ENTERTAINMENTS.

Taranaki Daily News, Volume LV, Issue 254, 17 March 1913, Page 8

ENTERTAINMENTS.

ST. PATRICK'S XIGIIT CONCERT. j There seems to be absolutely no reason to doubt that the Theatre .Royal will be a full house to-night when the concert to commemorate the feast of St. Patrick, and of which such good predictions have been made, will take place. As a matter of fact, it would not be surprising were the Theatre, crowded, for seldom lias a programme of such at-j tractiveness and all-round excellence been provided. This is saying a lot. but I the fact remains, and the management 'expects public endorsement of it. As has been said before, there will he many (items, humorous and sentimental, ami all more or less natural. Irish music and Irish fun —true fun—are attractive to everyone, even though the world is ' not all Irish. The vocalists from oi.it- ■ side will be Miss Ethel Rae, of Auckland, and -Miss Eileen McGuire, of Wanganui. Miss Rae has a sweet soprano voice, which should be heard to great advantage in the numbers she has I chosen. Miss McGuire has also a refutation for the sweetness as well as the ; intelligence of her interpretation. In addition there will be several local con-, tributors, who have either not sung here in public before or have not sung I : frequently. The pupils of the Convent I School are said to be letter-perfect in the song they have been practising for jsome time past, and their item should I prove to be very pleasing. Dances— Scotch and Irish—will be given bv a i performer who lias danced much and always well. Intending partons will gather that they may safely look forward to a pleasant evening's entertainment. Those who desire to reserve seats, may do so at Hoffmann's, and no extra • charge will be made. As to the prices I for admission, they are. like the proI gramme, popular, and the combination should certainly appeal to the public. Concessions will be made for families. . THEATRE ROYAL PICTURES. There will be no pictures showing in the Theatre Royal to-night as the Hall is otherwise engaged. To-morrow night complete new programme will be screened, when a number of special fea- , ture pictures will be shown. Amongst I the popular artists appearing in to-mor- | row's programme are, John Hunnv. Florj ence Turner, Max Under, Teft Johnson , and Maurice Costello. EMPIRE PICTURES. There was a full house at the Empire Theatre on Saturday evening on the occasion of the bi-weekly change of programme. The series was well in keeping with the standard previously set, its diversity being a marked feature. Sensationalism had a large cut in. and in this connection the palm must go to '"Plot and Counter Plot," which was a .Cines' feature drama. It was very 'powerfully cast, excellently acted and | photographed, and enriched with a particularly good setting. The plot was I exceptionally cleverly-conceived ami interest was sustained throughout its I whole length of 8000 feet. ''A Fight ill Itlie Dark" saw the Lubin Company to the fore. Special interest attached to this storv on account of the scenes all being laid in Mexico, just now the happy hunting ground of those in search of more than a sniff of adventure. The subject was well-selected, and there was much hand-to-hand and cross-country fighting on the border between the Mexican free-booters and the American border police. "The Girl in the Caboose" was a Lubin drama, half,comic, and its many interesting features found! much favour with the audience.' : One point made was that water is damping, to ardent affections. One of the star films was a magnificent fox-hunting picture, "The Badminton Hunt." It fol-; j lowed this famous old pack from the moment they left the kennels in the morning until Reynard was finally run to earth. The. cross-countrv runs were moat exciting, and were excellently depicted. Some of the jumping disclosed in the picture reached an unusual range of proficiency. In short it was a most exhilirating ' film. "Stag Hunting in I Java" was also followed with keen inIterest, and a scientific subject "The. j Ogre in the Pond" was at once cduca-' :t,ive and interesting. It depicted animal | life in the pond, as it seemed. The; I comics were particularly good.