ENTERTAINMENTS.

Taranaki Daily News, Volume LVI, Issue 268, 11 April 1914, Page 8

ENTERTAINMENTS.

-THE BEGGAR GIRL'S WEDDING." Once again Mr WiUoughby's "Beggar Girl" has taken her nuptial vows, the latest occasion having been Thursday night, when the ceremony took place in the presence of soihe hundreds of. delighted spectators. There wen; no frills, no Parisian gems in the costumeiic. No; the beggar girl stood in her rags and tatters before the atlar, and was wedded thus to a scion of a, noble house. Romantic? Yes. The author of "The Beggar Girl's Wedding" wove a delightfully romantic story, and it was faithfully interpreted for us on Thursday night by Mr George WiUoughbv's talented company. The essence of thestory is that Jack Cunningham is wasting as fast as 'lie can his patrimony. The fast life lie is leading .leaves little time, for thought on serious matters, and thus it happens that on the eve of his twenty-fifth birthday 'he has quite overlooked the fact that unless he is married on or before that anniversary he loses the whole, of the money his father left hir.i and that the fortune then' goes to his cousin, Gilbert Lindsay. It is cji• this fateful night that the author introduces Jack Cunningham (Mr George Gross), Gilbert Lindsay (Mr Rutland Beckett), Norman Marsh (Mr Maurice Nodin), in love with Jack's sister, Villiers, a fascinating society woman* (Miss Oriel Hotson), and Elsie Cunningham (Miss Gwendoline Do-rise). We see the fascinating adventuress (Miss Villiers) at the feet of Cunningham, who declares that "even if you were the last woman in. the world, I would not marry you." Knter the family lawyer, Grim.sliaw (Mr D; Drayton), and we become aware that Lindsay is playing a deep game, to keep Cunningham l in ignorance of his birthday, and thus step into bis inheritance, which is all the more, essential to him from the fact that he has forged securities and is deenly involved. A chance word of Miss Villiers. awakens Jack's.' better nature, and we begin to like him, though tipsy. Bent on charity, ho befriends a poor, starving beggar girl and takes her home. Next day, now fully cognisant of his danger, he marries the beggar girl, Gloria Weston (Miss Vera Remee), and makes the bitterest enemies of both Lindsay and his accomplice in infamy. Miss Villiers. Events happen quickly, and ' sensationally. By his lying, Lindsay causes Cunningham to turn his wife out of doors as an unclean thing, although lie Inn! grown to love her. To save his t-kin, Lindsay manages to throttle the old lawyer in lis office. Jack and his wife are spirited away to the establishment of a mad doctor, who sets to work to poison them, hi and out of the story flits Dick Storm, a meteoric but likeable Cockney greengrocer, afterwards Richard Stormington, E>q. (Mr Arthur Albert), and he, in company with Tina, Cunningham's maid and afterwards, Mrs. Stormington (Miss Kannr Erris), are seen in scores of side-splitting situations. Diek and Marsh are eventually responsible for the release of' mad doctor's victims, and for the re-uiKon of man and wife, whilst Lindsay and his oaramour have to answer to the law for their nitedeedß. A disreputable pair of thieves (Mr Ward Lyons and Mr T. K. Tilton) have much to do with the storv. Home of their work might well he shortened, and a curtailment of the mad doetoiscene would also improve the slnry. The principal's were all seen to advantage in" some highly-dramatical scenes, whilst the humor of the melodrama v, s nipid, sparkling end continuous. Incidentally, it might be mentioned that' eleven district scenes were set during the evenitag, complete in all detail. Mr (.'has. Norman was' the musical director. 'flic ladies were seen in some -charming frocks.

"NO MOTHER TO GUIDE HER." TO-NIGHT. The company will .produce 10-night "No Mother to Guide Her," an appealing drama of a London waif's li.e-story. This entertaining and elevating piece has proved an enormous at'raction wherever played, and from the manner in which Thursday's drama of Tendon life in the upper and lower strata was produced, it is quite certain that, the-atre-goers will be delighted to-night. The story is simple. Rev. Tom Pelham, London missionary, is in love with Millicertt Saxhy, the motherless dau»hler of a rich man. In the depth of his devotion, the clergyman accompanies Millicont to the theatre—« rnther unorthodox proceeding. There thev meet Nan. a flower girl, under the guardianship of Bill Bunce, the burglar. Nan iv really the acknowledged daughter' of Mrs Patterson, a bold, bad society woman, who pesters Tom Pelham with' her overture*. The villain is one Felix Green, a swell mobsman, who passes in society under the name of Campbell. The latter kill-* the wealthy Saxby and hypnotises his daughter into confessing the crime. Millicent is imprisoned, but is helped to escape by Nan. Bunce discovers the identity of Nan's mother, ami bhiekmails her. Gampbell desires to marry the mother, despite her former lanses. in consideration of her wealth. All parties unite in hating the Rev. Pelliam ,-uxl Millicent. A general meeting of characters takes place on the Old Broken Bridge. Athletic Christianity rescues | her, and Nan discovers her mother at; last. The title. "No Mother to Guide Her," presumably refers to Nan. and under the circumstances it seems to have been just as well. WEST END FORESnoitE PICNIC. Readers should remember that hv attending the monger picnic and 'Chilian's sports at the West End fnr-vlmv,. on Monday next thev will be nssistiii!: in the further development of a « fta ~ ther park which, for a'creasn.. number of shelter-trees and proximity to the centre of the town, many a eitv would give much to possess. Enjoyment is-,i«-sured for everyone. Attractions include.

—Van Heck's orchestra, happy childhood striving in their sports and hearing tile trophies of such, the sporting instinct in the -guessing competitions, skill with the rings at hoop-la or ringuli't, and last, out not least, and that for which the ladies of the West End society are justly famed, a refreshing cup of afternoon tea with the usual dainties.

EAST END PICNIC. Arrangements for the East End Committee's Easter Monday picnic have been fully completed. The Band will leave the. Melbourne Clothing C'o.'s corner at 10 a.m. and will march to the East End reserve. . In view of the fact that'only three entries have been received for the tug-of-war, it has been decided to extend the time, for receiving entries up to 11 a.m. on Monday. Jf entries are sullickintiy numerous, the event will be pulled for prize's advertised; if not, a tug-of-wiir for stakes, with added money, will b.' pulled. Arrangements have been made for paddocking for country people's horses. Mr. Knight ha- kindly lent tables and chairs for the <iav.

EMPIRE PICTURES. To-night, at the. Empire, there will be a complete change of programme, featuring, among others, a fine ''Broncho" drama with (pule a new setting—''The Buried Past," a story of a woman's great tight for happiness. During the interval Miss 'Gilbert's art union will lie drawn. Between the pictures the results of the Carnival Queen election will be screened. Patrons are assured of a good evening's entertainment. A matinee performance' will be held at 2.30 this afternoon, in aid of Miss Hilda Bishop, a Carnival Queen Candidate. Seats may be reserved at the theatre, or ring 'phone 303.' Usual prices of admission will be charged.