ENTERTAINMENTS.

Taranaki Daily News, Volume LVII, Issue 295, 22 May 1915, Page 3

ENTERTAINMENTS.

EMPIRE THEATRE. For the change of programme today 'at the Empire Theatre a thrilling ro iuance will be presented with a four reel iilm version of Edward Poplc's ecle | brated comedy-drama, "The Spitfire," featuring the popular photo-play star, Carlyle Blaekwell. This play has entertained thousands for many years. Its humorous situations, together with its absorbing dramatic element, makes the subject certain to please both lovers of light drama and those who prefer the big heart throb of tense, overpowering incident, and episode. In this episode the laughs and thrills are carefully balanced, so that at times it is difficult to determine whether the. subject is comedy or serious drama, until at the very last flash the culmination of the fascinating plot brings the conviction that it is only real life after all. Among the supporting programme all the items are entirely new, which include "John Bunny" in a new rule. Excellent subjects are "Sea Anemones," a charming nature study, beautifuly coloured, and the Miner's Peril, a most exciting mining melodrama by the Reliance Co. The programme includes the latest war news in animation. Seats may be reserved.

KOYAL HCTUKES. Keystone comedies are always welcome on every picture programme. Today and to-night an extremely funny 'Keystone star comedy A'ill be shown. It is 2000 ft in length, and entitled "Sea Nymphs," 'Fatty, with his wife, mother-in-law and impedimenta, in the shape of numerous hand boxes, bags and bundles, goes for an outing at Santa Catalina Island. On the steamer he sees charming Mabel ,and is badly smitten. Mabel is travelling with the parental necessity—a very insignificant-looking little father with side whiskers. Fatty, not knowing the relationship, decides that lie will interfere with "that old duck who is flirting with a young chicken," and, accosting the "old duck" on the deek, he pitches him overboard. Then he g'oes in quest of Mabel, and is enjoying his solitary innings, when hs finds out who the man is whom he has unceremoniously flung into the briny dee]). Father is rescued, and they land at Santa Cataliua. Here it is that Ambrose, chronic masher, puts in an appearance, and is introduced by father to Mabel. Everybody prepares to go in bathing. Fatty, who is something of a schemer, contrives to get rid of his mother-in-law and Ambrose by getting them locked up in the same compartment of the bathing pavilion, and he and Mabel run away into the surf, where tliey have a great swim and feed the seals. Meanwhile, the frantic mother-in-law i« rescued from her unconventional tete-a-tete with Ambrose. Mabel's father enlists the muscle of the latter, who is jealous of his plump rival, and together they attack Fatty. The latter does them up, however, and then he and Mabel proceed to give a diving exhibition. Mrs. Faty and mother-in-law witness this thrilling programme, executed off the end of a plank vibrating from the end of a high pier. Mabel excels in tfhe dolphin plunge. The crowd on shore cheer loudly—all except Fatty's immediate family, who are saving their strength for future punishment. Fatty gets his—and the siren Mabel is hastily cloaked and dragged off by her father. The supporting programme is exceptionally attractive.