AMUSEMENTS

Nelson Evening Mail, Volume XLVIII, Issue XLVIII, 10 March 1914, Page 7

AMUSEMENTS

PERMANENT PICTURES,

Last evening at the Theatre Royal the grand twin-star programme was witnessed Toy a large and most enthusiastic audience* The programme was voted oiiß of the best screened in Nelson for some time, each item receiving a wellinerited round of applause. To-riight a complete change will be presented, featuring an A.B. drama ,of 1500 feet, en- ! titled "The Reformers." "The Reformers"'. are a band of enthusiastic workers known as the purity league. They wait on one of their leading members,, and persuade him to become a candidate for, the.mayoralty. He enters the list, and is victorious. The new mayor 4/' overwhelmed with a sense of righteousness, commences a crusade tj>, improve the citizens' morals. »Armed' with, the authority of his 'position, »and •with a policeman at his heels, he closes saloons, dance halls,. and theatres. Further, the mayor sees harm in ladies stopping to talk to gentlemen acquaintances, and applies the "move on" clause with an aggressiveness that is not appreciated. Trie, mayor has been so .zealous in attending to people's morals that his own children are overlooked. He returns home to find his young- son intoxicated, and an unworthy rascal courting his daughter. The lesson is a bitter, one, and it strikes home in an effective manner. There is a rich humour underlying the main theme, which is laid bare in the scenes, at the theatre, in which the reformers are present as self-selected censors. The supporting programme contains the following :—"Warwick -Chronicle," No. 165;= ''Taste of .his own, medicine"; "Views in and around',. Corn - wall"; "Mystery of theAly.Z'. Gang," drama; "The Professor's Predicament,". Lubin| comedy; "Faithful Friend," comedy; "New Zealand. Animated News," No.. 20,v"Red Revenge," drama;' and "His Chum,, the Baron," Keystone comedy. On Wednesday. and Thursday evenings special visits will be made.to. Richmond by the Permanent Pictures, • when ~ two excellent changes-' of;,..programme w "ill be presented. . Motueka' will' be visited as usual-on Wednesday, when ai 1500 feet Kalem drama, entitled "Shipwrecked,? will be presented.

IMPERIAL PICTURES,

There was a large attendance at' . the Lyric Theatre last night,; to witness-the second production of Saturday's twin ; 6tar programme. .Just before the interval a, valve spring snapped, and, rather than risk an- interruptions durin'g the ! second half, the manager announced that, the.audience wonld; receive their . tickets back, Ihus enabling'theni to see.the full programme on another, evening..' Theprogramme will -be shown again to-night, when no doubt- another," large number will ayaal themselves'of the opportunity of enjoying the star . dramas, . "His Father's': Will" and "For Her ,Love's Sake,' supported by many other fine /pictures.

COMIC OPERA SEASON.

I- Three more popular: or. tuneful comic operas than "The-.'Arcadians," "The | Quaker Girl," and "The Cingalee/' to be 'presented by the Merry, Widow Opera; i Company during the:'hree nights they ! will appear at the-Theatre Royal, com- ■ mencihg to-morrow night, it. would' be ("hard to; find. They all enjoy big European reputations.. Their success waste-, peated in Australia and also in the big centres~of New Zealand. Of : "The Arcadians," which will.be.the opening.production, a contemporary says: -, "It.'is a sure -winner. It gets" its effects .with-. ! out vulgarity. It.isn. either prudish rior. ■ slow, but its swiftness is not'gauged-by/j j the amount of bluenees that ca-ti be ? '< squeezed? into eachraet': 'like:;so- many' ; other operas. It. is. : , sane-,and.it 'is tuiie- • ful, and through the whole play ,is ';?-a ■ i breeziness . which,is quite;; refreshing; It I -will live, when many another of its klmdv ! has.lprig.since been, forgotten./'. "The; ' Arcadians"- is a reallaughter-cornpeller.- ! It is a feast of fun, catchy music,.and 'clever dancing from start to finish'.. Mr . D. B. O'Connor plays the part of Peter '■ Doody (the jockey), Mr Bertie N'l'cholsqni j that of Simplicitas, with Miss -Vickey j Miller as Eileen Cayanagh (the girl; with- ! a brogue), arid- Miss Ida Leggatt 'is ," Sombra... "The-Quaker Girl" will -be. j staged on Thursday, "and<"',"The Ciriga- ! iee'Son Friday. ;.•' The box plan, is ; atj Jackson and C6.''s. V *' : 'v'