AMUSEMENTS.

Taranaki Daily News, 28 April 1916, Page 6

AMUSEMENTS.

•UNDER F1I!E. !: ' Local playgoers are looking forward with groat pleasure to the return of that popular favorite, Julius Knight, who will play a erne-night season .at the Theatre Koyal next Monday night, with the production of the thrilling war play "Under Fire," which comes to New Plymouth with a very big reputation from Auckland, where it has just been played to capacity business for seven night?. Seldom, if ever, lias a plav come to the Dominion with credential* o; such a high order. It will come as a fitting sequel to "The. .Alan That Stayed at Home," this piece of active warfare, "Under Fire," which is said to be an absorbing drama, dealing with the horrors that accompanied The German invasion of Belgium. In vivid and realistic fashion it bring?-before the minds of the audience the cruelty and barbarism, of whic-h a supposedly-civil-ised nation can be capable when, even in the twentieth century it becomes mad with war, drunk with bloodj and beastial with lust. As a true picture of what has really happened in Europe, and would certainly happen here if the Germans triumphed, "Under Fire" should be valuable as an aid to recruiting. The spectacular side of "Under Fire' is unusually elaborate, the scenes including the British trenches, the interior of ft cathedral in a shell swept town in France, British field hospitals, 'Bed Cross nurses and doctors at work, and a bomb attack by aerop-lanes. And what is particularly important regarding this drama is that it is a play of the moment and right up to date. It is without nohe, without horror, but with thrill?, with comedy and romance. In addition to Julius Knight, a strong company has been .specially organised for this production, including Lizette iTarkes, Emma Temple, Eileen Sparks, Rpsslvn Vane, J. B. 'Athohvood, Boyd Irwin, Herbert Leigh, Harry Sweeney, Hugh Huntley, Charles Morse, Victor Tatnell, Alfred Bristowe, 11. \V_ Varna, D .T. Williams, Carlton Stuart, Raymond Lawercnce, Thos. Lloyd, Kenneth Brampton, .Tas. Hughes, T." Vincent, T. Wilkins, D. T. Lalor, and a new American juvenile actor Louis Kimball. There are forty speaking parts in the drama, and over 150 people take part in the production. The orchestra numbering 12 will be under the direction of Mr,-J. J. Drew. The box plan will open at Collier's this morning at 9. o'clock.

"THE MAN \VHO STAYED AT HOME."

In 'The Man Who Stayed at Home" to be staged b,v the "Within the Law Company" at the Theatre Royal on Tuesday next, the author has selected for his hero a London Johnny, one of those pronounced fops who make the remainder of the family appear silly for bein.cr found occasionally in his company. This i;; the man who stayed at home when the rest of his pals went swinging through the streets to the tuna- of tho "Girl I Left Behind Me," played by their regimental bands, he sauntered quietly along the footpath twirled his cane in the air and muttered "Deuced fine, donteherknow." His lady friends called him "Mary," presented him with ostrich feathers—always white ones—and feathers from the rudder of the rooster, but he kept on the even tenor of his ways. He lived at a boarding hotel with a peculiarly unsympathetic crowd, and seemed to enjoy life immensely: But all the while he was the despised and rejected of the populace until finally he threw off what transpired to have been a disguise, revealed himself as a trusted member of the Secret Society, disturbed a hornets' nest in the boarding house, and finally gathered in the most dangerous gang of spies known on the East Court, including a comely maiden who, although naturalised for twenty-five years proved to he the greatest rebel of them all. Mr. Lionel Walsh will appear as Christopher Brent, the supposed "silly ass" with the cane and monocole, and Miss Hilda Borrington as Miriam Lee, a lady in the Secret Service and not on her first mission. The full strength of the "Within the Law',' company will complete the caste. On Wednesday next "Get-Rich-Quick Wallingford," the famous .T. C. Williamson comedy, will be presented for the farewell performance. The box plans are now on view at Colliers' where seats are obtainable without extra charge.

! EMPIRE PICTURE PALACE. "By Whoso Hand" and "A Child of the Surf' form the chief attraction of a splendid programme which will be shown to-night at the Empire Picture Palace for the last time. The former film contains a story possessing many romantic features and is of an engrossing nature. The manner in which the truth is "re-, vealcd form a most dramatic finale. "A Child of the Surf" is one of the daintiest love stories imaginable, «ct amid most beautiful scenery of rugged rock-bound coast and stretches of bubbling surf. A charming Yorkshire scenic film is "Knaresborough and Fountain Abbey." "Men of the Moment" is a fine topical, giving life-like portraits of all the Allied notabilities engaged in the. world war, and there is a good sprinkling of comedy items. The usual change will be made to-morrow (Saturday) at the matinee, when the eighteenth instalment of the popular "Million Dollar Mystery" will head the list.

THKATKE ROYAL PICTURES. In. these days of keen competition and commercial rivalry, producers of motion pictures throughout the world are continually striving after something new. The presentation of the new programme at the Theatre Royal last night revealed the fact that the management of this popular house had secured a series of films unique in every way and essentially original in conception. It is many months since pictures of a like nature were seen in Xew Plymouth and these films are the greatest successes of their kind. As a serial photo-play ''The Trey 0' Hearts'' lends itself admirably to picturisation. It is an improvement on the ultra-romantic, matter that forms the principal part of some serial stories, in that it is well within the bounds of possibility. In the second instalment shown last night, the story takes a most unexpected turn and the most casual spectator finds himself intensely interested. A weird story of ancient Egypt entitled "The Avenging Hand" comes next. This film, in three reels, is unusually entertaining, both as regards subject matter and setting. As a subject "One Performance Only," a thrco-rcpl Vita graph Feature, is hard to classify, alternating as it does between comedy, satire, and grim tragedy. It is truly a great film and produced in manner that has made the Vitagraph Company so popular. Slipporting these three stars are the latest "Topical War Budget" and comedy items. The same programme will be shown again to-night and at both' oerformances to-morrow (Saturday^