ENTERTAINMENTS.

Taranaki Daily News, 12 February 1921, Page 7

ENTERTAINMENTS.

:■ EMPIRE THEATRE. MLLE. IRMA CARON AND “AUSTRALIA’S WILD NOR’-WEST” At the Empire Theatre last night Mlle. Irma Caron, who finished a month’s season at Christchurch last week, opened a two-night season in New Plymouth, and received a very warm reception. Versatility, combined with high artistic powers, make the performance one of great merit. As vocalist, elocutionist, violinist and danseuse, she displays a wide range of talent, together with a bright personality which instantly appeals to the audience. Mlle. Caron opened her programme with a vocal number from “Maritana”— “Scenes That Are Brightest”—which was excellently rendered, and this was followed up by an old ballad, “Cornin’ Thro’ the Rye”, of which a very delightful interpretation was given. Two solos on her Amati violin were brilliantly rendered, and were popular numbers. In lighter vein, Mlle. Caron appeared in “La Gaie Parisienne”, from “The Belle of New York”; a humorous recitation, “My Friend”; and a character portrayal, “The Panto Boy”, being an impression of a principal boy ftb a pantomime, the song having been specially written for: this artiste. The concluding number was a spirited rendition of “La Marseillaise”, the French national anthem, sung in the original language, and this drew rounds and rounds of applause from those present, until Mlle. Caron, was obliged to repeat the item. The second part of the programme was taken up with the picture, “Australia’s Wild Nor’-West”. The film takes the watchers into a part of Australia that is little known, and pictures the aboriginal in his native haunts, showing a phase of the Australian native’s life never screened before. The section of the film devoted to the pearling industry is intensely interesting. Spear-throwing, a ■ little of boomerang-throwing, the dancing at the corroborees, and scenes in the native encampments show how the Australian aboriginal lives his life. Other sections of the picture deal with magnificent coral reefs and coastal scenery, the transport of produce from inland by camel trains, and views of the great coastal ranges, the picture, which is remarkable for photography of a high order, is the film record of the Nor’West Expedition of Australia, a party of explorers who spent eight months on the coast. During the screening, Mr. M. P. Adams, who explains the pictures, gives an interesting explanation and description of the various scenes depicted. The programme will be repeated tonight.

EVERYBODY’S. DOUBLE BILL TO-DAY AND TO-NIGHT. Harry Morey has an enthusiastic following which swears by his own herculean style of mowing down opponents and winning the girl of his heart against fearful odds. “The Man Who Won” will please not only these but anyone who wants to be held from the first flash to the final fade-out, by a strong story. The feature is from the pen of Cyrus Townsend Brady. The pleasing personality of Betty Blythe gives an added charm. This is one of the big features showing on the new programme at Everybody’s this afternoon and finally to-night. The second feature is a five-reel comedy-drama,) “A Fugitive from Matrimony,” starring H. B. Warner. “A Fugitive from Matrimony” is a society comedy that gives H. B. Warner a chance to appear in a role similar to his “Alias Jimmy'Valentine,” which made him famous as a screen star as well as on the speaking stage. As a breezy, whimsical young millionaire who flees from matrimony as it were from a plague, Warner is in his element, and is more than capably supported by Seena Owen as the girl in the case.

THE PEOPLE’S, OLIVE THOMAS IN “THE SPITE BRIDE.” Olive Thomas, the beautiful and clever Selznick star, is without question among those on the top of the ladder in screen fame—she is wonderfully versatile, she is gifted with “personality,” and she always has a good story to tell. Therefore, when a critical magazine states that “'The Spite Bride” is probably the best Olive Thomas picture to date, it means that one of the most attractive productions possible has been made. The plot though unusual is not strained. Louise Winter has written a clever, novel and pleasing romance, which has been transferred to the screen by a master hand and the characters interpreted by a very capable cast. The mounting of the picture is perfect and the sub-titles are clever. The bill includes latest Gazette, comedy, .Interest, and “Tih Minh” No. 5. The matinee to-day commences at 2 p.m