ENTERTAINMENTS.

Taranaki Daily News, Volume LVII, Issue 53, 23 July 1914, Page 4

ENTERTAINMENTS.

"JUDITH OF BETHULIA." . Ju , ( J iWl of Betliulia," the work of the A.B. Company, will be tho Theatre Royal Pictures next Monday nigMt. The subject is of a stupendous character, involving the assistance of hundreds of performers, and there is also a remarkable w ( ealth of spectacular effects. The story is taken from the Book of Judith in the Apocrypha, iu which Hiolofemes, the tyrant prince, known as We "bull of Asshur," devastated Palestine until he arrived at Bcthulra, on the borders of Judea, where his great a;rmy rtweiivied la, labels'. 'Hie citizens of the fortified strongihold -valiantly drove oil' the dread' Assyrians, alI though great battering xams, figib'tng towers, catapults, and scaling ladder* I were used in an attempt to gain the city. The stout walls of Bethulia withstood the attack, but Holofernes' men then settled down to starve the defenders into surrender. When the food and water became exhausted tllife people in Bethiilia died in the streets. The pitiful scenes touched the heart of Judith, the beautiful and wealthy young widow, and she prayed for divine assistance, li. a dream she was inspired witfe a plan to dismay the enemy. Clothed in her finest apparel and lacctompanied only by her handmaid, Judith i went down into the camp of the Assyrians.' Pretending that she would betray the Bethuliana into the hands of Holofernes was parb o; her plan. The dazzling beauty of Judith overwhelmed the mighty prince; who treated ih'cr with the 'highest honors and ordered a -magnificent entertainment. Eventually, when alone with. Holofe-rnes, Judith induced him to drink so often that he became intoxi- \ cated, and although somewhat attract* - ed by his handsome personality Shfe .kil- ''■ led him with his own sword. ' Judith! ' made good her csecape, and when her '\ people knew of <her heroic deed they j charged down on the Assyrians, who, .! now without their leader, were com- ,! plotely defeats. Many of. tho scenes ,1 are unite an enchantment, and the story, ,\ ia most appealing. " i

■EMPIftB PICTURES. A good selection of films qovcring %, wide range uf attractive subjects was screened at t'he Umpire Picture Macs last night. Tlie star ofl'ering is a 2000 ft ■ drama, entitled ••Count Ztirka." It is j the ever entertaining story of «n adventurer in high society, a scoundrel | whose audacious cleverness is liig most j redeeming feature. The drama hinges • on an ambassadorial intrigue, and jyroI eeeds from tlie incarceration iof «, prinj eess to tfie miserable death of t'he vii- . lain—hoist with his own. petard. An--1 other novelty well worth attention i 3 | "The Tango nance," in which the latest craze is treated in a most up-to-date I manner. "The Catch of the Season,'' is a Lubin comedy wllilich will 'take some beating for hilarity. The hero is a bashful young man, the heroine an/exceedingly wide-awake young lady, and the funniest scene t'he culmination of A fishing trick. "Bloomer Loses 'his Bit" is' another notable fun-producer, which must be 'seen to be appreciated. The. pictures are well supported, and will fce screened again to-morrow night.