ENTERTAINMENTS.

Taranaki Daily News, Volume LV, Issue 249, 11 March 1913, Page 8

ENTERTAINMENTS.

! THEATRE ROYAL. 1 The Royal Pictures Proprietary is I screening three complete changes of programme at the Theatre Royal this week. The first series was shown last night before a delighted audience. The star film was "An Episode of !* and it fully justified the prominence given to it on the programme. Of great Historic interest, the picture presented I a striking dramatic story, woven around J the battle that changed the destiny of S Europe. Many spectacular incidents ] were depicted, and the war scenes were on a magnificent scale. A strong vein of sentiment ran throughout the piece, allowing full sway for the troupe of talented performers engaged in the production of the play. Miss Florence Turner made her reappearance in a Vitagraph masterpiece, "The Irony of Fate," which kept the audience enthralled from start to finish. It was one of the best, and it divided honors with another excellent Vitagraph drama, "The Troubled Trail." It showed human nature in all its varying moods and conllicting emotions, and created a profound impression. Variety was lent by Pathe's Gazette and two first-class scenics, showing "Deer-stalking on the Czar's Estate" and a day in the routine of a native school in East Africa. "She Wanted a Boarder" (a Vitagraph comedy) created much merriment, as did also "The Wild IMan." The programme will be screened for the last time this evening.

| IRISH NATIONAL' CONCERT. Lovers of Irish music will lie afforded an opportunity of hearing much of the best on Monday evening next (St. Patrick's night) in the Theatre Royal, when a concert will .be given under the auspices of the Hiberian Australasian Catholic Benefit Society. Among the special items will be songs by Miss Ethel Rae, the well-known soprano singer of Auckland, who has made quite a name for herself in the northern city. Miss Rae has an. exceptionally sweet voice, of considerable range, and the expression she throws into her singing has been subject for ranch favourable comment in the Auckland press. Mr. C. Biclawski will contribute two dances—a hornpipe and an Irish jig. He is it very nimble dancer. Mr. W. 11. Hawkins will sing that good number, •'Around the Camp Fire," and also recite "Nail Your Colours to the Mast" (a favourite item). "Kathleen Mavournecn" is an old but tuneful song, always welcome, and Mr. 11. 11. Johnson is a vocalist who well knows how to interpret it. The Convent pupils have for some time past been practising a song—a tuneful one—and it is expected that this item will be one of the most pleasing •of a fine programme. In the comic line, Mr. .Walter Key will endeavour to amuse an audience that is expected to fill the hall in every part. The song he has chosen is ''l. Wonder." There will be orchestral and other items to complete a programme said to be one of the best that will ever have been placed before a critical New Plymouth audience.

"OUE MISS GIBBS." Special interest is Wing taken in Oiii' -"Miss (iiblis," the world-famed comic opera, to lie presented at the Theatre Soyal on Thursday evening by the "Merry AVidow" Opera Company. Those who have seen it produced describe it as a musical delight from start to finish. In the plot itself there is nothing of any great note, it is the marvellously welleoneeived characters and the entrancing music that makes one become fascinated, so much so that seeing the opera a score, of times would not serve to tire one, but .rather make a person walk home I with the knowledge that he has acquired some fresh air from the pretty composition and satisfy himself by humming it over and over again. The cast is an entirely new one to that which appeared in the opera when it was last played here, so that fresh interest will be aroirsed over Thursday night's performance. Miss Eva Moore plays ''Mary Gibbs"; Mr. D. B. O'Connor the part t "]iughie." and Mr. Ceo. Edwards is ''Timothy," while nil the other parts are also happily east. The plan is at Collier and Co.'s. I