ENTERTAINMENTS.

Taranaki Daily News, Volume LV, Issue 234, 21 February 1913, Page 4

ENTERTAINMENTS.

THE ROYAL PICTURES. "Falsely Accused" is the title of a, drama in three acts, which maintains''" pride of place in the change of programme which was viewed last night at the Theatre Royal, and will be screened again to-night. Tt is a human heart story of absorbing interest with love as the theme. It is set in the midst of magnificent scenery, the grand old country home of a retired general, with glimpses of a fine river. The general's son is caught cheating at cards, and has to leave the country. Knowing that this will break her father's heart" his sister Laura gives him the money with which to go on what his parents'are told is a j business trip. This money he gambles away. His sister hides him at an old servant's cottage and visits him surreptitiously. Meanwhile the son of an old friend of her father's falls in love, with her and they become engaged. A jealous rival informs him of her secret visits, which he learns are too true. Imagining a clandestine lover, he renounces the girl. Her father questions her. but she will not betray her brother preferring to be falsely accused 1 . takes the family diamonds to her 7-■ -tiller to enable him to get away, li»f; is tracked by her father and explanajions follow. At first he is indtenant and spurns the boy. but finally his dan "liter's faith nrcvails. and he'gives the boy a chance to rehabilitate in another eomi-. try. The lovers, of course, are re-united. Miss Asta Xielson sustains the title role in a most compelling manner, and is ably supported by a strong caste. The supporting dramas, scenics, and comedies are of very high merit.

EMPIRE PICTOTtE PALACE. The present fine assortment of picture successes will be shown for the last occasion to-night. To-morrow at the usual matinee a complete new programme will bo screened. "GET RTCH QUICK WALLIXGFORD." At the Theatre Royal to-morrow night Mr. J. C. Williamson's, company, which numbers over sixty specially selected artists from England, America and Australia, will make their appearance here in "Got Rich -Quick Wallingford," the "comedy of a thousand laughs," a- it was described by a leading Sydney critic. "Never in Australasia's theatrical history," says another Sydney critic, "have two artists leaped so quickly into "the hearts of playgoers as Mr. Fred Xiblo and Harry Corson Clarke. They are certainly two of the best, brightest, quickest and cleverest comedians we have ever had the pelasnre of enjoying." "(let Rich Quick Wallingford" was described bv another critic as the best much-ado-about-nothing laugh-raiser that has ever been carried across the ocean to us from America. The play is an adaptation by George M. Cohan of one of George Randolph Chester's stories. It runs in four acts, and while there is an element of criminality, the atmosphere, it is stated, is. in a sense, cleared by an abundance of fun of the class which, is defined as wholesome. The action, it is said, moves along at a lively pace from starting point to the closing scene in which the two reformed crooks. J. Rufus Wallingford and Blackie Daw, .find how pleasant a thing it is to go straight. Miss Beatrice Holloway is said to be at her very best; as Fanny Jasper, and the others in the' caste all assist in making the performance go with a bang from start to finish. Seats in central positions may he? selected at Collier's.