ENTERTAINMENTS.

Taranaki Daily News, Volume LV, Issue 189, 30 December 1912, Page 3

ENTERTAINMENTS.

THEATRE ROYAL PICTURES. The usual Monday night change of films takes place this evening at the Theatre 1 loyal. The new programme contains another lengthy star lilm by Spencer's, entitled "Dan Morgan." being a reproduction of the life of this desperate Australian bushranger in the early days of the big island continent. The picture is a graphic portrayal of the fight and triumph of law and order against the lawless bushranger. Supporting the star film is a well diversified selection, including "The Cowboy's Mother," a Selig storv. and an exceptionally true to life drama of the Western' cattle lands. "The Deputy's Peril" i 9 an intense Lubin portrayal, and concerns the life of a desperate gang of counterfeiters in the Kentucky Hills. The interest pictures include "The Bay of Naples," "The Sponge Industry," ' and "Eclair Topical Journal," and there are a number of amusing comic items.

EMPIRE PICTURES, A packed house greeted the new programme screened at the Empire Picture Palace on Saturday night. A number of interesting lilms were shown. A llepwix military drama was excellently staged, the evils of gambling being shown, a man betraying his own brother for gain, though he confesses in the end, and the real villian, a foreign spy, meets his deserts. A Vita graph Western drama, dealing with the love of a sheriff and a bandit towards a girl being the centre piece of the story, was weil received. The Lubin films were to the fore with a full of exciting incidents. A Selig film, ''The Price He Paid," showed to what depths a mail's nature would descend in his lust for gold. A doctor saves the life of the daughter of an Indian chief, and. the grateful father gives him a hag of gold for his services. The gold, however, arouses his cupidity, and when the tribe is in danger of being exterminated by an epidemic he refuses them aid unless they show him the position of the mine. The chief at last tells him that if he saves the tribe he will let him carry oil' as much gold a.-> he can carry. The doctor, instead of hastening, to the relief of the Indians, falls into a drunken slumber,and when he arrives at (lie encampment he is too late to save fhe chief's daughter. The chief keeps his word, and leads him to the mine, but first blindfolds him. Letting the doctor cgllect as much gold as he can carry the chief leaves him to find his way bac'lc as best he can. He becomes lost in the desert and throws away the gold, but too late,and he dies haunted by the vision of the girl whom he had sacrificed to his greed. Two coloured seenics, "I la titers In Ceylon" and "Indian Temples," and a film illustrating artistic glass work were screened, and a quartet of hilarious comics completed one of the most enjoyable picture entertainments yet shown in town.

J. C. WILLIAMSON COMIC OPERA COMPANY. Described as being "not too piquant, but just piquant enough," "The Girl in the Train," comes on Monday, January 20th, with a first-class reputation as a tuneful rollicking farrage of delightful irresponsibility. It is a s'harmonious happening highly commendable, and thoroughly conducive to healthy hilarity. It is said that the plav has no difficulty in finding favour, "it is a distinct departure in many ways from the eternal "Girl" scries already familiarised. It is claimed that besides being the funniest. "The Girl in the Train" is easily the most dignified from a musical standpoint of any light opera of recent years, and may almost be allowed to be "a law to itself, and a very genial law into tho bargain. The play will be given for one night only, and the box plan will be opened at Collier's on Thursday, January 10th.,