ENTERTAINMENTS

Nelson Evening Mail, Volume LXI, 9 August 1928, Page 2

ENTERTAINMENTS

EMPIRE THEATRE To-night Nelson picture-lovers will have their last opportunity of seeing Charlie Chaplin in “The Circus,” one of tho best comedies that has ever been seen on the' screen. The very mention of the word “circus” calls,up visions of daughter and fun, but'Charlie Chaplin’s circus is better than any because of his presence. Some of the funniest possible situations and acts have been included, in the picture, and every audience that has seen it in Nelson has laughed from start to finish. Charlie puts in his appearance,, as a tramp “hungry and broke,” and after being chased around and through the cifcua for a ‘theft lie didn’t commit he is offered a job. His “try out,” one of the funniest parts of tho* picture, is a failure, hut he is unexpectedly taken op again as a property man. Here without knowing it he becomes the hit of the show. He has many other adventures all adding to the fun and everyone who sees the picture will remember Charlie's few minutes in the lions’ den and Ids display on the tight hope after lie has bribed the property man to work an invisible wire to support him. Tho programme also contains a good Larr.y Semon comedy and an excellent scenic. COUNTRY TOUR Motueka patrons will have tlie, chance of seeing Charlie Chaplin in “The Circus” on Saturday next at tlie Permanent Pictures. REGENT ' “Irene” featuring Colleen Moore, was shown last evening to a large and enthusiastic audience. /When the announcement was made that for Colleen’s lavish production, “Irene,” 60 beautiful girls would be required for the big fashion parade, mere man was not equal to the task of selecting them, so Miss Moore herself was persuaded to do the choosing. The roll-up of girls was so great, however, that the little star was bewildered. The weeding-out process, however, narrowed the “possibles” down to 116, from which number the required 60 were drawn. “Many of the rejected ones were quite beautiful enough,” said the star, “but there had to be a mixture of blondes, brunettes and ‘in betweens.’ I am sure the unfortunate ones were no more sorry than I was that they were not used.” Patrons of the Regent Theatre will he able to gauge Miss Moore’s ability as adjudge of beauty tonight, when “Irene” will again be screened. Ring 4102 for reserves.

DAISY HALL “THE BABY PRIM A DONNA” From New Zealand to La Scale, Milan, Italy, is a long way, yet Daisy Hall, by diligent study, coupled with a beautiful voice, has won her way to fame and assured success. This talented young lady goes back to La Scala Milan next October to fulfil important contracts in Grand Opera, and takes her# place side by side with her foreign sisters, with whom she ranks in the profession among the highest in the world. It is confidently asserted that her coloratura soprano work ranks the highest' in the world to-day, and great Italian masters say “Daisy Hall has a freak voice, and is the greatest soprano the profession has discovered in this decade.” “Footlight” in the New Zealand' “Free Lance”, writes: “Daisy Hall, tIW brilliant young New Zealand coloratura soprano, who gave a successful concert in Wellington shortly after her return from Italy, is to again revisit that country in order to make her debut in Italy studying Grand Opera at La Scala, Milan. She. has put in three years hard work in Italy studying Grand Opera singing; ■ first under Professor Benedetto Morasca at Palermo,' one of the finest training schools of great singers in. Italy, and later at Milan with the famous Maestro ManliO Bavagnoli, who lias a very- high opinion of his young pupil’s Voice, comparing her to the great Adelina Patti at her best.

“Daisy Hall is a petite, vivacious brunette, with a piquant personality and manner, and she says: “The Italians were very charming and friendly to me, and made me welcome everywhere. They gave mo a ’ grand banquet at Palermo before I left, to which 500 guests, including most of the noted prolessors and musicians in. Italy were invited, and Morasca ‘showed me off’ as his little New Zealand pupil, who, he said, would surprise them all at La Scala one day. I was known as the ‘bambiria priina donna!’ (the baby prim a dorina) over there, and some called me ‘the little Austvaliano,’ the ones who thought New Zealand and Australia were the same country. • -

“Bavagnoli, my teacher at .Milan, is the dearest old man,” she said affectionately. “He is 75, and was a great friend of Puccini, the composer, hawing conducted his famous operas all over Europe.” . Daisy Hall has a treasured letter from the.maestro, in courtly Italian, praising her “gifted, golden, and beautiful voice,” and urging,her to return to Italy “to perfect her art and dedicate her life, to Italian Opera with every assurance, of success.” This she, has consented to do, and it is a great honour to New Zealand to see one of her daughters so favoured —the only New Zealander ever to secure a La Scala contract. Among her numbers for the recitals on Monday and Wednesday evenings will be the famous “Bell Song,” from Delibe’s opera “Lakme,” one of the most beautiful of soprano arias, and “Charmant Oiseau” (David), which, with its dalliance with the flute and its copying of a bird’s song, has beauty in every note. The famous tout de force of coloratura sopranos, “Themes and Variations,” by-Poach,, a dazzling piece of vocalisation, with difficult flute and voice passages, will also bo sung. There are numerous well-known dainty little numbers included in the programme. Mrs P. Vining will .assist as accompanist,