ENTERTAINMENTS
"THE FORTUNE HUNTER." To-night, at the Grand Opera House, the Royal Dramatio and Comedy Company present Winchel Smith's smart, rollicking comedy, "The Fortune Hunter." What is depicted in this comedy might easily happen in roal life, and the denouement has a touch of nature which rinss true and obtains complete sympathy. The dialoguo is very light, pointed, and smart; the action is brisk, and there is interesting variety about the different scenes. Aborjt the plot it. is sufficient to say that it is entertaining, human, and satisfying. Fortnno-hunt-ing in theory is a delightfully easy thing, but when reduced to practice it has its irksome features, and in this caso it results in bringing out the utilitarian side of a man untrained to business, but love wins in the end. 'So no harm is done to anybody. Mr. Ronald Riley plays the part of the money-seeker, Nathaniel Duncan, Miss Madge Surteos is Betty Graham, the poor girl who wins the heart of the hero, and Miss Margaret Linden, who makes a first appearance during the present season, is ,Tcsio Lockwood. the heiress. Mr. Gerald Harcourt is Sam Graham, tho old druggist, and Messrs. Fred. Conpe. Harcourt Hare, George Hewlett, C. B. Throsby, Colvillo Dunn, Reg. Collins, and Miss Mildred Ca-rlton. are also well placed. "Ttta For. tune Hunter" can only be staged for a few nights, as. the season is limited to this week, and there is to be a revival of the screaming farce-comedy, "Are Ton a Mason ?" The box plan for "The Fortune Hunter" is now open at tho Bristol.
HIS MAJESTY'S THEATRE. - • Walter Emerson, a comedian, billed as "Six Foet of Comicality," will head the bill at His Majesty's Theatre this week. Emerson is an English comedian, and although the antithesis of the whimsical Chris Siohnrds, is said to rival the latter's excellent fooling, which was introduced to Wellington theatregoers a Bhort while back. Emerson recently concluded a starring engagement at the London Empire, where ho headlined tho bill with such illustrious co-stars as George Robey, Ada Reeve, and Marie Lloyd. Ho made such an impression on London audiences that the English representative of tho Fuller management immediately approached him with a view to discussing an Australasian tour. After much ■difficulty, Emerson was secured at a big figure, and came to Australia, where ho has so duplicated former triumphs that Mr. Ben. J. Fuller has had Teason to compliment his London agent on his business acumen. Another first appearance will be made bj Miss Gwennie Hasto, an engaging soub'rette, who also enjoys a big English reputation. Of Miss Hasto the London "Weekly Chronicle" has the following to say: "There is consensus of popular opinion that this artist is' original, modern, captivating, and unique, and, in short, is the personification of light and winsomo comedy." Tsuda, the Japanese equilibrist, who climbs pyramids of household furniture with a cat-like certainty, balancing himself on the top there to _ temper the ilirills he dispenses by his winning smile, wilt return for a short season only. _ The remainder of the bright and entertaining vaudeville portion of the .programme will be composed of Edwards and Partes, sketch artists, and the Arloys, polebalancers. The othor half of the bill will be ocenpied by that popular -combination known as La Blanc's Travesty Stars. Their latest productions will contain a plenitude of new numbers and specialities. The same company will appear nightly throughout the week, and tho usual Wednesday and Saturday matinees.
THEATRE. Large audiences greeted the two screenings of "The .Return of Draw Egan" at the King's" Theatre on Saturday, and the picture should prove one of, tho principal attractions during tho week. Producers of moving pictures have often m«Sh trouble in finding a new subject and a modern way of treating it, but in this picture most of tho qualities which have boen introduced into the picturo world have been combined, 'and after tho endless flow of town dramas it is like n breath of fresh air. "Draw Egan," fentured by Win. S. Hart, is the principal in' the Btory, with Louise Glaum in a prominent position as tho girl. Theso two are of the Triangle's best favourites, and they could not be'seen to better advantage than in this production. Draw Egan is a highwayman, and possesses an inborn scorn for law and all its limits. He was it bad man—tho best shot and the hardest rider and fighter in the State, until *he met the girl—but then he took a position as sheriff in a tough town in the West, a town which no officer of the law had yet managed to get in hand. But when the lawless, element tried to work against Draw Egan'tho trouble started—for. them—and Draw Egan managed to keep the place in order till one day a spectre of his past occupation nearly brought ruin to him. But he fought, his battle like the man he was, and then offered his guns to a leading townsman, and gave himself up to justice. His guns are, however, returned to him, and no is requested to keep his position. He decides to leave, however, and is on tho point of doing so when his decision is altered by the entreaties of the girl,.thus he wins a sweet reward. It is a particularly good picture. Others on the bill are the Patho Gazette and a laughable comedy, entitled "Tho Surf Girl."
"PEGGY." There is real life, vital interest, and a big human appeal in "Peggy," the picture that introduced Billie Burke to the Wellington public at Everybody's Theatre on Saturday. Those who follow tho stage will know Miss Burke as one of .England's most charming actresses whom .America has claimed as her own by association and marriage (for sue is the wife of Mr. Zeigfeld, of Zeigfeld's Pollies, New York). She has been a star in her own right for at least ten years, and her debut in pictures is only a flit from one constellation to another. Miss Burke has been provided with a capital vehicle in "Peggy," a Scotch story with a strong flavour of America.' Peggy Cameron is really an American, and she only happens to' go to Scotland because her uncle, old .Andrew M'Leod, has in his hectoring way ordered her to. She comes and captures everyone with her pretty ways and looks—even the handsome young "meenister," who, though Scotch,- Peggy finds to bo quite human. While staying with tho MXeods a matter that troubles the kirk elders occurs. Ono of the girls of tho church is led astray, and her pitiful tale is tcld before the elders in tho presence of the girl herself. She will not reveal the name of the man not even to her father. But Peggy knows, and after imploring the young man to take up his share of tho burden (which be declines to do), Peggy bounces in and tells them—it is Colin M'Leod, tho hard old chairman's eldest son. She is chided all round for taking this step, but stands firm, and announces that she is going back home again. This brings everyone to her knees, even the "Meenister, and the happy ending comes in Peggy's decision to live for ever with that same minister, w 'evcn though it were in a graveyard" Miss Burke is a completely captivating little aotress, with sweet oxpressivo features and a mop of 6hiny hair, and her acting is as near perfection as possible. Mr. W H. Thompson, a fine old actor with a strong personality, is admirable as old MXeod, and Mr. William Deamond (who has appeared in Wellington m the flesh) is the young "meenister." At the conclusion of the picture is shown a view of Billie Burke leaving Los Angelos. Even if sho were tho queen of some fair realm tho populace could, not possibly make more fuss of her.
EMPRESS THEATRE. 'Screened for the first time in Wellington "La Boheme" proved a great attraction on Saturday, and the Empress Theatre, where the picture is hemg produced, should be well patromsd through, out this week. Alice Brady is the star in the picture, and her part-that of Mimi-is excellently earned out. llie phy "La Boheme," was originally published as a novel, when it found its way to the. drama, and hecamo a most successful piece of jrand opera. Now it promises to be no less popular as 3 6creen play, amplified as it is during this I week's screening by the delightful orffan. I nrasic supplied at tlw Empress theatre.
-The scenes are laid almost solely in the Bohemian quarters of Paris, and quaint Bettings aud rich interiors and costume} are a nouceablo feature. The story shows how Jfiwi as a baby is handed over to tho Church, and later as a young woman is given to a public-houso keeper. Hero she is treated badly, and one day is protected by a young artist. When she runs away from tho place she meeLs the artist, and they become sweethearts, and take up their residence in Bohemian quarters. The artist has also run away from his uncle's house, and tho uncle, on finding out where ho resides, prevails on llimi to leave tho nephew, as he points out she is mining his future prospects. Later, tho artist discovers why she has left him, and leaving the home to which he has returned, ho goes back to his Bohemian home. Here he mopes and waits for Jlimi to return. Finally one day she does return in pitiablo condition, and wracked by a bad cough. Everything possible is clone for ■iter by their Bohemian friends, who have, however, to pawn all they possess to assist her. The picture ends with the tragic death of Mimi, just as the uncle arrives, but tfio scene is brief and devoid of sombre details. Tho supporting programme includes a Topical Gazette, showing amongst other interesting scenes the moving picture produced hero of the Eight Hon. W. F. Massey inspecting troops in England.
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Bibliographic details
Dominion, Volume 10, Issue 2989, 29 January 1917, Page 3
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1,815ENTERTAINMENTS Dominion, Volume 10, Issue 2989, 29 January 1917, Page 3
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