ENTERTAINMENTS

Taranaki Daily News, Volume LIV, Issue 214, 8 March 1912, Page 8

ENTERTAINMENTS

EMPIRE PICTURE PALACE. J "THE MYSTERY OF A HANSOM j CAB." j The "Hansom Cab" has decidedly hit 1 the taste of the New Plymouth public. East night at a quarter to eight the dress circle and pit were crowded, and before the advertised time of starting the seating of the stalls was also' fully taxed. Lovers of the sensational could not complain of the absence of thrills in last night's programme. From start to finish "The Mystery of a Hansom Cab" firmly gripped the audience with, its sensationalism. It is another tribute ■ to the motion picture to see the whole strange story enacted before your eyes in a manner that no book couid' convey, no drama could represent. You must recollect that all the scenes are natural. You see the mysterious cab as it leaves Collins street, traverses Princess abridge, and on along the St. Kilda road, Burke street, the Orient Hotel,. Town Hall clock, and many other familiar , places are introduced. Mr. Alfred Boothman makes the production a. distinct success bv the graphic recital of :J Mark Frettleby s early life, his infatuation for [Rosanna Moore, the secret marriage, the [boredom of- station life, and' Rosanna's elopement with Squatter Kelly. Later I comes the news of her supposed death. [lnto his sunshine Frettleby leads another bride, and thus the machinery of many lives is sorted, and the propul- [ sion, of the engine of fate is heard again and again in the echo of its methodical thud. The story then' jumps twenty [years, and after many thrilling scenes ,occurs the mysterious murder in the [cab. Who was the man? That is the secret of the mystery. You must come land see it for yourself, for here we must cease any further explanations. We may, however, state in conclusion that no stronger acted drama has been witnessed on or off the stage. "The Mystery" will be shown again to-night and f»r the last time at the matinee tomorrow.

"MISS LANCASHIRE, LTD." Owing to the wet weather there was only a fair attendance at the Theatre Royal last night to witness the second performance of "Miss Lancashire, Ltd.," by Miss Marie Baines' new English Comedy Company. The piece,' which is brimful of humorous situations, was put through without a hitch. Mias Baines scored a hit with her impersonation of a child's trip to Blackpool, whilst the lyric tenor, Mr. Don Llewellyn, again won much favor.