AMUSEMENTS.

Taranaki Daily News, 24 April 1916, Page 6

AMUSEMENTS.

"UNDER FIRE." i THE GREAT WAR PLA\. j Next Monday evening ,T. C. Williamson's Julius Knight company will present for the first and only time in New Plymouth Roi Cooper Megrue's thrilling war drama, "Under Fire." This play is certain to draw a crowded house. It has been so well spoken of by Australian critics that a successful issue is a foregone conclusion. "Under Fire," on its first presentation at the Hudson Theatre New York, sprang to instant popularity, its pro-ally sentiments making a strong appeal to sympathisers with the Entente powers. When produced in Sydney some three months ago, a scene of extraordinary excitement wa9 witnessed. Nothing approaching the enthusiasm has ever been seen in an Australian theatre. In Melbourne the play was withdrawn owing to previous arrangements in the very height of its popularity. This play has been weaved into dramatic form of the most striking incidents associated with the first clash of arms the invasion of Belgium, and it embodies all the elements of successful drama, particularly since it lends itself to startling possibilities on the part of the producer and the theatre staff, it, carries the audience as close to .the real thing a 9 their imagination and freedom from stray pellets will allow. All we have heard of the thoroughness of the great German military machine is all shown. The callousness' of the officers, and the brutality of the men, is graphically depicted in the various scenes. Largely the plot has to do with the German system of espionage and the effects, made to counteract its effects. How an Irish captain saved Paris after the communication trench had oeen blown to pieces is one of the exciting incidents of the drama. The real triumph of the stage craft, however, is during the third act. The curtain rises on a charming night scene on the western front. Four soldiers are sitting in a dug-out playing poker for cigarettes, whilst' an officer paces up and down in fitful expectancy. Away in the distance rolls the heautifully clear blue sky, the scintillating stars creating the illusion that one is looking far out to illimitable space. There is the suggestion of a gentle breeze which rustles a tree on the extreme left of the trench, and' near by is a telephone which picks up for. the British guns the range of the enemy lines. Now and then, the distant boom of the big gun can be heard, as wild shafts of light from the electric arcs flood the ".owntry and pass along like some sweeping phantom followed by great explosions from shells that burst' over the heads of the British troops. The supreme moment arrives when an aeroplane in its flight releases a bomb that may be traced through.the air to the front of the trench. An alarm is raised; the explosion splits the atmosphere and trench 27 is scattered to dust, its former occupants, maimed and wounded being discovered or ihe bare ground. It is a thrilling moment, and it is stated to be one of the best mechanical achievements of recent years. The change from this scene is to a battered and broken church in France. The edifice has been converted into field hospital, and lying about on loose si raw are the wounded, who are receiving the attention of the first-aid men. A crucifix, the one thing uhharmed by the bombardment, seems to keep sentinel over the scene. The drama has a big cast, numbering forty speaking parts. A number of wejl known players have been included in the company, Mr. Julius Knight and-Miss Liaette Parkes sustaining the love interest in adventurous undertakings. Others in the production, which is staged for the J. C. Williamson mannffcmcnt by Mr. George Barnum, are J. B. Atholwood, Boyd Irwin, Louis Kimball (a young juvenile actor from America), Herbert Leigh, Pictor Tatnell, Chas. Morse, Carlton I Stuart, Walter Vincent, Thos. Lloyd, D. •J. Williams, Raymond Lawrence, Kenneth Brampton, Alfred Bristowe, T. Wilkins, H \y. Varna, H. Sweeney, Hugh Huntley, D. T. Lalor, Jas. Wjlkins, Eileen Sparks, Rosslyn Vane and Emma .Temple. The box plan will be opened at Collier's on Friday morning next at 9 o'clock. THEATRE ROYAL PICTURES. AN UNUSUAL FILM FEATURE. The new programme of photoplays to be shown to-night at the Theatre Royal is headed by the Famous Players-Lasky feature film "The Unafraid." This picture is adapted from the well-known

book by Eleanor M. Imgram, and is described as a most powerful story of romance, intrigues, and revolution, whose Slitting is tlic Balkans. These States are | the home of adventure and romance, and according to novels, stage productions, and the daily press, there is more excitement to one square inch of the Balkans than in most parts of the globe. Miss Kita Jolivet, who is starred in this production, was one of the late Cliarles Frohuian's party on board the ill-fated Lusitania. It was to Miss Jolivet that Mr. Frohmau addressed his last words: "Why be afraid of death? It is the most glorious adventure in life!" Rita Jolivet, who is said to be one of the most -beautiful women in pictures today, though comparatively new to "the movies," has had a lengthy stage experience, having appeared in Shakespearean drama in most of the big Continental cities and America. One of her recent success was with Seymour Hicks in "Broadway Jones." "The Unafraid'' crested quite a stir in Australia picture circle and its previous successes will doubtless be repeated here. The supporting films are excellent and include "The History of a Big Tree," which shows the tree felled, drawn to the mill, sawn into strips, and dressed ready for use. "Lulu's Lost Lotharios" is an amusing comedy. The Gaumont Graphic •contains a number of war pictures of more than, usual interest, whilst the coinedy "Unlucky Loucey" features the inimitable Sydney Drew. At the conclusion of this new programme to-night the management will screen, by special request, the first series of "The Trey 0' Hearts." There will be no pictures at the Theatre Royal on Tuesday nightEMPIEE PICTURE PALACE. "The Battle of Wits," a drama which has a thrilling effect throughout its entire length, is the title of the star picture of the new programme screened at the Empire Picture I'alace on Satur» day to record audiences. The picture,

which is 2000* feet long, is the seventeenth episode of "The Million Dollar Mystery," the serial drama which has set thousands of visitors talking. The episode now presented is one of the most exciting and gripping stories yet shown in connection with the clever schemers, the Black Hundred, Jim Norton, the reporter, who is again to the front, is lured into a torture chamber by the gang, who wish to find out a secret from him. His strength and wit are of no avail, and he is thrown into the torture chamber. Luck sends Jones, the butler, as avenger and rescuer. Silently, swiftly, he acts and once again the tables are turned. "Hilda of the Slums" is a Vitagraph Drama of exceptionally good merit. It is the story of a.singer and dancer in a third-class cabaret who retains the fineness of her nature, and who eventually, through a chain of exciting incidents, wins love and comfort. An exhilarating comedy-drama is "Jimmie on the -Job." Jimmie goes through many exciting scenes, and rescues a farmer whom two crooks endeavor to "take down." A topical picture shows glorious views of Salonika, where the Allied armies now have their headquarters. "The Jinx on Jenks" is a picture" by the Komic Company, and the many funny complications of Jinks and Max make the audience shriek with laughter. "The Pathe Gazette" contains an interesting series of animated topics and fashions, while a charming travel scenic subject is shown in "Waters of the North Country." The music, which is supplied by the Symphony Sextuple, is a pleasure to listen to, and suitable selections are arranged for each subject. The programme will be repeated again to-night and to-narrow night.