ENTERTAINMENTS.

Ashburton Guardian, Volume XLV, Issue 10168, 25 July 1924, Page 2

ENTERTAINMENTS.

K JS MAJESTY’S THEATRE. “PONJOLA.” After a series of successes in other towns “Ponjola” will charm audiences at His Majesty’s Theatre to-night, at to-morrow’s matinee and again at ni°'ht. • A screen adaptation of the hook written by Cynthia Stockley, so popular for her novels dealing with South Africa, this attraction centres around Lundi Duro, who is doing his utmost to drink a. magnificent physique to destruction in as short a time as permits. The long arm of coincidence brings him into contact with a former acquaintance, who has cast aside her sex, donned the garments and acquired the manners of a man in an endeavour to forget a scandal into which ishe had been unwittingly drawn. Being a woman of grit she discards her own sorrows in a sincere desire to help others in need, and after a series of events requiring the utmost pluck and endurance, womanhood asserts itself and she is essentially feminine when love knocks at her heart. Anna Q. Nillson achieves a well-merited triumph in her interpretation of the difficult role of Desmond, a delicately natured woman adopting a garb of a man. Her acting leaves nothing to be desired, and indeed so perfect is the illusion that one quite forgets that the character is that of a woman. James Kirkwood as Lundi Duro, a mining engineer and victim of the native whisky, ponjola, gives a finished rendering of that man bent for destruction by way of another woman’s falsity.

“THE STEEL TRAIL”—SERIAL. It takes careful driving to wreck a car properly. This is the sad truth discovered by William Duncan and Edith Johnson, when, during the filming of the first episode of “The Steel Trail, the new Universal chapter-play to be shown at His Maesty’s Theatre tomorrow afternoon and again at night, they had to wreck two automobiles before the thrilling climax was “shot” to the director-star’s satisfaction. In the scene the car is supposed to leap from a cliff into the water below, with Miss Johnson in it. The car is unguided when it leaps, the final touch to the steering-wheel being given some moments before; in other words, the car runs fully 50 yards by itself. ‘“The Steel Trail” is said to be a thrilling story of railroad building, crammed with exciting features. Duncan is cast as the fighting chief engineer of the road, and a large cast of standard picture players surrounds him in the swift-moving tale.

HAKATERE LODGE BALL. A splendid array of fancy-dress costumes was to be seen at the Hakatere Lodge’s ball last night. The Orange Hall was crowded with dancers, about 80 couples being present. A novel and quite pleasing note was struck in the scheme of' decoration, which took the form of greenery, while at the top end of,, the hall two flourishing cabbage palms stood out in relief. The floor was in its usual good condition, and the other appointments were carried out in an accommodating manner. Mrs B. Cowan secured first prize with “Mother Goose,” which costume was splendidly done. The men’s prize went to Mr H. Hill (“Diogenes”). There was quite a display of originality in the fancy costumes worn. For the most original ladies’ dress Miss M. Armstrong’s “Advance Ashburton Association” secured the honours. The back of the costume depicted the state of the East Street reserves in 1922, with ricketty fences and motor-cars parked indiscriminately; vfliile the Utfpto showed the new and improved order of things, with sketches of some of the leading men responsible for tho alterations. The men’s prize in this department was won by Mr R. Gluyas (“Departed Spirits”). Dancing was kept up till an early hour, to music supplied by the Ashburton Ballroom Orchestra. Messrs J. B. Osborne and G. Maxwell were M.C.’s.

ST. STEPHEN’S PARISH SOCIAL.

The vestrymen of St. Stephen’s Church made adequate arrangements for the social and dance held under their auspices last night in the schoolroom. Tne hall was crowded. Prizes for the euchre tournament, which occupied the early part of the evening, were won by Miss J. Service and Mr T. Millar, while the consolation awards went to Miss Fooks and Mr G. H. Nicoll. Mr T. Millar was M.C. for the subsequent dance. During the evening Mr C. Purdy sang, and Mr T. Mulligan, of Oamaru, gave some humorous monologues.