ENTERTAINMENTS.

Taranaki Daily News, Volume LV, Issue 137, 28 October 1912, Page 4

ENTERTAINMENTS.

EMPIRE PICTURES. Scenes, happenings, -and stories of love and adventure in various parts of the world were flashed on the screen at the Empire Theatre on Saturday evening. ]t was the bi-weekly change of programme, and the Theatre was packed. Those present were quite captivated with "Th« Spider's Web," a vitagraph drama featuring everybody's favourite, Maurice Costello, in the role of a young barrister just in the first flight of fame. The plot was weaved by an affluent gang of bogus company promoters and purveyors of salted mines and the like, who cast a net, in the intricacies of which the lawyer's unsuspecting father (and his money) became involved. It was while acting the part of a barrister defending his father on charges of serious commercial malpractices, which followed in the train of his speculations, that Costcllo was seen at his best. The drama was of the solid orthodox type, and was not spoilt by any impossible situations. The Luna Company was to the fore with a very powerful dramatic subject, with many intense situations, in the shape ol "Love's Revenge." The theme was distinctly out of the ordinary, and was closely followed throughout' the whole piece. A woman married the murderer of her husband, whose villainy was known only by herself, iwith the 'express purpose of achieving revenge by ruining him. How she succeeded not only in ruining him, but in causing him in the end to take his own life wa9 a story tragically and cleverly told. An excellent Lubin drama, "The Social Secretary," also found much favour with the audience. In less serious strain was a delightful scenic picture, "The Milk .Stream, Bellano," with its foaming and awsome cascades. A feature of the programme was the film showing the marvellous feats in learning and industry attained by Woolcott Coombes' phenomenal deaf and blind boy. It was a wonderful film in its way, and was intensely interesting as an illustration of the educative value of the kinomatograpli. Other attractive films were the latest number of the Gaumont Graphic (replete with world-wide hapjpenings), and several comics. As regards the latter special mention must be made of "The Tin-oai» Rattle," descriptive of the wiles resorted to hy the editor-proprietor of a way-back newspaper in order to evade the demands of his creditors.

THEATRE ROYAL PICTURES. The now programme for to-night is a fine series of educational film studio*. There are no heavy dramatic pictures of the melodrama type, but three liglit, comedy dramas, one dramatic subject, the latest London Gazette, three highly amusing comic* and a trio of magnificent travel pictures, comprising "Rangoon and Its Environs," "Rapids ol TCivatch," and "A Tobacco Plantation." Picture patrons are reminded that, this series will only be showing to-night and Tuesday night, as the Theatre is otherwise engaged for Wednesday and Thursday.