ENTERTAINMENTS

Taranaki Daily News, Volume LIV, Issue 233, 30 March 1912, Page 4

ENTERTAINMENTS

EMPIRE PICTURES. At.the Empire Theatre last evening the most interesting of all the dramas as yet screened by the enterprising management, "A Victim of the Mormons," by the Nordisk Co., was shown to iv packed house. The opening part of the story shows how a handsome young 'Mormon is introduced by a friend to the latter's family, in which there is a young and charming daughter. The two become quite intimate, and ultimately he asks her to elope. She does so, and on discovering her absence her friends acquaint the police, and an order is issued for their immediate arrest. Two detectives at once set out to watch the liner, which is bound for New York.' Larson, however, calls with Nina at the residence of some old friends, whom he bribes to assist him to escape. A woman, accompanied by a young man. leaves the house, and they board the liner, leading the detective's astray. The substitutes are arrested, and the subterfuge is not discovered until they are brought before the chief of police. By this time, however, the eloping couple arc, half way to New York. Once on boai'd, Larson drugs the girl, gags her and imprisons her in the cabin? The wireless operator suspects that he is probably the Mormon who is wanted, and is in the act of communicating with the police at New York when Larson overpowers him, leaving him gagged and apparently helpless. lie also destrovs the mechanism of the transmitter. The operator manages to release the handkerchief from his mouth, and arouses the officers on the boat, who at once release him, but by this time the boat has arrived at New York and the couple have escaped. Two friends of the girl announce their intention of starting for Utah in pursuit. Meantime Larson has arrived home, and is about to conceal the girl when the housekeeper, who proves a friend in need, enters and frustrates his plan. He roughly orders her to depart, and starts to leave the house with bis captive. On second thoughts he returns, and through a trap door carries the girl dbwn a dark taysterious passage and shuts her up in a, cellar. The pursuers arrive, and with the assistance of the housekeeper eventually find Larson, who refuses to confess where Nina is. Instead, 'he pulls up a trap door and drops to the room in which the girl is concealed. The pursuers catch sight of her, and endeavor to release her by lowering down a line in the shape of curtains tied together. When the girl is pulled half way up to the top floor Larson whips out his revolver and fires at her. and she drops, apparently lifeless, on the floor. By this time the secret door has been discovered and the girl released. Larsen, finding all his hopes defeated, finally shoots himself, and the girl recovers and is restored to her parents.

Other interesting subjects are the Gaumont Graphic, 'The Girl and the Fugitive," "The Cowboy's Bride" (a high-class drama), and "Nature Studies at the Zoo," while in the comic line Five Bold Bad Men" and a "First Aid Flirtation" provide considerable amusement. The programme will be repeated at the matinee this afternoon and also this evening. "THE LAND OF THE SHAMROCK." It is probably owing to the popularity of the prices charged and the quick changes which they supply that the Taylor-Carrington Company have achieved quite a considerable vogue in the country. The company, in fact, have adopted New Zealand quite as much as a large section of playgoers have adopted the company. There was a good house at the Theatre Royal last night when the Irish drama "The Land o' the Shamrock" was produced. The piece is an ingenious mixture of "Con the Shaughraun" and "Arrah-na-Pogue," blessed with all the regular features of Irish dramatic and comedic work. It met with a warm appreciation from an enthusiastic audience, and was evenly played by a good cast. Miss Ella Carnngton made a delightful Kathleen, and Mr. Charlie Taylor was a typical Irish "bhoy." They were well supported by 'Misses Mary Davern and Esme Roynane, and Messrs J. W. Meade, F. Nort'hcote, J. A. Jamieson, and others. The play was nicely dressed and well mounted. FASOLA. THE INDIAN FAKIR. Fasola, the great Indian magician, who appears in the Theatre Royal next Thursday evening, owns a magnificent' lion. It is a genuine lion, not a pantomime animal, but a real live specimen. Although people will not see The Lion ana the Lady" performance in New Plymouth, Fasola has several other thriil-1 mg acts which he will present. One of ' the most remarkable is the disappearing piano, a decidedly mysterious performance. Variety is added to the pro-' gramme by the turns of several capable artists, all specially selected by John luiller and Sons. Exceptionally' fine is the singing of the Windsor choristers, led by Master James lies, the boy soprano, who sang before the King Seats may be booked at Collier's.