AMUSEMENTS.

Taranaki Daily News, Volume LI, Issue 328, 21 January 1909, Page 3

AMUSEMENTS.

MADAME ADA CKOSKLEY'S CONCERT. At Avery's this morning the box plan will be opened for the only concent to lie given on 1 uesday night next by the .famous Australian Contralto Madame Adi Crosslev. and judging by the numerous enquiries to the Box oflice arrangement-, lii.'.M-c is going to be a very large demand for seals. Madame Crossley's party is the strongest combination of concert artisls that has ever visited Australasia, and includes four gentlemen, all of whom are in the zenith of their autistic success. It was only because of the great personal friendship that they entertained for her that she was able to induce t'heni to accompany her to Australasia. Foremost amongst them is Mr. Percy Grainger, Australia's brilliant pianist, next the great English tenor, Mr. John Harrison, .Mr. la>ou Sumotini, the brilliant young Dutch violinist, and Mr. Jay Ryan, the baritone who received no less than six encores in Christchurch for his rendering of "Coleen Bawn." Five shilling and half-crown tickets can be purchased at Avery's. WEST'S PICTURES.

" West's Pictures." The name is a by-word now, and it represents the very best in living picture entertainments. Last night saw the opening of an extended season in New Plymouth. A good house greeted the return of Mr. West's great show. If the enthusiastic praise of last night's patrons is any criterion, the Theatre Royal will be crowded to-night, when last evening's remarkably fine programme will be repeated. One noticeable improvement on previous shows is that the kineniatograph itself was covered in, rendering the auditorium completely dark, and the pictures consequently more distinct. The lights over the orchestral stands, too, were through green shades, arid prevented from throwing the glimmer upon the screen and spoiling the illumination of the pictures. The great picture of the evening, and it is undoubtedly a great picture, or series of pictures, depicted tlie Italian naval manoeuvres. Tire groat ironclads., torpedo vessels, and cruisers were shown under manipulation at sea.Big gun practice, depicting not only the discharge and the recoil, but the actual mechanism of the guns and the process of loading alio unloading them, was depicted in a fine series. Then followed the tactics of a landing party ! of marines, and the occupation of a I town by the. navals. This series of pictures was secured at enormous •expense, and is shown in the natural colour photo process. The pictures were exhibited before Admiral Sir John Fisher and the immediate effect of that was an order that the British fleet must | never be kinomatographed in the same way. The film showing life in the Egyptian Soudan, and picturesque Holland, were remarkably interesting, and, like the nival series, undoubtedly educative. In the second half of the programme "Christmas from the birth of Christ to the present century" was a line film. Perhaps the most loudly applauded was the set of pictures of Johnson and Bums training for the recent fight for the world's championship. These were the major items, but sandwiched in between was a fine collection of humorous and "fake" pictures. What pleased many patrons, and must continue to entertain thousands so long as their engagement lasts, was the grand musical programme played continuously throughout the evening by De Groen's Vice-Regal Orchestra. To-night the programme is to he repeated. To-morrow, Saturday, and Monday will see change programmes. A matinee performance will be given on Saturday afternoon.