ENTERTAINMENTS

Dominion, Volume 15, Issue 160, 1 April 1922, Page 12

ENTERTAINMENTS

MARIE TEMPEST SEASON. The very bright and charming comedy “Mr. Pirn Passes By” was presented in the Opera House >,for the last time in the present season by Miss Marie Tempest and the talented company associated with her. It is a play of much merit, and the members of the company have achieved quite notable success in the presentation of it: Miss Tempest has been very happy in the role of the clever little lady who so adroitly manages her very difficult husband, and Mr. Graham Browne dees always show understanding of the autocratic English gentleman. The one-act play “The Dumb and the Blind” also proved entertaining and mirth provoking. No one with a sense of humour should miss witnessing Somerset Maugham’s brilliant comedy, “Penelope,” says an exchange, commenting on the new piece to be staged tonight. It is in reality a serious problem which the author deals with, but he has imbued it with a spirit of satire that keeps its solution running along liglt and entertaining lines without actually descending to levity. The well-constructed story is told in situations that border on the sentimental quite frequently, but which always stay within the comedy limits. ’The dialogue scintillates with bon mots, clever metaphor and epigram, and wit of the nicest quality. With its combined literary and dramatic merits “Penelope,” has a double appeal, in addition to which the char-acter-drawing is done with a craftsman’s pen.

ARTCRAFT AND PARAMOUNT. All the elements which go to make up a first-class drama —love, politics, strife, intrigue, mystery, and a thrilling denouement—are contained- in “'The Woman God Sent,” the Selznick production which was introduced to Wellington theatregoers at the Artcraft and Paramount Theatres last night. It is an original love story by Sophie Irene Loeb, tinged with politics as played from the “inside” in Uncle Sam’s country. Zena Keefe takes the character of Margaret Manning, “The Woman God Sent.” Born in poverty, she struggles upwards, overcoming all obstacles and becoming the leader of a great fight in Washington. A great love spurs her on, and she never, falters, though she suffers from misapprehensions and intrigue. A series of sensational incidents culminates in a great victory, with a number cf surprises for all concerned, including herself. The other star picture on the new programme is “Shame,” a William Fox masterpiece, which tells a gripping story of a man who, through a strange and terrible delusion, forsakes fortune, influence, and a beloved wife and child to bury himself in the wilds of Alaska. The devoted wife follows her husband, and after a series .of the most remarkable adventures, including a most realistic .fight . with wolves, succeeds in restoring him to reason. Apart from the absorbing interest of the story, the picture is well worth seeing fo- the magnificent scenes it presents of the rugged grandeur of the Frozen North. The supporting films all met with public favour, and there were many favourable comments heard concerning, the of the incidental music supplied by the orchestras. ORGAN RECITAL. Mr. Bernard F. Page’s programme for the organ recital to be given >at the Town Hall to-morrow evening includes two “by request itemSj which are Wagner's “0 Star of Eve Act III) (“Tannhauser”), and Meditation,” from “Thais,” by Massenet. The remainder of the programme is as under:—Suite Ancienne, by Holloway, Cesar Franck’s Prelude, Fugue and Variation (Op. 18) ; Third from “Scheherazade” (Suite SympWique for orchestra), Op. 35, by Him sky-Korsakoff ■ ________