ENTERTAINMENTS

Dominion, Volume 9, Issue 2655, 29 December 1915, Page 9

ENTERTAINMENTS

"BOUGHT AND PAID FOR."

It may be long before Wellington theatregoers have an opportunity of agaiif witnessing an actress whose dramatic powers are tlm equal of Hiss Muriel Starr. The season, which the clever Canadian lady is now playing, is to ho her last. "Bought ami Paid For," the opening attraction of Miss Starr's season, attracted again last night an enormous audience. It is a play easily marred in the playing, but with the company, at tho head of which are Hiss Starr and Mr. Charles Millward, there is not the slightest danger of this. "Bought and Paid For'' will Jjo played up to and including Friday night, and. on Saturday night ".Nobody's Widow" will be presented for the first time in New Zealand. I t has recently been seen in Melbourne and in Sydney, and its success was the cause of the prolongation of the season; it is described as distinctly amusing. An American girl travelling abroad marries ail English Duke as plain Mr. Clayton, and half an hour after tho ceremony discovers him with another woman in his anus; she leaves him and in order to conceal from her friends that she has made a fiasco, she tells them she is a widow, and the complications that ensue when later 011 during a week-end visit she encounters her husband as. one of the guests forms the basis of the amusing situations which have made for the success of the comedy. "Nobody's Widow" will run for ' three nights' only. his Majesty's theatre. A programme of high merit is drawing jiuge holiday audiences to His Majesty's Theatre. A turn that finds great favour is that of Les Teodorwicz, a trio of Danish acrobats. The trio—a woman and two men—seem to have found armfuls of new and original feats in the well-explored field of acrobatics. The woman is certainly an entertainment in herself. Vocal items of special merit are provided by Misses Amy Murphy and Nellie Black, who are already well known to local con-cert-goers. That fine entertainer, Ward Lear, reappears in "Wellington to the delight of many who have known him previously, while other artists are Wakeham and Preston, Bellora (a fine mimic), Armstrong and Hownrth, Con Moreni, aud Delavale, Gilbert and Manuel, De Fra, an equilibrist of high reputation. THE KING'S. Anothor large audience witnessed the second screening of the London Film Company's star feature,' "Eunert. of Henlzau,' at the King's Theatre last night. The picture, which is from Anthony Hope's fine novel, follows the fortunes of the various characters seen in the "Prisoner of Zenda," but is a complete and distinct subject in itself, and is as good, if not better, than the previous picture. The acting and production are uniformly of a high quality; ' the work of Harry Ainley and Jane Gail being especially worthy of mention. The photography is excellent and the interest in the story is well maintained to the end, and tho spectators more than once expressed their appreciation in hearty applause. A s;ood comedy Ijy the Vitagraph Co., featuring Mr. and Mrs. ' Sydney Drew, entitled "The Story of a Glove,' tho latest Patke Gazette, and a beautifully coloured scenic of "A Dutch Town,' are also shown. The King's orchestra provides excellent music. EVERYBODY'S THEATRE, The "Million Dollar Mystery" is again on this week's programme' at Everybody's Theatre. The present instalment fairly teems with excitement, motor-cars racing motor-boats, and hj-droplanes being requisitioned to rescue tho fair heroine from the clutches of ! the übiquitous "Black Hundred." A film of considerable local interest is that showing the departure of the Eighth Reinforcements. "Their first Quarrel," • and "In Spite of Him" are laughable comodies. There ars others of interest, such as tho "Gaum<vit Graphic," and "For the love of M*ry Ellen.™ THE EHPKESS. Crowded audiences filled- the Empress Theatre at all sessions yesterday, the current programme being a particularly good one. The star attraction is entitled 'T?he Evil Eye." It tells the story of a certain Dr. Sivani, who was a powerful hypnotist as well us a very clever phyßician. He successfully performs a difficult opera-, tion upon the brain of a young girl/promising her father that payment could wait until his circumstances were improved. The child grows into a -handsome young woman, and the doctor claims as his fee that she should become his wife. He is refused, and ; there and then commences a battle of wills between the pfirent and tho doctor, who it is found is able, from a distance to control the .young woman's actions by hypnotism. The story is reminiscent of Du Manner's Trilby. There are many interesting situations throughout, and the picture should be certain of Mxcellent patronage for the remainder of the week. The additional subjects include; "Topical Budget," a very amusing comedy by Vitagraph, called ''Spades are Trumps," and a charming scenic study of rural England. BARTON'S CIRCUS. Barton's Circus, which is located on tho reclaimed land at the back of tho Te Aro railway station, drew a, large crowd again last evening. It is undoubtedly the best siiow of its kind the. proprietors have brought round. Their horses are well trained and aro a feature of the performance. Particular reference must be made to Silver King, a trick pony of unusual intelligence. The items of the lady juggler, and the acrobatic work of tho male and female members of the company met with the appreciation that their, efforts undoubtedly deserved. The entertaining efforts of the two clowns kept the audience in merry mood. . '.this afternoon a special matinee performance will be held, and the full company will appear.- In conjunction with the "Wild West" show tho public are notified that tho .£IOO challenge still stands, and the management offer any person who can ride the bucking horse that ambunt. This afternoon the children will bo well provided Ifor, and they will be admitted to all parts of the show for sixpenefc. A special feature Vill be "Fun in the Stockyard." "Barney, the donkey, will be tho chief performer, and his antics will be appeal to the children. The' circus will remain in its present location till aftpr the Now Year holidays.