ENTERTAINMENTS.

Taranaki Daily News, Volume LVII, Issue 204, 5 February 1915, Page 3

ENTERTAINMENTS.

ROYIAIi PICTURES. ' Included in the new programme showing at the Royal to-morrow are two excellent dramas, the first being "The Greater Lore." Esther Desries, of attractive personality, a volunteer nurse, meets Doctor John Strong, and soon finds that she has for him the one great love of her life. Strong's wife, Marion, is a thoughless butterfly, and without appreciating the gravity of her coutsc, plans to elope with Thornton, an artist. Thornton, of weak character, is th e father of Francis, a small child, injured in a street accident, and who has been attended by Strong and nursed by Es- •. ther. Thornton's redeeming trait is his j kindheartedness, and love for his child. Esther knows that Strong loves her, and upon hearing of the proposed elopement, realises that she has only to allow matters to take their course, in order to eventually become Strong's wife. She finds, however, that she cannot allow her own happiness to be baaed on the man slit" loves, and the grief of the child whom Marion has induced Thornton to abandon. By appealing to Thorn, ton's father-love, Esther succeeds in j preventing tile elopement, and by con- ( [ fessing to Marion her love for Strong, i she arouses in the wife a jealous deI termination to deserve, win, and retain , the love of her husband. Esther at 1 last feels that, by assuring the happi- | ness of thoRH she most loves (Strong and the child), she too, will attain ' happiness. The second is entitled, "The -Demon of the Rails." Mabel's sweetheart. Billy, freight engineer, is , suspended because of neglect of duty. Several days later, Mabel learns that Olmstead, of the fast express, has gone insane during his run. She notifies ' Billy. At the risk of bis life, Billy I boards the speeding train. He ovcr- ' comes the crazy man after a terrific ' struggle and averts a horrible wreck J by the fraction of a second. His hcr- [ oism brings about his reinstatement and | makes possible his marriage to Mabel. I There is a splendid supporting pro--1 gramme. UMPIRE PICTURES. Edison is well represented on the new ' programme showing at the Empire, by a 2000 ft. star comedy entitled "When the Men left Town." The women, headed by Ilonoria Dawlcy, who was elected Mayoress of Sic town, get control of the place and stop smoking, . drinking and gambling. After two days j of the new regime, the indignant males , teach the women a lesson. After dark j that night they left the town. The | women suddenly discover that the mere ! male is very handy when it comes to j heavy work. The. exasperated feelings of tlie forsaken wives and sweethearts I were, given expression in a monster parI ade of protest. They could not reach | the men by telegraph, because nobody could work the key, but a means was j discovered in some pigeons Tom Carson I had sent to his sweetheart. A wild I scene took place when the men finally returned. There is also a Kalem star drama entitled, "Padrone's Plot." This is a startling drama of the underworld of New York. It strikes a powerful blow at the. methods which compel workers, for tho sake of their -wives and families, to continue in the struggle for existence against tremendous odds and oppressions. In the drama are studies . of intense human interest, and deep inI telligent sympathy, into the lines of those on the lower rnng of the toiler's ! ladder, the effects of their environment, ■ and the prospects and sources of their ! reform. Woven into the drama is a i most interesting love story—a love j shirv that is different—one that will I delight the critic and the lover. The ' | scenes are splendidly handled, and the 1 j plot is well sustained. The remainder ' I of the programme is well in keeping : with "the stars.