ENTERTAINMENTS.

Taranaki Daily News, 23 August 1915, Page 3

ENTERTAINMENTS.

THE EMPIRE THEATRE, A change of programme of all-round excellence was presented at the Empire Theatre on Saturday night. The star lilm was a stirring Kalem drama, entitled "The Derelict," dealing with the debasing effect the drug habit lias on its victims. Comedy is provided by a Keytsone farce, entitled, "Love, Speed and Thrills," in w'hic-h the actors g«) through some amazing adventures. A topical film of particular interest shows work in an American arsenal, with electric machines cutting out uniforms by the down and other ingenious machines making designs on flag 3 and uniform badges. ''A Night's Adventure'' is a good example of the ends to which men go to gain money, at the same time telling a pretty love story of a doctor and a brave girl in Western America. "An Old-fashioned Girl" was a 'pretty domestic drama, in which the characters wore old-style costumes. This added to the interest of the film. A Vitagraph favorite also caused a good deal of merriment. It was entitled "Cutey's Vacation," and showed a young man at a country resort, spending a holiday amongst crowds of girls who were all seeking his attentions. 'iPatho's War Gazette" included some good pictures of Russian Cossacks in action. The programme will be repeated •finally this evening. ROYAL, PICTURES. To-night's change of programme at the Theatre Royal will be headed by an elaborate three-part drama entitled ''The Wife," from the famous American photo-play producers, Klaw and Erlanger. >lt is a film of excellence, well photographed, finely acted, and many of its incidents and episodes are of a very interesting character. An excellent supporting programme has been selected. Seats may be reserved at Hoffmann's. "THE MAX WHO STAVED AT HOME,"

Recent doings at the Dardanelles, in connection with which tlic Australians and New Zealanders were praised for tlicir bravery, infused special interest into -the initial Australian production of "The Man Who Stayed at Home," the now famous spy drama to be staged here on Monday next by the J. C. Williamson Company, "The theatre," said a leading Sydney critic, "was decorated with\the Hags of the Allies, and a wave of 'patriotism seized the vast audience. Yet this display was not needed to ensure the success of 'The Man Who Stayed at Home,' for gradually as a cleverly conceived and intensely interesting plot unfolded itself, it proved to bo a play with all the characteristic?, of entertaining and successful drama." It is no part of the purpose of the authors to impeach the Kaiser for his lust for world conquest so much as to illustrate the metliods of his vast army of spies, thrown years back to the four corners of the earth for their foul work of today. The audience in the play is not left long in doubt as to the antecedents of Mrs. Sanderson, the Ciernian proprietress of the hotel in which "the man who stayed at home" resided, or of her son. Carl, of the British Admiralty: or of Fraulcin Schroeder, admirable and harmless gortrness; or of the waiter Fritz, who 'is, of course, Dutch. It learns, too, why the fire in Mrs. Sanderson's private sitting-room must not be lit, and why Fraulcin draws pretty sketches in the neighborhood, and why the carrierpigeon does not fly. The facts sol out in a series of lively scenes of comedy and thrilling interest, nil go to explain why Christopher Brent stays at. home. When this apparently "silly ass" has a white feather handed to him he coolly uses it to clean his pipe. Miss Violet 'J.'aget lias achieved a great triumph in the role of Miriam t.c-ijih, and Mr. Frank Harvey an electrical success as Christopher Brent (the man who stayed at home). The bosc plans will be opened at Collier's at S o'clock on Friday morning next. A queue will be formed from 7 a.m. 'The Man Who Stayed at Home" will also be staged at Kltham on Thursday •next, at Hawera on Friday, and at Stratford on Saturday.