AMUSEMENTS.

Taranaki Daily News, Volume LII, Issue 101, 26 May 1909, Page 2

AMUSEMENTS.

WEST'S PICTI'KES. The management of West's pictures being alive to the necessity of bringing before the public eye any event of interest or any advanced development in tlie moving picture business, have secured from .Messrs.. l'athe i''rcrcs, of Paris, the exclusive rights to reproduce their series of "art stuuics." Tiie completeness of tliese studies, it is claimed, raises them to a far higher level than the ordinary moving pictures, as the co-operation of some of the leading dramatic artistes in Europe Ims been secured to ponrlray the many characters, and the plots of the dramas have been compiled by tie best authors of the day. In the opening next Monday, .May Jl, in tlie Tneatrc Royal, several of 'these studies will Ire introduced. Each art study, it is said, has sonicthing distinctive about it, and each is promised to rivet tile attention from start to finish. Other subjects to be submitted include much of a scenic and industrial nature, interspersed with dramatic, and comic reliefs. All the pictures will be suitably accompanied by the popular Uc Omen's Viceregal Orchestra, a combination of twelve fustclass musicians. Special attention is drawn to the popular charge of admission, and seats can be reserved at the Collier and Colonial "Piano Company's.

THE MERRY WIDOW. . In the approaching visit of the Royal Comic Opera Co. the public will'liave an opportunity of witnessing the finest caste that'.Mr. ,1. C. Williamson lias presented to New Zealand for many years, if ever before. In Frank [.char's brilliant work, "The Merry Widow," this conipanv has been breaking records for the past IS months, the latest being at Auckland, where, 30(10 seats were hooked before the first performance. Mr. C. 11. Smith writes (hat he believes this must constitute a record for the. world, taking the population of the city as a basis This record was established despite the fact that Melba was appearing tno-samo week and another big attraction had its bills on the hoardings. Returning to the company's personnel, Miss Elorrin Young will be seen for the first time here as Sonia (the merry widow), and Mr. Andrew lligginson, a most delightful light baritone, will assume, the role of the debonuair Prince Danilo, who so successfully lays siege to the heart of the susceptible widow. Other excellent parts—lhere are no bad ones in tlie opera—will be in the hands of Mr. Reginald Roberts. Miss Nellie Wilson, Mr. W. S. Percy, Mr. D. O'Connor, and Miss Fanny Dango. "The Merry Widow" will be played here on June 7th.