ENTERTAINMENTS

Taranaki Daily News, Volume LIV, Issue 248, 19 April 1912, Page 8

ENTERTAINMENTS

EMPIRE PICTURE PALACE. "THE BELLS." ''Tlio Bells" proved sufficient attraction to again fill the Empire Picture Palace last evening. The power of the dramatic story is intense, and grips the whole audience throughout the four thousand feet of the film. Never for one moment is the interest allowed to relax in the picture. The picture is a fine production, but a large share of the kudos must he given to Mr. Alfred Bootlmian for the success it has enjoyed. Tt would he impossible to keep the audience so thoroughly interested through this lengthy film were it not for the exceptional ability of the lecturer. To-night is the last occasion that "The Bells" will be shown, and it is a picture worth going a long way to see. The usual matinee will be held at 2.30 tomorrow, when the management will introduce a magnificently-colored picture of Shakespeare's immortal tragedy, "Romeo and Juliet." The exterior views are all taken in the city of Verona, where the actual tragedy was supposed to have been enacted. The acting, dressing, and mounting are above criticism. On Wednesday next one of the most costly pictures ever produced, costing over .00,000, will be included on the programme at the Empire, a page from Homer's "Odyssey," entitled "The Adventures of Ulysses."

" EVERYWOMAN." This morning the plans will be opened at eight o'clock at Collier's for the production on Monday night next of "Everywoman," the brilliantly mounted and sumptuously dressed drama which created a furore of enthusiasm in Australia and which is at present attracting record audiences in Auckland. Of "Everywoman" a critic recently wrote the following:—"lt is a pleasure to meet a drama—'which takes, class as a modern morality play—so earnest and definite in purpose and with such an inspiring aim as "Everywoman," and one, moreover, that is capable of attracting genuine interest. It comes like the breath of the ocean after a stifling night, and is as welcome. It lias power, ingenuity, literary quality of a high order, design and execution, mixed with a subtle blend of i truth and unrealities, and includes the whole philosophy of life for men and women." It was the most pretentious work the author (Mr. Walter Browne) ' had undertaken, and it was inexpressibly sad that, after all his trouble and working out, he should have died on thimorning of the day it was produced at the Herald Square" Theatre, New York, where it resulted in a legitimate success. The production of "Everywoman" will be doubly interesting from the fact that it will serve to reintroduce to players, after , an absence of many years, Miss hilda Spong, who since her departure from i Australia has won her way to the front I rank of her profession in England and America. Only quite recently Archibald. Bell, of the New York Journal,, wrote j the following:—"Miss Spong was trained in a 'school of acting where any particular aptitude for a certain line of work was not enough; She, like all others, was obliged to do all things well. Though | she has made her big successes in serious roles, she is by nature, however, a comedienne. There is a champagne sparkle ! to her laugh, an effervescent mellowness j to her voice, and her nature is merry. She does not seem to have a care in the world, and is able to see the bright side of things all the time." Mr. William Desmond, who will take the role of "Nobody," has earned great distinction in the part. The company will arrive here on Monday morning next from Auckland.