ENTERTAINMENTS.

Taranaki Daily News, 4 February 1920, Page 3

ENTERTAINMENTS.

THE EMPIRE. "SPORTING LIFE"—A REMARKABLE PICTURE. Many big special pictures have been screened in New Plymouth picture theatres, including some of the big Drury Lane melodramas, to wildly enthusiastic audiences, but it is dotfbtful if a local audience has ever been worked to the pitch of enthusiasm as that attained last j evening, when the latest big melodramatic special feature, "Sporting Life," was screened to a densely packed house. The big punch of the picture is that it deals ivith English life and English sport in a manner dear to the heart of every Britisher. It includes a sensational presentation of the famous classic of the English turf, the Derby. This graphic reproduction of the wond-famous racing annual at Epsom, puts "Sporting Life" over with a whirlwind thrill. Another big scene is the reproduction of a tight before the National Sporting Club of London. There are a number of other novel and fascinating scenes, including the efforts of a gang of thugs to steal the Derby favorite. Then there is a death-defying motor race that simply sets the pulses bounding. Running througli the whole story is a love theme around which all the events' centre, and ■it is this heart-appealing sentiment that makes the picture just as popular with the fair sex as with the mere man. Altogether it is a picture worth going a long way to see. ''Sporting Life" screens again to-night and to-morrow night in New Plymouth and at the Theatre Royal, Waitara, next Saturday, afternoon and, night.

EVERYBODY'S. BESSIE BARRISCALE IN "MAID 0' THE STORM." "Maid o' the Storm," Bessie Barriscale's latest romantic drama, is bright and interesting throughout, without dragging for a moment. Bessie plays Ariel, a waif cast ur by the sea, who afterwards develops a taste for dancing, and becomes celebrated in London. The touch of romance appears in tlie rescue of a bird man who accidentally drops on her own particular bit of beach, and has a strong influence on the girl's after life. Some beautiful scenes are featured in the production, which is artistic to a degree, and Bessie thoroughly satisfies in the part of Ariel. "Maid o' the Storm" shows at Everybody's to-night for one night only, and the programme also includes the final episode of "Wolves of Kultur."

THE PEOPLE'S. LAST NIGHT OF BILLIE BURKE. Charming Billie Burke in Clare Rummers' great stage success, "Good Graciout, soreenmg finally tonight at the People's, appears in the role of the sweet Annabelle. Imagine her contriving to extricate herself from the amazing complications that inevitably follow, and which keep moving at white hot pace to the end. Billie Burke's leading man is Herbert Rawlinson, which adds to the assurance of its general excellence and delight'. A big Mack Sennett comedy and gazettes ar ( e also 'on jlhe bill, ' To-morrow's change presents Hale. Hamilton in "That's Good," his third big Metro feature. THE KIWIS ARE COMING. EMPIRE THEATRE. FRIDAY AND SATURDAY NEXT. Owing to the exigencies of war—the banning of anything in petticoats from near the lines —a new type of entertainer was evolved in the "female impersonator," and some wonderful talent in this direction was unearthed. New Zealand is now having an opportunity of seeing koine of these clever "Diggers" who, to cheer their comrades, donned skirts and other feminine accoutrements, and appeared as the "sweet young thing" of musical comedy. Perhaps no more natural soldier "girls" have been seen than those who are to appear at the Empire Theatre on Friday and Saturday next, with the Kiwi entertainers. In Messrs. Wally Fulford and Wilfrid Thompson the Kiwis possess two brilliant stars in this class of stagecraft. Mr. Wally Fulford is graceful feminine lure personified, his dancing being such as would not disgrace an experienced balleuna. Mr. Thompson possesses a remarkable contralto voice, with a range surprising to a degree, and his musical offerings never fail to win for him the highest approval of his audiences, and always a double recall. One of his numbers new to New Plymouth, and immensely popular "over there" is "Fm for Ever Blowing Bubbles," assisted by a full chorus. Other members of the Kiwis include Mr. Ernest Graham, a diverting and original comedian; Mr. Harold Hill, a tenor singer of the highest merit, and Messrs. Cotterill, Skam, North and Bane, all of whom take their share in the Kiwis' famous "Bran Pie" entertainment. The box #]«* Messrs. Collier'*