ENTERTAINMENTS.

Taranaki Herald, Volume LX, Issue 143765, 13 April 1912, Page 7

ENTERTAINMENTS.

“THE GREAT MOMENT.” This evening the Royal Pictures and Orchestra will present their usual biweekly change of programme, including ‘'The Great Moment.” This exceptionally interesting picture storylasts for nearly an hour. It isin short the talc of a mother’s heroism. The child is in the care of a foster mother, and the real mother becomes aware of a plot to capture the child. She sends a note to the foster mother than her (the foster mother's) life is in great danger. “Take care of the child, she adds. However, the villain gets into the house where the child is, and is in tho act of throttling the foster mother when a lamp is capsized, and the house sot ulirc. No one will face the flames to save the child. Ihc real mother arrives and dashes into the flames, and the great moment comes when she suspends tho child by a sheet above the upstrotchcd arms of a man on the top of a ladder. The child is ca«ght and saved, but the moiher perishes. Quite a number ol other veryfine pictures complete a splendid programi'.c-. A special feature will be the orchestra] selections to be rendered by the Royal Orchestra. EMPIRE PICTURE PALACE. “PINOCCHIO.” Included in tho new selection of motion pictures to be shown at the Empire to-night is the wonderful Cine Roma pantomime “Pmocchio.” “Pinocchio’’ is a puppet wrought by tho careful hand of an old carpenter, and, as in the story of Pygmalion and Galatea, is finally endowed with life. He is caught bv robbers and hanged, but is rescued by the blue haired fairy, who gives him four gold coins for his father. The avaricious bat and fox beguile the simple automaton to the citv of Clap Trap, where ho is robbed, and with Gilbortian justice, imprisoned to make up for it. From the prison lie escapes to fall into, the sea, and starts out on a 99 days’ swim, which ends in his being swallowed by/ a whale. The whale is captured by Indians who wish to make Pinocchio their chief, but the wooden boy declines the honour, and runs away until he reaches the camp of some Canadian Militia, who send him home by shooting him from the mouth of a cannon. Altogether Pinoccluo’s adventures furnish a most diverting pantomime story, bright, humorous, and original. “EVERYWOMAN.” Great interest is being centred in the production of the big spectacular dramatic entitled “ Evcrywoman,” to be presented at the Theatre Royal on Monday, April 22. In the title role Miss Hilda Spong, who was engaged by Mr. J. C. Williamson during his recent visit to America, is said to exhibit dramatic genius of a high order, particularly in the scene where she denounces Passion, in which her acting created quite a sensation in Sydney and Melbourne. The curtain rises upon a beautiful classic interior, with a buoyant trio for Beauty, Youth and Modesty linked hand-in-hand with rosy garlands!-and attired in white, like tho figures on an Etruscan vase. Everywoman, as day -lawns in the garden, wakens sunshine with a" burst of silvery laughter, joins her attendant /maids, and posing before her mirror in girlish coquetry,' suddenly perceives strangely shadowed therein that richly attired courtier, Sir Flattery. Flattery tolls tho wondering maidens that he is the Herald of King Love the First, invites Evorywomoan to 'his bright domain. Truth, in tho guise of an ugly witch, with Nobody, warns the heroine of danger; but Youth urges her to seek King Love at the theatres. The second canticle shows the stage of a New York theatre, Everywoman, now the star, has with her Beauty, Youth, and Modesty, but the managers quickly decide that tho last named is in tho way, though she timidly explains that she “can sing very sweetly.” “Bah! Absurd!” exclaims tho manager and Modesty not liking to leave altogether is imprisoned within an adjacent stage rock. Everywoman, gorgeously sheathed in a gown of golden web and emeralds, has now Wealth as her companion, and Witless to carry her ’apdog, but amidst all these distractions she is still intent upon her pilgrimage in quest of love. There is a dramatic scene in which Passion, a conventional actor in crimson velvet, the face beneath a highwayman’s mack, lays siege to her in tender song and burning vows. The maiden exults in too thought of tho wars which women wage, and is sinking into the embrace of Passion, when from within the rocksounds the pity-pleading voice of Modesty, “Everywoman, fare thee well.” How this happens is one of tho most intense dramatic incidents of the piece and culminates in Everywoman denouncing Passion for his falseness. It was at the conclusion of this act that Sydney playgoers cheered Miss Spong’s brilliant acting and called her before the curtain again and again. There is another intense dramatic scene during the midnight supper at the heroine’s luxurious New York flat, the supper party being unostentatiously joined by Ago. Suddenly in tho midst of the orgie Conscience calls Evorywoman on one side to the couch of Beauty who dies a few minutes later. Wild with horror and fear Everywoman turns to her mirror, only to see in it Youth showing signs of joining Beauty. Smashing a champagne bottle through tho glass Ishe fails senseless with Conscience attending her, while Wealth and Witless and the rest of her followers prepare to desert her. Tho next act depicts Now Y'oar’s Eve in Broadway, New York, and the streets are crowded with people enjoying the festivities. A brilliant cafe is on one hand, while a little church, over which tower huge skyscrapers is on tho other. Everywoman in the garb of poverty, is now only a unit in the streets. Wealth sneers at her from the cafe steps, and the young aristocrat Witless obliges her with a stoney British stare. Time, tho inexorable callboy, lias claimed Youth, and she is carried dead by a procession into the little church. Again como Truth and Nobody and to them Everywoman now turns a willing ear, as (they point out the fruitlessness of her quest. From here on the interest is said to bo intense. Miss Hilda Spong was described in Australia as being one of the best actresses yet seen in this part of the world. Mr. William Desmond will take the part of Nobody. Plans open on Friday next.