ENTERTAINMENTS.

Hawera Star, Volume XLVIII, 2 April 1929, Page 2

ENTERTAINMENTS.

OPERA HOUSE. ! “THE FREEDOM OF THE PRESS.” A lai'ge audience was present at the Opera Hou-se last evening to witness V the screening of Peter 13. Kyne’s story, “Tiie Freedom of the Press.” As the title implies, it is a story of newspaper liie and depicts the intense pressure of work in a. large city office. In the climax of the dramas one of the largest presses west of the I\li.ssissippi River was used, and this gave the audience some idea of how a metropolitan 23 aper can produce its papers and supply the entire city with news within a few hours. John Bollard, an editor and publisher, through his severe criticism of those whom he thought deserved it, became the enemy of the underworld. Daniel Steele, acting for a railroad syndicate, wanted to close the children’s playing area and convert it into, as he thought, something far more useful, hat tlie editor wrote articles against this move, which stirred up great strife. Through the closing or one of the parks the children were forced to play in the busy area, and one was killed by a lorry. This was denounced by the editor, and a note was sent from tlie “underworld” telling him to “lay off.” No notice was taaen of this, however, and John Bollard was fatally shot, but before he died lie toid his son that he must “carry on.” Daniel Steele’s ward, June Westcott, and young Bollard had met previously, and at this stage were newly engaged. In spite of this fact the recently made manager continued on with the campaign, even though Steele issued a ■ second warning. Midnight was the time set by the gang to blow up the building to prevent the paper, which was carrying a sensational story, from ’going to press. To the minute the explosion occurred aucl blew out the corner of the building. With the utmost speed the presses, which were in another section of the office, were set in motion, and at great risk the jiapers were printed and delivered as usual. Steele chose an easier way than going behind the bars, and tlie closing scenes of the picture ended in a dramatic manner. This picture, together with a “News” and No. 5 “Music Masters,” will he repeated this evening. GRAND THEATRE, TO-NIGHT. “THE CONSTANT NYMPH.” “The Constant Nymph,” the Gainsborough picture which is being presented at the Grand Theatre, is a British picture reaching a high standard. It reconstructs on the screen the story of Margaret Kennedy’s novel, which lias been a remarkable “best-seller” and raises to “stardom” Mabel Poulton, who, eight years ago, was a junior typist. Her interpretation of “Tessa” —and she read the novel thirteen times during the making of the picture— is one of the most delightful things ever seen on the screen. “The Constant Nymph” is a triumph of British screen craft, and his been built up by a skilful combination of art and technique. There is a full supporting programme. OPERA HOUSE. TO-MORROW, WEDNESDAY. “THE FURTHER ADVENTURE OF THE FLAG LIEUTENANT.” Henry Edwards, whose fine performj unco as “The Flag Lieutenant” is still 1 fresh in the memory of Australia |iic-ture-goers, once again portraits the bright and breezy naval officer, Dicky Lascelles, in the new British Dominions Film, “The’ Further Adventures of the Flag Lieutenant,” to be screened _ at the Opera House to-morrow evening, Wednesday. Edwards lias plenty of scope to display both his acting and athletic abilities, for in his clashes with the Chinese rebels, he has some exciting moments, and'many hand to’ Hand fights with the international conspirators. In writing the sequel Lo “The Flag Lieutenant,” Cctonel Drury has skilfully guarded against the difficulties of capturing in the film studio the correct atmosphere of the Senior Service, by frankly reverting to the methods" of stage melodrama. He has written a stirring story of the theft and recovery of mysterious papers which are purloined through a Chinese laundryman, by a gang of foreign political crooks, cut away from the coat tails of a sinister villain, concealed in the sunshade of a beautiful “vamp” (excellently portrayed by that fine British film actress, Isabel Jeans), rescued from a blazing junk, to be stolen away again and finally produced from a porcelain vase just at the moment most fitting, to conclude proceedings with a naval wedding. The supporting programme will include “The Collegians.” MISSES CONSTANCE AND MARGARET IZARD. An extremely interesting announcement is that of forthcoming concert to be given by the Misses Constance and Margaret Izard at the Opera House on Tuesday, April 9. These highly cultured artists have made themselves most popular in their tour of Great Britain, the Continent and Canada, and they are coming to Hawera with a great reputation both as soloists and as duettists. “The Times” (London), speaking of Miss Constance Izard, said: “She played through an exacting programme with the discrimination and sureness of tone which distinguishes this violinist.” The “Telegraph” said of Miss Margaret Izard, “We admired straightway Miss Margaret Izard’s broad steady bowing and the springing vigour of her style”; whilst of their duets the “Telegraph” said: “The performance had the right grace and the necessary rhythmic impulse, and were so much to the taste of the audience that the Misses Izard were recalled several times.” Highly interesting programmes, with a touch of the novel in them for Dominion audiences, have been arranged by the Misses Izard. The box plan will he at Miss Blake’s from Thursday.