AMUSEMENTS

Nelson Evening Mail, Volume XLVIII, Issue XLVIII, 9 March 1914, Page 7

AMUSEMENTS

PERMANENT PICTURES,

Bumper houses were the order of llie day at botli performances at the Theatre Royal on Saturday, when two" excellent changes were screened. To-night a special programme of unusual length will be presented, there being two stars, namely "Parting of the. Ways, and "A Fair Saint." A short resume of the latter runs as follows: —Parusse and his wife are serfs in the "seigjieurie of the Comte de Marsac. , Parusse, driven to distraction, steals a lamb from a- flocky and is seized by the shepherds, and condemned bv the Comte to be hanged. The Cumtesse intercedes, and begs for the life of the condemned man. Ihe Comte orders him- to be released, but on condition that anyone giving him- assistance is to be hanged. Lady Blanche, whilst at her ,prayers, sees a vision in which she is bidden to sell her jewels to buy bread for and in spite of the comte's sentence, her merciful heart leads her to succour Parc'usse. It is at, Parousse's house that the Comte finds her. Raging, he tears open her apron, in which she is carrying bread, but there, instead of bread are roses, and all kneel in adoration of" the miracle. The. supporting programme is an exceedingly well-chosen collection, mcluau\°-: '"'The River Rummcl," scenic; "A Soul in Bondage," Vitagraph drama > "A Trip to Baunaland," scenic; ,7,, Wo'nderful Doll," trick filni ; the Singer." drama; "'He W oukl 1* ix Things," comedy; and "Gaumont Graphic." Owing to the length ot the programme the performance will commence at 7.45 sharp. On Wednesday and Thursday nights the Permanent Pictures will make a special visit- to Richmond, when two excellent changes of programme will 'be screened.

IMPERIAL PICTURES

IMPERIAL PICTURES

There was a bumper house at the Lvric Theatre on Saturday night, when the new programme of Imperial Pictures., containing two star features, was splendidly received. The opening| seem . "Versailles" was a charming repi mentation of the famous historical French palace and surroundings. A lnghiy amusP n<r cornedv followed, entitled John Brought Home His Wite, caused much merriment. The ot the two star dramas, "H'-s iutner* Will," is a splendidly acted photo play, and pictures a designing, step-mother who plots for the disinheritance of her stepson, but who. when gloating ovei her triun.pV.JM, that he ta»gb. is against her, as a later will leaving everything to the son, is found old volume, which amongst other trifles, sire had contemptuously g !ven to th ® son as his share of a large estate. A thrilling vaudeville turn, Wrestling Man and Bear," proved very mteresting. •*Her Dressmaker's Bill" is an enteitai - .ing comic, and should be of interest to the sterner sex ; The other star drama, "For Her Love s Sake, is a convincing and appealing P hoto .,, p ?£; ond was an immense favouite w>.tli the audience "Dorothy's Birthday and a lively comic, "The* Suffragette," completed a really good programme. The enterprising management, in 8 their tend, to have tw° star th programmes, and judging from the satis, faction evinced by the audience- on Saturdav- evening, the; efforts of the. management to please • patrons will be fully appreciated. The programme will be screened again this evening.

ARCADIANS—'QUAKER. GIRL—- - the cingalee. . Of the performance by the compaqy to nt l t he Theatre Royal on \\ eelappear at- "The Arcadians,'... a nesday night in ( O'Gohcontemporary sajs- - „ th <l o lel^l r?dd£ in eighteeti races and got placed, was seen at, his best His afting of the part was, inimitable, and his woeibegone expression an droll sayings were amusing m the extreme' His quaint singing of the _s.on "I've Gotter Hotter," brought down the house, and had .to B. Nicholson, as James Smith JLon don,'alias" Simplicity of had a part that made big demands of former, but he came through the ideal with flying colours. There was not a dull moment while he was on the stage. His sons "Down m Picadilly m the third act was heartily applauded. Miss Ida Leergatt made a charming Sombra, and. she spoke her .lines very clearly. Mis* Vickie Miller (Eileen Cavanagh the Girl with the Brogue"), sang sweetly danced daintily, and acted \yith great arcliness and charm. Her songs, The., Girl with the Brogue, Bring me a Rose" (a delightful number), and hei duet with Mr Ralston, "Charming Weather,'' were: received with, coraiai. approbation. The part •of Mrs .Smith was placed in the capable hands of Miss B. Hunter, and she did full justice to it. Mr John Ralston' as Jack Meadows did not have niuch opportunity to show his/ abilities as an actor, 'but his singing was excellent, and in. the concertedpieces in particular he was heard to great advantage. Miss Mui ; iel Wilis has a fine, contralto, voice of great and sweetness,: and her songs/ Th© Pipes of -Pan" and "Arcadia, Ever Fair," were t-he ; gems of the evening fiom a- musical point of view. The whole' performance is full of musical gems, the .quartettes "The Joy of-Life, "We go to Teach the Simple. Life," and; the. choruses "Plant Your Posies" and "Truth is so Beautiful" were particularly good. The finale at the end of Act 11. was splendidly conceived, the description of the race for the Corinthian Cup k being very graphically done. The dressing and staging were on a most lavish scale, and: when the opera is repeated to-morrow- "night there is sure to be. a- bumper house." "The Quaker Girl" will! be staged on the second night, and "The Cingal.ee" on the third. The box plan is at Jackson and Co.'s.

"WITHIN THE LAW."

On Wednesday evening,: March. 18th; at' the Theatre Royal, J. ;C. Williamson,. Ltd., will present thephenomenally successful play, "WitHiri the Law,'' interpreted by a specially organised company, including- the: brilliant American actress Miss Murial Starr, who made quite a sensation in Australia, and more recently throughout the Dominion, by her intensely dramatic acting 'in the part of Mary, Turner. According to the critic of, the Melbourne "Age/' Miss Starr made a striking success in that city. "She was always equal to the situation, whether the phase "to ■be portrayed was deep - dejection, indignant invective, kindly solicitude, heartbreaking tears, skilful bargaining, o'r smart repartee. Added to a beautiful, mobile face, she has strong personal charm, and magnetism, which help materially .to her success,' and her air of naturalness —the art which conceals art—is convincing to the last .degree. Seldom has an equally powerful piece of acting been seen on the Melbourne stage." Supporting Miss Starr are thre« of her compatriots in Miss Mary Worth, Mr Linocln Plumer, and Mr E. W. Mo'rrisori, together with Messrs Eric Maxon, Boyd. Irwin, Winter Hall, Harold Richards, lon Maxwell, and Misses Marjo'rie Soper. Sylvia Bremer, and Rose En:erson. The box plan will be opened at Jackson and' Co.'3 next Friday morning.