AMUSEMENTS.

Taranaki Daily News, Volume L, Issue 60, 12 September 1907, Page 2

AMUSEMENTS.

MACK'S riCTUKES. Mack's Pictures drew a large crowd to the Theatre Royal last night. A iirst-class entertainment was given, and it was easily apparent that the audience fully appreciated the programme provided. This comprised several novelties. A wonderfully contrived trick film depicted an astronomer's journey around the stars in seareli of some of the bewitching maidens revealed to him by his telescope. His flight through space, in and out and amongst the stars, enclosed in a great soap-bubble, his arrival at the throne of Venus, Ms amorousness, ana his ignominious ejection, made one of the most remarkable series of moving pictures yet shown. A fibn of absorbing interest showed a trial of Santos Duiuont's aeroplane. Another instructive series of photographs traced the building of a railway engine and its working. The "All Blacks in Australia" series was productive of great enthusiasm, particularly amongst the juvenile section, and great interest was taken also in some capital moving pictures of the Webb-Towns sculling match for the championship of the world. In a lengthy programme there was an abundance of comic films, and some of the incidents were mirth-provoking in the extreme, more particularly in "The Escaped Lunatic," "The Interrupted Elopement," and "A Terrible Night." A notable feature was the brilliant and steady lighting of the pictures, the illuminaut being electricity from the borough supply. At the commencement of the second part of the programme Mr. Jess Collier gave an unique ventriloquial entertainment, his Maori chief Huia delivering the ilaori welcome and war-cry. An unusually fine piece of voice-throwing imitated the voice of a man in the descent and ascent of a ladder, and the approach of a barking dog. The entertainment last night was of such merit that another bumper house is almost a certainty for the second performance to-night.

"MOTHER GOOSE." ' The pantomime should prove n. deadedly acceptable dish with local theatregoers, as nothing to etpual this produc-: tion has lieen seen in this colony be-' fore. Mr vVilliamson's company of 730 artists contains many names well known in the theatrical wprld on the Continent and in England. The performers have been specially selected as suited to their different parts. Among the leading members are Harry Phjdora, Harry Shine, H. H. Wallace, G. Victor, Loydall, JiMdic and Deeima McLean, iQuecn and Le Brun, 0. Gushing, Olivo Godwin, Mabelle Morgan, Irene Dillon, anjl hosts of others. A number of little dots are also in the caste, and aire all voted as being exceptionally clever. A pantomime without children would lose much attraction. The story, which is naturally a fairy tale, takes the audience through two acts and ten scenes. Ihe scenery, which is painted and designed by the best artists on Mr J. U Williamsons staff, contain some brffit' ant pageants. The Deserted Kuins, pother Goose's Cottage, The Hall of Gold, .through Cloudland and Gooseland arc some 0 f the principal scene,,., the dances include tlfe Tb£, a novel hunting and the magnificent floral unllew. Ihe novel spectacular effect of the illuminated swings is one of the popular features of the show. The speciality artists included in the cofrnpuny are numerous and clever. The show promises to bo of exceptional attractiveness.