ENTERTAINMENTS.

Taranaki Daily News, Volume LVII, Issue 281, 6 May 1915, Page 6

ENTERTAINMENTS.

EMPIRE PICTURES. To-night's new .programme features a comedy-drama entitled "The Sorceress," by the celebrated Lubin Co. This romance vibrates with real life and tense emotion. Owing to her husband's orgies with his supposed Bohemian friends, a lady places her daughter with the gipsies to live the primitive life, untrammelled by conventions. The result is startling and fascinating. Other films are:— Dramas: "With his Hands," by Edison Co., and ona by the Majestic Co., "Environment." Comedies: "Honor of the Force," "Caught with the Coeds," "Peach at the Beach." Pa the. contributes an interesting study, "Hidden life under the Sea," The latest "Topical Budget" is also included in the new programme.

"THE COURT CARDS." It will be interesting to hear something of each of the clever membars of that excellent musical comedy company, The Court Cards. Few there arc who Jiave not pleasurable memories of that popular band, The Scarlet Troubadours, Who set a popular fashion that the newer company, the Cards, have so greatly improved upon. It must be six years ago 'since we were first charmed by the delightful vocal efforts of Miss Maude Fane, then but a girl in her teens. Now with the experience of a tour which has taken her round the world she returns in a new role, captivates everybody, and is acclaimed by the finest critics to be the most capable and captivating comedienne in Australasia. Edgar Warwick, who in days gone by made in laugh over "Tommy's Little Tube of Soccotine," is a more jovial humorist than ever, while Sydney Mannering sinr,s dainty love songs, dances, burlesques, and sings in a fine tenor male quartette in an even more finished way than in the days of the Troubadours. In this trio can bo welcomed well remembered old favorites, but the five newcomers are regarded by many as even more capable artistes. Miss Renee Maude, the petite soprano, has been well termed "a Kentish nightingale," for her pure liquid soprano is a delight to listen to. Good judges consider that there have been ,fc\v violinists in New Zealand to excel the breadth of tone produced and fine technique displayed bv Miss Winifred Mitchell with her fine" old Strad. Full and resonant indeed is the rollicking bass of George Graystone, whose natural humor cannot suppress itself even upon the stage. As a producer of merriment it would be very difficult indeed to improve upon George Tichencr, for he is a perfect mimic, can twist his tongue round almost any dialect, hag the unfortunate face of a born comedian, and is surprisingly nimble upon a pair of very small feet. Lastly there is the backbone of the whole company, Albert Keats, who excels as a pianist and composer, but seems to possess a natural faciliiy. .tor - ., dping all sorts ff things; he'has a rousing baritone, can be delight fully entertaining, and occasionally fortsakes his beloved piano to demonstrate 'how r .gracefully he and Maude Fane can sing and dance. These arc tho talented artistes who arc providing absolutely the finost feast of musical comedy yet presented in New Plymouth and they should be greeted with packed houses on their appearance here on May lO and 11. A glance at the box plan, opening to-day, will be sufficient indication of this.