ENTERTAINMENTS.

Gisborne Times, Volume XXVIII, Issue 2706, 10 January 1910, Page 4

ENTERTAINMENTS.

PATHE PICTURES

Of such excellence are the pictures presented in each charge of programme of th» Pathe Picture Company that an eager" expectant audience is always asstmed for change night. Saturday fit'rht’s' audience proved no exception rule, and the expectation o| a pictorial treat was lulh realised. The "reat attraction was a dramatic, etudj of -cneat length, entitled ”><-ro-, llie characters were numerous and me scenorv trulv magnificent. The story open., with a festival, at which Nero, the infamous Roman Emperor, is lascmated bv Poppea, a guest, and. alter completely falling a slave to her charms, lie lias his wife, Octavia. murdered at her instigation. The hearing oi this,'rise in rebellion, and Nero, to suppress the revolution, causes the city to be burned. The tyrant is represented watching the awful scene, meanwhile sinking and plaving a lyre, while hoppea” stands by his side gazing in undisfnnssd admiration. After this ful scene Nero, a prev to the tortures of conscience, takes to flight, but. being: overtaken, is killed by his. servant to keep him from the anger of tlie infuriated people. The scenes throughout the piece were magnificent, tue burning of the city being a masterpiece of stage management. Tile beautiiul palaces are seen enshrouded in flames, till final. lv they totter and fall to ashes, leaving desolation where once had stood a beautiful city. The industrial film in this programme is entitled “A day in a pottery works," taken by the courtesy of Messrs Jcsiah AYedgomocd and Sons. Ltd., at Etruria, Stolce-on-Trent. The first scene is that of unloading clay at the works, then in quick sequence are shown the seasoning grounds, flintcrushing and grinding mills, clay pres, ses and pugging machines, moulding, plate-making and other scenes connected with the manufacture of the ware, till beautifully finished pieces are exhibited. A scenic film of views or Paris, taken from a balloon, at a height- or 2600 feet formed a great attraction. Another good scenic picture was entitled “Venice from a Gondola”, vividly depicting the marvellous water, ways of this peculiar city, with the magnificent palaces along the banlcs of the grand canal. Other effective Pictures were “Honor of the Slums.’ showing the good work done by the Salvation Armv in the big cities, "The Vagabond,” “The A'ill age Tragedy, and “Oliver Twist,” Charles Dickon’s groat story. In this the part of Nancy Sykes is taken by Miss Elita -Proctor Otis the great American actress, and a fine ponrtraynl is given. Trick pictures are always attractive, and the one shown with this programme, "Paper Cockadocdles,” is no exception to the rule, ■and is made more effective by being beautifully colored.. The comic element was well represented by "Oh, that beard.” “Paul's Party,” “House cleaning days," Punch and Judy,” and “Charles’ Ma-in-Lnw." This, programme will be shown again to-niglit and to-morrow evening.

SACRED CONCERT. His Majesty's Theatre was well filled last night when Mrs H..J. Taplay and a number of local amateurs gave a sacred concert in aid of the Home. A very cood programme of six items was presented, aud the eoneertwas one of the most thoroughlv enjoyable given in Gisborne for a long time. Messrs ita Brothel's’ orchestra provided rare treats by the manner in which they played “In the Cloisters” (Williams). and “Ly Galme” (Cohen). Mr Grinishaw was the first vocalist, ayd his sweet tenor voice was heard to advantage in "A Barque of Dreams” (Gravb Mr Morris, a recent arrival from England, made a first- appearance on a Gisborne concert platform. Though suffering from the effects of a cold, his cultured rendering of “0, Beating Waves'' proved him to be the ptvsessor of a verv fino voice. One of the most enjoyable numbers of the evening was the duet, “Watchman, Wliat : of the Night,” by -urs Taplay and Mr Manning, with orchestral accompaniment. The voices blended pleasingly and a faithful interpretation was given of the composition Del Riego’s “The Sea Hath its Pearls.” was splendidly snug by Airs Taplay, who was in capital voice, and delighted the audience with her interpretation of the number. The accompaniments were artistically played by Mrs Foster 1 and Airs Taplay on a fine new BrTnsmead piano kindly lent by Messrs Chrisp and Son.

POLLARD’S AIERRY MIDGET CO. The playgoers of Gisborne will bo enabled to welcome Pollard’s Merry Alidgets at His Majesty’s Theatre on the evening of Wednesday next. Air C. A. Pollard, who is the originator of Midget Companies, will present a programme which' comprises original and specially prepared ballets, excerpts from comic opera, pantomime, and the vaudeville stage: also the Wonderscope, which is a perfectly new and original idea of combining the living midgets on the stage with the wonders of the cinematograph. The performance will conclude with the historical production in two acts and a tableau “The Death of Nelson” set in specially prepared scenery. The management have decided to charge popular prices and tile box plan, is open at Mr Alillcr’s.