AMUSEMENTS

Nelson Evening Mail, Volume XLVIII, Issue XLVIII, 19 February 1915, Page 7

AMUSEMENTS

PEBMANENT PICTURES. Last evening at the Empire Theatre there was again a large audience, y™ en the New Zealand drama, "Hinemoa.. together with a fine supporting programme, was screened for the last time in son. To-night there will be a complete change of programme, and the star feature ' will be an A.K. drama entitled, •'The Trapper's Mistake." This is founded 011 fact, and unfolds a story of the turbulent lives of a man and woman surrounded by false friends and open enemies. It lias as a background one ot the most picturesque regions in the world. With a number of powerful characters, a series of dramatic circumstances, it chains the audience to the successive pictures in the play. These form a brilliant delineation of Canadian life, manners. and sentiment, at a period wnicii was one of the most important in the development of that country. Ihe stoiy ifpersistent- in its fascination and search ing in its analyssis of frontier life. !■&<■- : supporting programme will include seye ral good dramas, one of them a graph entitled "The White Feather. The latest Keystone and other comedies a scenic film of Lake Lucerne, and ttu latest Australian Gazette are also irr eluded -in this series. To-morrow night ■ Takaka will be visited as usual, when the beautiful Maori love-legend 01 '•Hinemoa." and its supporting programme, will be screen^?., | IMPERIAL PICTURES I "THE UNSEEN WITNESS." | " ' ! Another large audience witnessed the ! current programme at the Lyric Tnea,tre | last evening, and liberally applauded Severv item., An interesting drama- is A Forest Romance," and the story deals with Indian love and hate, the heroine s role being charmingly acted by Mona I Darkfeather. The settings- of this film ' are quite a feature apart from powerful acting. Another favourite dast ' night I was the drama, "At the "Foot/ of the Hills." showing in realistic style how an old soldier, who was treated as a childish old man by his children, saved the lives of his grandchildren "from fire while the parents were, entertaining company, The final scenes showing how. the i"okt''un" made good brought down the house. "The .Brute"' is a tellino- drama with a moral ; and Peail.s i Hero" is a fun raiser above, the average; i but the gem of the evening in the h u " I morons line was "Murphy and the M®rand it is the best comedy from the AB. sculio for some time, and as all this companv's humorous productions arc drawing cards, this is praise indeed In addition to. the pictures mentioned a r.?w drama was presented, entitled ••The Unseen Witness," or "The Man Beneath the Sofa," a sensational drama from the Hepworth studio, and as this picture is booked -ahead, patrons should not fail to see it t : his.evening. To-mor- . row another startling array-of films "will he screened at matinee and evening sessions. Reserves at Hounsell's.

WELLINGTON ENTERTAINERS. As was exp/ained by a member of the company to the audience at the Theatre "Roval last night, the Wellington Enter-, twiners are a number of those who., -wing to domestic and other ties, are un-?hls-to go to the war, but are doing the *-><:-xt best thine:, endeavouring to help the. New Zealand fund for the relief of any of oar soldiers or their dependents who mayneed assistance as a result of the war. It wss in this'way that the members of the company were spending their vacations—thov had everything to lose and nothing to gain as a result of their venture.- Fifty pev cent, of tbe net proceeds, it was fur.thc- explained, would be given to tb,cfuhd, as there was a good deal of ex-; pense, such" as -hiring of halls for rehearsals, purchase of. costumes, - etc., t?.be met. It was further announced thai? the company was determined to have a full house this evening, and to this end the members would "dispose of tickets iithe streets during the day...So far as the entertainment itself was concerned, tin comnany fully maintained the good reputation earned during' their -visit. aboui three years ago; The programme submitted last evening comprised choruses humorous specialities and- recitations duets. quartettes, monologues,, and lvanjo'line selections; and the fact-that almost without exception each ite.m.o,va£ encored is itself sufficient proof chat, the entertainment was thoroughly appreciated. The singing was a strong feature.' all. those taking part have - well-trained; voices, and use them to good effect. Mf, Herbert F. Wood, a tenor, was' especi-.' ally successful in his solo, "Here's to Love and Laughter," and the audience would not let him go until ho had re sponded twice. The humorous speciality. "We Wonder Why," by'the company, found the spot in the audience, where it laughed most, rand the item-had- to be repeated. In'his baritone solo, "Mother Mnchree," Mr- Pat Fitzgerald made a decided hit, the inevitable encore being demanded. 'iWhy- Cari'f a Girl be.' a Soldier," by the company, tickled, the audience, and was perhaps the funniest item on the programme. Humorous re- | .citals by Mr Jack Walton, and monologues by Mr Geo. C. Warren, were : much appreciated: The first-named gave a.splendid impersonation of Sairey'Gamp in confidential conversation with, her .old friend Mrs 'Arris'; and;;Mr Warner gave 'a! fine interpretation of "The Day." A •duet, "Battle Eve," .by Messrs Herbert.. Wood and Will Goudie, was enjoyed; arid the banjoline selections By Mr Con .Connors fairly "brought down the' house," the audience . joining .in the chorus of "Tipperary." -Mr Will Jen-nings-was a sympathetic -accompanist, and also played two. overtures. ,✓ ■. The' Entertainers will .give the final performance of the season to-night, when, in view of the object to which a portion of the proceeds are to be devoted, it is hoped a bumper house will be present.