AMUSEMENTS

Wairarapa Age, Volume XXXII, Issue 10188, 14 March 1911, Page 5

AMUSEMENTS

THOMPSON-PAYNE PICTURES. ;A large alid appreciative auUh-iie't-greeted the change of..'p'rogv-'iinme at th'Jbcjf iters' Hall last evonnig. Of a fiii-i series of dramas, •.Sims:;'*l'e-*-V. j'. was perhaps the oe?t It va e . ar. A.B. study, telling no»v a m-i'd was lured away by a promise of .—aJ» riage, and of the non-fulfilment of. that promise'-and- the girl's struggle in the world before finally going back home, 'finding forgiveness and ultimate happiness.. The drama "For Her Country's Sake" reveals an attempt on the life of George "Washington during the War ence in America. A .charming love tale | was unfolded jin : '*A' Modern' Knight Errant," the 'setting being picturesque and the incidients in the drajnua such as. appealed to one and all. "The Bearded Bandit" was a capital story of Western life. I'rie most interesting film of the ovening was the one entitled "Potpourri of Africa" (a series of animal: studies), 1 the man'responsible,for this fine picture being Cherry Keartan, a member of Roosevelt's hunting party in Africa. "The Aerial Submarine" was a peep into the future, showing the possibility of a /combined submarine-and airship being utilised by pirates of the air and sea.. "PatheV Gazette" depiqtedr. pictorially the leading events- at; Home alid on the- Continent,,rece»tly, while: "Moscow'':' * deMheated' tne main features of the Russian town," concluding with a view of the famous Kremlin; ■ Real' "screamers" were "Liz's CarW,". "The Big Drum," and "Daddy?s Did'ums Did It." The accompanied each'film'with suitable music. The programme will ba repeated .to-night.*

;■ "THE LION; AND. THE MOUSE,*? PLAN OPEN THIS,MORNING. At Miss Rive's this morning at halfpast eight o'clock, .the box plan will be opened for the initial and only production in Masterton, which takes place on Thursday night next, of Charles Klein's dramatic sensation, ''The Lion and the Mouse." A staff oft, usliers' will be "in "attendance from oieht "p'cloekto form; a 1 qaeue, -which | will'-.■ensara that, the Hvill have first choice of seats. ,before in- local. local had ah'opportunity ofc welcoming a worid famous' -drimatic' star,* as both 5f argaret Angliri| ajid Sarah Bernhardt returned to .Europe without paying a visit to the Dominion. It is therefore not surprising to leam that niore than usual amount of interest is being taken in the appearance of Miss Katherine Grey, and the famous Aiherican: actress will doubtless be welcomed by a record house." The occasion will also be noteworthy from the fact that it will introduce for the first time here the brilliant romantic actor,'.Mr William"Desmond', '■' who was engaged by Mr J. C. William-' 'son to-fill the place formerly occupied I by Julius Knight in the company.The I power of wealth is the ;ma.irispring of' the plot of "The Lion;and the Mouse." It fascinated New York audiences for > over two years, and its success in Aus-. tralia has been phenomenal. Tlie piece presents a financial tyrant penalising ■ an. upright judge, and strong love interest is infused into the story by the son of the dollar worshipper falling,,in"l6ve withtheanan whose unjust impeachment was'being engineered. - .The conflict is one of heart and selfish interest, with ultimate selfrevelation on the part of the man who wielded the power of i the purse. ' "The Lion and the Mouse" has succeeded on its merits as a straightforward play 'founded on the bloodless battle between right and might. The piece gives the two new stars every oppor- ' tunity to display their splendid histrionic abilities, and the other members of the companyj which is a particularly strong one, are seen to ad- ; vantage in their various roles. '' The | whole of the. effects for "The Lion and the Mouse" will be sent on ahead of the company so that the performance will be a particularly smooth one.