ENTERTAINMENTS

Taranaki Daily News, Volume LIV, Issue 188, 15 January 1912, Page 8

ENTERTAINMENTS

EMPIRE THEATRES.

On Saturday evening the change of programme drew a good house and some excellent subjects were screened. Despite the warm night, the new theatre was delightfully cool, due to two electric fans having been fitted in during the day. Two more fans are to be installed at an early date. This innova- t tion will be heartily welcomed by < patrons, as will the, promenade verandah j to the dress circle when completed. The } company's new operator (Mr Brandon j Haughton) manipulated the moving s films with much success, and an appreci- : ated programme of music was put on by i the orchestra. The programme was a well i varied one. and found favor. "Pathe Gazette," ever an interesting film, introduced many good subjects. One, depicting the veterans who took part in the wild mad ride of Cardigan's brave and noble six hundred at Balaclava, drew forth cheers from the audience. A splendid star industrial film is that illustrative of the home of the famous Cullinan diamond, showing the quarrying, sluic ing, sorting, etc.-, of a great diamond field. "The Temptations of a Great City" is a subject full of interest. Particulars of this fine film have already been published. A beautiful nature study is that depicting "Winter Flowers." All lovers of botany should not fail to see this film. There is aj 1 fine assortment of other films, including some very laughable comics.' The' programme will be again shown to-night and to-morrow night, and provides a good two hours' entertainment. MR. H. B. IRVING IN HAMLET. Theatregoers of New Plymouth are al-' ready looking forward eagerly to the ap- ■ pearance on Monday next of the famous! English actor, Mr. H. B. Irving, and when he makes his debut here as "Hamlet" he will probably be welcomed by the largest and most representative audience that has ever filled our local theatre v Mr. Irving's initial appearance in Sydney was made the occasion for a remarkable demonstration, but it is questionable whether anything has been witnessed in any part of the world like the _ enthusiasm with whiqh the record audience greeted him when he made his first appearance in Auckland recently. As the play proceeded so did the excitement increase, and at the close of the performance the curtain had to be raised again and again before the vast audience would' leave the theatre. Writing on this performance, the Herald critic says:—"The importance of the advent of Mr. Irving was so well recognised that the theatre was early beseiged, and long before the curtain rose the auditorium was full, whilst many hundreds of disappointed theatregoers had been reluctantly turned away. It was natural that] the mental appetites of playgoers should have been whetted by the prospects o,f seeing Hamlet' as London sees it. The impression conveyed at the outset by Mr. Irving is the pathetic loneliness of the Danish Prince. In the midst of the life and animation of his uncle's court Hamlet stands aloof. His solitude in the crowd is artistically, marked, and the actor subtly conveys' his turmoil of mind, his resentment, his instinctive intuition of the shadow of guilt -that hangs, an invisible pall, over the throne of the usurper. Hamlet becomes a wise and ever watchful dissembler. Mr. Irving reveals the Prince now as a revengeful man, actually inspired- by his temporary madness to simulate a madness that shall bear a permanent and hopeless appearance to the casual onlooker. Thus does he deceive those whom it is his life-purpose to entrap. In the interpretation of this side of the character Mr. Irving is wonderfully impressive. The onlooker is consistently aware of the tragic undercurrent which stimulates his actions, until the ultimate achievement of his obi ject is waited with baited breath. Box plans will be opened at 8 o'clock on Thursday morning next at Collier's.