ENTERTAINMENTS

Taranaki Daily News, 7 December 1929, Page 5

ENTERTAINMENTS

EVERYBODY’S THEATRE.

MONSTER MATINEE TO-DAY, 2 P.M

It is a long time since the management have had the pleasure of presenting and recommending a picture of the undoubted worth of “The Four Feathers,” produced by Paramount, but after, viewing it at a private screening yesterday afternoon we do not hesitate to say that it is the most remarkable film ever presented in New Plymouth, This picture brings to your eyes scenes that have never before been recorded by a camera, and are calculated to give you the greatest thrills of your lifetime. “The. Four Feathers” tells a story of romance and British courage that takes you. from the flowered lanes of England to the acrid heat of the Sudan. To enact this story from the pen of A. E. W. Mason, Paramount combed their resources for the best actors available. And their choice has fallen to a group of players whose popularity and histrionic ability is beyond doubt. Richard Arlen is the young man who receives the four feathers of cowardice. Three of them come from his brother officers, William Powell, Theodor von Eltz and Clive Brook. The fourth is from his sweetheart, Fay Wray, who is brokenhearted at his action in resigning his commission on the eve of the -war. How he retrieves his honour and her love is told in a thrilling manner in “The Four Feathers.” . This great Paramount picture will commence at ■ Everybody’s Theatre to-day .at a monster matinee at 2 p.m., and again to-night at 8 p.m. It will also show on Monday and Tuesday nights.

PEOPLE’S TALKIES.

BIG MATINEE TO-DAY, 2 P.M.

Rigorous tests -for her vocal- qualities i were given to Clara Bow before it was I announced that the “It” girl had a good [ voice for the audible screen. After the tests were made work was started on ! her first all-talking production, “The Wild Party,” commencing at the People’s Talkies to-day at 2 p.m. and 8 p.m. In this picture, which deals with the caprices of flaming youth, Miss Bow is required to develop an “Americanese” inflection and manner in her speech, and she does the near-slang, dialogue with a discerning intelligence which will be a pleasant experience for the millions .who have seen her in films, but who have never heard her voice heretofore. Dorothy Arzner, only woman director in the land ©f celluloid drama, directed “The Wild Party,” which is an adaptation of a story by Warner Fabian, author of “Flaming Youth.” The screen play is a tale of campus life and its attendant hours of high whoopee, and gives a faithful portrayal of the carefree existence that is synonymous with unfettered youth as we find it to-day. The supporting programme includes Favourite Melodies (featuring Ruth Elting), Two Little Chinese Maids (novelty singing presentation) and Boyhood Days (singing, talking and musical act).

OPERA HOUSE.

TWO BIG FEATURES TO-NIGHT.

At the Opera House to-night the management are presenting two delightful silent features accompanied by delightful music played by the Opera House Orchestra. The first feature to be screened will be a Continental production, “Parisiennes,” starring Miles Mander, Marget Manstad and many others. It tells how an actress in the trammels of an unscrupulous playwright weds an old admirer, a doctor, in a fit of pique, and, of course, finds out that she really loves the playwright, after all. To complicate matters, her sister loves the doctor. How this amorous quartette finally sort itfiemselves out to the own and everyone’s satisfaction is told in a deliciously piquant fashion, with many comedy moments interspersed with strong dramatic situations. The second attraction is entitled .“The Californan Mail,” and stars popular Ken Maynard. It has all the shooting, stunting and thrills one has come to expect and look for in the offerings of this good-looking action star. The story deals with the advent of the first express companies into the west, and the real foundation of a scheduled means of transportation via stage coach. The entire theme has been built about the stage coach and the tremendous, part it played, not only in. the development of the west, but in maintaining a nation. Tarzan, the wonder horse, and a big cast are featured in support. There is a gazette to open.

WESTMINSTER GLEE SINGERS.

OUTSTANDING ENTERTAINMENT

The musical event of the current season Will take place here on November 16 and 17 when the famous Westminster Glee Singers will give two concerts in the New Plymouth Opera House. A unique body, the Westminster Glee Singers are made up of men and boys selected from the most famous cathedral choirs in England, particularly Westminster Abbey, St. Paul’s, St. George’s, Windsor and Christ - Church Cathedral. They come direct from a remarkable series of triumphs in Canada through which they have been touring continuously for eighteen months, filling the largest auditoriums to overflowing and making return visits to cities and towns again and again with the same results. The repertoire of the singers is remarkable. They are equally at home with sacred or secular music. Their singing is marked by perfect balance of voices, beauty of expression, absolute precision and coordination, and a sonority and splendour of tone, particularly in their unaccompanied selections, that recalls the finest singing in the old English cathedrals. Their programmes include a certain number of sacred pieces, but it is mainly in secular selections that these masters of cathedral singing make their greatest appeal. The adult artists include Edward Branscombe, for ten years tenor soloist at Westminster Abbey; Albert J. Greene, from the London Opera House; Donald Reid, solo alto St. Paul’s Cathedral; William Lowry, soloist St. Paul’s; Charles O’Connor, the eminent Irish tenor and gifted harpist; Ernest McKinlay, tenor; Charles Draper, a basso well-known in operatic circles; James Barber, celebrated. Scottish basso; the six boy sopranos from London

Church choirs are Douglas Bartrip, Vincent Potley, Harry Fearn, Norman Clarke, Alan Goodercd. Those singers have a repertoire of over one hundred and fifty pieces, covering the entire range of English musical culture at its best. The New Zealand tour is under the direction of Henry Hayward by arrangement with Edward Branscombe, the organiser of the Empire tour. The box plans for the two nights are now open at Collier’s. Concessions are offered to parties from schools and colleges. On Saturday next the company appears in Stratford.

JOURNEY’S END.

DRAMA WITH HIGH REPUTATION.

-r The principal character in End,” the famous drama to be staged by the J. C. Williamson, Ltd., management at the New Plymouth ; Opera House for one night only on Wednesday, December 18, is Captain Stanhope. After being three years in the thick of the fighting during the Great War, he is revealed as a courageous soldier, respected by his men, but a slave to the whisky bottle. He is far from pleased when into his company comes Second Lieutenant Raleigh, a brother of a young lady with whom Stanhope is on friendly terms, as he fears the newcomer will acquaint his sister of the captain’s drinking habits. He therefore exercises his right to censor his first letter, but when it is handed to him he does not do so. Lieutenant Osborne, the second in command, unwillingly looks through the letter and finds that it contains nothing but praise of Stanhope. Mr. Reginald Tate, a recent arrival from England, achieved an outstanding triumph in the role of the valiant but highly strung, war-weary Captain Stanhope. “His loyalty to his men, the revelation of his own fears, his dressing down of the funky Hibbert,” wrote a Melbourne/ critic, “and his grief at the loss of his comrades and his final exit were all brilliantly portrayed.” Harvey Adams has, it is said, achieved his best success in the role of Lieut. Osborne, the former schoolmaster, Affectionately known as “Uncle.” Osborne is the guide, philosopher and friend of the company. Playgoers will be glad to witness Lewis Shaw, who recently visited New Zealand in “Young Woodley," in another role. It is said that he is magnificent as Lieutenant Raleigh. Others who have assisted to make “Journey’s End” the •most successful play Australia lias ever known are Ambrose Flower, Alan Lawrence, Vincent Lawson, /Reginald Dane, all of whom hail from the principal English theatres, and John Fernside, Reginald Wykeham, George Jennings, Redge Carey and Arthur Stigant, jun. The fact that “Journey’s End” has not yet been staged in Sydney will prevent a long season being played In the centres of New Zealand, so only one performance can be given/in New Plymouth. The"box plans open at Collier’s' on Monday, December 16.