AMUSEMENTS.

Taranaki Daily News, 23 June 1916, Page 2

AMUSEMENTS.

"HELEN'S BABIES" AT THE THEATRE EOYAL. The Theatre Royal echoed with the hearty laughter that "Helen's Babies" created last night on thel introduction of the new picture programme. "Helen's Babies'" is a most complete and fascinating entertainment. Youth and romance are the keynotes of the story, but the fun is always on the surface, which makes for complete enjoyment as the plot ripples along its merry course. It will probably prove the biggest success of any comedy entertainment shown at this favorite theatre. The amusing charm of the story is that while it concerns the worrying time the children gave their harassed uncle, they were unconsciously working towards a splendid climax. The uncle is desperately in love with a young lady, but he does not know how to approach her *n such a way as to find out whether she would marry him. One of the first pranks the children play on the uncle has the effect of causing a complete estrangement between the two lovers, and he feels like "The Sentimental Bloke," that "Life's joys have done a bunk." His rosy dreams are shattered to nothingness, but when the children succeed in bringing the lovers together again, and the marriage bells ring out, they are forgiven. A big programme of feature plays support "Helen's Babies," one of which is "The Third Commandment," a vivid romance, with a smashing climax, that drives the message it conveys deep into the heart in a forcible but [artistic manner. The plot cenfres around a man who committed perjury that he might wed the woman he loned, and after the crime discovered the woman had no feelings except animosity towards him. It is a most impressive play. Another star item is "Steel Ribbons,"'being the tenth instalment of the serial drama, "The Trey o' Hearts," now well on the road to completion. "Scenes in Junman" (China) make a pleasant travel scenic, ' and "The Armies of France" is a popular number. "Lonesome Luke/' a Pathe comedy, completes a splendid programme vhieh will be shown again to-night and at both performances to-morrow (Saturday). LAST NIGHT OF "THE DAUGHTER OF DARKNESS." "The Daughter of Darkness," a Cines feature play showing for the last time to-night.at the Empire Picture Palace, is a Wildly romantic film touching upon the adventures of a young woman who leads through surprising adventures and hair-breadth escapes a desperate band of criminals. The story is admirably told and well staged, sensational scenes of a fire, a huge explosion and a train and motor collision being introduced. Erailie, "the daughter of darkness," holds the audience spell-bound in her audacious attempt to extort money from a millionaire, and nobody is sorry when, at length, though her scheme is frustrated, she escapes the consequences of her doings and disappears in the darkness. Two comedies—"His Lordship" (Lubin) and "Love and Labor" (Vita.)—follow the star, and the whole programme is well completed by the latest "Pathe Gazette" and a Gaurnont scientific film "Metal-

lurgy of Zinc." Commencing at the matinee to-morrow the management will present a new Mutual masterpiece in four reels, entitled, ''The lonesome Heart." This is a story that gets your sympathies—you laugh at its humor; you cry at the pathos; and you rejoice when love triumphs. It is a story that reminds you of "Rags," Mary Piekford'a big success, and it is beautifully enacted by Margarita Fischer, who, in the appealing part of Samanthy, and orphan girl, wanders out alone into the big cruel world arid there, "in the heart of a city that hath no heart," has many tingling ' adventures which ultimately open the way to a realisation of all that is beautiful to "the lonesome heart." i