AMUSEMENTS.

Taranaki Daily News, 2 May 1916, Page 6

AMUSEMENTS.

BRIGADIER GERARD TO-NIGHT AT THE EMPIRE. Rarely has a picture s u lunch to recommend it in advance as "Briga<!erard," which will be screened to-night at the Empire Picture Palace for the first time. Every name connected with it is so well known. Who, for instance, has not heard of Sir A. Conan Doyle, the mighty magician of the pen who gave the world "Sherlock Holmes," as well as the delightful "Brigadier Gerard," and whose stories and articles of the great war are among the best published? The "Exploits of Gerard" have stirred and amused millions in book-form; then came the wonderfully successful drama "Brigadier Gerard," in which Julius Knight was seen a few years ago, but which was especially suited to the great English actor,' Lewis Waller, who, with his .beautiful and charming leading lady, Madge Titheradge, produced the play with marked success in England, America, and Australia. Lewis Waller, the handsome, dashing, convincing actor, who had all London at his feet, and Madge Titheradge, the daughter of the one and only George Titheradge, piquant and powerful in turn, stand out &9 a particularly strong stage combination. On the screen one can readily imagine both the play and the acting would gain by the broad-' er movement possible. the picture, which will be shown to-night and tomorrow night only, should be a decided success. The thrill, the charm,, the beauty, and the magnificence of it all, together with the wonderful tenderness of an idyllic love story, transcends all previous photoplay masterpieces. Knowing the immense success of this famous production in England and Australia, the management courteously advise patrons to book their seats early.

"THE 1 MAX WHO STAYED AT HOME" TO-NIGHT. Jo-night at the Theatre Royal Miss Hilda Dorrington will make a welcome re-appearance io Now Plymouth, presenting the successful and topical J. C. Williamson attraction, "The Man Who Stayed at Home." Mr. Lionel Walsh will play tlhe title role, who is in reality a British secret service agent and not a "slacker," as one might suppose from the title of the play. His task in this case is to unmask and capture a nest of German spies, and he holds off many alarming situations before effecting tlie complete coup. He impersonates the "eyeglass'- dude, the simple and silly "Johnny" witlh an infectious and inane laugh, but is all the while following up the trail of the spies. Miss Dorrington will play the part of Miriam Lee, his associate in the secret service. The Marconi higlh-powered wireless is especially travelled for this production, the whole plot being centred round the use of the same by the German spies. The plant is concealed in the fireplace, and on releasing a secret spring, whiefh Christopher Brent discovers early in the play, the whole apparatus swings into view, and is immediately in full working- order.

To-morrow night "Get-Rieh-Quick \\ alliii-l'ord" will be presented for the farewell performance. The story is well known to playgoers and is briefly as follows:—Two "crooks," Wallingford and Daw, set out to obtain by fraud the savings of tihe residents of tile small and peaceful town of Battlesburg. They ohtain their money to finance a""Covered Carpet Tack Company," which, to their surprise, turns out a huge success, and with a nice little love story running through, it makes one of the finest and cleanest comedies ever written. The box plans for to-night and to-morrow night are now on view at Collier's, where scats may be reserved without £Xtra charge.