AMUSEMENTS.

Taranaki Daily News, 4 February 1916, Page 7

AMUSEMENTS.

EMPIRE PICTURE PALACE

A well-assorted selection of exceptionally meritorious photo-plays, topical and scenic subjects comprised the change of programme at the Empire Picture Palace last evening. There was a, crowded and thoroughly appreciative audience. The most important item on the bill was the Vitagraph Company's three-reel drama, "The Silent Plea." In this play the cast is headed by two popular performers, Edith Storey and Harry Morey. The plot deals mainly with a young widow who is left penniless with two children. She finds herself unable to support them, and they are taken from her and placed in an orphanage. Growing entirely away from her good influence, they become incorrigibles, and shortly after they are returned to her. The little widow appeals to an old friend, a senator. Her story incites him to an impassioned speech in favor of the Widowed Mothers' Pension Bill, which is successfully passed, and later the widow finds happiness as ftie wife of her old friend. Another film of unusual merit was 'When Charlie was a Child," a skit on ''Keystone's." The inimitable Charles Chaplin is represented in miniature; in fact, wll the characters are played by juveniles, and the effect is ludicrous in the extreme. As usual, the Pathc Gazette was most entertaining, as also was Miss Lilian Walker in a powerful drama, entitled, "A Lily in Bohemia." Other films shown were "The Soul of the Vase" (drama), and "Ham .at the Beach" (comedy). All of these will be repeated to-night for the last time.

THEATRE HOYAIi "The Man in the Attic,'' a splendid drama of the slums, by the London Film Company, is the premier attraction of the new picture programme introduced at the Theatre Royal last night. "The Man In the Attic" is a thrilling story and is well staged and capably interpreted. Supporting films include "Pokes and Jabbs in Mashers and Splashers" (World Film Co. comedy), the latest Topical Budget, (a topical news film showing the presentation of medals to Australian soldiers by Sir George Reid), "John Bull's Animated Sketch Book" (ft clever cartoon comedy) and the fifth episide of the highly sensational serial drama, "The Master Key." At intervals between the pictures the audience was given a musical feast in the violin playing of Henri de Lissac, a young Aucklander. who possesses remarkable musical ability. This young and brilliant genius' performance is fully reviewed in another column.

NEPTUNE'S DAUGHTER. Annette Kcllerman's return to Australasia as the star of a picture-drama has created great interest everywhere. The play, which is appropriately named "Neptune's Daughter." is a romance of the sea. In it Miss Kellerman is shown swimming in the waters about Bermuda with her mermaid sisters; diving in pools deep in the tropical foliage: struggling in the water, bound hand and foot, as her enemies have thrown her, and fighting for her lifp under the wave? with a hired assassin, the fish swimming unconcernedly . about. The story concerns a young mermaid who possesses a charm by which she can change herself in(i> a woman. The mermaid scenes arc said to be the most novel ever screened, and have been widely commented on. Some of Miss Kellerman's water feats ai|e said to be so daring that they would be deemed impossible were it not for the evidence of one's own eyes. The first production of "Neptune's Daughter"' will be given at the Theatre Royal on Monday night and for the following two nights. The play will be accompanied by special music. The plan, where s eats may be reserved, is at Collier's.