ENTERTAINMENTS

Dominion, Volume 9, Issue 2651, 23 December 1915, Page 9

ENTERTAINMENTS

MURIEL STARR'S FAREWELL SEASON^

The boi plans for the twelve nights' season of J. C. Williamson's Dramatic Company, which commences at the Grainl Opera House on Boxing Night, wiy bo opened at tho Bristol this mornine at 9 o'clock, when a large demand for seats is expected, in view of tho great dramatic attraction. The strong company will bo seen In throe magnificent dramas: "Bought and Paid For,"' "Nobody's Widow," and "Under Cover." The initial piece will bo "Bought and For," which has not yet been seen in Wellington. It is a play with stirring dramatic scenes, and the artists of the J. C. Williamson Company have tho necessary abilities to give tlieni strength and vim. Wellington theatregoers will be interested in the season for many xeasons. One is that Miss Muriel Starr her3clf is now saying farewell to New Zealand. She is regard, ed as one of the best emotional actresses who have ever visited these shores. Tho | piece on Monday night will introduce several n?w American performers. Tho leading man, Mr. Charles A. Millward. has had a notablo career, and his impersonations, according to critics in Australia, have the stamp of the true artist. Another debut will be made by Miss Dorothy Davies, who appeared in the original New York production. The company also includes: Gertrude Bosvcll, Florence Reston, Bertha Gordon. Hobart Cavanaugh, David Bellbridge, Frank Harcourt, STiep C'mnp, Eardley Turner, Kay Souper, Geo. Bryant, Clarence Blackiston, and Sydney Stirling. "Bought and Paid For" will be presented for the first five nights, for on January 1 will be presented a new American comedy entitled, "Nobody's Widow, v with Miss Starr and Mr. Millward in the leading roles. For the last three nights of the season a thrilling drama of the secret service, "Under Cover," will be staged and in it Miss Starr and Mr. Millward will bid farewell to Wellington. HIS MAJESTY'S THEATRE. Heavy attendances are being recorded at His Majesty's Theatre, where a programme of a varied and interesting order is being submitted. "The Baron of Holland" is an entertainer and monologuisf with a sunny disposition,- while Miss Anita Primrose, a comedienne of ability, scores well with her contribution. An original turn is provided by the St. Leonards, with their quaint and welltrained French noodles. Ford and Divis, Gilbert and Delaval, Sterling and Love, and Coil Moreni, are all well received. THE KING'S.' Anthony Hope's stirring story of romance and adventure amid tho ci/rirfc life of one of the small European nations as told in "The Prisoner of Zenda" is meeting with hearty appreciation in film form at the King's Theatre this week. Large audiences Cave been present each evening, and' it is safe to say that everyone has been more than satisfied witli the excellent fare provided. This latest production of the London Film Company is undoubtedly one of their greatest. The story itself is intense and gripping, and holds the attention to\ the last. The supporting films are also very good. The programme will be shown; all the week, including two screenings onxChristmas Day, and on .Monday night next Anthony Hope's powerful sequel to the "Prisoner of Zenda," entitled Rupert of Hentzau," | with the same splendid cast of artists, ' irill be. shown. "It is said that the seLquelis even greater ; in point of excitement and intensity than the first story.

EVERYBODY'S THEATRE.: "Tracked by the Secret Sendee," tho lath episode of that thrilling dramatic serial, "The Million Dollar Mystery," is proving a '.'draw" at Everybody's Theatre this week. The photography of the present episode is unquestionably of a liiyji order, while, the plot grows in interest as the episodes are screened. "Foiled" (comedy), "The Guiding Light," "Chajplin'3 Busted Romance," "Scenes in Switzerland," and the "Gaumont Graphic" ara all good pictures. On Christmas Day a special.programme of pictures will be shown, commencing at 2.30 o'clock. THE EMPRESS. "O'Garry of the Mounted" is the main attraction at the Empress Theatre at present. Tiiis story by the Vitagraph Company deals with many incidents ol adventure and romance in the lives oi two miners and a woman who loved one of them, but married the other. The picture is pleasingly onacted amidst, some reprarkably, beautiful scenery in the heart of the Rocky Mountains. The versatile Edith Storey is called upon to perform some work that a less capable and plucky artist, would hesitate oyer. Her dive into the mountain torrent could only b{ done by a strong swimmer. Chief among the supporting films are: "No One to Guide Him," an exceptionally amusing Keystone fares in two reels, in which comical Syd. Chaplin performs many strenuous and ludicrous teats in his efforts to escnpe from the police ajid his wife. The Topical Gazette 6liows an interesting scene in Serbia—a crowd of reinforcements 1 aving for the frontier. "Through Ihe Dark Continent" portrays the primitive methods of cotton-spinning and making bamboo articles employld by native women in Africa. The special feature for Christmas Day will be "The Crusadirs," said to be a remarkable film story of the Holy Wars. *