AMUSEMENTS.

Taranaki Daily News, 1 December 1915, Page 7

AMUSEMENTS.

EMPIRE THEATRE. A comedy drama that provoked almost continuous laughter, the Majestic Company's "feature" production, "Her Snattered Idol," is the premier attraction of the change of programme introduced at the Empire Theatre last evening. The humor is refreshingly original, and the situations are irresistibly mirthful. The author proceeds to demonstrate that in those decadent days primal qualifications must give place to those attributes which the veneer of modern civilisation has produced and rendered necessary. A wealthy old professor has a niece who the old man hopes will marry her cousin, iut she fancies the herculean young blacksmith of the village is more her ideal than her puny, but worthy, suitor. The girl dreams of the prehistoric days, and in her vision the blacksmith is evolved into a real herb through rescuing her from the clutches of a desperate and evillooking stranger. On awakening the girl i 3 more than ever fascinated by her dream hero, so when he proposes elopement she agrees. The professor learns of their project, and with much sagacity arranges a scheme by which the girl will be cured of her fascination. He intercepts his eloping niece, and invites her to bring the blacksmith into the House as his guest for a month, at the termination of which they can be married if they desire to do so. The professor entertains a large number of society people at a dance and supper, which causes the girl's ido] to be shattered. Tile blacksmith's grotesque behaviour, and his uncouth old mother's ill-manners, while provoking •; source of ill-concealed mirth for the other guests and the professor, awaken the girl from her thralldom, with the result that she announces her decision to break off the engagement. After a riotous "scene" the blacksmith and his mother depart, and the girl proceeds to marry her old lover. But the blacksmith returns unexpectedly, and a la Lochnivar, seizes the bride and runs away with her, despite her frantic efforts to escape. A desperate pursuit ensues; the blacksmith with the bride in his [graps are in a trap drawn by a galloping horse, while the plover and liuesb pursue in motor-cars. In the end the blacksmith is worsted and the first lover secures his wife. There v are also Gaurnout's Graphic, "The Dance of the Malays," "The Tale of Ischia" (scenic), and "His Jungle Sweetheart" (Seiig aninisl drama),