THE EMPIRE.

Taranaki Daily News, 30 March 1917, Page 6

THE EMPIRE.

MARY PICKFORO AS " ESMERALDA " ' TO-NIG'HT. Adjectives for describing the charm of Mary Pickford have quite rim out fei: the American papers. Her popularity increases like a snowball, and in her lattest appearance as "Esmeralda" she is seen at her very best. The play is by Francis Hodgson Burnett, the writer of "Little Lord 'Fauntleroy," and is_ a simple and human story with the impress o* siaturalness and genuine sympathy in every scene. The wedding scene in which the brave little woman faces a loveless marriage for the sake ot her mother's social ambition is almost heart-breaking, but the long arm of coincidence brings the lover at a dramatic moment, and all ends happily. The supporting cast is strong, and the production excellent. Included on the programme is a picture that medical men particularly, and the public generally, are taking exceptional interest, which shows how the wounded Somme heroes are nursed back to fighting form at the big hospitals in England. This programme will he shown for two nights only, to-night and to-morrow, also at Ihe matinee to-morrow.