ENTERTAINMENTS.

Taranaki Daily News, Volume LVI, Issue 165, 12 January 1914, Page 8

ENTERTAINMENTS.

J. C. WILLIAMSON'S NKW I.OMIC OPJiIIA COMPANY. 'lhe COIN! 01 H\l MISOUU * Tonight at 7 51) put nt tin Hi ntu Royal F < \\ ill unison s m« mum open lampain iituiibuiii,, o\u 1 ill »t ihts will mil 1 its h i]i]iuii inn li 11 m 1 pioiluiliim o( Inn/ lUmis uior mou*l\ smuss nl unil pntu isijiipH mounted, ami tuneful musical tmwidv Tin ( 01111 lnl limn bom,' Him t\n btill 1 inimliii of nits 111 j,o<nl position* whkli lan In siiiiiul at Lolliti s <.oi gCOlls ill* Sis lllutlU 1,101!|II11„S it liutiw Inllits luis'i appointment •ui«l ilihoiiti umn mi idpiwls to tlic pretty inu-iic, tlie ilovit comedy, and mi unusually interesting story, I fie intvri'-L of which is sustained ' right ii|i to tlio fiinil f:ill of till' I'lirtilin. It is '4l well rofOgniMi-cl fiu-t that had Jlitw I Florence Young derided to throw in her lot for the world of grand opera her remarkably rich ami clear soprano voicev.oiild have ensured her a place nmongtt. tlio best known singers of the day, but , fortunately for lovers of comic opera she didn't, and her appearance here to-night will doubtless lie the signal for an outburst of cntlumiasm as the famous soprani) is particularly pouplar with local p!ay-goers. On her Inst visit she appealed very successfully in the title role of 'The .Merry \\ mow." On that occasion she demonstrated Hint her voic«, was as sweet, and as powerful us ever, and playgoers will doubtless be glad m once more welcome (lie famous soprano. From a singing point of view the new comics are particularly strong, as the organisation includes Mr. Frank Greene, Ibe popular baritone, anil Miss OJiii Miilwii, the charming <'iiulrulto. .Special interest will be centred in the, first appearance here of Mr. Phil Smith, nliu hails from the leading London treat res.' Mr. Smith, it is said, although quiet in his methods, yet has the audience in roars- of laughter the whole time lie i» on the stage. Mr. Hold. Whyte, juitr., who will appear as the (irand Duke Rutzinov, last toured the Dominion in'iicl-Pii'li-Qilick-Walliiigfiird" in which bv proved himself an exceedingly clever comedian. Mr. Victor l'rinco seems to be ahk> to .idiipt himself to any part. New Zc.il.uulers are aware of .Mr. Charles Albert's capabilities both as ft comedian and a dancer and they will lie glad to know that he is given excellent opportunities in "The Count of Luxembourg." -Miss Dorothy llruntoii, who recently toured tlio Dominion with ''Tht> G'irl in the Train" is always a tower of strength to a cast, and "the .inclusion of Vlaeta Xpvotna, the Russian dancer, also strengthens the cast. A specially augiimeiHed orchestra and chorus is under the baton of llerr (lustave .Slappofl'sk;. Mr. Diek Shut land is stag* manager.

ROYAL I'ICTI'RKS. Owing to the Theatre Royal bci.ig otherwise engaged, the new programme will not he screened until to-moriw night. Patrons are reminded that the chief picture is a Vitagranh star production, '-The Tiger Lily." EMPIRK PICITRES. The new dramatic picture ejitijjert "Rom Circus to Racecourse," '■screened for the fust time at the Eujpire Pictur* Palace on Saturday night, "attracted n lurge audience, who were quick to reeog. Jii<.<> it an exceptionally good picture. The story unfolded on the screen i-i of a somewhat unusual type, altlmiigll it introduce, the inevitable love affair. H is concerned with a circus jockey, a beautiful tight-rope walker, and a bold, bad foreign count". Tim jockey and th» count are both suitors for (he hand of , the heroine, and the Jockey iu succe-s- ---. ful. His rival immediately "procures bis dismissal from the circus." Tin- joAc.v, however, obtains a billet in u racing stable, where his progress ir* so rapid I lhnt the third part of the picture Bcev him engaged to ride the favorite in th» ♦ hand Prix. The disgruntled count is rendered more than ever dangerous to his successful rival by the fact that k«' will lose money if the favorite winfc He hatches a plot to shoot the jockey from a secluded position on the course. The final scene shows the attempt frustrated by the daring of the heroine, whohas walked from her house over telegraph wires to foil the would-be murderer. The picture is rich in dramatit incident, and faithfully carried out in every detail:

The supporting programme U a strong one, including a comic film showing * fire, waier, and brick-bat "riot" in nn< Irish slum.