AMUSEMENTS.

Taihape Daily Times, Issue 220, 22 February 1917, Page 4

AMUSEMENTS.

THREE STARS. At the Throe Stars last night there was a good attendance, when the programme submitted was much enjoyed. Two very pretty seenics were screened, as well as a very interesting Topical Gazette. But the feature of the evening was the Triange-Keystone comery “Bath Tub Perils, "in which the comical incidents crowded so fast one on the other as almost to take your breath away. The film was a scream from beginning to end. The second, part of the programme was taken up by a patriotic story “The Hand of God,'’ in

which are one or two scenes of dramatic power, worked out with considerable, skill. The programme will be shown tonight for the last time. To-morrow night will be submitted a picture of intense interest to mothers and fathers entitled “inns of the Mothers, ’ ’ and on Saturday night there will be a double star programme of superlative merit.

EVERYBODY’S. A FRENCH MIRACLE. A most remarkable picture is ;n shown in the Town Hall to-night. It is the first French official war picture of any consequence to reach New Zealand. It gives vividly all the most euthriiling scenes from that miracle in warfare, The Defence of Verdun. These pictures wore taken by military photographers through loopholes in the front trenches, so that they might be a living record of what actually occurred. The French have invented phrases for this miracle they’have wrought. They are simple phrases, but the Marseillaise rages in every syllable of them. “You Shall Not Pass’’—this is the battle-cry spoken every hour by France battering the enemy,now at the gates of Verdun. Every hour, for nearly two years of carnage, France has cried that grim cry. For nearly five months her guns have thundered it at Verdun. The Germans dread its awful monotony. 1 They pile their grey ridges and ramparts of dead upon it, an still it rings throguh the smoke and dust—“ You Shall Not Pass.” They drive herds of doomed conscripts into the bottomless pit of death, and as they die they hear the golf mocking murmur in their ears — “You Shall Not Pass!” Verdun. The scene of Germany’s great effort, and its terrible price— No such artillery bombardment :h(as ever been concentrated on so small a front as at Verdun, where the Germans alone have massed nearly 3,000 guns, believing that they would work their way through by sheer weight of metal— The French Artillery, however, has retaliate! most effectively—The ramparts —The Entrance to the Citadel In the •city—The banks of the Meuse—The Place d'Amies—The hospital has not been spared by the Germaij shells Artillery begins the Attack—Heavy guns in Action—While the German guns spend most of their energy in pulverizing fortifications and earthwoiks, the French guns arc employed in mowing down men.

A GREAT COMEDY. ARE YOU A MASON ? Those Avho are looking forward to th e production of this farcical comedy at the Town Hall next Monday night, rhe 26th inst., may be interested to know that when it was produced in Christchurch, a local paper said: “The theatre was packed nast night when the Koval Dramatic and Comedy Company opened its Christchurch season in the comedy farce, “Are You a Mason?” T 0 the playgoers who have arrived at the ago of stage perception within the last decade the play comes as a new one. To the older people its revival is none the less welcome, as it is capably produced, well presented, and satisfyingly acted. None of its old time freshness has gone. Its points, situations, nnd complications are just as ludicrous and involved as over. It seems as though the complexities that arise through through Anro.s Bloodgood and Frank Perry’s passing themselves off as Masons will continue to call forth laughter for many a day. At any rate, last night’s large audience rocked with laughter, showing not only that the play was a good once, but thai it was well plyaod. ’’ The company responsible for the metropolitan success of “Arc You a Mason ’’ is appearing here, and a packed house would appear lu be assured The Box Plan is yfr Cochran’s Piano Depot.