ENTERTAINMENTS.

Taranaki Daily News, 11 June 1921, Page 7

ENTERTAINMENTS.

EVERYBODY’S. LAST NIGHT OF "MALE AND FEMALE.” "Male and Female,” showing to-day at the matinee at 2 and concluding tonight, stands forth without a blemish of any kind. Clever, interesting, and vastly entertaining, it has been produced by Cecil B. De Mille, with all that craftsman’s genius for imparting beauty and distinction, semblance and vitality to his screen work. “Male arid Female” towers far above the ordinary film. Picture-goers of all classes cannot but like it, and the more intelligence one brings to it the greater is the relish carried away. In "Male and Female” a tragic note has been introduced which found no place in the original. This Consists of a Babylonian episode, suggested by Henley’s lines, “When I was a king in'Babylcn and you were a Christian slave.” The interpolation fits nicely into the picture, and gives it an added interest of spectacular beauty and dramatic intensity. It is a great moment in this episode when Gloria Swanson, in the role of the Christian slave, descends the steps to the arena where the lions and martyrdom await her. Gloria Swanson is also the Lady Mary of the play, and a finer impersonation than that which she gives could hardly be imagined. Thomas Meighan as Crichton, realises all one’s expectations; his is a masterly study. Theodore Roberts plays Lord Loam in comedy vein, and an excellent piece of characterisation it is. Good work is done by Raymond Hatton, Robert Cain and Lila Lee of the supporting cast. Seats may be reserved at Collier’s. THE PEOPLE’S. "THE INVISIBLE DIVORCE.” With to-day’s new bill, commencing at the matinee at 2 p.m., a special Selznick all-star film will be presented. “The Invisible Divorce” is the photodramatisation of Leila Burton Well’s famous novel of the same name. Visible divorces and other marital troubles are not uncommon enough in this world of tangled lives and misunderstood motives to be of more than passing interest, but an invisible divorce is a situation which merits acute attenton. This is a remarkable and vivid story of modern life that begins where most stories leave off —the marriage. “Smashing Barriers,” Gazette, and a big two-reel comedy are also on this programme.

THE EMPIRE. <f THE GREAT AIR ROBBERY.” MATINEE TO-DAY AT 2 P.M. Commencing to-day at the special matinee at 2 p.m. Ormer Locklear will appear in his greatest picture, “The Great Air Robbery,” described as a romance of to-day which will be the actuality of to-morrow—piracy in the air lanes! A terrorising certainty which crowds the mind with pictures of the vivid drama soon to take place in the •vast ocean of the skies. A picture in which you are lifted from your seat to rush, to roar, to dive through the immensity of space—to hang at a rope’s end a mile above the earth while the •woman you love sweeps on above you, •helpless in the clutches of a bandit of the air. Mayhap you will see many years from now one other human being with the ice-cold nerve of Ormer Lock* 7 lear in this amazing, overwhelming, stupefying Universal-Jewel production, but until that far-off day “The Great Air Robbery” will be Number 1 of all the pictures ever made above the surface of the earth. A thriller in which the sky’s the limit. The bill includes the rip-snorting "Joe Martin” comedy, "A Wild Night,” and believe us the kiddies have never seen anything funnier in Shadowland. The season concludes with Monday night’s performance. Reserves at ColHeris. SCARLET AND WHITE DANCE.

The above unique dance, which is to take place in the Kawaroa Park bungalow next Thursday evening, promises to be one of the most spectacular dances that has been held in New Plymouth for a very long time, for no matter where one goes you hear the Scarlet and White Dance spoken of. The grand march should be one of the prettiest marches seen in New Plymouth, and judging by the large number of ladies that intend wearing scarlet and white dresses, the judges (Mrs. C .H. Weston and Mrs. E. A. Walker) will no doubt have a very difficult task in front of them in selecting the winners. Both these ladies have very kindly donated prizes for the winners. As there is every indication of the bungalow being packed to its utmost capacity, it will be advisable for all those that intend taking part in the grand march to be tflbre as early as they can. Miss Rita Sole will supply the music for this pretty march, and she also intends putting on a first-class programme of music for the dance. The supper arrangement will be in the hands of a splendid ladies’ committee. The whole of the proceeds of this dance are to be handed over to the girls’ hostel fund. NEW ZEALAND DIGGERS. . ELTHAMj TO-NIGHT. To-night should witness a scene of enthusiastic mirth and merriment, when the New Zealand Diggers will return to Eltham Town Hall and present an entirely new programme of humorous items, musical gems, potted revues brilliant ensembles, clever comedy sketches, and eccentric dances from a repertoire that has been specially prepared for this farewell season. The comedy sketch, “The Admirable Fleming,” as played by the Diggers at the Aldwych Theatre, Strand; and Victoria Palace, London ie a particularly clever number, with a very unexpected ending. Gus. Dawson (a young officer) and Tano Fama (his batman) are the principal characters. The Maori ecena is another brilliant piece of stage-craft, the costumes, scenery and lighting effects being beautiful and picturesque. Frank Perkins (a Maori chief) will sing “Waiata Maori. Stan. Lawson, as a Maori maid, adds yet another success to his long list of impersonation” triumphs. The burlesque, “Murphy Meets the Governor,” is a broadly humorous sketch, with Gus. Dawson in the leading comedy character, Mdlle Tuttifrutti, and is provocative of much mirth and merriment. Writing of their performance in Sydney, the Sun says: “The Diggers showed great versa* tilitv, and possess good voices, which were much appreciated by the audience. The burlesque and dancing were other supports which went merrily, and were for much hilarity, gts®-

Lawson is a brilliant success. There have been many less attractive women on the stage, and also off it, and Mr. Lawson gave the impersonation admirably.” For this, their farewell to New Zealand, the Diggers have determined to surpass all their previous entertainments, and intending patrons can look forward with pleasurable anticipation to the generous programme.