AMUSEMENTS, MEETINGS, ETC.

Wanganui Chronicle, Volume LXXVI, Issue 18257, 16 August 1921, Page 3

AMUSEMENTS, MEETINGS, ETC.

PARAMOUNT MUNICIPAL PICTURES. BIG DOUBLE PROGRAMME TO-NIGHT. “THE BAIT" AND “AN INNOCENT ADVENTURESS.” In accordance with their policy of submitting nothing but the best productions to their patrons the Paramount management will, lor this (Tuesday) evening only, screen a great double programme consisting of two magnificent photoplays, supported by a Burton Holmes “travelogue” entitled “Down ths Yukon.” Heading the bill is the Maurice Tourneur master production “The Bait,” adapted from Sidney Toler’s stage success “The Tiger Lady.” It is a big romantic melodrama with a happy blending of thrills, love, mystery, blackmail and spirited action, and features in the leading role Hope Hampton, the vivacious beauty who sprang into fame in the film world almost over-night, and whose artistic frocks in this picture will be the delight of feminine eyes. The heroine is a pretty shop-girl who is “framed” by a master crook so that she will come under his power. Then, when he has won her gratitude by a seemingly kind act, he tries to use her as a pawn in a game to blackmail a young millionaire. How she escapes and finds love and happiness is shown in a series of thrilling scenes. The other feature film stars ever popular Vivian Martin in “An Innocent Adventuress,” a delightful little tale that departs from tho usual run of stories and has a novel and surprising plot. There is plenty of comedy of the human sort that grips and, while creating laughter at the immediate moment, will make the audience think as well as laugh. One of the members of the cast is a wonderful dog which does some of the most remarkable animal acting yet seen on the screen. To complete the excellence of this Paramount production it contains some beautiful outdoor scenes of country life. Patrons would be well advised to book their seats at Jones’ to avoid disappointment. BACK TO SHAKESPEARE. MR. ALLAN WILKIE’S VISIT. Reports of the tremendous successes of the Allan Wilkie Shakespearean Campany at Christchurch, Dunedin, and Auckland have spread far and wide, making a happy inauguation for tills venture in New Zealand. Mr. Wilkie's effort to present the plays of Shakespeare with a large, well-trained company of specially picked artists met with a welldeserved success in the five of the six Australian States which were visited. In Victoria, New South Wales, South Australia, Queensland, and Tasmania the popularity of the productions exceeded all expectations, and it was confidently hoped that New Zealand playgoers would follow the suit of their Australian confreres. In the Dominion centres this has been the case. It is announced that a season will commence in Wanganui at the Opera House on Wednesday 24th August, and it now remains to be seen whether Shakespeare lovers in Wanganui will endorse the opinions of tens of thousands of others. During the season here, the repertoire will be “The Merchant of Venice,” “As You Like It,” “The Merry Wives of Windsor,” “Twelfth Night.” This company was inagurated eleven months ago at the historic Princess’ Theatre .Melbourne, and since its inception the most distinguished citizens of Australia and New Zealand, from the Governor-General down, have seen fit to accord it their heartiest personal support. Educational authorities especially have welcomed the advent of an important Shakespearean company like this, as it is universally recognised that actual presentations of Shakespearean plays set for study forms by far the best medium for teaching the plays. It is hoped and expected that in the course of time Mr. Allan Wilkie, by means of this company, will give playgoers of Australasia an opportunity of seeing all the plays of Shakespeare that are capable of stage presentation,—about 35 in all.