ENTERTAINMENTS.

Taranaki Daily News, Volume LVII, Issue 259, 12 April 1915, Page 6

ENTERTAINMENTS.

EMPIRE PICTURES. I A special change of programme will be shown to-night onlj; The new col-J lection is headed 'by the Kalcm Company's study of reincarnation entitled "The Mystery of the Sleeping Death," This is a highly interesting romance, embracing a legend of India, which covers thousands of years. The story opens with a burglary committed at the house agent of a gang. Harrison discovers the burglar being a girl, who. is the agent o; a gang. Harison discovers hir ai work, but generously allows her ti eicape. An hour later, the girl is found unconscious on the street and Harrison's butler linds his master In the same condition. Both are rushed to the hospital and efforts to reYive them pove unavailing. !As a last resort the surgeons send for an Oriental hypnotist. Tlie latter relates an ancient Indian legend of two lovers, who were cursed and caused to fall into a death trance because of the refusal of tha beautiful heroine to give up her lover. Once in every century the spirit of each was to leave the sleeping body and, meeting, recognise each other. Harrison and the girl burglar revive as the legend is told and fall into each other's arms. The romance is very impressive as pictured by the film, the acting of Miss Alice Joj',oo i.i the principal part being particularly effective. The supporting items include a Keystone play "Hia New, Profession," in which the popular comedian, Charles Chaplin, brings roars of laughter from all corners of the house. The Pathe Gazette this week contains views o.'! the British Naval Brigade interned in Holland, and another g»>od war picture is "French Battleships," showing the operations of the fleet as in battle. The Thanhouscr company is represented in the new series by a delightful play called "Little Mischief/' featuring a litle girl, whose acting is serious, humorous, and tender. The remaining items are: "The Price of a Lie" (A.K. colored drama) and "Summer Resort Idyll" (Edison comedy). Appropriate musical accompaniments are supplied by Mrs. George.

"WITHIN THE LAW." There is nothing quite novel in the idea of an innocent girl sent to prison (It-voting herself to revenge on the man who placed her there, nor is there Anything fresh in detective stories and the methods of the New York police force, the third degree and all the ivst of it, but to combine the two ideas as Bavard Vellier does in his unusual drama "Within tho Law," to fashion a girl who has brains and brains enough to work out her revongo in perilious paths and yet within the law, so tha.t the most adroit detective cannot ensnare her; that is to make the basis of a play at once unusual and thrilling. There arc many fine Beenes in the play, and the'most sensational is that in which the attempted robbery and the murder are represented. All the elements of successful drama are pre-sent. The playwright has been alert to reserve that tenseness in his dialogue ar.d in the moving of his creatures, without which no detective drama, no ordinary melodrama even, can be thoroughly successful. A most unusual weapon is the Maxim Silencer, used in the murder scene of the drama. This weapon was brought to Australasia by Mr E W. Morrison (the J. C. Williamson pro [ ducer) and is not allowed to be sold as it is well known it would constitute a danger against mankind. Only through special permission from the New York police, coflld Mr Morrison bring tint dangerous weapon away with him. The pi.-nit company were all selected and rehearsed by Mr Morrison, who produced the piece for the New Zealand tour of last year under the J. C. William son management, from whom the present firm have secured the sole touring rights of their recent successes, and who intend visiting the New Zealand towns. from time to time with the very best dramas. "Within the Law"'has been a lucky card for the exploiting of tlmir enterprise; record business was ,Unc on the recent tour, and great successes have already been recorded on the lirst few weeks of the New Zealand tour. "Within the Law" will be staged at tin Theatre Royal, New Plymouth, on Tuesday night, April 15th, and the box plan is now available at Collier's, where scats may be resorved without extra charge.