ENTERTAINMENTS.

Taranaki Daily News, 11 October 1915, Page 6

ENTERTAINMENTS.

"HIGH JINKS" AT THE THEATRE ROYAL TO-NIGHT. A rare treat will be presented to the playgoers of New Plymouth to-night, when one of the most important musical successes of recent years will be produced for the first time here by J. C. Williamson's new English Musical Comedy -Company. We 'refer to the play with the attractive title of "High Jinks," which has just been presented in Auckland to enormous houses. The record of "High Jinks" is worthy of note, having been one of remarkable and continuous success. In London its success has in many respects been altogether unique, and critics assert that within their recollection no other musical comedy excelled it in popularity. In New York it became so popular that the title was tacked on to many articles of popular use, from soap to candies. Apart from the reputation of the play, there is tlie fact that so many new English principals are making their first appearance here. The cast includes: C. H. Workman as Dick Mayne; W H. Rawlins as Mr. J. J. Jeffreys; Field Fisher as Dr. Robert Thorne; Paul Plunket, as Jacques Kabelais; Alfred Frith as Colonel Slaughter; Fred Magnire as Johnnie Doe; Chris Wren as Garcon; Dorothy Brunton as Sylvia Dale; Florence Vie as Adelaide Fontaine; Gwen Hughes as Florence; Nellie Hobsou as Madame Rabelais; Marie Eaton as Mrs. Marion Thorne; Daisy Yates as Mile. Chi Chi; and Cecil Bradley as the page. The production this evening will be under the personal supervision of Mr. Harry B. Burcher, from the Gaiety Theatre, London, and the orchestra will number fourteen performers, who will be under the direction of Mr. Harry Burton. The box plan is still on view at Collier's, and the management state that there are still good seats in central positions in the dress circle and reserved stalls. The 4s and 2s tickets can be obtained at the doors this evening. " THOU SHALT NOT KILT,." A masterpiece in the way of dramaticproductions was shown at the Empire Theatre on Saturday night in a film produced by D. W Griffith, entitled "Thou Shalt Not Kill," or "The Avenging Conscience." The plot is based on Edgar Allen Poe's great story, "The Telltale Heart," and on the poem "Annabel Lee," and a successful effort is made to show how man's conscience, that greatest aid to the righteousness of the world, works upon evil-doers. The story in its production approaches the melodramatic at times but the marvellous acting lifts it to a high plane, and the ending is a wonderful climax in which love emerges triumphant, after what has seemed to be a hopeless outlook. The principal character is Henry B. Walthall, who, as the nephew of a rich old man, shows a high dramatic power in his acting. The story is of an old man who jealously guards the affection of his nephew, and steps in between him and his sweetheart, a part taken by Miss Blanche Sweet, a beautiful girl, who soon wins the sympathy of all who see the film. The nephew broods over the fact that his uncle has separated him, and in an intensely dramatic scene he murders the old man. His guilty conscience haunts liini, and the effect of this is shown in realistic manner, until he finally confesses his guilt, and endeavors to evade justice by hanging himself. The sweetheart also ends her life, and in this the film gets rather melodramatic. It is out of this apparently hopeless set of circumstances that the dramatist shows his power, for the whole story is shown to have been' a dream, and the happy ending comes when the uncle relents of his harshness, and the happy couple are united. "The Gaumont Graphic" shows some topical war scenes, while an amusing series of cartoons depict the Kaiser and the Crown 'Prince crushed in their efi'ort to gain world power "On the Borders of a Lake," a colored scenic, adds to the general value of the programme. The collection will be screened again to-night.