ENTERTAINMENTS.

Hawera Star, Volume XLV, 19 February 1926, Page 2

ENTERTAINMENTS.

“REfWI’S LAST STAND.”

A CREDITABLE PRODUCTION

The inherent prejudice among New Zealanders that no good film can be produced in New Zealand lias receive a yet another refutation since the release of “Rewi’s Last Stand,” which opened its Hawera season last evening. Produced by Mr. Riudall C. Hayward, and enacted solely by New Zealanders, this picture combines bright entertainment with historical value. It is of course, of especial interest to New Zealanders, and it proved a novel experience to see such places as New Plymouth and Waitara mentioned on the screen as the picture progressed. A realistic scene of Auckland as it was in 1863 was most interesting, as many people who have recently visited the northern city could realise the extraordinary growth during the space of sixty years. . “Rewi’s Last Stand” emphasised the heroism of both natives and soldiery — the former fighting for their country against what was to them a ruthless Government, and the latter sacrificing themselves in the extension of the British Empire. . , Opening with the historic story or Sir George Grey’s, vain attempt to secure peace with tli© iiatrives vain because of the British Cabinet’s contempt for a “pack of savages”—the picture covered the period to the con*? elusion of the fight at Orakau, where Rewi, the powerful chief, was finally defeated. ~ • • The romantic story of a young forest ranger under the command of Von Tempsky. and his charming lover, his capture bv the natives, and the atteri. tions of a beautiful Maori chieftamess added considerably to the enjoyment of the picture. „ , , “Rewi’s Last Stand” will be shown in Hawera for the last time this evening.

THE GRAND TO-NIGHT

“ THE SPEED KING.”

To-night the Grand Theatre will open a two night season with a special attraction featuring the ever popular screen star Richard Talmadge in ‘‘The Speed King. ’ ’ It contains many thrills that only a masterly production can givq—an abundance of laughs and is a whirlwind of excitement —the supporting programme is of the highest merit.

AVTRTH BROS.’ CIRCUS. AT HAWERA LAST NIGHT. LARGE AUDIENCE DELIGHTED. Performing animals, acrobats, clowns and the host of other artists that go to make up the programme of a first-class circus, delighted a packed audience which filled the seats round the sawdust ring last evening on the occasion of the performance here of Wirth Bros.’ Circus. There was a multiplicity. of acts and performers, everything being done on a lavish scale, and it may be fairly said that the circus did not fall short of the high standard it had maintained in past years. Throughout the evening the audience was keenly ■ orociative, there being not a single act that did not brings forth rounds of aoplause.

, After a grand parade of the company,. Wirth Bros.’ troupe of performing lions wps introduced. Captain Smith handled the savage animals with fearless ease. but the audience appreciated th)e tall iron bar fence. An act which was highly amusing as well as interesting was provided by two baby elephants and two dogs, the •animals being directed bv Miss Eileen May. Extraordinary higgling feats with a daring. leap through a circle of knives, were introduced by the Car me! In trio, while Miss Gladys and her horse Duke were pretty +o watch dn an exhibition of Haut Echoic High School riding. The intelligence of the elephants was displayed in a mock battle. Various manoeuvres were performed and casualties sustained . the ungainly animals acting tlieir parts with almost uncanny understanding. Professor Betts’ seals provided one of the cleverest turns of the evening. They- did practically, everything but talk. The Honev family acrobats held the attention of al l present, while not a few thrills were experiteneed when the Honev'sisters presented their dental whirl act in mid-air. Laughter, however, soon held sway again, when the comedy Spanish bul - fighters rvresented an amusing bur'esoue. TighErope walking and daring feats on the trapeze were some of the other acts which went to make up a capital circus programme.