ENTERTAINMENTS.

Hawera Star, Volume XLV, 29 March 1926, Page 2

ENTERTAINMENTS.

OPERA HOUSE TO-NIGHT. “MME. SANS GENE.” The first motion .picture ever to play on Broadway at live dollars a seat — that’s the reputation of "Madame Sans Gene/’ hailed as Gloria Swanson’s "cinemasterpiece,” made for itself at its opening performance in New York. Moreover, the theatre was packed to the rafters for the occasion, with hundreds of unsuccessful applicants for seats and a crowd of several thousands giving the police a tussle outside the theatre in their efforts to get into the place and also to catch a glimpse of Miss Swanson and her Erench noble-man-husband, the Marquis de la Ealaise de la Coudraye. The Opera House management oj>ens a season to-night of three nights. Even for Gloria Swanson, whoso screen efforts are always acted in elaborate settings and gowns, ‘ ‘ Madame Sans Gene ” is an unusually luxurious production. It was filmed in Erance, and the backgrounds include the palaces at Versailles, Eontaineblean and Compiegne, spots hitherto forbidden to motion picture directors. Gloria is seen sleeping in the actual golden bed of Marie Antoinette, flirting in the gardens where that unfortunate Queen conducted her amorous intrigues, and coquetting with Napoleon (Emile Drain) in the actual private chamber which the real Napoleon occupied. The results are said to be startlingly realistic in the extreme. Charles de Roche, the Pkaroah of Cecil B. De Mille’s "The Ten Commandments,” heads the east playing in support of Miss Swanson. The picture was directed by Leonee Perrett from Eorrest Halsey’s adaptation of the stage play by Victorien Sardou and Emile Moreau.

HAWAIIANS AT MANAIA

The Manaia Town Hall was crowded on, Thursday to give a- greeting to the Eaie Hawaiian Touring Company. The programme submitted by this talented troupe was well worth going many miles to see and. hear. In fact, it was one of the best programmes submitted to a Manaia audience for some years, and the different artists are to be commended on their various items, each one receiving double encores. It is the intentipn of the troupe to pay another visit to Manaia at some future date, when, no doubt, it will get a good reception. Arthur Ka’ewa, the “Übeiele King,” gave a great exposition of his playing, and fully qualified for the title. Louise and Mary Laie, in the hula hula and poi dances, were most graceful. John A. Laie. on the stee! guitar, gave a fine rendition of his various items, which were much appreciated. Te Ruruku .and his fighting warriors in hakas and war dances gave .a stirring display. Hori, the funny man, was well deserving of the title. His items brought down the house. The manager, Mr J. Elkin gton, is to be congratulated in putting forward such a pleasing programme.