ENTERTAINMENTS.

Hawera Star, Volume XLIX, 25 July 1929, Page 2

ENTERTAINMENTS.

OPERA HOUSE.

WHITE SHADOWS IN THE SOUTH

SEAS.”

Enticed by the thought of something novel in the way of pictorial entertainments, a large audience went to the Opera House last evening to witness the screening of “White Shadows in the South Seas.’’ They were not disappointed. for they saw wonderfully clear photography of the submarine garden taken entirely in the South Seas, and®showing native pearl divers going to great depths and of the dangers encountered when they were after their spoil. The story opens with the: .showing of a. small group of white men, who gave the natives cheap presents in return for their pearls. The picture vividly shows the natives procuring these, and of the different ways in which the deep sea diving affected them. It was to one of these cases that the island doctor, played by Monte Blue., was summoned. Dr. Lloyd began to sympathise with the natives' and urged! them not to dive foil- pearls, with the result that he wag .shanghaied and put a,board a, derelict, ship, which was wrecked on another island, and ho found h ini sell 1 surrounded by a crowd of inquisitive natives, whose eyes had never before seen white flesh. They welcomed him asi a god. and when lie saved the life of a: child he was. given the chief’s daughter Fayaway, admiraoly played by Raquel Torus. Dr. Lloyd was. called Mata Lou by the natives, and lie was allowed the freedom of the island, aild with his genuine love for Fay away he was in a veritable paradise. One day, however, a. ship called at the island, which was recognised by the doctor as the one which belonged to the pearl merchant. From here on scenes move very rapidly, and the picture ends with a dramatic conclusion male possible by (such a director as N. S. Ran Dyke. The picture, together with a fine supporting programme., will lie shown again this evening.

GRAND THEATRE

EXCESS BAGGAGE

Small time vaudeville leading to big time love aud drama.. That in a sentence is “Excess Baggage,” one of tlie most intereting and successful pictures of the year, which opens at the Grand Theatre to-night. It was given to James Cruze, of “Covered 'Waggon’ faine to direct, and he chose W illiam Haines for the star. Haines is, to-day considered the most human personality on the screen. The screen story is remarkably well knit and never flags in interest from start to finish. Th© audience alternated laughter and tears, with an occasional moment out to cheer. The plot is based on a small-time vaudeville troupe., where Haines, as Eddie Kane, marries Josephine Dunn (a real across by the way). The wife l finds herself to be merely “Excess Baggage” in her husband’s a,ct, and when she is given an opportunity for screen success takes advantage'of it. Without her, Kane finds that he can no longer do his dangerous act which was just to earn him fame and fortune on the big time, and lie, in big turn, becomes “Excess Baggage.” A year later both parties mieet. in New York City and work out their problem in an exciting and novel manner. The resulting picture is real screen entertainment of the very highest order. There will lie a full programme in '.snipport.

KENTUCKY JUBILEE SINGERS

OPERA HOUSE, TUESDAY

It lias always been the endeavour ol the J. C. Williamson Ltd. and J. and N. Tait management to provide for the entertainment of their patrons in Australia and New Zealand anything in the nature of novelties and high-class theatrical! fare the world’s stage has produced. They have given us grand opera, comic opera, drama,, comedy, revue, Vaudeville, famous concert stars and now lor the first time on Tuesday next we are to be given, the opportunity to hear the famous Kentucky Jubilee Singers, which has been one of the outstanding attractions in America for many years. On their only visit to England the Kentucky Jubilee singers created a, furore and they enjoyed a successful season of oyer 12 months there. The Williamson management enedavoured as long as five years ago to engage the Kentucky Jubilee Singers for a tour of Australia and New Zealand, but their services were in such great demand that it is only nor- that they have been successful. andi to procure them high royalties had to be paid to other managements to obtain their release from engagements which had been entered into some time ago-. The company which is to appear here is said to be the very best of its kind the world’s stage has ever known. It includes Messrs Arthur Gaines and Robert Carer (first tenors), Hilton Jones and Augustus Simons (second tenors), Archie Gross andi Willlia.m Veasey (first basses), Arthur Payn© 'and' Matt Houseley (second bassee). The entertainment to: lie: presented will include nigger spirituals, plantation melodies and eccentric dance solos. The whole, it is said, will prove a revelation to playgoer,g of New Zealand. The box plans open to-morrow at Miss Blake’s.