NEW EMPIRE THEATRE.

Taranaki Daily News, Volume LIV, Issue 153, 27 December 1911, Page 4

NEW EMPIRE THEATRE.

OPENING NIGHT. A GREAT SUCCESS.

The new Empire Theatre was formally opened last evening, and the proprietor should feel exceedingly gratified with the response of the public. Before eight o'clock every seat in the building wsjs occupied, and numbers were being turned away. There is accommodation for about 700' people, and had it been for 1100 it would not have proved too great. Tin; theatre has been fully described before, and there is no doubt that it is a credit to the town and to everyone concerned in its erection. It is a pity that the new electrical machinery was not hero in time to be installed for the opening, but the strikes in the Old Country delayed the arrival of the plant, which, however, is now in New Zealand, and. will, we understand, be fitted up as soon as possible. The machine had to be operated from the pit, and the heat it generated made things rather uncomfortable till the doors and windows were opened. The electric fans also are not yet in position. These are to be fitted near the ventilators, and will draw the hot air upwards and maintain the temperature of the building at whatever point desired. These final touches effected, t'he theatre will compare with the very best in the Dominion, or out of it for that matter. Indeed, one patron who was present last evening, who has just returned from a trip round the world, expressed the opinion that no better picture theatre is to be found in the great cities of the world. In regard to the ventilation, Mr. Saunders informs us that men have been engaged to effect considerable improvements to-day, so that there should be no further inconvenience on that score.

A feature of last evening's performance was the orchestral music, which was of a distinctly meritorious kind. The orchestra consisted of six instrumentalists—piano, double bass, cornet, clarionet, and violins (2) —and the music they discoursed was as original as it was pleasing. Mr. Saunders does not believe in doing things by halves, and has arranged with the conductor of one of the largest and most successful orchestras in the Dominion to supply weekly a new programme of music, which patrons of the Empire Theatre will get the advantage of.

The pictorial programme was in keeping with the occasion. The first half was devoted to portraying scenes in connection with the war in Tripoli, bringing right home to one what war preparations and arrangements mean, and giving one an idea of the country, its features and its people. The Panama Canal was the star industrial film, and a splendid one it is. It is safe to say that the people who saw the pictures last evening have a better acquaintance with this gigantic work than they had before, however extensively they may have read about it. There were also the usual dramas and comics.

The piece de resistance was the sensational drama, "Zigomar." This production is by the Eclair Company, noted for their wondrous light effects, mechanical devices, and general stage craft. Tho scenario deals with the escapades of a daring chief of Parisian robbers and his pursuer, a celebrated detective. Incident succeeds incident, and surprise surprise, with a rapidity which keeps the audienee intensely interested. The opening scene shows Broquet, the detective, reading despatches telling of outrages in all quarters of Paris by a gang who in every case leave the mark of the letter "Z" behind them. The detective leaves the room for a moment, and returns to find the documents missing and an informal receipt signed "Z" —his own man servant had been none other than the redoubtable Zigomar himself. The" defective Broquet then sets about to run the gang to earth. Broquet discovers that the robbers have taken a kidnapped girl to the vault of the church, of St. Magliore. He enters the vault, but is trapped in a cage by the gang. The detective escapes, and in the disguise of the conductor of an orchestra at a cafe is about to arrest Zigoma.r when the latter's confederates intercede. In the confusion Zigomar hastily changes into a gendarme's uniform in a side room, and misdirects the police. Zigomar gets away and boards a moving train. He "holds up" the passengers and escapes. Tho relentless detective discovers Zigomar in the middle of the night in a hotel, working with an electric torch in endeavoring to force on* of the rooms—a finely realistic lighting effect. Zigomar again eludes arreßt. Also, while on a mountain trip Zigomar, after being arrested, cuts the rope and throws himself down a snow slope, which the others dare not attempt. Next, at the ball at the Moulin Rouge ("Red Mill" cafe) in Paris, Zigomar is in disguise, as is also detective. A wonderful .spectacular pr.ooession introduces Mile. Esmee, the celebrated danseuse, in an indescribably weird "Will-o'-theWisp" dalice. Extraordinary flame-like effects are' obtained from the fluttering drapery Of the dancer. Zigomarj in order to plunder, sets lire-to the place, and when pillaging the bodies Broquet intervenes. Zigomar flies through the vaults, and when unable to escape explodes a mine. The detective is uninjured, but Zigomar is missing.

On Saturday (the theatre was also open, from noon till 11 p.m., and was largely attended. A short hut interesting programme was submitted. TO-NIGHT—NEW PROGRAMME. Apart from the great "Zigouuu" picture there will bo a complete change of programme to-night. Visitors will be taken over the interesting Solomon Islands, with their romantic and picturesque spots, and savage people, whilst the Pathe Gazette will bring under the visitor's eye the latest things that are happening in the Old World. Then there Will be humorous and dramatic films, all specially selected for the opening of the new theatre. "Zigomar," the marvellous, will again claim the whole attention in the second half.