ENTERTAINMENTS.

Taranaki Daily News, Volume LVI, Issue 271, 16 April 1914, Page 4

ENTERTAINMENTS.

EMPIRE PIOTUBE&

A fascinating story of a deal in diamonds was the star offering in the change of programme screened at the Jimpixe Picture Palace last night. The film is chiefly concerned with the operations of a wily gang of diamond dealers who attempt to "rig" the market by means of a glut in diamond* The stones are what arc known in the trade as black diamonds," and made by the hundred from carbon. A detective, is put on the track of the gang, but is worsted in an exciting pursuit right to the end, when the head of the diamond makers, losing heart, commit* suicide, and brings an exciting picture to a dramatic conclusion. "The Medal of Honor," is a story of love, magnanimity extraordinary, and stirring incident. It is concerned with the romance Oi a fireman hero, who lets another take the credit of his own knavery, and very, nearly loses the girl who goes with the credit. A fine tiro-fighting scene is included. -'ln the Klementul World," ii a story which harks back to nature. It portrays in stirring fashion the struggles of mere man against forest wilden uessv As a study in human na'tuw also, it is a lrlm of some merit. These pictures, with a strong supporting programme of scewes, comadiesand dramas by all the well-known producers will ha screened again to-night and to-morrow sight. ' •NEW- PLYMOUTH OPERATIC ' SOCIETY. ; "'SAX TOY." ,

The New' Plymouth Operatio SocietJ does not intend to allow the winter' to languish for want of light eutertttinmcnt, anil, like the wise man in the fable, it is already making preparations for a winter feast of good things. Th« Society intends to put "San Toy'' intn active rehearsal 'immediately. Sydney Jones, that arch-writer of light musk,' probably never composed anything** continuously crisp «nu jright bha« *U Chinese musical play, "San Toy." It was fust produced "in 1000 at' Daly's Theatre in Umdon, where it scored in instantaneous success, running uninterruptedly for two years, with Mum Mav» Tempest, Miss Hilda Moody, W. Baydca Collin and YV. Huntley Wright a* the principal mendiers of a strong cant. "San Toy" simply bristle* witfc delight" fill numbers, ami the music is of tht sweet and lingering order which captW vates the car and remains long in thn memory. Some of the lyrios writt>« by Harry (Ircatbank luwe grown to world known und world remembered! fame. Such numbers as "The Jjidy'n Maid," "The Wiiolo Story," "The Butter* fly," '•Chinese Soge-mun,''. arc worthy of any setting, arid after the production every small boy in New Plymouth will be eagerly whistling .cm. The action of the piece takes place >*' Chiipi, the. first act. a scene in Pynka Pong, and Ait 11. a hall in the Emperor's palace at I'enking. This affords nppon tunily for such ehiirming scenic setting and sueli beautiful dressing as one seS (lorn sees in even that lavish world of flittering fantasy—the operatic- stage. In a. word. "San Toy" sparkles with an many facets as the Koh-i-noor itself, anj ■the society eoiila nut have mnvle a morn happy selection.

The charm of these local productions lies deeper than the finished product, for preparation uuring the long wmtec evenings affords opportunity for that social intercourse which makes life thn brighter and the Itappier in thoie comparatively small communities where if is alone possible. The first rehearsal has In-ill culled for Monday evening , next, ai 7.:I0 p.m. in rooms over Kiddle's' furiiishina shop, and it is hoped all , old members and intending new mem- ' bers will be jirncnt. T!io'toc»l scores arrived last week, and may be had from Mr. U. CoKier. It is the Society's in* tontioit to stage the opera in July nexfc