ENTERTAINMENTS.

Taranaki Daily News, 12 October 1915, Page 2

ENTERTAINMENTS.

"HIGH JINKS." Aptly described as a non-stop laughter jollity, "High Jinks,' 1 as pur-formed at the Theatre Royal last night by the J. C. Williamson Musical Comedy Company, admirably fulfilled its purpose, a large audience for nearly three hours being kept in a merry mood by the frivolity. Americanised from a peculiarly French style of plot, the libretto is of the flimsiest, and the piece in the hands of a less capable company would tend tu hang fire, but the principal artists get the most out of the piece, with the result that the performance was a conspicuously successful one, that went with a swing from start to finish. The title, "High Jinks," applies to a perfume, and likewiso applies to tin- conduet of those who use the perfume. It concerns one Dr. Mayne, the inventor, who tries it on a fellow medico, Dr. Thome, "the grumpiest of gTOuehes." Thorne has one whiff. That is his undoing. He kisses a Frenchman's wife (one of his patients) as a start oli', and sets the wheel of complications in motion. The Frenchman demands reparation. He must be allowed to kiss Thome's wife or shoot Thorne! Thorne objects to either. And thereby hangs the whimsical story, the action of which lakes place principally at a French watering place. The farce has some beguiling. musical numbers, some of which are "Is This Love at Last," "By the Sea," and "The Bubble" by Miss Brunton; "Cbi-Chi" by Miss Daisy Yates and Jii. Wootton; "Come Hither," by Miss Florence Vie and Mr. Rawlins, a ragtime by Miss Vi; "Faust, in Kagtiine" by Miss Queenic Paul, Messrs. Wootton and Maguire; "Sammy Sang the Marseillaise," by Miss Marie Eaton, and "Not Now, but Later" by Miss Brimton and Mr. Plunket,

Miss Dorothy Brunton was a bewitching Sylvia Dale, acting and singing with great charm, and Miss Florence Vie, Who was handicapped in having to play a low comedy part, sang well and aited vivaciously. Indeed, she was the life and soul of the performance. Miss Marie Eaton was requisitely dashing as Mrs. Thorne, and Miss Daisy Yates danced admirably. Misses Gwen Hughes and Cecil Bradley ably fulfilled minor parts. Mr. C. H. Workman was, through indisposition, unable to appear, but Mr. Harry Wootton, who replaced him asi Dick Wayne, inventor of the lovephiltre, was a most capable substitute, and with the seductive •'High Jinks".solo instantly buoyed the audience to an hilarious niood. Mr. W. 11. Rawlins, as the jovial, cheery lumber king, ably supported him, and was responsible for much mirth,, especially in the last scene rt the wedding-breakfast, with his excnieiiitingly amusing speeches. Messrs Field Fisher, I'aui iPlunkett, Alfred Frith were also excellent in other eomedv roles. The grouping and work of a good chorus in songs and ensembles was excellent. The piece was effectively put on, and the dressing was a feature, A first-class orchestra, under the baton of Mr. Harry Burton, played the score in a meritorious manner.

THE EMPIRE. ' The remarkable story so vividly portrayed by the film "Thou Shalt Not Kill," was closely followed again last evening by a crowded audience at the Empire Theatre. It is a drama of the mind, exposing tlie extremes of penitence and remorse inflicted by a guilty conscience, and was suggested by one of Kdgar Poe's compositions. The story relates the tortures inflicted by his knowledge of wrongdoing on a young man, who contemplates the murder of his uncle, who separated him from his fiancee. The result of his act, as his i-onscience presents it to the young man, is portrayed with an effectiveness which cannot fail to make an impression. The supporting subjects are varied and interesting, and make up one of the best programmes submitted at the Empire for a long while past.

. ROYAL PICTURES. Saturday's new programme features Lubin's fascinating two-part drama, ■'Who Violates the Law." It is a powerful dramatic production. Included in the supporting programme is an excellent Vitagraph drama entitled "Lola the Rat." Carlo, the head of a gang of (rooks, ill-treats and bullies his Italian waitress, Lola, nicknamed "The Rat." Dr. Chester, a young philanthropist doctor, overhears Lola's cries when Carlo tries to force her to work when she is ill, and interferes. Finding she has a high fever, lie semis her to a hospital, and becoming suspicious of Carlo, he lias the police watch him and his gang. Lola is very grateful to the young doctor and learns to love him. He does not notice this, and decides to interest his fiancee, Amy Thornton, in the girl. When- Lola is convalescent, Chester introduces her to Amy. Lolu goes back to the Italian quarters, refusing Amy's ollY'i" to find work for her, and obtains work in a laundry there. Meanwhile ( ario and his gang plan vengeance on Chester. Lola hears them faking a message for the doctor, saving she is ill and needs him. She goes to police headquarters and gets assistance. She leads the officers to the meeting place and linds the gang threatening Chester with torture to force a huge ransom out of him. As tlui police break ill, Carlo shoots Lola before he is overpowered. The rest of the gang are arrested, and Chester released. He does all possible for (he dying girl, but her wound proves fatal, and she dies happy in the knowledge that she has given her life for the man she loved.