AMUSEMENTS.

Taranaki Daily News, 17 June 1916, Page 3

AMUSEMENTS.

| J. .0. WILLIAMSON I'AKTOMIME, | "MOTIIEI\ GOOSE." Wliut is said to'be the best of all the J. Williamson pantomimes played in recent veal's —".Mother (loose" —will be presented here on Tuesday, .July 4, the box plans for which.- will lie opened at Collier's on Friday, June 30. The critic of the Australasian writes as follows of the J. C. Williamson Mother Goose pantomime: "In effects that surprise almost as often as they delight, us, in art, where taste and color invariably agree, in elements that are often quaint, sometimes sporting, and always pleasing, the Mother Goose pantomime of this year quite holds its own with the bird of happy memory of seven years ago. While the best effects of this pantomime may be unreservedly praised, they might be described as the development of wit' and humor. The Goose is in itself an original, a wonderful goose, and the magnificent spectacle of "Gooselne.! " which terminates the pantomime • V-.s never been mailed. From an effective beginning right through the first act the panto is distinguished in scenes and effects, eacli more delightful than the last. There is a most effective swing scene, in which the hoy sings a lilting song, while the girl, her face just faintly illuminated, lloats over the auditorium on invisible wires in a manner that looks like magic 'ndeed; then a scene in which a multitude of pretty girls are dangling toy balloons almost within the roach of a tantalised audience, while other balloons and parachutes and toys pour from the roof to be grabbed up by eager hands. There is a beautiful imperial flower scene. ?.iggested also by war, a dance and March of the Allies, with a hall of sold ■and a profusion of notes and coins of the realm. Even the fitting in between the -.cenes is effective. What .could be better and afford a more faithful contrast, than the English autumn woodland of liie Wishing Gate and the Australian glade of the Magic, Pool? Jn the multitude of sucli effects, the rapidity with which they go, something like satiety i.< nroducd. One needs to reflect that alnnst the least of them would be- a star feature in a variety show to grasp the meaning of all that is offered in this 'exhibition of vaudeville glorified." It takes over 100 people to interpret die pantomime, together with a grand operatic chorus and orchestra. THEATRE ROYAL PICTURES. This afternoon at 2.30, and again tonight at 8 o'clock, the current programme of star photoplays will be finally presented at the Theatre Royal. The bill is varied and suitable to all tastes. Heavy and sensational drama is well depicted in "The Dead Man's Keys," and "As the Crow Flies," the latter being the ninth instalment of the Trans-Atlantic serial story, "The Trey o' Hearts." Splendid war scenes are revealed in "With the Allied Troops at Salonika," and the latest "Topical firing Line Budget." The popular "Hazards of Helen 1 ' series of railroad romances are always popular and the latest, "Crossed Wires," which features Helen Gibson, is a good number. A trio of exceedingly humorous comedies, all of which vie with one another for first place, keep the onlooker in a -perpetual state of merriment, and add greatly to the enjoyment of a capital entertainment. An entirely new bill will be presented on Monday.

"STOLEN GOODS" AT THE EMPIRE TO-DAY. "Stolen Goods" is the title of an exceedingly fine drama, which occupies first place in the new programme at the Empire Picture Palace to-day.. It provides a heart-stirring portrayal of how a girl is wronged by society, through one of its members. 'The photo-play, which is another of the popular Famous l'lay-ers-Lasky maeterpiays, features Blanche Sweet, the famous actress, who gives a very fine interpretation of the emotional character of Margery Huntley. A wealthy kleptomaniac, Helen North, commits a theft, for which Margery is accused and sentenced to imprisonment. On her release, she becomes a nurse, and volunteers for service in Belgium. There are then portrayed some very fine war scenes, which include the bombing of a town by Zeppelins. The Red Cross Hospital is destroyed, and during the turmoil and genera! upheaval Helen North, who is also in Belgium, is seriously injured. Margery discovers her, 'ami impersonates her, and goes to wealthy friends of Helen's in California. Helen unexpectedly recovers, and there follows a magnificent scene showing the denunciation of Margery by Helen! There is, however, a felicitous termination, with an avowal of love by a doctor, whom Helen has met en route from Belgium to California, and they both return io Belgium to minister to the wounded. Supporting films are 'numerous and varied. The departure of the ninth reinforcements from Wellington is illustrated in a series of splendid views. A subje.'t of great interest is "Hunting the Regal Python." "Genoa" is a series of views in and around that old Italian city. Tlie Vitagraph Company presents an amusing corned) in "Welcome to Bohem ; a." The latest edition of the Pathc- Gazette completes the programme. "X1.08E." A FAMOUS PLAYERS COMEDY AT THE "ROYAL." One of the greatest theatrical successes of the la£t decade was Paulton's delightful comedy-drama "Niobe." In Australia and New Zealand the never-to-be forgotten Brougli-Boucicault Co. played it on many occasions, and among the l.appy memories of old playgoers are Mrs. Brough as 'Niobe" and the late "Bob" Brough as Peter Amos Dunn. The "Famous Players" Co. have, it is said, most cleverly adapted the play to the screen, and have selected one of the most beautiful, charming, and talented actresses of to-day, Miss Hazel Dawn, for the part of "Niobe," the Goddess of Tears, who after 3000 years as a statue comes to life when entangled with the electric ires in the house of the staid business man Peter Amos Dunn. The complications that ensue, anil the difficulties and embarrassments that beset Dunn in trying to explain the presence of the unsophisticated half-dad beautiful young woman, and his ludicrous but well-meant efforts to-get Niobe clothed more in compliance with modern and modest fashions make one of the brightest, most fascinating and cleverest comedy dramas of modern days. The picture is the chief item of the new programme to be shown at the Theatre Royal en Monday night next.