ENTERTAINMENTS.

Taranaki Daily News, Volume LV, Issue 309, 22 May 1913, Page 8

ENTERTAINMENTS.

THEATRE ROYAL PICTURES. The pictures will not be.showing again until to-morrow night, when a complete new programme will be presented. Prominent on the list is a 3000 feet star drama, "The Black Sheep," a stirring tale of the wild Canadian territory, replete with that intense power perfect acting can produce. From the opening scene this striking film-story grips the onlooker as in a vice, and culminates in a succession of thrills that raise the audience to a state of abnormal excitement. Another groat dramatic study is the Coso feature, '•Through the Flames," a drama of an entirely different nature to the first mentioned, yet full of exciting moments. No programme would be complete without the i Western drama, and the present subject is "The Reward for Broncho Billy," the full story of which appeared in the January number of the Motion Picture Story Magazine. A special subject of interest to all swimmers is a film depicting "Fancy Swimming."

"THE BUTTERFLIES." The Butterflies fluttered into the Theatre Royal last evening and delighted a chowded house with their brilliance. They presented no moth-eaten entertainment, but a bright, sparkling little; show, both clever and new. The leading spirit is Mr. Jack Waller, whose origin- ■ al burlesques have not been equalled here for many a long day. But he is well, supported; by a company of performers of more than, average merit. The more serious portion of the programme is left to Mr. R. Foster-Hine, a good baritone, and to Miss Ada Smart, a talented soprano. It is in comedy work that the Butterflies please the most, and the concert party earned' every round of applause that was so freely given, by a pleased audience Miss Marion Armitage was simply "immense" in her graphic version of how a Yorkshireman hung on to his ninepence, and her encore numbers had) to be postponed 1 to avoid keeping patrons out too late Miss Cecilia 1 Gold is a dainty little butterfly, and her rendering of "Jeremiah" was irresistible. The second portion of the programme brought to light the piece-de-resistance of the evening—a laughable burlesque, being an impression of a Hungarian ' orchestra of the type one hears on the Continent. M. Patti, Mr. Watson, Sig. Paddi Dennetti, and Herr Kubelik Waller were a very clever £rio indeed. It takes a wise man to be a fool, and l it is equally certain that only artists of considerably ability could have produced tlnse comical effects which raised their performance far above the Diane of mediocrity. A word of praise is due to Miss Marion Armitage and Mr. R. Foster-Hine, who produced the capital musical farce, "Wanted a Soprano." In their concerted numbers the Butterflies were distinctly good', and'the quaint costumes'put on to a nicety the finishing touches. A pianist can make I or mar a concert company of this type, | and in Mr. Fred Denmett the ButterI flies have a young musician who knows . his business. The piano utilise •was_ a [Brinsmoad supplied by Messrs. Collier ■ and Coy. To-night "The Butterflies" will be heard for the last time in New Plymouth in an entirely new programme