AMUSEMENTS

Taihape Daily Times, 9 August 1918, Page 4

AMUSEMENTS

KING’S THEATRE. The lovely homes and fine manners of old Virginia arc features of the brilliant Triangle drama “The Thoroughbred.’ ’ The old Colonel, a veteran, is played by Frank Keenan, and his is a heart-warming performance. He loves horse-racing for the sake of the sport, and the’ sport only, and “Miss Minta” is a beautiful specimen of the thoroughbred herself. There

are some splendid scenes' in the plantation, ; and the jiegroes selected for the drama, are quaint and lovable darkies. The dramatic interest of the story centres round the young person aVIio comes to the little town, to fight everything that he believes to be evil. Among the worst of these is gambling, find partly through his earnest efforts, horse-racing is abolished in the State. The dismay and consternation in the sport-loving community in which the scenes are laid is vividly portrayed. The plot is full of ingenious surprises, and how the parson takes a hand in a gambling transaction, entered into In the real spirit -of right-doing, is cleverly conceived. The camera work Is wonderful. The supports are varied and good, including a Gazette, Keystone Comedy, and a 1000 ft Interest picture. This programme is positively for one night only. 'A special children’s picture will be shown at the Matinee to-morrow afternoon. EVERYBODY'S. A double star programme will be screened at the Town Hall, to-morrow (jSaturday). * ‘ Environment ’ ’ is a typical Mintcr production—sweet and Avholesome filled with smiles and tears. It is laid in a quaint, old fashioned, New England village. Miss Minter is cast as the daughter of the village loafer and ne’er-do-well. On graduation day she meets for the first time the new minister, who promptly proceeds to fall in love, with her, though her clothes are. not so fine as those of her girl friends, and her home is anything but inviting. Through a strange combination of circumstances the heroine is placed in ta decidedly bad light before the minister. For a time he thinks her anything but a "good” girl. But the old saying that "The darkest cloud has a silver lining, ” is aptly illustrated in this picture, for just when all seems hopeless to the little heroine, everything is explained satisfactorily to the pastor and the daughter of the village loafer becomes the bride of the minister.

The second star is a Paramount production “The Girl at Home” with Vivian Martin and Jack Pickford in the leading roles. A comedy and a gazette complete the programme. U T I K U NOTE S. PLAIN AND FANCY DRESS BALL. The ladies’ plain and fancy dress ball was a great success, and all present were enthusiastic over the evening’s enjoyment. A Ladies’ Committee composed of Mesdames V. N. Randolph (secretary), Hawkes, T. Davies, Cox, Eyes, Hebberd, Lewis, Transom, and Brookes, and Miss O’Connor, tastefully decorated the hall with flags, and generally controlled the arrangements with efficiency. Mesdames V. Randolph and Hebberd were M.’sC., while Mrs Lewis (piano) ana Mr. Jackson (violin) supplied the music. Extras were played by Miss Brodrick and Messrs Billows and Tegner. A refreshment stall in charge of Mrs Brookes did a roaring trade. I noticed the following ladies and gentlemen in fancy costumes; Mrs V. N. Randolph, “Irish Colleen”; Mrs Taylor, “Scotch Lassie”; Mrs Eyes, “Milkmaid”; Miss Lyes, “Shepherdess”; 1 Miss A. M. McKenzie, “Moonstruck Pierrot”; Miss M. McKenzie, “Envelope”; Miss D. Swenson, '‘Red Cross Nurse”; Miss Boyd, “Scotch Lassie”; Miss Casey, “Japanese Lady”; Miss Nolan, “Stars and Stripes”; Mr G. Hyland. “Highland Costume”; Master Lyttlejohn, “Nigger”; Mr Lewis, “Cricketer”; Mr R. Gibbs, “Khakhi. Altogether the sum of £l2 will he handed over to the local school funds. The ladies are, of course, looking forward to the gentlemen’s ball which | threatens seriously to rival their ef-1 fort.