ENTERTAINMENTS.

Taranaki Daily News, 21 December 1918, Page 7

ENTERTAINMENTS.

i ~ EVERYBODY'S, MADGE EVANS IN "WANTED—A MOTHER." "Wanted—A Mother," is j, World film in five interesting parts, and it has the first place on the new picture bill ut Everybody's this afternoon and to-night. Miss Madge Evans has the leading part, and she makes a pretty heroine. ' The girl in this pathetic story has lost her mother, and her father is much too occupied with his business affairs, aiid too careless of the feelings of others, even to give the poor substitute for a mother's love that would be so much appreciated by the little daughter. But the child is pretty and winsome, and she has sill the optimism and the buoyancy of youth. Hev innocent illusions are thrust aside one by one by the stern Angers of her father, and though she loses none of her outward brilliance, never misses a chance for innocent pleasure, yet at times her pathetic lot is very obvious. "Wanted—A Mother" is a play that eari scarcely fail to bring Hp all the sympathetic tendencies of an audience, for in Miss Evans' hands the part of the little girl takes unto itself a new character. It is not till well on in the story that all this little girl's illusions come back to her, and the rose-colored spectacles taken away so harshly by her father are brought back to her again. The plot is very sincere, very earnest, and the acting of 'Miss Evans endows it with a great interest. It is not a drama, but rather a pathetic little play that suddenly changes into a romance. Its treatment, is sympathetic and Its settings always appropriate, The other pictures that are shown with this feature include a topical budget, comedy, and "Nature's Theatricals," an educational picture of awe-inspiring grandeur,

THE EMPIRE. MATINEE THIS AFTERNOON. "A MODERN LORELEI" One of those beautiful legends of the ancients, retold under the Empire banner this week with a lovely -investiiute of modem times, has the name of "A Modern Lorelei '' Frances Btirnhairi the lovely maiden who unconsciously fascinates the hearts of men, aiid Tytotie Power," well known as a powerful emotional actor, plays opposite her. The supporters arc good. "A Modern Lorelei" shows at the matinee this afternoon and for the last time to-night, COMING MONDAY. "BABBLING TONGUES" Tfll'i SENSATION OP 1018. A really new story comes along so seldom now-a-days that it is apt to create, comment. "Babbling Tongues," screening next Monday and Tuesday, is a film of a new order with an interesting problem in it. But is it one of those heavy, morbid, sensational propagandist films? Certainly not. It is a bright, Interesting type of theme, with a rather strong dramatic interest that centres round the small talk that inconsiderate people use in drawing rooms to pick holes in other people's reputations. "■Babbling Tongues," which, comes froto the Ivan studios, has Miss Grace Valentine as ,the principal star, supported by James Morrison: ft makes a direct, hard hit with certain aim at the social small talk of the day, by screening iirst the most common of all social occurrences, a "pink tea," with the tongues of the he-jewelled ladies babbling spicy tit-bits of scandal. Then this interesting picture takes up one of these inconsiderate, unfounded remarks, and traces its efforts. It will be a surprise to the people to see what appalling effect? has this foolish inanity "Babbling Tongues" is a good picture, well presented, well played, and set nicely-

DANCING RECITAL. Some people imagine fairies. are entirely out of vogue. Those who harbor any such delusions should not fail to see the fancy fairy dances at the Dance Recital in the Good Templar Hall on Boxing Night and the succeeding night. Miss Bedford's pupils will give as bright a display in this connection as anyone could imagine, and the staging and dressing will lie exquisite, color schemes being beautifully designed and worked out in all the items. Ballet dancing will be a feature of the programme, assistance will be rendered by Mrs. Birch-Johnston, who ig already favorably established in the hearts of New Plymouth concettgoers, and Mr W Crawford, Welling-, ton's most popular comedian and eccentric dancer Pianoforte solos will be contributed by Miss Leatham. The work of accompanying the dances has been entrusted to Miss Elsio L.A.B. ; AT.O.L., whose ability to fill such a role cannot be questioned. Admission is 2s. and seats may be reserved at Colliet's for an extra charge of Gd