ENTERTAINMENTS.

Taranaki Daily News, Volume LVII, Issue 249, 30 March 1915, Page 3

ENTERTAINMENTS.

THE GLAD EYE. "If to laugh is to grow fat," said the Sydney Daily Telegraph, "those inclined to obesity should stay away from 'The Clad Eye.'" The motto of the Glad Eye management is to dispel gloom and dispense caietv. For the visit to New Plymouth of the Olad Eye at the Theatre Royal, Mr Beaumont Smith is responsible. At present playing to crowded houses in the New Zealand tour, "The Glad Eye" is repeating a long series of successes which began with a fifteen months' run in London, when Miss Ethel Dane, who will visit with the eompany; created the principal roles. Specially engaged inTondon for the Australasian tour are Messrs T. H. Shclfonl and 11. I. Ford wdio play inestimable amusing parts, Miss Alice Hamilton, Mr Frank Bradley, Miss Sinna St. Clair, Mr Claud Vernon, Miss Clarice Hardwkk, and other clever artists, ineluding such old favorites as Elwyn Harver, Clarice ITardwiek, Ned Turchin, and Harry Sweeney. The company appear at Eltham to-morrow night. EMPIRE PICTURES.

Commencing to-night, the Empire':: numerous patrons will have the pleasure of witnessing the screening of a new brilliant biographic series. The star item will be a magnificent story of American social and political life, "Shadows of the Past." The story, which is in three parts, describes how Mr and Mre Brandon, in their youthful daya, were guilty of a criminal misdemeanor for which they suffered imprisonment.

Year's after, when wealth was this couple's portion, they came under the influence of the head of a political gang who was aware of their youthful fahe step. At the threat of exposure they agree to engage in a scheme which lias for its object the discounting of the morality of the rival Governorship candidate. ' Through the good offices of Antionette, the Governor's faithful servant, the scheme fails. The head oE the Tammany ring follows the Brandons

and Antionette in his motor-ear, and in the blackness of the night he crashed into a railway train with fatal results. The Brandons, who hitd retrieved themselves from the shadow of the past, are once again enabled to face the world undismayed. The production is said to be magnificently hiountcd, and the, actio-; is by the star artists of the Vitagraph Company, and the whole 300 ft is full of unexpected incidents. No programme at the Empire is considered complete unless a Keystone comedy is on its bill, and a splendid laugh producer, "Hard Cider," will have the audience bubbling .over with mirth. "Across the Chasm" is an exciting melodrama. "Hunting Absurdity," is a series of funny cartoons; "Pathc's Gazette," industrials, comics, etc.

MR PETER DAWSON. Falling in with the requests of many pleased patrons who were delighted l'\ Mr Peter Dawson's previous concert in tlie Theatre Royal last January, the gifted baritone has completed arrangements to visit New Plymouth again en Tuesday, April 6th, for one night only. As on the occasion of his previous visit Mr Dawson will be supported by his brilliant English company. To sit at home and enjoy through the medium of the gramophone, singing of the gifted English baritone, Mr Peter Dawson, is the happy lot of thousands throughout the English speaking world, but to few people indeed outside the British IsK)s has the great opportunity been offered of hearing the singer in the zenith of his triumphant career. Speaking of Mr Dawson's recent vis't to Auckland the New Zealand Herald says: "By reasons of his popular yet far reaching vocal interpretations Mr Dawson scored an immediate and permanent success. In addition to possessing a well-produced finely balanced and flexible voice of great range there are certain undeniable qualities about Mr Dawson's readings which place him in a class distinct froiii many contemporary platform favorites., Not only is his clear diction and line! phrasing of supreme excellence, and iiis versatility of style rare, indeed, but such is the personality of the singer that a pleasing intimacy evlsts between himself and his auditors ere the first half dozen bars have been sung. As regards breath control, but few people attain such perfection it is not surprising to icarn that Mr Dawson has actually sustained :i single note for nearly a minute. Such qualifications enable a singer to perforin prodigies as regards phrasing of long sentences, yet in the ease of Mr Dawson the accomplishment is never al. lowed to suggest exaggeration or vulgarity. Tiie box plans open at Hodman's to-morrow morning; reserves 4s.

FRANK MORTON'S AVAR TALI'

The synopsis of the lecture to be delivered'by Mr Frank Morton in the Theatre Royal to-morrow night is advertised in our columns tins morning. It gives a clear indication 01 the trend of Mr Morton's "great war talk." By tie wmmary, it would almost appear impossible to crowd so much interesting material into one lecture. But Mr Morton :s a very aide man. with the happy faculty of condensing his facts into n limited compass without loss of interest. In fir, hands of such a capable lecturer, it is siife to assert Unit the subject will receive capable treatment. And to-day, when everybody is thirsting for a wider knowledge' of 'matter incidental to the great conflict, the lecMirer may be said to come at an opportune time. A large number of excellent illustrations will be shown, amongst them many fine cartoons from the pen i.f Mr Will Dyson, and other famous black and white artists. The plan is now open at Ilotfniann's.