ENTERTAINMENTS

Southland Times, Issue 19249, 13 June 1921, Page 7

ENTERTAINMENTS

ENGLISH PIERROT? TO-NIGHT. “Bits and Pieces,” is the title under which the English Pierrots are this year presenting their well-known and popular programmes. It is the latest revue style of entertainment, that has become the rage throughout England, America and Australia, and the Pierrots have been fortunate enough to secure Edmund Warrington, whose productions have been seen in many London theatres. “A Dud Dream” which is included in the opening bill, has been played before H.R.H. the Prince of Wales in London when Edmund Warrington appeared in his original role. The company have just concluded a record season of seven nights in Dunedin, and the Star in commenting on their opening bill, says: “The English Pierrots opened in His Majesty’s Theatre under most auspiciuos conditions. The hall was crowded, and the Pierrots presented those present with a bright, clean and varied entertainment, which was appreciated to the utmost, and encore items were much in demand. The individual members for the most part, are equally at home as vocal soloists or monologuists, with this rare outstanding feature, there is no similarity in the turns.” The company includes old favourites, who will no doubt be warmly welcomed, in Ena Gordon, soprano, Lilian Colenzo, comedienne, Joy Rolls, denseuse, Leslie Austin, humorist and dancer, Ray Cooke, basso, David J. Lyle, tenor, and Chas. E. Lawrence, entertainer and musical director. New artists are Isa Crossley, soubrette, Moya Crossley, violiniste, Harry Schofield, baritone, and Edmund Warrington, London producer. As this company are for so many years well and favourably known to theatre-goers, a successful season is assured them in Invercargill. The company inaugurate a three nights’ season to-night in the Municipal Theatre. The box plans are at the Bristol. There will be a complete change of programme nightly. CIVIC PICTURES. One of the finest programmes yet shown at the Civic Pictures will bo seen here again to-night and to-morrow. The programme opens with a Fox News, which in addition to some thrilling motor boat scenes, contains a series of pictures showing the crack American racehorse Man-o’-War, which has put up some wonderful performances on the tracks. Each one of the star pictures has much to recommend it. , The old favourite Tom Mix shows his old form in many exciting incidents in “The Feud,” a picture which gives Tom great opportunities to display dramatic talent as well as do amazing stunts and daring deeds. The early incidents of the play are the tensest of drama. The intense bitterness of the feud is exceptionally visualised, as well as the pretty love affair which, unfortunately, serves only to rekindle the feud. The scene then shifts to the west in frontier days and the action becomes more spectacular, including an Indian attack on a waggon train. Doraldina, who is new to local audiences, danced immediately into popular favour in “Passion Fruit,” a very strong dramatic story with the scene laid in tropical Hawaii. She can act and she can dance 1 That was the verdict, one might say the unanimous verdict, without exaggeration, of all who saw Doraldina on Saturday night. Doraldina was splendid—that is the word describing the haunting grace, the wild abandon, the siren appeal, of the different dances with which she interspersed the acting of her role as a strongwilled girl who refuses to be dominated by the vicious overseer who has the South Sea Islanders in his power, and who offers her safety at a degrading price. Only by appearing half-nude ip a room filled with leering, sensual drunkards, and dancing a wild hula-hula dance, could she save the man she loved. Ordinarily, she would have shrunk back in horror; but the consciousness of what her lover’s death would mean, swept all hesitation to the four winds. This is the gripping climax of the compelling screen story, fully living up to the promise of its name. The programme concludes with an exceptional Sunshine comedy “Farmyard Follies,” in which a hen, a rooster, a duck and other farmyard favourites are starred, as well as the full strength of the Fox comedies. We have said the programme is unique. It should not be missed to-night. POPULAR PICTURE PALACE. “The Love Cheat,” at the Popular Picture Palace, is a healthy and pleasing story of the romance of a poor, struggling artist and a rich girl whom he casually meets, both being smitten by Cupid’s arrow. The steller roles are capably and pleasingly undertaken by two well-known and popular stars, June Caprice and Creighton Hale, who have been co-stars in many productions. Simplicity is the keynote of the story, but it has idyllic charm, while there is a deep human note running through the story which cannot fail to please and entertain. Delightfully youthful in sentiment is the story which is adapted from an old French comedy, and it provides many opportunities for showing these popular favourites in pleasing light. ALBION THEATRE. The Albion Theatre was not nearly large enough to accommodate the crowds that endeavoured to witness the big attraction “Trumpet Island,” on Saturday. It tells the story of Richard Bedell, Eve le Merincourt, and Valinsky, the derelict. Bedell goes through a period of deprivation. He becomes bitter and discouraged; Eve is taken from her finishing school to wed a man she loathes; while Valinsky, with a perfected invention for airplanes, faces starvation when unable to market it. They travel along their reads of destiny, these three—Bedell the road to success and fame —Eve the road of rosea—Valinsky, the stepchild of Fortune, the road of mud and muck. And the three roads, after many windings and twistings, ultimately converge, and, at the end, loom happiness and content. One of the really worth while plajrs, it should not be missed by anyone. A humorous and interesting supporting programme is also screened. Seats may be reserved by telephoning the Albion. THE STORY OF THE ROSARY. In “The Story of the Rosary” Mr Howard has presented to the dramatic world one of those happy strokes of genius which are made only once in a generation, and which retain their charm and appeal to the emotions unimpaired by time and changing taste. When he was called to his country’s service, and in hushed tones they spoke their farewell, what hand more gentle, what heart more eager to seek Heaven’s blessing for him, than that of the woman who loved him? And yet, through the dimness of tear-filled eyes, they beheld the promise of the fadeless day which love had given, and from the hand of sorrow they took the gifts of strength and hope. Then, into the sanctuary of love there intruded the hand of separation, and two hearts knew that love’s sacrifice was greater than its sweetness, for, in the last moments when self had been denied, they reached to the divine. Though the road had grown hard and sorrow chilled them as they fled into exile, they knew, as they bent the knee before the cross, that because of that greater sorrow than theirs, this was the portal to the peace which abideth for ever. The heart that ached in the long, lone hours of separation found solace in a voiceless prayer, and out of the poignancy of grief arose the tender ministry of love. Seats [may be reserved by telephoning the Albion.