ENTERTAINMENTS.

Taranaki Daily News, 30 September 1915, Page 7

ENTERTAINMENTS.

THE EMPIRE. The management of the Empire Picture Co. announce that they will screen, in addition to the usual Thursday change of programme, that wonderful spectacular Eastern drama, "Mizpah." Picturelovers visiting the Empire to-night will find an excellent programme. The star feature on the usual programme is Vitagraph's big special production, "The Girl in the Caße," a powerful play abounding in stirring episodes and gripping situations. The acting is said to be particularly good. Comic relief will be supplied by Keystone's latest fun *.eoncoction, "The Lucky Leap." It is described as very ridiculous, but excruciatingly funny. Edison contributes a vigorous drama, of heart appeal, "The Girl of the Open Road," which recounts the sensational adventures of a, beautiful Gipßy girl. "The Australian Gazette" and many otlin- films are included on the bill.

ROYAL PICTURES. "Maria Marten," the star film on tonight's new programme, is a film of exceptional interest. The scene takes place in the early days of last century at Polstead, a peaceful little Suffolk village, abput six miles from Hadleigh, a place of calm and quiet beauty, embosomed I among rami scenery as lovely as can be seen anywhere in England. Roger Deares, Maria's lover, enlists and goes away to the war. While he is fighting the French, William Corder, a gentleman farmer, tfies to supplant him in the affections of Maria, but for a time with ill success. While gallantly sacrificing himself to enable his leader to make off with despatches in * little frontier skirmish, Roger is taken prisoner. His captain believes him dead and carries the news to Maria, who quickly falls iu love with Corder. The last-mentioned, though an andeat lover, baulks at the marriage hurdle, end the poor girl's life is made so miserable that at last she agrees to dress in men's clothes and elope with him. The assignment is made for a lonely barn and Corder after making love to her there, coolly murders and buries her. But retribution is on Jus path, and Roger Dearea is the means of his being to justice and executed, A grand programme of new films sapports the star. During the evening the Grand Art Union organised by the New Plymouth Civil Servants' Amusement Committee fgr an Overland motor-car, will be drawn. Seats may be reserved at Hoffmann's. „

«ECN ON THE BRISTOL." COMMENCING NEXT WEDNESDAY. "Fun oil the Bristol," or "Widow OTJrien," the musical laughing success ■With a record of over thirty years' triumph throughout .the English-speak-ing world, will be produced in New Plymouth next Wednesday at the Theatre Rayai when George Stephenson's company of comedians inaugurate a season in New (Plymouth. This comedy, which the late John F. Sheridan made famous, and in which he played "The Widow" for over 0000 times, is simply for merriment purposes. The plot is of a widow and her two daughter, who having been left a fabulous sum ©i money by the girl's father, a pork butcher, decide to enter •society. Their efforts are simply ludictous, and provide the author with opportunities for putting together a series of the latest song and dance successes, smart and snappy wit and sketches. Frank Hawthorne plays the widow in this revival, and he has a reputation throughout Australia as being a worthy successor of the original. The supporting company, Mr. Stephenson claims, is equal to any of his former combinations, and in the matter of staging and effects nothing will be neglected. The box plan opens on Friday at Colliers. The company has just finished a most successful season in Wellington, wnew the press were unanimous as to the merits of the performance.