ENTERTAINMENTS.

Hawera Star, Volume XLVI, 19 January 1927, Page 2

ENTERTAINMENTS.

OPERA HOUSE—TO-NIGHT. “THE ROAD TO GLORY.” “The Road to Glory,” which, opens at the Opera House to-night, is the road that leads to glorious entertainment. With May McAvoy in this leading feminine role, this Fox Films production of Howard Hawk’s original story is one of the most dramatic things that has ever heen put on the screen. The story is based upon an unusual theme, showing the big paTt chance plays in the moulding of human lives. Judith Allen, played, by May McAvoy. is the central figure of the story. She is a happy, contented girl when the picture opens, with an adoring father and a boyhood sweetheart with whom she looks forward to an ideal future. Miss McAvoy gives one of the finest performances in her brilliant career in “The Road to Glory.” Leslie Fenton, as the sweetheart. offers' another bit of evidence of his fine dramatic qualifications. Ford Sterling, as the father, lives up to his name with a sterling performance, and Rockliffe Fellowes as the villain makes the character one you will not despise too deeply. Others in the cast are Milla Davenport and John Mac Sweeney. Howard Hawks, author of the story, also directed the picture. The supporting programme includes the serial “The Ace of Spades.” The matinee will be held at the Grand. Theatre to-morrow afternoon.

MARIE BURKE IN "KATJA.” To-morrow evening at the Opera House Miss Marie Burke, the brilliant and fascinating comic opera artist, together with the J. C. Williamson, Ltd., Musical Comedy Company, will present for the first time here the gorgeously mounted and very tuneful and humorous comic opera, "Katja,” which is attracting record audiences wherever it is staged. A big feature of the representation of "Katja,” which was staged under the personal supervision of Mr Charles A. Wenman, is the gorgeous costuming; and other features are the magnificent scenic effects and the operatic chorus and orchestra. Miss Burke will be associated in "Katja” with a particularly strong aggregation of comic opera and musical comedy artists, including Mr R. Barrett-Lennard, a wellknown London comedian, who scored an outstanding triumph in "Katja” also Miss Babette Odeal, a young and brilliant English soubrette and dancer, Mr Cecil Kelleway, Miss Thelma Burness, Mr Herbert Browne, Noel Dainton, Mr Frank Leighton, and Mr Frank Hawthorne. "Katja” unfolds a very interesting and romantic love story, and it abounds with good musical/ numbers, amongst which the following are perhaps the most popular: "When Love’s in the Air” (Babette Odeal), "Cruel Chief” (Thelma Burness, R. Barret Lennard and Cecil Kelleway), "Dancing Together” (Marie Burke), "Real Bad Luck To-night” (Cecil Kelleway), "Just for a Night” (Marie Burke and Herbert Browne), - "When We’re Married” (Thelma Burness and E. Bar-rett-Lennard), "I’ve Planned a Rendezvous” (Herbert Browne), "Those Eyes So Tender” (Marie Burke and Herbert Browne), "Love and Duty” (Babette Odeal and Cecil Kelleway), ‘ ‘ Leander ’ ’ (Thelma Burness and Barrett-Lennard), "If You Cared” (Thelma Burness and Herbert Browne), "Tails Up” (Babette Odeal), "Oh, Woe is Me, Oh” (Thelma Burness and R. Barrett-Lennard). The dances and ballets are features of the production. The box plans are at Miss Blake’s Opera House Confectionery.