ENTERTAINMENTS.

Taranaki Daily News, Volume LVII, Issue 257, 9 April 1915, Page 3

ENTERTAINMENTS.

"CHARLEY'S AUNT."

TO-NIGHT. Sim's a dear old lady, "Charley's Aunt," and she keeps on appearing in our midst, and every time she is revived the people say she will never die. Produced exactly 22 years ago, Charley's Aunt has been going strong ever since, and last month's revival in London proved her everlasting popularity, the houses being a record. During the tour of the "Charley's Aunt" Comedy Company, which is to produce this comedy at .the Theatre Royal to-night, the success which attended them was phenomenal and proved the extent of popul-.',:- fo :■"■:;,• for the "dear old lady lately f.-om Brazil, where the nuts come from," and also showed that "Charley's Aunt" is as popular in this country'as ever. Another star com-' edy to be produced is "The Private Secretary," a scream from the pen of Charles Hawt,ry, and no doubt New Plymouth playgoers'who have seen these comedies!* will be pleased to be able to renew their acquaintance with them, while for Hie younger generation who have not seen them, there is a treat in store. Mr Norman Aitken will be seen in the title role. Speaking of his performance as the bogus Aunt in "Charley's Aunt," the Evening Post, Wellington, says: "His assumption, with the black dress and the fichu, of the skittish old lady character was delightfully done, and very clever-] ly he suggestcd'the distress of the hidden j Babs, at the time the assumed character was running away with him. Mr Aitken's performance lacked little or noth- ] ing." The box plan is at Collier's. J

EMPIRE PICTURES. In Lubin's star drama "His First Case" Len Sedley receives an appointment as a special agent in the Custom service. He quickly "conveys the good news io Irnia Benton, an heiress, who is the girl lie loves. Irma's mother favors Dick Dustin, a man supposed to be rich. One of Dustin's advantages is he owns a yacht, but Imra does not like him. Sedley's first assignment is to investigate the traffic of an illicit drug sold by an obscure drugstore. Len watches and dis-: covers that'the store is supplied by Dctrich, a chemist, who runs a rendezvous for a gang of smugglers, of which Dustin is the leader, his steam yacht being used for shipping tic drug. Following the clue, Leu determines to capture the gang. Imra oilers the use of her auto and drives him to a point on the cliff overlooking the smugglers' cave. Sedley do-, scends 'but is captured by Detrich and his-gang, who take, him aboard the yacht and head out to sea. Imra, witnessing the,capture, drives back to port and appeals to the naval authorities. The commander sends a gunboat, "The Paul Jones," in pursuit, and after a hard chase the yacht is overhauled and the smugglers' captured. Sedley finds his first case has won him a wife as well as honor. Roscoe Arbuckle is seen up to his tricks in Keystone's new comedv, "Fatty's Debut." Fatty comes home in a mild tate of intoxication. He takes a bath, and goes to the theatre with his wife and her mother. Here he butts into the play and saves the heroine from the villain and cleans up the entire company, causing endless amusement throughout. Other films are "The Acrobatic Pars," an excellent vaudeville turn. "The Light on the Wall," and 'The Woes of a Waitress" (dramas); "Max and the Lady Doctor" featuring Max Linder, the popular Pathe comedian, and "The Topical Budget." Seats may be reserved.