ENTERTAINMENTS

Dominion, Volume 13, Issue 287, 28 August 1920, Page 5

ENTERTAINMENTS

"A ROMANY LASS." "A Romany Lass" (Harma photo play) is a stirring- red-blooded English story the scenario, of. which might have been conceived toy a George Borrow or' Jeffrey Farnol. It is a 'bracing story nf love and fight in the open air of ..tho dales of Ayrshire, and is so strikingly well set and acted that it commands the at' tention of all good, clean-minded "fans." There is. a jump in the narrative from the beginning. Young Donald Maclean has been accused of cowardice by a drunken M'Kay in the golf-honsn, and takes'spilt wino in . tho faco without a murmur.'' Old M'Tavish explains tho real reason of the lad's timidity, a "brain : snap" endured when fighting gallantly against Zulus in Africa, but to old Colonel Mac Lean, nf. r Jie fightlns JtacLeans, his Bon's timidity is a scalding disgrace to the blood, and he sneers openly at the braiu snap tjieory. A roving band of gipsies camp on (he MacLean property, and wandering amongst them Donald sees Rovcl, "the 'Wolf," illtreating some of the children. 1 rotrsting, Rovcl turns on Dcnald, and lifter giving him « .drubbing, throws him ugftiiist a ciu'avan wheel savftgoly, luiKa, the ciuqen.of the .Romany?, and courted. by--Rovcl, intervenes, and solaces tho young Scot,, who is so grateful that lie gives her a pebble-brooch. r lhe brutish Wolf marks tho incident, and later, when she confesses iv liking for Donald, decides to murder him. and says so. linvel , sneaks into the Maclean grounds knife In hand, and just as Rilka. arrives to ' warn him Rovel is taken, after a light, and for his misdeeds, gets u term in prison. In the meantime, Colonel MacLean, believing that the blood of tliu clan has deteriorated in his sen,' nays that the -tot thing :that can be dono is to marry Rilka, who is a specimen o[ womanhood the Colonel _ admires immensely; Donald' takes him at his word, and marries -her/ and they arc happy until the young wifo learns, from servants' tattle that': Donald, was ordered to • marry her,'and did not really lov - her at all." Broken-hearted, she dons her ; gipsy clothes'again, and I!ov<:I, lrcsh ' from-'gaol, and ripe for mischief, agnip appearing at the moment, she resolves to'return with him to the tribe. Donald is'flung roughly to one.side by the .\v.olr, and returning to his father's home tMI» him what has happoned. Mad at the thought that , his only son would ■■ not' even fight for his~ wife, the old '-Colonel ntta'cks° tho'bov:' There is a wild struggle, during Much Donald's brain returns to normal and his fighting blood return.". He pummels his father, then, rushing oft' to the gipsy camp, challenges tho Wolf to a' dirk:fight, in which he Is doubly victorious, for lie wins back his wife and his manhood in the ordeal. * There tare also good "topical budgets 111 the programme, including pictures of tno royal reception given to Mary Pickford and Douglas Fairbanks in England. Miss Rene Goyder, the young Wellington contralto, sang "An ,Old-Fashioned I own, "Home Along," and "Spring," and Mr, Austin's" capable iirchestra ■ played tho "Peer Gyut" : --Suite .and an .attractivo "OaTmen" fantasia. There, will De an orchestral matineo to-day.

EMPRESS THEATRE.. The neiv programme which was presented *at She Empress Theatre yesterday was well in keeping with the high standard set by the management, Prido "of place was'occupied by "A Broadwity Saint," n del'ghtfully ontertaining photo play, starring'.Montagu 1 Love. Usually this popular star is associafid with hqavr dramatic roles, but iu "A Broadday; Saint" he shiines in a highly amusing light comedy. The play is a story of a good yoimg man .who never ; went astray; who had to be - a "devil" .in order to please others. He was a nice, quibt. 'well-broken yountf man of simple tastes, but ho came from Broadway, and that wrecked hihi in tho eyes of the villa sers in the little country town. So tliCy gave the a bad name, , and he hud a hard time trying to live up to it. Incidentally! "A Broadway Sa:Ht' isi.la rich satirei on the feeling of jctilousv Unit usually exists between, small country villases-and the bi" centres, tho former look'flg upon tho latter as. hot-; liedo of vice, and dubbing any visitor' from the cities as a "crook" of the first water. "This Ogives rise to a ofamiisinff: situations;' in ilie, course of which Montagu love ably sustains the Tola of the jnan from the city. Tho picture provides one cont'nuous round of laughs, and should have a very sucrun. Tho supporting films arc nn.'fittractive, lot, and' include the 11th episode'of i'hp sensational serial "Lib-' erty." a Gaumont Graphic, and a fina scenic film showing the Canadian Rockies.' ■

EVERYBODY'S THEATRE. There was something to pleas© all tnstp.s in the new programme screened at Everybody's T'heatro yesterday. Tho nrincipul attraction Was "The ' Bandbox," a dramatisation o£ Louis Joseph Vancc'B successful novel of the same name. The play is an exceptionally good detective drama wi,th all the component parts of - high-grade screen production. It has a beautiful star in Doris Kcnyon, whoso portrayal of the heroino is.appealing. This young star h'as opportunities' she has never before had of showing her true valuo as an emotional acfi'rcss, and the production itself )s noteworthy for its excellent settin?. The combination of the author's genius and tho star's hoautr and ability would be hard to beat.. "Tlie Bandbox" holds ijhe audience spell-bound ■ from beginning, to. end, combining as it ctoe3 a fascinating mystery, a pleasant romance-and a stirring adventure! Action centres around a pearl necklace which :s responsible, for a .continuous struggle betv.-een virtue and vice.' Heading the supporting films is the oiprhth eoisode of iHie thrilling serial, "Tho Mystery- of 13." Comedy and topical subjects are also' included in the programme. - . -"TIGER ROSE." • To be presented at the Grand Opera House to-night, for the first t'me in New ; Zealand, comes "Tiger Rose," a

strong, romanilic love story in the main theme: the path of love in this instance Tuns th tough the most thrilling, adventure to tho verge of tragedy, and it ife these wild, stirritug vicissitudes that make the enthralling interest of this powerful and picturesque drriina, set in the enchanted wonderland of th 6 great North Canadian forest which has been selected as the sKltihg .for so manv film plays. ■ Miss -Marie. Ilka as ''Tiger Rose" will make, her first appearanco iin .New Zealand, and from what Aus-tralian-critics say there should be no dnubt -ft* to the wnlonme will receive at the hands of New Zealand playgoers. The members of the hew company supporting Miss Ilka liavo been credited wHh c-kver work and a high order nf character .portroynl I'o a degree seldom seen, in':the Commonwealth. The scenic beanV and startling mechsyiical effects have excited wondering comment on all sides. Seats may be reserved) at the Brlpf/il till 1 o'clock In. dav arid at the theatro office Ihife afternoon. .■ SUNDAY CONCERT. . A popular programme has been selected »y tho Well'tugton > Professional Orchestra for its concert at His MajestyVThefctro to-morrow evening. Tlio principal .items will be Wagner's brilliant overture on "Rule Britannin," a fantasia from Verdi's "Aid.i." and tho overture to. "Der Frei.schutz" (Weber). pieces will includo Grieg's '•>Vnii(i>io ])ay" a nd tho "Maich of tho Uftio I/iaden Soldiers." Mr, Moschini will conduct. A silver coin collection wTil be taken up,