ENTERTAINMENTS.

Taranaki Daily News, Volume LV, Issue 287, 26 April 1913, Page 4

ENTERTAINMENTS.

EMPIRE PICTURE PALACE. J A new programme will be submitted at the matinee this afternoon, when the chief item is a long military drama, "The Broken Sword." This subject ia said to> be full of intense and wonderfully portrayed scenes that cannot fail to move even the most hardened picture critic. The supporting items are all of the first class order. ROYAL PICTURES. The new collection-of pictures screened at the Theatre Royal last night provide much entertainment and instruction to patrons. The programme was an exceptionally good one, and the audience, showed its appreciation of it. The star item was an exciting racing drama, in which the redoubtable Nick Winter saves the favorite and defeats and brings to justice n band of determined criminals. This picture was full of thrillingsituations, from which the hero extricated himself with all honors. "Poet and Peasant" was a beautiful story by the * Vitagraph Company, several of the great picture favorites taking part in this drama. An Edison feature comedy, "Interrupted Wedding Bells," was up to the usual Edison standard. The Anstrniian Gazette contained much that was interesting. A line industrial fi|m, "In an Asbestos Quarry," was of a very inter- • esting nature. Besides these a number | of excellent comic films were screened, | the favorite, Tweedledum, being again [to the fore. This programme will only be screened twice more, at the matinee this afternoon and also this evening.

THE O'LEARY-KITCHEN CONCERT. Thus the Wanganui Herald regarding a concert given there recently (Miss O'Leary is a New Plymouth girl, being a daughter of Mr A. P. O'Leary): "Though far less than its merits deserved, there was, nevertheless, n good audience at the grand concert given in the Opera House by Miss Iris O'Leary and Master Bernard Kitchen, who were assisted by Madame Ivo Symes and Mr. Sydney Butler. The audience, too, was one of the kind that could understand and appreciate music of the best class, and as a concert of | this nature was not likely to be marked by anything else, the evening was, in consequence, a thoroughly enjoyable one for those who were present, the excellence of the performers' efforts resultingin their having to respond to numerous recalls. Miss Iris O'Leary, who is acting as locum tenens for Mr. Gordon McBeth, is a most accomplished and finished pianiste. The result of her nine years' study at Home and in Europe is shown by her fine technique, while there is a genuine reminder of Carreno in the taste, feeling and versatility of expression with which she plays. Muster Bernard Kitchen's playing delighted all present, and" he was accorded a perfect ovation at tueconclusion of each of his big numbers. He evidently has the same gifts as regards the piano as rtaydn Beck has in respect to the violin, showing the same' absorption in his instrument, and the same temperamental instinct. His touch and technique arc surprisingly good* he plays with much taste and feeling, and his gifts are such that the course of study he is shortly to undergo in Europe should ensure his being heard of in the future .His numbers were the first movement and cadenza of Bach's "Orzel-Kon-zert," "Novelette in E. Major" (Schumann), "Staccato Caprice" (Max Vorgich) and "Polonaise in E. Minor" (McDowell). Miss O'Leary's contribution* were Beethoven's "Concerto in G. Major,' r Chopin's "Brilliant Variations in B Flat," and two pieces of Liszt's, '"Dance of the Gnomes" and "Rhapsodic Hongroise." Both Miss O'Leary and Master Kitchen had also to play encore nnmb;rs to each item. Madame Ivo Symes was scarcely in such good voice as usual, but sang pleasingly "Softly Awakes my Heart," from "Samson and Delilah" (Saint Saens), and Barnby's '•When the Tide Comes In." Mr. Sydney Butler was in excellent form, and this highly-finished singer was vociferously encored for his rendering of "The Scent of the Lilies" (Cobb) and Mallinson's charming song cvcle, "My <!arden." Madame Emily Hriggs and Mr. Stewart Austin played sympathetically and artistically as accompanists to the vocalists.

ORCHESTRAL SOCIETY. The New Plymouth Orchestral Society will give their first concert next Sunday week, Mny 4, at 8.30 p.m., in the Theatre Royal. A first-class programme selected from the hcst standard works in orchestral music lias been arranged, and the members, comprising many of the best instrumentalists of New Plymouth are in active rehearsal, under the direction of Mr. Arthur V. Carbines. The vocalist for the evening will be Mr. R. HillJohnson. The Mavor, Mr. CI. W. Browne, haying advised the. unfortunate circumstances of an old New Plymouth resident, the proceeds will be for her assistance.