AMUSEMENTS.

Taranaki Daily News, 19 May 1916, Page 6

AMUSEMENTS.

THEATRE ROYAL. In tlio making of photoplays there seems no end. To-right „t the Theatre Koynl a now programme will be presents which has as it? star feature a thrilling drama entitled "The Mysterious Man of the Jungle " This is described as Something different -a dramatic feature full of intensely interesting animal studies. It tells li..w a man "shipwrecked, on the African Coast, became the friend of the wild beasts of the jungle, and how he wa» eventually discovered by his former -wecU.eart. No more interesting plot h is ever been pictured and the anima" studies are all genuine and really unique. In addition to this big feature, the sth instalment of "The Trey o' HerfHs," will be included. This episode ;, Entitled. "The Sunset Tide," and it unfi.'us many heartthrobbing incidents of the popular and lengthy story. Other supporting films are "The Quarrel" (Vitagraph comedy) """""• War Gazette'' (topical), "The Charm That Charmed" f comedy), "The Broken Rail" (Hazards e: Helen 'series, featuring Helen Holmes), and Bashful Billie (comedy). This programme will be shown to-night and at both performances to-morrow. EMPIRE PICTUPI, PALACE.

The current programme of photo-plays at the Empire Pietur? Palace will be finally presented to-night. The series is a good one and well worth seeing. The popular film artists, Leah Baird and Leo Delaney appear in a Vitigraph society drama, entitled, "The Way of the Transgressor" a start- with a stron« moral There is also a two-reel I)nbin star, entitled, "The Telegi a phists' Peril," in which Miss Qrm' Hawkey and other favorite artists appear to advantage. The "Topical Gazette" depicts many interesting happenings in the Commonwealth, mostly of a military nature and the comedy portion of the' series is on a liberal scale. Commencing to-morrow (Saturday), at the matinee there will be presented the fina' chapter of the serial photoplay "The Million Dollar Mystery. Extraordinary success has been achieved by this serial drama, livery different episo.-!-. was well arranged and finished at a most exciting part, which whetted tie appetite of the serial drama patrons, and thereby in- I creased the patronage week by week. The twenty-second and twenty-third episodes have been formed into one long melodrama, tinder the title of "The Mystery Solved," and in t'-is episode every unfinished scene is drawn together, and the whole object of the scenario artist is made plain. Scene after scene of excitement and hairbreadth escapes are introduced, and the plot, grows clear to those who have fnllotvc 1 the destinies of the hero and heroine Supporting the serial is a rattling good comedy "Tiilie the Terrible Typist" the "Gaumont Graphic," and a beautiful scenic, entitled "The PearT of the Baltic- Sea." GABY DE?LYS a Un Monday and Tuesday next, at the Theatre Royal, picture-goers will have the opportunity of witnessing Gaby I Deslys, on the screen fov the first time. "Her Triumph" lias been written specially for the great artiste, and might be a real story of her life, so graphic and convincing does it appear. It is no patchwork of incidents bunched together to show the talent of the artiste as a dancer, but a real throbbing storyof a woman' persistent efforts to nsien'd the latter of fame. Commencing as a ballet dancer, she overcomes every obtacle and every temptation, and conquers even the jealousy and spitcfulncss of many of her fellow artists before shC ultimately reaches the pinnacle of her ambition. The ael.res= gives us many fine, sentimentnl touches in the cou:)V of the story, but she remains natural throughout. She is equally convincing as the little chorus girl at the outset, lovingly tending her bedridden mother artel blind sister, and i>s the successful artiste who secures fame, when her greatest aappfness consists in the additional comforts she can give her loved ones. There are nj dull moments; every scene possesses so;i e incident that engrosses attention and'grips the spectator. In eulogising the efforts of Gaby Deslys, we must ;iot fov«ei the great support she receives from Harry Pilcer, who also makes his debut as a film actor. As a dancer in conjunction with Gaby, Mr. Pilcer has earned world-,vide celebrity, and it is fitting, therefore that he should share her honors as a film artiste. He dances with all his accustomed vigor, giving, in conjunction with Miss Deslys, the true idea of the rrttry of motion.'It was a happy idea to secure Mr. Pilcer to co-operate with Mi-- Deslys, and he proved a valuable assistant in completing a perfect and fascinating production. Each of i!:--other characters is adequately filled, while Hit stage setting, especially the great m.isie hall scene, when the heroine,secures 'Her Triumph." and the photographic qualities throughout are of the usual Famous Players' quality, and materially assist in completing a great and wonderfully fascinating production. Th« box plan for reserved seats is now open at Collier's. PAUL DUFAULT CONCERTS.

Such an artist as Paul Dtifanlt in never forgotten. Music lovers will welcome the announcement that the popular French-Canadian lenor is to again visit New Plymouth. One concert onlv can be given and this will Ickp place at the Theatre Poval next Wednesday, 24th May. Of Mr. Du fault's concert in' Auckland last week, the Xpw Zealand Herald says: ,"The remarkable success gained\by Mr. Paul Dufault at his opening concert was continued at ITis Majesty's' Theatre last night, when the second programme of the series was present) .1. Tlie popular tenor was in excellent voice, and in the many songs interpreted was enabled to give his numerous adin : rcrs more than a glimpse of his consummate mastery "of the various styles of vocalisation. Songs of the purely bel canto order vied in popularity with thos- of a more declamatory or rugged nature, and one scarcely knew which to admire most—the gifted tenor's use of the refined and modulated tunes of his voice in some tender ballad, or his temperamental treatment of some pcnirfnlly Graphic or majestic passage. Tn most eases there is a delightfully impromptu character about his voeal readings, which is in pleasing distinction to i the overstudied and labored sin?ir>f one has frequently heard. The Prayer from Massenet's "Le Cid," showed' Mr. Dufanlt's wide range and refined French diction, and particularly in the dosing portion of the excerpt a stnKingly resonant tone quality. Very dekcate was the interpretation of songs like Haydn Wood's tuneful "Bird of Love Divine," and the quaintly melodious "Mandoline" by Pebussy, while special mention may be made of Sanderson's "Uirraine," in the interpretation of which lie popular tenor ) felled. Of gripping intensity was McHvden's "Inter Nos/' Ihe final of the i I -sing group of bracketed songs. Mr. It fault was recalled again and again

during the evening, contributing many new numbers in response to the popular demand. Miss Pauline Bindley was well suited in her brilliant operatic aria, "C'aro Nome," from Verdi's "Rigoletto." Miss Bindley was also nmcli at home in Leoni's "Leaves in the \\ md," and San. derson's blithesome valse song, "Spring Awakening," and took part successfully with Mr. Dufault in the strenuous duet, "I Pardon Thee," from Gounod's "Romeo and Juliet." This 'tciu occasioned a furore. Miss Florence Seapini showed excellent tone and technique in her violin solos, "Andantinoj" Martin-Krcisler, and Sarasate's "Spani«f, Dance," with its difficult double-stopping; and intervals. Rhythmical and- tas'.iinl Sibelins's "Valse Triste," while I ibich's "Poem," and Wieniawski's "Ob.'uass," were Miss Scapini's remaining programme numbers. Both Miss Bind!'.';, and Miss Seapini were warmly received and encored after their selections. The pianoforte accompaniments of M . Harold Whittle were always in the b»st of taste, and uniformly accurate." The box plan for the New Plymouth eoncu't opens at Collier's to-morrow (Saturday) morning.