AMUSEMENTS.

Taranaki Daily News, 22 January 1916, Page 7

AMUSEMENTS.

"BOUGHT AND PAID FOR» Play-goers #f New Plymouth expect a fine treat whenever an announcement as made in the interest ofJ. C. Williamsou, Ltd. On Thursday night next at the Theatre Royal Muriel Starr, with Charles A. Millward and a brilliant company of dramatic artists, will prosent for the tirit and only time George 'Broadhurst's sensational comedy-drama, "Bought and Paid For." under that heading. Miss Starr's brilliant performance as Mary Turner in "Within the i»w" two years ago will never be forgotten by local play-goers, but in "Bought and Paid For" it is said (hat there is even more scope for this wonderful artist to display her remarkable ability. Mr. Charles A. Millward, in the part of Robert Stafford, created somewhat of a sensation in Wellington recently by the excellent performance lie put up as the millionaire 'husband. In America "Bought and Paid For" is regarded as. a striking arraignment of ■modern marriage. From this point of view alone it created an impression that made it one of the most-talkcd-about plays the American stage has presented Marriage, in -which the basis is wealth, not love, is the key-note of the story, the motif of which is summed up in the words of Kobert Stafford in the play: "You are my wife; I bought and paid for you." Three hundred clergymen throughout the United States discussed this play frankly from the pulpit. They were not all favorable or critical from one point of view. Some of them candidly dealt with the famous scene in which the husband breaks down the door of his wife's bedroom, and declared that the scene should be withdrawn. Others, on the other hand, considered that in this phase of the play there wa9 a good moral lesson. Miss Gertrude Boswell and Mr. Hobart Cavanaugh are two newcomers of note. having both appeared in the original New York production, in parts in which they likewise sustained throughout Australia with conspicuous success. A striking feature in the many press criticisms has been the absolute unanimity with regard to the merits of the piece and the talents of the company. The box plans will he opened at Collier's next Tuesday morning at 9 o'clock.

EMPIRE PICTURE PALACE, An entirely new programme will be presented to-day at the Empire Picture Palace at both the matinee and evening performances. The principal attraction is the fourth chapter of the sensational serial drama, "The Million Dollar Mystery," This episode is entitled "The Top Floor Flat," and it supplies another important clue in the quest of the missing fortune. Daring and hazardous seenes of a magnitude never before attempted are shown, and the heroine is seen, in the midst of the "Black Hundred" gang, to make an escape that is ; once thrilling to a degree. Supporting "The Top Floor Fat" are "The Man, the Mission and the Maid," a love romance by Vitagraph players; "The Motor Bandits," a thrilling detective story; "Pathe's War Gazette," dealing with I naval and military operations, including destroyers at full speed giving chase to a German submarine; "Merely a. Married Man," a Keystone featuring Mabel Normand; "Scenes of Tiberius and the Lake of Galilee"; '-'Auntie's Portrait," a sparkling Vitagraph comedy; and a cartoon comedy of an unusual sort, entitled "Ping iPong Wo," which introduces a droll edition to these pen-and-ink creations of the screen, which are proving so popular among theatre-goers.

THEATRE ROYAL PICTURES. The usual picture matinee will be given this afternoon at the Theatre Royal, when film followers will be afforded an opportunity of witnessing what is probably the finest dramatic photo-play 'the celebrated Edison Company have ever been responsible' for, "What Happened 011 the Berbuda." It is in three part?, and features that remarknbly clover little artist, Gladys Ilulctte. Tho story is a romantic one of life on the high seas, and affords unlimited scope for spectacular 'and dramatic events, which have been made the most, of by the producers. The big serial drama, "The Master Key," now in its third episode, supplies most interesting and important happenings, which, if missed, will cause the followers of the story much regret later on.. There are also many other notable films 011 the programme which will be screened ■to-nijj'ht for tlie last time.

"THE MAX ON THE BOX." At the Theatre V'.oyal 011 Monday, Tuesday and Wednesday 'next pirt tirogoers are in for a real treat in the presentation, in film form, of Harold McGrath's romantic novel, "The Alan 011 tlie Box." (If course, almost everybody lins read Harold MoGratli's famous story. "The Puppet King'' was the book which brought the author into prominence, hut it. was "The Man on the Box" which made him famous. And if the book is good, what of the play? It may be safely said that nothing has been lost in dramatisation. Th» story, in fact, lends itself splendidly to pictorial reproduction. Lieut. Bob Warburton, a fancy-free, adventuresome spirit, having won distinction and honorable wounds in the service of his eoutnrv, returns home on furlough. Devilment prompts a little adventure, which brings in its trend all kinds of unexpected developments. Warbnrt.on takes the place of the coachman, and plans to drive his sisters home from a ball; btit the plans slightly miscarry, for the man on the box, mistaking the usher's call, sets o!Y 011 a wild midnight career through tlit* eitv with ladies who are not his sisters. This production ranks amongst the. most delightful comedydramas yet presented here.