ENTERTAINMENTS.

Manawatu Times, Volume LXV, Issue 1842, 7 February 1913, Page 5

ENTERTAINMENTS.

♦ FIRST NIGHT AT FULLER'S. Tlie round of applause which hailed the conclusion of the star feature at His Majesty's Picture Theatre last evening is the best evidence that it satisfied those remorseless critics —the spectators. "The Schemer Outwitted" proved to be a drama they revelled in. Its opening pages introduced them to a man and woman, parasites living on the labours of honest men. Human nature even at picture shows dearly loves to . witness wickedness—when it is not too repellant—and perfection even in wrongdoing wins their full respect. The schemers, Philip and Elise—lovers, it seems—scheme that Elise shall secure service in a wealthy household as governess. She succeeds, she progresses, she wins the respect of her muster, and when, fortuitously (for her), he becomes a widower she tills and nourishes his dormant germ of respect until it sprouts and expands and finally ripens into the rich, full, rosy fruit of love. There is a plighting of troths; a wedding is in the 'mental view. All seems glittering for the schemers. Jane, however, the honest-hearted young daughter of the house, is in banishment refusing to wed a certain unknown identity whom her relatives have selected, for her. She takes to common work for her livelihood, and drifts" into an acquaintance with a youth with whom a firm attachment develops. Just at a moment when this pair discovers the evil, Elise and Phillip making love they discover also that they themselves are the persons whom their relatives have paired j for marriage. They lose no time in : acquainting Jane's father with j Elsie's duplicity, and there is a > sweet reconciliation of this young couple with their elders and an out- , casting of the schemer, Elise. It proved a very powerful and popular subject. Less ambitions, but wonderfully powerful to draw the unbidden tear is the tale of "The Heiro of John Grimm." It is a story of a little orpiian girl and how she regained a new footing on this hard cold world. It iias pathos chasms deep. But the pang is not at the fiuish—where it hurts—but at the beginning, whence it becomes transformed as it glides over the pages of daily life and bursts out at the last, into a big hot tear of joy. The little orphan girl breaks down the ice of Farmer Grimm's heart, and brings joy to the yearning mother instinct of his childless wife. But all is not pathos at Fuller's. There is a big laugh in "Stout and Tliynne," or "Alkali Ike Stung," or "Buttons off his Braces" that can be thoroughly recommended as an appetiser for supper. And the Normandy River scenes are superb. WIIRTH'S CIRCUS. TO-NIGHT. Wirth's Circus has been so inueht added to and modernised in recenyears that the present-day combina, tion of four distinct shows in one bears but slight resemblance to the circus of a quarter of a century ago. The graceful equestrian acts and the charms of old are retained, but the craze for something new has been answered by the enterprising brothers year in and year out. This season the programme contains a star above stars in Hillary Long, who does everything on his head. This '' Up-side-down Phenomenon,'' as he is termed, without the aid of his hands or feet, which he appears to regard merely as ornamental, appendages to his head, the only essential necessary for him to walk about on. He balances on his head on a trapeze bar high in the air, while he smokes a cigarette and juggles a number of balls and also pours out a glass of liquor which he drinks "up." His concluding feat is the "Slide for Life" on his head down a 90ft wire. The Nine Bastiensare a clever troupe of acrobats. There are over a score of items on the circus programme and then come the Cowboys led by Art. Boden. The Palmerston location is the usual one for two nights only, to-night and Saturday. Matinee tomorrow afternoon.

DOUBLE PROGRAMME AT THE OPERA HOUSE. At the Opera House this evening a vaudeville entertainment will be given in connection with the pictures. This should be one of the most interesting programmes seen at the Opera House for some time. Four first-class picture dramas, some of J. W. Williams' best, will be screened and then a great revival of vaudeville will take place. The Merrymakers is the name of the troupe who are performing. Tiiey comprise artists who have been "on circuit" with Fuller's, and Rickards' companies. "Kodama" will display conjuring feats of a very high order, Doris Vernon, a Yankee comedienne, will delight with some of her eccentricities; Phyllis Cremer is billed as an ex-member of the Scarlet Troubadours; and other artists are on the programme which will be seen on page 1 of this issue. This is a genuine revival of firstclass vaudeville and should not be missed. BOXING CONTESTS. The Manawatu Boxing Association will hold a lightweight championship meeting on Wednesday next when J. Hegarty meets A. Maxwell. Other amateur bouts,, all very promising, are set down in the programme.