ENTERTAINMENTS.

Taranaki Daily News, Volume LVII, Issue 240, 19 March 1915, Page 8

ENTERTAINMENTS.

EMPIRE PICTURES.

DOROTHY 0' THE HALL

Miss Nellie Stewart will appear tomorrow evening at the Theatre Royal in one of those delightful plays in which .she.appears to such striking advantage —"Dorothy o' the Ilall." a romantic .drama dealing with the stirring time.-; of the reign of Elizabeth. The story is founded on one of those hard-hating old feuds between two country families whose estates adjoin one another, the Rutland's and the Vernon's of Haddon Hall, and according to traditions the only son of tho one loves the only daughter of tho other. This gives opportunity for the intrigue and dashing gallantry with which the novelists have made us familiar. To improve the picturesqueness of the story Queen Elizabeth herself and Mary Queen of Scots also play their part in it. Dorothy Vernon is t said to be a character in which Miss i Stewart is inimitable. In fact manv critics say that as the vivacious, pretty, and self-willed Dorothy she shines eve* moro brilliantly than in her famous creation, "Sweet Nell of Old Drnry." On:' of the most exciting parts of the" play ii a duel between Dorothy and Sir Malcolm and Miss Stewart is said to show her'self in this quite a master of the rapier. The play is in four acts, claboratolj staged and costumed in the most pit• turesque fashion. In fact it is the sami production which so lately delighted playgoers in Australia and more recently in Auckland. The full strength of the company vilj, be. engaged, including Messrs Clarence Blakiston and Allen Wilkie, two London actors of high repute. The box plans are at Collier's, and filling rapidly.

Despite the inclemency of the vreather a fairly large audience turned out to see Vitagraph's new star drama "Her Husband," and supporting programme. "Her Husband" is a thoroughly interesting film. Tom I-Tarcourt, a cadet at a military school, and Dora Allen, attending a liear-by boarding school, are in love. In order to got away together for an evening, Tom forges a letter to her teacher, supposedly written br Dora's father. They overstay their time and she is locked out of the seminary. Afraid her father will be notified and the forgery discovered, they get married and confront the father, who orders Tom from the house. Tom bids Dora choose between htm and her father. She makes her choice, leaving with her husband. Later, their finances low. Tom pretends ho is looking for work, but instead, is spending his time in dissipation. He finally takes Dora's necklace, sells it and raises the cheque from fifteen to fifteen hundred pounds. The forgery is discovered, And Tom is sentenced to prison. Dora realises ln'r husband's umvorthine.ss, ami writes her .'atherthe consequences of her folly, but she will take care of herself and make the best of it. Dora, under tiie assumed name of Miss Smith, becomes private se-vtary to John Darrell. He falls in love with her. She reciprocates his love, but refuses to consider his proposal of marriage; he does not understand her. Tom is freed before his time, for good behaviour, and goes back to the old life. He goes to DarreH's office, and finds Dora, who is closing the safe, before leavipg the oflicc. Tom asks her for money', but being told she. has none, he robs the safe and escapes. When the robbery is discovered, Dora kejps silent. When questioned by Darrell she tells him there was no one in the office [ after he left. The watchman, havinj seen Dora receive Tom. denies her state-'M-tit and Darrell cannot believe her emphatic denial, although be is convinced of her innocence. Allen, having received hi-, daughter's letter, employs detect ires to find her; they locate Tom and fi!:ow him in order to trace Dora /raving squandered the stolen money' lorn returns to Dura for more. Darrell, having engaged policemen, is in his office when Tom ente.s, Tom makes s (lash for liberty, runs to the elevator door, opens it, and plunges down the shaft to his death. Then follows the reunion of Dora and her father. The barrier lifted, Dora unhesitatingly declares her love for Darrell. In"« Mabel's Blunder," a Keystone comedy, Mabel Normand mistukes her lover's sister for ft rival She nets as their chair, ur and they all go to a restaurant. A slapdash finish lesults. r lhe supporting programme ,S well up to tiie Empire stand-