ENTERTAINMENTS

Taranaki Daily News, Volume LIV, Issue 236, 3 April 1912, Page 4

ENTERTAINMENTS

EMPIRE PICTURE PALACE. RIDER HAGGARD'S "SHE." To-night there will be another change of programme at the Empire, when the gorgeous and. mystifying motion picture production of Rider Haggard's celebrated novel '"She" will be the star attraction. A story like "She," the weird and mysterious tale from the gifted pen of Rider Haggard, is a natural temptation, to an ambitious and capable maker of films, and the Tannhauser company have succumbed to the temptation in a two reel production. About two years ago when the two and three reel production was regarded as a curiosity, the ' Edison Company made a motion picture version of the story (shown in the Theatre Royal by the Biograph Picture Co) in one reel. It was an artistic masterpiece, and despite the fact that only the few who read the story could thoroughly understand and enjoy the picture, it gained no small popularity and was justly considered one of the early moving picture classics. The Tannliauaer Co., in filming popular fiction and well-known dramas are guided by a controlling desire to make the story clear to the general public. In the present production they have succeeded in making a mysterious and complicated novel very plain to the average moving picture patron, and in so doing tliey have at the same time kept up.their high standard of art and dignity in rendering this strange piece of fiction into moving pictures. The Vitagraph Co.'a magnificent Scotch masterpiece, "Auld Lung Syne," will be included on to-night's programme. Of this picture much could be written, and there would still be much to write. It is undoubtedly the most charming picture poem that has ever Eeen produced. FASOLA, THE INDIAN FAKIR. One of the mysteries which Fasola presents to his audience is that whereby he allows himself to be securely locked in stocks, and then absolutely frees himself without unlocking the stocks. While this particular act is being performed, the audience is invited to appoint a committee from amongst themselves to guard against trickery. Fasola will perform the act, amongst many others, at the Theatre Royal to-morrow evening. Another effective performance is the "cannon act." Fasola places a lady in a large cannon. The latter is fired, and immediately afterwards the My is re-j leased from a, cabinet some distance away. Fasola will make a donation of £IOO to any charity if it can be proved that the lady released 1 from the cabinet is not identical with the one fired from the cannon, Everything which Fasola performs is unique," and is accomplished with ease amd' perfect sang-froid. In addition to the marvellous entertainment by Fasola, several interesting turns are .provided by a clever company of people. The singing of "The Windsor Choristers" has earned great kudos everywhere. Miss Dolly Day, a capable singer and expert toe-dancer, will also appear, while the others contributing to the bill are Miss Cecile Stephano, Messrs Rud Peterson, Chas. Povey, and Will Brennan, the latter being described as a youthful comedian. Seats may now be booked at Collier's.