ENTERTAINMENTS.

Taranaki Daily News, Volume LVII, Issue 263, 16 April 1915, Page 3

ENTERTAINMENTS.

THE PLIMMER-HALL DRAMATIC ' COMPANY. I The ""immer Hall Company will open . 'at the '"lieatre Royal on Thursday next, ', the 22nd inst. The production will bo \ ! "The Mummy and the Humming Bird." | Those with theatrical memories will rey 1 member the story. It tells of the queer i life led by Lord Lumley. He, an eni grossed, absent-minded student, devoted ■ to his laboratory; she, young, beautiful ' J and meant to be loved. Lumley's un- ' conscious and persistent neglect of his ' wife -is extremely galling to her, and . when the Count D'Orelli arrives and pays her court she, as naturally as the sunj flowers turns to the sun, listens to his . burning words of passion with emotion. Needless to say, D'Orelli (the humming bird) is a roue. He has ruined a girl . in Italy, and, seeking revenge, the father of the girl arrives in London, and takes up the national calling of an organgrinder. Disturbed in his studies by the "music," Lumley goes out to protest, but becomes interested in the man, and, being alone, invites him up to his rooms. There the Italian tells of th« vendetta he has sworn against the destroyer of his child's happiness. Catching sight of a photograph of D'Orelli, he "sees red," and is only checked from do- ■ ing immediate mischief by the awakened J Lumlev. Then together they scheme to i bring D'Orelli down. How they do it J forms the dramatic backbone of the ' play. The cast will include Miss Beati rice Day, as Lady Lumley; Mr. Winter j Hall, as Lumley; Mr. H. Plimm'er, as D'Orelli; and Mr. H, W. Varna as the organ-grinder (which he originally played with the Fleming-Day Company). With such a good play the Belgian ; Fund, for which the company is travelling and is giving up all the profits, should be materially benefited. i * ) EMPIRE PICTURES. The audience present last night to witness the new programme of the Empire Pictures were well pleased with the selection shown. The Kalein Company contributed a splendid .drama entitled "The Dancer." De iWest, a millionaire, falls madly in love with Evelyn Wade, an interpreter of classic dances. Detemined to win her at all hazards, the ' millionaire succeeds in having Evelyn's vaudeville contract broken. Her aged \ mother seriously ill, Evelyn, needing ; money, is in despair. Just at this time I De Forrest makes her a flattering oiler |to dance at a reception he is giving. ! Evelyn accepts and scores a triumph. ' She iater becomes the millionaire's wife. The social whirl goes to the dancer's • head, causing her to forget her old mother. A year passes. Due to Evelyn's jealousy, De Forrest's love for her vanishes. Because she believes him to be in love with Helen Morris, an actrers, Evelyn decides to return home. It is then she learns that her mother has died in poverty. The realisation of what her butterfly existence had brought ; about fills Evelyn with remorse. A policeman patrolling the water-front that evening finds the dancer's hat, purse, and gloves lying on the pier. Other films were: "Jim just love's smoking," a vei-y funny comedy about a lighted cigar under a man's hat. "Killing Horace," by the Keystone Company, caused rounds of laughter. "The Girl at the Lock" is a magnificent Lubin drama of love and jealousy. "Storm and Calm on the Coast of Sicily" (scenic), "Canadian Resources" (industrial) and the Australian Gazette (topical) were well received.

I • ROYAL PICTURES. . ! The Royal Pictures management screen another fine collection of films to-, morrow at the matinee and again in the evening. The star feature is a Vitagraph drama, "The Right of Way." Af- 1 tcr mortgaging his estate up to the limit,; Lawrence Radford finds himself deeply in j debt. John Durban, an unscupulous financier, wants his land for a railroad scheme he is putting through. Radford is offered a ridiculously small sum, and being hard pressed by creditors, is inclined to accept it, but Brixton, his lawyer, advises him to refuse. Durban, learning Brixton is a stumbling block, bribes him to advise Radford to sell.; Radford's daughter, Ray. a stenographer, who is engaged to Jack Ramsay, a young lawver. overhears the conversation, and feeling suspicious of Brixton, induces her father to defer his answer. She tells her lover, and- on, his advice Radford refuses to sell. Durban then buys up all the mortgages on Radford's estate and threatens legal proceedings. Jack becomes convinced that Brixton is a traitor to Radford. He tells Ray and she secures a position as stenographer in Durban's office, where she finds evidence of money paid to bribe Brixton, also that a party in Washington is deferring passage of the Railroad Bill, which will enrich Durban, until the land matter is definitely settled. Durban works on Radford's fears, through Brixton, and Radford decides to sell. Ray sees a letter announcing Radford's intention, and, feigning illness, hurries over to Jack's office. Brixton has recognised the girl and tells Durban who she is. Alarmed at the discovery, they rush out, with Hartland, his legal adviser, to complete the transaction at once. Radford is about to sign the bill of sale when Jack rushes in, denounces Durban, Brixton and Hartland, and forces t!»om to buy the land at his price. An excellent programme supports this star.