ENTERTAINMENTS.

Taranaki Daily News, Volume LVII, Issue 185, 15 January 1915, Page 6

ENTERTAINMENTS.

EMPIRE PICTURES. "The Social Ghost," an A.K. production, was presented at the Empire Picture Palace last night, for the first time. Tom Palmer's mother is an invalid. Their money gone, and no food in the house, Tom, who is about fourteen years old, starts to find work. But no one will have him. In despair, he. sinks down on the bench in the park, his faithful dog, Mike, sitting ever watchful at his side. Suddenly, he is conscious of a very beautiful girl standing before him, J holding out a bag of candy. He helps himself shyly. The little girl become:! friendly, but at the moment, up rushes an irate personage in cap and apron who drags his new friend away. He is again in despair. He wanders round the park, and half an hour later, finds himself by the duck-pond. There he sees the little girl throwing biscuits to the ducklings. The next instant, her arms fly up and her feet slide from under her on the slippery bank. Mike pricks up his cars and dashes in after her. I That same evening, when Ethel's father goes to find the boy and the dog, t'o reward them, he meets face to face the wife who deserted him twelve years before. Repentance, for cruel neglect in the past speaks from ins eyes as he Kneels by the bedside, of the sick woman. Husband and wife, brother and sister are united. And the father wirs the boy's heart completely, when lie rescues Mike >next day from the city dog pound. The supporting programme inchid s: I "Latest War Topical," ''Hubby's Surprise," comic; "Secret of! the Will." Kalem Feature Drama; "Mainly's Chick, en Dinner," comedy; "Picturesque Japan," scenic; and a Lubin comedy "The liingville Fire Department." This proI gramme is finally screened to-night.

RQ.YAL PICTURES. Among the films showing at the Theatre, Royal to-morrow, is a splendid Kalom drama, (entitled, -The Counterfeiter's Plot." Bruno, leader of a band of Counterfeiter.-;, tires of the Jove lavished on him by Rosario, a member of the gang. Believing he loves another, she becomes jealous. The counterfeiter meets Ivy, daughter of the. village blacksmith. Jack, employed by Ivy's father, is in lew with the girl, and sees that she? has been fascinated by Bruno.- Later, he finds a note, in which Bruno requests her to meet him that evening. Crouched in (lie underbrush tJia-t night, Jack sees 'his sweetheart in Bruno's arms. A rustle attracts Jack's attention, and he. comes upon Rosario, who, filled with jealousy, it watching also. A desire for revenge prompts the woman to inform Jack of the man's counterfeiting activities. The two plan to bring him' to justice. Early next morning, the United States marshal appears in the village in response to Jack's telegram. .Several detectives .come with him. Bruno arrives at tlie J spot where he is to meet Ivy, and is seized by the Government detectives. A member of the counterfeiting gang sees the arrest and hastens to warn the outlaws. When the officials arrive they find the counterfeiters prepared. A stirring fight ensues. The gang is; finally captured when the detectives { storm the building. The scales fall from ' ■lvy's eyes when Rruno's character is j, fully revealed. Filled with joy because of her narrow essape, Ivy begs Jark for forgiveness.

PETER DAWSON. "Lancelot" "(Mr V. Gilbert Webb), the well-known musical critic c,f the Referee, London, commented recently on the fact that music would seem to be putting a girdle round the earth. He only, however, gave one instance to justify the remark: "The gramophone records of Peter Dawson's voice already sold, if placed side by side, would form a girdle round the world, 'wonderful record' in a a double sense. No matter where you be in the English-speaking world, be it in tlie wild West of America, Darkest Africa, or in the backblocks of Australia, there he is to be found singing, be the weather conditions over so adverse, always in good voice, and all that is required is a fresh needle for each song. Those who have not experienced the pleasure of hearing Peter Dawson sing in the flesh, should not fail to take the opportunity of doing so during his forthcoming visit. He is, without doubt, one of the finest baritone singers that has over toured New Zealand, and who at the present time occupies a premier London position and a popularity that U second to none. Mr Dawson 'and his brilliant company give their concert in the Theatre Royal on Thursday, January 21. The box plan is on view at Hoffmann's. J. C. WTLLTAMSOX'S COMIC OPERA COMPANY.

< ''THE GONDOLIERS.'' J This morning at eight o'clock tile b-x plans will he opened at Collier's for 'ie revival of "Tlie Gondoliers," unquestionably the most popular of all the famous works of Gilbert and S'.lHvan. which is to be staged here by .1. C. Williamson's new English Comic Opera company at tlie Theatre Koyal on Monday in;■!,(. next. "Tiiv Gondoliers!" What memories are recalled by the. words. What lamons personalities, names half forgotten in the ebb and flow of the years spring into being before (lie mind's eye of (hose among us who have had the happy privilege of personal acquaintance with the palmy days of Gilbert and .Sullivan, when these two makers of native opera first cast the spell of their magic oyer the English speaking world. But like. Tipperary, it is a long way back to these golden days, and to the London Savoy. Much has happened in the muß-' ical world since then. Pure vocalisation which lias been dethroned from its high estate by the irresistible onward inarch of heavily orchestrated interest, has little attraction for the average vocalists of fo-day. . vllo W(1 „, (1 |n . ( , f „ r to ])o |ix)inn _ cuts <,| heavy dramatic work*. And so it comes that here, as well as in Knga»<l ,t is diflieult t „ fl °, tlie n.eely attuned voices delicately poised, to fill all the requirements of he (;, ; bert and Sullivan. r„l,.s. Under these circumstances the J. ('. Williamson Mil. management has accomplished wonders in getting together an organisation which ,1 we may judge by criticisms, and the record houses which (he com pany are experiencing eyervw|i,. lv , does more (ban justice to (be ■.■,. 11 ; 1 , s of t , famous librettist' and compos,.,- Tn Miss r. aoys Monerieff, has evidently b,,..,' 11n i i.ul/icd a singer right out of f1,,. „,-. «'nnry. _ After hearing her ;„ - Tho ,-.,,„. , '" 1 "''I'- 1 '-- "1 Sydney. Madam.- Melln U„,k «»«'•<!- i"l.'»-«t in Mis, Mom.rio.r, anit ' ',,',' a ~ " ,tl "'° l '" r ""' voum; Auso-a.ian woman. One of tho' i„, s ? ccminhans who has yet visit,,! An tnt on 1,1 • H r] "* } V - ehnn ' i,n ' l "»<l'i«-' Gonably the very finest tenor vet heard 's '• Elf ,"\r ,i Ti"" rt !n "' magnificent rendering of "Take .'V £ |of Sparldi,,, «,,.„» in - Tnc Oondoli rs " e ,< ( „: , r' a " ;, « ,l ' tl '" Vernon of -on as » im Alhambra in "Tlie Gondolier-, am) |., ;1 ,,k Wilson, f|„, [jaritone, furtlu-r demonstrated his clam takes a R p ,. ml mtmM „,.„ tin Just appearance here of Miss Ethel Morrison, (Miss Ethel Mnginnitv) wo adV'tVl- °4 Wt>l Miss Peart LadKat.o May, G. Villiers Arnold, and Lilian Cox, are making their debut