ENTERTAINMENTS.

Taranaki Daily News, Volume LV, Issue 275, 12 April 1913, Page 5

ENTERTAINMENTS.

l*'"" THE BLUE BIRD. '.! On Monday morning at Colliers', the box plans will be opened at eight o'clock for the initial and only production here of Maeterlinck's world famous play "The Blue Bird." which is to be staged at the Theatre Royal on Wednesday next by J. C. Williamson's Company,j»hich numbers over 100 artists. ..

i Anticipating the same large demand j for seats which took plaqe in Auckland, I the management will have, a staff of ushers in attendance from an early hpur to form a queue, so that the earliest arrivals shall have first choice of seatsJudged even as a play containing a series of beautiful and, gorgeous, spectacles, ! "The Blue Bird" would be received withapprobation wherever presented, for it is said the limit.of ingenuity has beenreached in amazing transformations and in the manipulation of the lighting effects. Thosei who have read the book of the "Blue Bird," wherein the author describes most marvellous and instan- • taneous changes of scenes, could scarcely bring themselves to believ that these could be, as it were, materialised on thestage, but the critics elsewhere state- ! that thev fully satisfy the imagination ps to what those scenes should he. and that thev create 1 hat spirit and "atmosphere" so essential to any staee sn.ntntinn of the Belgian author's won.iderful fantasy. The stupendous electric and mechanical efforts iieeess-ivxr for fie representation of "Tim Blue Bird" mnk" it absolutely essential for i lnrse stuff" of electricians to tnvel ahead of the rYminaiiT, ami a duplicate set of materinl is also carried. These have already com* to linji.fi. and everything will be in readiness before the Companv's arrival. Like nil true fairy tales 'The Blue RW belongs to no particular wintry, and ithas proved it-self onualli'. of, home nmnii"?t the Russian Slavs, the volatile Parisians. tl)» sentiments! Am»rf--'"ins, and th« stolid, matter-of-fact English. Professor piipinluir-lf recciflv presented It, fn the Berlin "ur>i:<>, vW n it was enthusiast'icall'- jweir-d. Childreif will be admitted for half price to> all parts.

EMPTRE PICTURE PALACE. s ' I'h« new nroTfunme slinwin? at fie.Ewnire tn-di'v is a very string eo»>bin- ,' r'tion of the 'it"=t fiVt'"'fl *Hra. There. fj is a "feature" picture in each hilf. thx first hein.r a sfvikiii" itnd or'-nii"! detective ilrami. "Th" Emerald Necklace.?' s"d (i,o second :>. tbnlliii-v war drama, "The Tireli nf War." The sniwortimr i<ems ineliiilo a;i esneciitllv interesting topical picture, showing wones in connection with the "Wreck of the Vero-

THEATRE ROYAL PICTURES. _ j A fine new selection of motion pictures was presented to a fair attendance at the Theatre Royal last night. The star picture had been advertised as "A fiirl Without n Country." with Miss Asia Nielsen in the title role, and it was certainly a brilliant dramatic portrayal by this brilliant youna actress, hmmatic pictures, however, were completely put in the shade liv a Wonderful fairy story picture entitled, "The Knight of the Snows." The following is the story:—King Erie hwiirs the anger of Baron Huge, the Cruel, by the betrothal* of his daughter. Princess Adelina. to theKnight of the Allows. Beelzebub promises to prevent the marriage on condition that the, Tiaron shall sell his soul. The beautiful princess is spirited away (with marvellous effects) to a dungeon of the'lmps. The Knight of the Snows is aided bv a good fairy, and after many wonderful adventures reaches the place. Where the Prince?,!? is imprisoned and' succeeds in setting her free. Tlie lovers' return home, Baron Huge follows, wh<"i suddenly Beelezebub bursts through the floor in a cloud of smoke and claimsBaron Huge as his own. The transformations and effects worked into this pic-

hire are simply astounding and eclipse anything of a like nature ever shown in' moving pictures, Parents are requested to note that this picture will heshown at the matinee to-day.