AMUSEMENTS

Wairarapa Age, Volume XXXVIII, Issue 11752, 1 February 1918, Page 7

AMUSEMENTS

THE COSY THEATRE. A SPLEX 1)11) PROGRAMME. An exceptionally large audience was present at, the Cosy Theatre last night, when a good evening's pictures were presented. Madge Evans, the greatest chili'l actress w all filmdom, is featured in "The Little Duchess," a vivid lil'e study in light I and shadow. A dainty girl is discovered lo he the, grandchild of an i earl. She makes the hoary old | castle change its ways, and then I dark tragedy stalks. You have never seen before a little actress , who can portray the most fOweiTul emotion. Madge Evans has all th- consummate artistry and power of a woman of mature years, and in spite of all is a, delectable and adorable child. The second episode of Vitagraph's romantic serial, "The Secret Kingdom," entitled "Royalty at Red Wing," tells how, after twenty years, Phillip Earr, the rightful King of Alania, but entirely in ignorance of (he fact, Having been raised on Red Wing Ranch, Arizona, hy "'Peter Ran:," whom he bolieves to he his father, rescues from the clutches of a frontier bad man "Julia Simond," who is n reality Princess Julia, only daughter of Simond. Julia has been travelling, in the United States incognito. Forthwith they fall in love with each other, hut Julia leaves to continue her journey on the next train. Rack in Alania ,buf one obstacle prevents Simond declaring himself, king—proof of the death of Prince Phillip. He learns of the whereabouts of Cap-, tain Barreto through an intercepted letter, and despatches Monsieur and Madam' \Savatz, secret agents, to the United States to assassinate Phillip. Savatz and his wife arrive at Bed fWiug Ranch and pose as cattle buyers from Pans. The second last chapter of "The Iron Claw" is to be shown to-night for the last time, and everything posits to a sensational finish. The h-test Gazette completes a first-class programme, which will be shown tonight for the last time. OPERA HOUSE PICTURES. ' "THE CTRL AND THE CAME." Some excellent programmes hove been shown at the Opera House, but none have been more oopuUr than the splendid evening's entertainment last night that was responsible for such a crowded house. The star feature of the evening -as ;. se*enpart Triangle drama starring Dorothy Dal ton, entitled "The 'Time of the Yukon." "The :lame-' is a famous dance hall siren—a woman of fire—who destroys men in that lawless land of sudden riches and •tremendous passions. The dance hall kept by Black Jack is no "Miner's Retreat," but a palatial place dedicated to all vices. Then came the stronger, George Fowler, and something in his manliness and boyishness found a soft spot in the heart of "the flame." So George Fowler made another start, and it was on the money lent by the strangely altered "flame." Then she told the boys: "At twelve o'clock to-night I'm going to be a lady. It costs money to live straight. You've often thrown your nuggets at mo for going bad. Won't you do the same to help me live good?" The new Wonder serial, "The Girl and the Game," was responsible for keeping many patrons an the edge of their seats with excitement. Miss Helen Holmes, the dare-devil actress, is featured. ft tells a sensational railroad story, depicting a series of wonderful and death-defy-ing feats never yet before attempted for the camera and screen. Feats unbelievable are performed with j monster railway engines, powerful ! [ automobiles, motor cycles, horses, aeroplanes, motor boats, and -everything oisp possible to make it wlint it is claimed. This week a story of the "Do Children Connt?" series is a. very pretty one, and shows little Mary Mcilister at her best. Patrons are reminded that to-night is the last night. PARAMOUNT THEATRE, A FOUR-JrEATURE CHANGE. \ Another big crowd was present at Hi.' Paramount Theatre last evening, and greatly enjoyed the series that was shown. A wonderful film that caused quite 'a' commotion was "Man and Boast," a production in which lions, leopards, sheep, pigs. an elephant, and a chimpanzee disport themselves as freely as the human members of Iho cast. In this production the animal features arc an entertaining and entirely natural part of the .story. The beasts perform their pans in H well-trained, though no doubt carefully manipulated .manner, in "Man and Beast." Animals make good screen performers. Ualzae was prone to trace .1 considerable analogy between animals and the human tribe, not always in a complimentary way to the hitter; i Certainly there are some things, in i which man may learn from the beasts, particularly in the matter of po.-.ing. There is an admirable simplicity and directness about them j they do not suffer fioni solfcorisciousuoss; neither do they threaten to shoot their cuffs or make a dash for the powder puff. They radiate a simple joy in being what they are, and exhibit no envious .crowding towards tb" spotlight. The elephant in this number rescues a man from drowning in a .'-limy pool, carries a young woman to a clandestine meeting with her lover, and later brings her home a lost child from the jungle. The chimpanzee has a lesser part to play, but , does i[. acceptably. ihe lions and/ leopards provide exciting momen Is. and the domestic beasts fill in the pastoral scones in a pleasing way. While the stellar honours go to ibe animals in this production, the human members of the cast are proficient. Eileen Sedgw'ck adds to her popularity in the part of Grelel. I 'ark .Jones' plays- the hero, and the other roles are lakeri by Kiugslov Benedict, Harrv Clifton, I;, M. "Wells and Mrs ' Whiffing. Another splendid feature was the live-act Pallas film "Intrigue," in ,which Leonoro TJlrich was starred. If was a fine melodrama of the Secret Service relating to the proson i war. An item that proved popular with the sports was the recent Melbourne Cup. This programme will be showai for the last time tonight. There will be a change at the matinee to-morrow.