ENTERTAINMENTS.

Hawera Star, Volume XLVII, 17 May 1928, Page 2

ENTERTAINMENTS.

OPERA HOUSE

''FIGURES DON’T LIE.”

The excellent programme provided by the management of the Opera House last evening, attracted an audience which thoroughly enjoyed every minute of the programme. “.Figures Don’t Lie” is an excellent'comedy, hrimlul of amusing situations from beginning to end, iticidently keeping the audience in roars of laughter throughout.

The storv is of a business man “Howdy Jones” (Ford Sterling) who is loud of telling his business friends that he owes his success to three things, punctuality, eiffciency and a good memory. In reality, the punctuality, efficiency and good memory are ail supplied by Janet ’Wells (Esther Ralston) Jones’s pretty blonde secretary. Mrs Jones is insanely jealous of her husband’s secretary. She finds Jones and Miss Wells in two or three compromising situations that are really innocent. Bob - Blewe (Richard Arlen) is a hustler and gets a job in the Jones’s organisation by Janet. He and the secretary have several clashes, however, and Bob gets his lace slapped when Janet thinks he is becoming too cheeky. Janet says she will quit rather than work in the business with .Bob. Bob offers to leave instead but the proprietor solves the problem by appointing Bob sales manager with an office of his own. Bob asks Janet if he may take her to the annual picnic of the office employees. Refused, he gets his revenge by taking a pretty stenographer from another department. Janet is furiously jealous, and to hide the fact, she is more than usually nice to the boss. He likes the attention and plays up to it beautifully. A newspaper reporter unexpectedly takes a photograph of Jones and Janet smiling into each others eyes. On Janet’s arm is a bracelet that Jones had previously told liis wife was an imitation in order to avoid having to give her two presents, and Mrs Jones is away at the time of the picnic on a vacation. The next evening Bob overhears Janet telling Jones not to forget a business appointment for seven o’clock, and thinking the two have an engagement for that hour, he reproaches her, and the girl decides to really make Mm jealous by going to Jones’ house. She does not really intend to go, but is forced to go in on account of the rain, while Bob, who lias followed her, sees her go into the house. She runs into trouble when she finds that Jones is home, and he insists that she go upstairs and have her clothing dried. Airs Jones has previously seen the photograph of her husband'and his secretary at the picnic, and comes home post haste in a murderous rage, to arrive just a few minutes after Janet, and while the secretary’s lingerie is being placed before the fire to dry, the fun begins. Janet starts downstairs, garbed only in a silk quilt, just in time to meet Airs Jones. It is then one climax after another. The picture must be seen to be enjoyed, and coupled ' with several gazettes and educational pictures, a very highclass entertainment is provided. “Eigures Don’t Lie” will he screened at the Grand Theatre to-night.

HAWERA AIALE CHOIR. TO-NIGHT’S CONCERT. ( " A VARIED PROGRAMME. Preparations ’are complete for the first concert of the season, to bo given by the Hawera. Male Choir to-night at the Opera House, when the programme will l>e one of the best yet puit on by the society. It comprises most interesting part songs in addition to a capital ■series of the Huia Male Voice Quintette of Palmerston North, a combination of clever artists. DAWN ASSHETON. WORLD FAMED FOLIC SINGER Dawn Assheton, who is to sing in Hawera at the Opera House on Tuesday, 22nd instant, has achieved rapid world fame as a singer of character and folk song. In its report of her opening concert in New Zealand at the Town Hall, Wellington, recently the “Evening Post’ said: “Dawn Assheton has not only a beautiful voice, but is a gifted interpreter. The voice in itself would be one to command admiration, but when to it is added an irresistible personality and an uncanny interpretive power applied to folk songs, with a way of “talking with the face” in order to give point to the vernacular, the combination is one of charm and fascination. The rapt attention and spontaneous applause of last night’s crowded audience at the town hall proved that conclusively. Her facial expression is worthy of any actress, and—last but not least —she is superbly gowned. When with the Hungarian violinist-composer, Luszlo Schwartz, she applied herself to the peculiar task of gathering together the songs of joy and sorrow of the people of many countries, the doubly gifted pair achieved a result that was a revelation which the ready acclamation of last night’s audience is sufficient trilmte.” Miss Assheton is England’s premier operatic coloratura soprano and the tribute she received from the critic of “The London Times” was as follows: ‘Neither as a coloratura soprano, nor-

as a singer of folk and character songs has Dawn Assheton a peer in the Eng- ] lish musical world. Aliss Assheton j lings her folk songs dressed in the picturesque costumes of the musical ! hands whose songs she interprets.” NATIONAL DAIRY SHOW. The date set down for this annual and well known fixture are the 19th to 23rd June and for which preparatory work is now proceeding. Big things are anticipated at the Show which becomes increasingly popular as the years pass. The Association always has the entertainment and amusement of its patrons in mind apart from the instructive side. For several years past evening entertainments have been provided in very makeshift accommodation oil Show nights. The erection of a fine new hall 150 ft by 45ft will abolish any discomfort of this kind. Patrons will be able to look on in comfort. Very attractive programmes of football (both codes) and horse events will he provided and a dog trial has been scheduled for Tuesday, 19th June, the first day of the Show. The Railway Department is doing all in it’s power to attract visitors and in addition to excursions from all the southern part of this island a farmers’ special will he run from the north. Contemplating exhibitors and competitors who have not received a prize list should immediately send to the Secretary, P.O. Box So, Palmerston North. General and Poultry entries will close on the sth June.