AMUSEMENTS.

Taranaki Daily News, 22 November 1915, Page 6

AMUSEMENTS.

THE EMPIRE. Eclair's dramatic sensation play, "A Dare-devil Circus Queen," 3500 ft long, will be the supreme attraction at the Empire Picture Palace to-night. The drama, which is to be showij by special arrangement with the New Zealand 'Picture Supplies, Ltd., has just finished a brilliant season at Auckland. The story, while forceful and melodramatic, is said to be at the same time most fa«cinating. A bewildering episode, said to be the most daring feat ever attempted by an actress before the camera, is performed by Madame Romani, a famous equestrienne. Her husband is a circus proprietor whose business is' in a bad way. To save him from ruin and win a wager of £20,000 made by an American millionaire, she rides a restive thoroughbred horse over "The Big Wheel' 'at Paris, the wheel being 200 ft high. Keystone will present the very latest fun farce. '"'Wishing on Mabel," with the popular favorites, Mabel and ''Fatty'' Arbuckle, as leading laughraisers. Pathe's Gazette is an unusually extensive number, containing the latest European news. "Sisters' 'is a beautiful Vitagraph drama: "The Tirannons" is a magnificent scenic by Gaumont, A film photographed behind the German lines will also be shown.

TIHE EMPIRE-TO-MORROW Following on the latest idea in New York, the Empire Theatre will present to-morrow and Wednesday a programme of feature plays chosen from the leading producing companies. Practically every subject is a star drama or comedy with a leaven of scenic and interest specialties to lend a stimulating and picturesque flavor. Seven photo-plays make up the roster, containing continuously cumulative interest. When every play is ft feature play, it is difficult to pick out what might be considered the best, especially as the programme is so rich in variety, but m New York, where the programme was shown recently, the critics unanimously plumped for the contribution of the Vitagraph Company, which is a brilliant conceived and staged comedy, entitled "War." The story concerns a dissension amongst some families of the different nationalities in polygot Amerina. It starts with a chuckle and ends in a roar. "The Quality of Mercy" is another big feature that found great favor with the critics, 011 account of its world-wide appeal, and its dramatic intensity. Space does not permit a description of all the big things in the programme, but the public will doubtless lind the attractions worthy of the Umpire.

"CINDERELLA." This pantomime, produced at the Theatre Royal on Saturday night, under the direction of Ml'. George Stephenson, drew a very good audience, and laughter and applause were continuous. The piece was sumptuously staged and mounted, while the lighting effects were beautiful. The principal artists all gave capable interpretations of their parts, and the specialty turns of Mr. Will speed (trick cyclists) and the Fredo Brothers (musical acrobats) are deserving of special mention. The ballets and marches were very well done. As a whole the pantomime was enjoyable, but one scene (that of "tlu« ' line-up' show" ill act 1) could be omitted to the advantage both of the company and its patrons; it only serves to mar the entertainment.