ENTERTAINMENTS.

Hawera Star, Volume XLVI, 18 September 1926, Page 2

ENTERTAINMENTS.

. OPERA HOUSE ©

“MY OLD DUTCH” AGAIN TO-

NIGHT,

A big audience was charmed and delighted 1 . with “My Old Dutch” at the Opera, House ia.si» aright. This is Universal’s all-star presentation, in which May AleAvoy, Pat, O’Malley, Cullen Landis and Jean Hers holt head a big company of well-known artists. The colourful story of London coster life, with it 9 queer characters, its dramatic climax and the wonderful love story over a, period of 40 years, have been graphically transplanted to the screen by Lawrence Trimble, who directed the new spectacle. “My Old Dutch” is a romantic story, suggested 1 by the famous old song, and' deals with the coster or peddler classes, showing a, couple whose love centres around a, son whom they plan to “make a gentleman.” The strange coster festival and donkey race, an annual London event, some remarkable scenes showing life among the London slums, and contrasted with this brilliant life among London’s aristocracy, all are seen in the story. The characters start, as youths, and gradually grow old. Miss- MeAvoy, Hersholt, O’Malley and Edgar Kennedy, who plays the villain, appear in five different make-ups, depicting different ages as the action of the story proceeds. An extra touch of romance is added to the presentation) by Mr C. Douglas’s singing of the world-famous song which is the foundation of the story of “My Old Dutch.” To-night’s will be the final screening.

GRAND THEATRE—TO-NIGHT

“THE WHITE DESERT.”

Reginald Barker, who produced “The White Desert,” went to great trouble to get the remarkable shots, that form the backgrounds of event® comprising this unusual exciting film play. The adaptation, of this) picture was made from the story by Courtney Ryley Cooper, which deals with) trial's 1 . and privations faced by railroad) engineers to blast a tunnel through the Rocky Mountains. It also introduced absorbing romance 1 which i,s both delightful and unusual. Claire Windsor is featured with Pat O’Malley and Robert Frazer. “The White Desert” will be released at the Grand Theatre to-night for a season of one night only. There is an excellent bill of supports.

“A RUNAWAY GIRL.i’

The rehearsal for “A Runaway Girl” held last night was very successful, and .the whole show went with a swing from start to finish. The play demands some very exacting work, and in the capable hands of such well-known performers as Miss Elsie Williamson as Winifred Gray, the ‘ ‘Runaway Girl’ ’; Mr Fred Low as Guy Stanley, the hero* Mr Ralph Vivian, Flipper, the comedian; Miss B. L. Jo-11 as Alice, the maid; Mr A. Gray ns Tamirand, a lay brother; Miss A. Wilson as Oarmineta : Air W. S. Gibson- and Miss AX. Ekdnhl as Lord and Lady Cood®e; Miss AI. Alorrissey as Dorothy Stanley: Air D. J. AlcQuinn as Leonellai: and Mr Herbert Taylor and I ,Alias Al. Cook a® Air and All's Creel.- Other parts are taken by, Messrs A. E. Morris, AleFadyen and Spalding. The solo -dan seu-se is Mias Betty Jacomh, while Miss Mona Lay also has a solo dance in- the second act. The ballets have been arranged and trained by Mrs Wilson. Special lighting effects have been procured for the -society’s use.

The scenery is being ereetpd) by a staff of experienced stage hands, and wall be well worth looking at. In the big number ‘ ‘Listen to the Band” the Haiwera. Alunieipal Band is sumdying the -music. The Opeartic Society was very fortunate in securing the services of Airs Hulnie to produce “A Runaway Girl.” as she ha® herself played- prpfessionally in most of the parts and knows every movement. Mrs Hulnie is delighted with the company -she has had 1 to teach, and- the result is quite satisfactory. An orchestra of 10. instruments will supply the accompaniment® throughout the piece-. -Mr F. Ollerenshaw, as usual, is conductor.

The booking office at Miss Blake’s reports good business, and patrons will be well advised to book -seats.