AMUSEMENTS.

Press, Volume LII, Issue 15489, 17 January 1916, Page 9

AMUSEMENTS.

"NOBODY'S "WIDOW."' "Nobody's Widow,'' produced tor the first time by the Muriel Starr Company at the Theatre Royal oil Saturday night, follows the mode in that in daals largely with bedroom scenss. :l play which could very easily become ridiculous, but presented as it was on Saturday evening, with high-grade artistic work in the leading parts, it bccame wliat no doubt it was iuteuued to be—a very excellent and most entertaining comedy. The story was of a rather unusual t-yve. It concerned an ostensible young widow of six months standing Her husband was not really dead, but she had left him immediately after the wedding ceremony on account of, her discovery of his philandering with sonic other party. When the play opens, husband and wife accidentally meet at a Palm Beach holiday resort. The lady, on her marriage, believed her husband to be an ordinary commoner, but discovered later on that he was no less a person than a duke. However, that does not interfere with her attitude of mind in the matter, which, to say the least of it, seems to be a, little unreasonable and incomprehensible. The meeting of the two and the. subsequent developments lead to very many amusing scenes. They agree to carrv on as ordinary strangers, each to reserve the right of falling in love with the other. The wife preserves a hoity-toity attitude, The husband one of amused tolerance, but they make very excellent progress notwithstanding and are 011 the point of coming together again, when a contretemps, due to a foolish supper-party arrangement between the husband and another lady, ncarJy wr. c-ks the whole affair. This, however, is smoothed over, and the play ends as one might naturally imagine it would. Miss Muriel Starr, as Mrs Clayton, the. pscudo widow, and Mr Charles A. Millward as the duke we're in the lead, and between them made the nlav. Both were on the stage practically" the whole time, and they ncj-er let the' play down. Miss Starr was particularly good in her mock heroics over the virtues of her late husband what time that gentleman had to stand by and listen to the effusive if ill-timed praise. The scenes where the two, after the surprise of meeting, enter into the compact regulating their future relations, where they agree to forgive and forget, in the rumpus following on the contretemps above referred to, and in the final settlement of the affair were all marked by smart dialogue and great artistic work, .iiid proved thoroughly enjoyable. Mr Millward, in particular, camo through tho performance, with flying colours. The part was one that suited his temperament and abilities, anil he. presented some remarkably fine work. Several supporting characters appeared, none being unduly vital to the action or the success of the comedy. The oart of Betty Jackson, a somewhat cmptylicadcd and foolishly-inclined young party, was well taken bv Miss Nellie Branilev, who had her main opportunities in the supper-room scene and in a dressing-room enisode later. Spanish Countess (Miss Gortrud'p Boswell and a foreign Baron (Mr Austen Milroy), likewise a. coloured serving-man (Mr Frank Harconrt), a maid (Miss Clarice Buckmanl, and a guest (Miss Florence Nest-on) flitted on and off the stage at intervals, but nOnc was overtaxed. Tho remaining part, and a very good one. was that of Ned Stevens,-taken by Mr Sydney Stirling. The part was that of a tired lover, who retires, stunned, when he learns that- his lady has lieen currying on with the duke and who receives another crushing blow when he sights the object of his affection in deshabille. It was a good comedy part and was splendidly played. There was a crowded house present to witness the performance, and the comedy went with great eclat. "Nobody's Widow" will be repeated this evening and, to-morrow evening.

GRAND THEATRE. To-day's change of programme at the Grand Theatre will contain, a lengthy arid varied list of films. The principal, item will vbe the Essanay drama "Le Grand's Revenge/' the latest of the popular Dominica stories, with Miss Xellj Craig, Shelson Lewis and Ernest Maupain in the leading roles. The supporting pictures will include the sixth and the last series of "Salisbury's Wild Life of America." The, outstanding feature of this series will be an American goose hunt, in which Professor Salisbury, Rex Beach, and Jack London take part, and- contains some very fine pictures. The comedy element is well represented in "Belinda and the Eggs," "John Bull's Sketch Boole. No. 7," featuring Charles Chanlin, and Hen Medico." The latest number of the popular "Warwick Chroniclc" will be shown. ' , EVERYBODY'S THEATRE. The chief attraction in the new programme to be screened to-day at Everybody's Theatre is another of the Vitagraph Company's Broadway features, starring Helen Gardiner, who will portray three different and difficult characters in the same picture. The. production is called "The Strange Story nt' Sylvia Gray," and Miss Gardener will take the roles of Sylvia Gray, the young mother, the daughter, and the old mother. The drama is described as a romance of the psvehic, and has a surprising ending. The supporting subjects includc a. World film comedy entitled "A Quiet Game." the latest Gaumont War Graphic, "Never Despair," comedv, and a film of unusual interest showing a portion of tho French fight-ing-line. As usual, the orchestra will play at afternoon and evening sessions.

HIS MAJESTY'S THEATRE. A pfcture adaptation of Alice awl Claud Askew\s novel, '-The Shulainitc," will be screened for the first time at His Majesty's Theatre this evening. Tho principal characters arc taken by Norman McKinr.el and Manora Tliew. The producer opens the story with episodes dealing with the original /shulaliiite. who. with her bewitching beauty, ravished the heart of King Solomon and inspired his "Song of Solomon." and continues by bringing in modem, variations of the same episode. Supporting films include- the Pathe_ Gazette. a laughable comedy, and" a- beautiful scenic of North "Wales. A special ieai ture is a iilm showing the _ arrival in Auckland of the hospital ship Mahcno with wounded and sick' soldiers from the Dardanelles. QUEEN'S THEATRE. The programme at the Queen s Theatre for to-dav has for its principal feature a two-reel Lubin drama- entitled "The Last Rose of Summer.'' featuring Arthur V. Johnstone. It is described as a very pathetic story of tho life of Carlotta Valondi, an Italian operatic artiste. The supporting films arc; "A Test of Courage" (Kalem drama), ''Health by the Year (comedy) ''Pimple Has One" (comedy), and the latest Topical Budget. GLOBE PICTURES. The new programme at. the Globe Picture Theatre to-day will be headed by the seventeenth episode in tho "Million Dolla r Mystery," the episode being entitled "A Battle of "Wits." Supporting films will be: "Jhnmio on the Job (comedy), "Australian Gazette" (war topical), ''Waters of the North' Country" (scenic), "Jinx 011 Jenks" (comedy), and a special picture showing the arrival in Auckland of the hospital ship Mahcno Xvitli wounded and sick soldiers from the Dardanelles. SYDENHAM PICTURES. The screening of Askew's novel, .""The Sliulamite." will be the chief attraction at the Sydenham Pictures to-night. In the pictorial representation all the. salient features of the book nro said to stand out. A splendid supporting series of pictures include "Help! Help! eor.ied , \ "The Pathe Gazette," ''North Wales" (a lino scenic), and "The Arrival of tlie Mahcno with Sick and Wounded from the Dardanelles."