ENTERTAINMENTS.

Taranaki Daily News, 12 June 1926, Page 8

ENTERTAINMENTS.

OPERA HOUSE. “DADDY’S GONE A-HUNTING.” Another New Y’ork stage success has been made into a motion picture. It will be seen at the Opera House to-night only, when Frank Borzage’s first MetroGoldwyn picture, “Daddy’s Gone A-Hunt-ing,” a film version of the famous drama by Zoe Akins, opens. The plot centres on the search of an artist for inspiration and happiness. Julien, the artist, is played by Percy Marmont, and he here brings to the screen one of the finest characterisations he has ever given. Edith, his wife, is played by Alice Joyce, which is her fifth role since returning to pictures after five years of retirement. Virginia Marshall, a clever child actress, is seen in her first important role as Jeanette, the artist’s daughter. Other members of the cast include Holmes Herbert, Edytlie Chapman and Martha Mattox. A full programme of supporting films is showing, and the Opera House orchestra, under the direction of Messrs. Tozer and Bernard, will supply the music. Seats may be reserved at Collier's. THE PEOPLE’S. TWO TREMENDOUS ATTRACTIONS. Wonderful entertainment is offered in the new programme at the People’s, which will be shown as advertised complete on three occasions; this afternoon at 2, and to-night and on Monday night at 7.45. The regular Saturday programme is headed, by the great Fox production, "The Dixie Merchant,” a big romantie racing drama with two most capable and popular stars playing lead in the persons of Madge Bellamy and J. Farrell MacDonald. It is the story of a very human and lovable, though lazy old fellow and his great love is his horse, “Marseillaise.” To keep her as a racing horse should be kept, he mortgages his home and. finally is turned penniless into the world. However, his philosophy is that something will turn up —and it usually does. An-, other great attraction which has been eagerly anticipated is Chapter 1 of Universal’s giant serial, “Samson of the Circus” in which Joe Bonomo, the world’s strongest man, appears together with a complete eireus each week. The great free bicycle competition also commences at the matinee and the first word of the puzzle sentence will be shown at each of the three performances, at all of which no alteration will be made in the People’s usual admission prices. EVERYBODY’S. A BILL OF BRIGHT COMEDY. “Clothes Make the Pirate,” is an adaptation of the well-known novel of the same title from the pen of Halman Day. This droll tale with its Sabatini touch of romance was directed by Maurice Tourneur. Leon Errol is starred with fascinating Dorothy Gish. As a henpecked little tailor who shinks in terror before his shrewish wife, Errol imagines himself the captain of a pirate band sailing the Seven Seas. By a strange twist of fate he realises his dreams, and the ensuing events are, as amusing and colourful as they are unusual. Dorothy Gish, Nita Naldi, and other stars are prominent in the cast. Admirably maintaining the especially high standard attained by the star attraction is the supporting programme submitted, which includes the latest Gaumont Graphic, a laughable “Felix the Cat” cartoon, entitled “A Friend in Need,”- and “Just What the Doctor Ordered,” a beautiful Canadian scenic. Monday’s new programme is headed by Universal’s tremendous production, “Those Who Judge.” MALE CHOIR CONCERT. The officials at the box office have been kept busy with a constant stream of people desirous of securing their seats for Monday’s night’s concert. Miss Dulcie Mitchell makes her initial appearance before a New Plymouth audience and the following is an extract from a Wellington paper reporting on her recent performance: "Miss Dulcie Mitchell was preceded by a reputation which demanded great things of her, and her beautifully full and rich contralto immediately delighted her audience. Miss Mitchell’s first appearance in New Zealand after a four yours’ European tour was a triumph; a notable exposition of voice culture and dramatic interpretation gleaned from famous European masters. Possessed of a wonderful range and. fullness of tone, her performance -was one that made a lasting impression on lovers of true art. Miss Mitchell reached her great success in her operatic numbers. She sang eleven songs and her audience -wanted, more.” Mrs. Jemison, besides playing two beautiful pianoforte solos, will accompany Miss Mitchell in her songs and this should prove a very happy combination. The Male Choir will render six numbers, all of which have been specially prepared under the baton of Mi*. W. L. Hay. The ever-popular Melody Four, who have not appeared for some time with . the Male Choir, will offer some entirely new works as well as some old favourites. Intending patrons are urged to book at Collier’s as early as convenient to secure desirable seats. THE ENGLISH FUTURISTS. That delightful band of entertainers, the English Futurists, are due at the Opera House on Thursday and Saturday next week for their farewell visit. They are promising us entirely new programmes, so we are assured of a good time. All will well remember the pleasure derived by playgoers on the occasion of their last visit in February, and will eagerly look forward to the new offerings. Delightfully bright and clean, original and clever, and presented with such remarkable speed,, they offer a programme it would be hard to’ excel. Since their last visit to New Plymouth tfley have toured right through both islands with great success, and in Christchurch "house full” boards were in evidence for a fortnight. The prices for the New Plymouth season will be as before, 4s, 3s and 2s, and the box plan opens at Collier’s on Monday. “THE PHANTOM OF THE OPERA.” Massive concrete foundations were sunk and steel girders fabricated and, incidentally, the first all-steel motion picture set in the history of the industry. This is the huge reproduction of ;he Paris Opera, used for the production

of “The Phantom of the Opera,” Universal’s successor to “The Hunchback of Notre Dame,” which is announced for screening at the Opera House, commencing Monday, June 21. Because of the big crowds to bo placed on the grand staircase, in the many boxes and big auditorium and on the stage, and several hundred people appear in ballets and other spectacles, the usual wooden construction in studios was abandoned. The entire set was made in steel and concrete, just as modern office buildings are constructed. Some idea of the hugeness of the big steel set may be gained when* it is realised that the main opera auditorium was lined with boxes which seated as many people as the largest theatres in America, outside of the floor seating arrangements. The entire scenic investiture rivals, if it does not eclipse, the sets constructed in 1922 for the Victor Hugo masterpiece. The story enacted in these settings is a gripping mystery dealing with the "Opera Ghost,” enacted by Lon Chaney, a weird figure of darkness whose activities spread nameless terror through the gay throngs of the brilliant opera. Mary Philbin, Universal’s wonder girl, plays Christine, the heroine, and Norman Kerry, Raoul, her lover and rescuer. Arthur Edmund Carewe as the mysterious “Persian,” Gibson Gowland. as “Simon,” Nemesis of the “Phantom,” Virginia Pearson, John Sainpolis and twenty-five other principals as well as four thousand extras took part in the play. The gorgeous opera scenes were photographed in colour to add to their attractiveness.