ENTERTAINMENTS

Taranaki Daily News, Volume LIV, Issue 313, 1 July 1912, Page 4

ENTERTAINMENTS

EMPIRE PICTURES. Saturday flight's bi-weekly change of programme at the Empire Picture Palace covered a wide range of subjects, and included _ several films distinctly above the ordinary merit. The feature picture is "The Fishermaid of Ballrdnd," another of the Kalem Company's charming Irish photo-plays. The opening and concluding scenes are laid in one of those simple little Irish fishing settlements, which afford the cinematograph so much scope for effect in the wild, rugged sea-coast scenery. So fcareful were the film-makers in'their attention to detail that several of the scenes are actually laid in mid-Atlantic and others in America, whither the "Fishennaid" goes on her hopeless quest—the love of a millionaire's son, whom she met by chance in her native village. The acting is admirable, and 1 what is more the picture ends well. "A Chamois Hunt on Mt. Blanc" is a truly wonderful picture. Such eport may be fascinating, not to say unique, but, as depicted on. the screen, it is far too hazardous for the average Nimrod. Incidentally, the picture contains some magnificent Alpine scenery. A beautiful story o? a sweet frn' 1 nature was unfolded in Papa's Letter." Seldom has a more interest-compelling and divinely sentimental drama been screened. It was received by the audience with marked enthusiasm. The halo of romance that hovers over the past "out West," whew "gold was flush and men were frisky." is penetrated by a popularly-received film Women of the West." "A String of Peark" is a powerfully-drawn subject descriptive of two sides of life in Xew York. Two good l comics comprise "Message from the Moon" and "Umbrellas to MemL "Meirengen and its Falls" and Jratne 5 Gazette are also shown. "BEN I-lUR." Mr John Farrell, the well-known popular Williamson advance manager, arrived in New Plymouth on Saturday to make arrangements for the- staging of the dramatic scenic play, "Ben Hur." New Plymouth h favored in securing this production of the spectacular drama, owing to its stage capacity, as it was found necessary to cut out both Napier and Ma?terton from the tour on account of their stage limitations. The stage 'here is quite as capacious as that in Auckland, and the management pledges itself that the piece will be produced in New Plymouth exactly as it was produced in Australia and is to be produced in the arger centres, of New Zealand. The horses for the great chariot race will arrive this week, and will be stabled locally. "Ben Hur" is an extremely heavy play to travel, and necessitates several days' work of preparation in the Theatre by the large staff which Mr. Williamson has sent over to produce it.

MISS ROSINA BUCKMAX. To-night, at tlie Theatre T!oval, the people of New Plymouth will have their last opportunity, for a time, at aiiyrate, of hearing Miss Rosina Buckman sing. The talented New Zealand songstress will assist at the Technical College concert, prior to her departure for the Old Country, where, under the management of Mr. John McCormack, she will appear at Covent Garden, the home of Britislj opera. Miss Buckman is so singularly our own property that her career in musical circles at Home will he watched with the greatest- of interest, and she will leave sustained by the thorough eoniidenee of her friends and admirers. A soprano of her quality can ill be. spared from tho field of music in New Zealand, but nobody will grudge her the triumphs that -undoubtedly await her at Home. She will sing a series of operatic and lyric numbers at 'the cowiert to-night, and a large attendance is assured to send the popular songstress on her way.