AMUSEMENTS

Nelson Evening Mail, Volume LII, Issue 115, 21 May 1918, Page 8

AMUSEMENTS

HAYWARD'S PICTURES.

The current programme at Hay ward s Las been viewed nightly by large audiences, and will be screened for the last time this evening. The star drama is a secret service story. I>y Vitagraph, entitled "The Stolen Ireatv. Marie Williams plays the lead, and with him is a dainty "new Vitagraph star. Corinne Griffith." She earns high honours by her 'exceedingly clever portrayal of the rolo of the society girl who longs for adventures and gets a long way mot--than her share. The story gets going fit once, a"d almost .straightaway a lie mendou* sclieme of international thef and blackmail is unfolded. Thrilling .escapes come thick and fast, and tliere it ail air of reality over the whole drama, as the scenes are set in modern New York. At a brilliant society function a society fop makes the acquaintance of a lovely girl All unknown to the world at large the fop i<* one of the. cleverest of tiie United States Secret Service men. and is ■watching a well-known priuce who is at the head of a band of dangerous men whose operations are world-wide. The girl's assistance is called for. and after many stormy and risky times there is the usual happy ending. In addition lo the feature* mentioned above, the latest (Mutual Chaplin filmdepicting the world-famous comedian comedian »•= a policeman, is included. PEOPLE'S PICTURES.

"Their Compact," the Metro feature Leading the current programme at the Theatre Royal, gives F. X. Bushman and Beverley Bayiie full opportunity of displaying their "dramatic skill, and tonight "will be the last chance of witnessing a most attractive series. The story is chiefly laid amidst the mines. Mr* Bushman" plays James Van Dyke Moore, the New Yorker who goes Wej-t to lake care of his mining properties, are some wonderful fight? with the miners—and who can put up a better fight than Bushman? There is adventure, excitement, peril, and finally the sun shining after the storm. "The Compact" is a gripping story of manly courage and the West—of a man •who kept his word, even though the vrhole world misjudged him, until events proved his ho:v>sty. James Van Dyke .Moore has put his trust 3 in a woman who has proved worthless. He goes West to. fored, her, and meets vrihsome Mollie Anderson. To the West comes his friend, Robert Forrest, on his honeymoon. His bride is the false creature Moore has unmasked. She begs him to keep her secret. Forrest goes away, leaving his wife in Moore's care for safe keeping. Worthless as she is, he must protect her—it is "their compact." Dramatic moments come quickly until the tremendous climax, in which right and justice ■win. In addition Charlie Chaplin will he seen in his greatest fun riot, "Easy Street." HENRI FRENCH. Henri French, who has been aptlytermed "the King of Entertainers," appears at the School of Music on May 23rd. Since his last visit to New Zealand the clever little Frenchman has added a, number of new turns to his repertoire, already an extensive one. Everything that he does is neatly and deftly executed. As an illusionist, mimic, or masician, he is equally at home, and one turn follows another with such surprising rapidity that the onlookers have hardly time to recover from-one surprise before another is unfolded. It is, however, as a trick cyclist that he is unrivalled, and his feats on the wheel are simply wonderful. On Thursday a matinee will be given for children. The performance will commence at four o'clock in order to gjve school children an opportunity of being present. The company will appear at country districts as advertised.