ENTERTAINMENTS.

Taranaki Daily News, Volume LVII, Issue 11, 1 June 1914, Page 6

ENTERTAINMENTS.

EMPIRE- PICTURES. "THE MIRACLE." IMPRESSIVE PAGEANT PICTURE. ■For the past three or four years the. Continental papers havo rung with praise for the art as a stago producer of Max Reinhardt, the German genius, who, with his broad grasp of the effective on the stage, has swept convention to one sido and established new ideas and ideals in theatrical production. Reinhardt came notably to the front in Berlin about four years aao. when he produced the nivstie legendary play without words in " Berlin. That grqat production created a (profound sensation, awl when it was wflwerpicntl. produced at Olympia in London the effect was no loss remarkable, paving the way for -still another production of the play at the Covent Harden Thcativ. Such was the glamor and religious charm of this striking and albeit intensely human play that it was played throughout America two years ago by no less a personage than Sara Bernhardt, 'Witfli .great success, ]jt was therefore with no small measure of interest that the pictured representation (introduced under an arrangement with Mr. Beaumont Smith) was awaited by the assemblage which fitted every- scat in the Empire Theatre last Saturday afternoon and evening. "The Miracle" is a legend of great wonder, and the manner in which it is depicted is singularly impressive. In brief,'it represents with a wealth of detail the condigri punishment that inevitably follows the sin of broken' vofwa "The. Miracle" itseM ia a draima, the option of which is easily followed. On the banks of the Rhine stands a nunnery famed for the possession of a wonderful image of the Madonna and Child. The keys 'of the sacred edifice are handed over to Sister Mcgildis, a nun with the blood of youth still unsubdued by cloistered life. She is caught dancing with a troupe of merry children in the Chapel of the Madonna, and as a punishment is ordered by the Abbess to spend the •night one in the eliapel. Duming the night she hears a knocking" at the door, but cannot open Uhft door, though desirous of doing so. A3 a last fesource she remembers that the possos--sion Of the holy big enables, one to gratify every wish, and. she snatches it from the knees of the Madonna, only to find it vanish into thin air. At the same moment the doors open, and disclose a gallant knight, in armor clad, stretching yearning arms towards her. He is accompanied by a jocund minstrel representative of the Evil One, who urges them together, and finally Mcgildis is borne away by the knight. On her departure, the Madonna, a sweet and gracious figure, comes to life, and in sublime pity for the frailty of the erring sister, takes her place among the nuns, -who deeply deplore the disappearance of their beloved image. Megihlis, out in the world, is beset rby various perils, and finally becomes aii outcast. In the depths of her despair alio finds her way back to the convent. Madonna, knowing of her coming, reassumos .her place as the image, the doors open, and the prodigal returns to prostrate herself at the feet of the Madonna. The acting in "The Miracle" is admirable in its singular freedom from conventional theatricalism, and the grouping of the crowds, the processions of nuns and prelates disclose the art of a master producer. The picture is enhanced by a notably beautiful music score, written by Eugelhardt Humperdinck, which was excellently played by a specially augmented orchestra.' Vocal chants were also interspersed in appropiate places. The programme also includes some exceptionally good views of the Carnival at Xcwtown Park last week, including the motor parade, motor see-saw, the maypole dance, and the cadets at physical drill. Other pictures were '■The Old Folks at Home," and the "Patlie Gazette." Scats may be reserved ait ..a> Empire Theatre or ring phono 3U5 .