistic atmosphere than is generally the rule. The coloured views of the mounted, battalion are lovely. The cast, too, is above the ordinary. Renee Adoree is the beloved Jeanne-Marie. Her parents are killed, when the renegade Indian Lagarre raids the village. Lagarre the people to quittheir homes and procontinues his attacks and finally forces perty while he moves his forces in. At this time the mounted police force is being organised and iij the detachment that comes to the village is Sergeant David Carrigan. They arrive in time to drive off Lagarre and his men but .only temporarily. David falls in love with Jeanne-Marie. Her brother, Roger, a sort of weakling, kills two of Lagarre’s men but the “justice for all” order forces David to arrest Roger. Jeanne Marie vows her hate for David. Lagarre leads as Indian attack upon the hamlet and a terrific battle is waged. Lagarre kidnaps Marie and Rogen loses his life trying to save her. David races through a blazing forest to her rescue and eventually the insurrection is quelled and David and Jeanne-Marie are happy. A big supporting bill. Reserves at Henderson ’s.