AMUSEMENTS.

Wairarapa Age, Volume XXV, Issue 10713, 8 October 1913, Page 6

AMUSEMENTS.

THOMPSON-PAYNE PICTURES. "THE BANKER."

An exceptional pictorial treat awaits patrons at tlio T.l\ Electric | Theatre this evening, where the | change includes the presentation of the big society success entitled "The Banker." Mrs liivers is a widow living in apparent luxury with her only daughter Nellie, in a castle that! might have belonged to a medieval age. The life is but a pretence, for it is only by the most desperate means that Mrs Rivers can keep up appearances, and she has to re-sort to money-lenders, her house depending upon her daughter Nellie making an advantageous marriage. Among the guests is one that loves Nellie to distraction, and the feeling is reciprocated. Marius is an ideal lover but is cursed with poverty. The lovers wander through the delightful grounds whore the two pledge their l troth. A rich banker gets Mrs Rivers in his power, and Nellie is forced to marry the banker to save her mother.- Two years later we find Nellie married and entertaining on a lavish scale. Meanwhile war is declared . and the banker suffers heavy losses. He takes his wife's jewellery to raise money, and charges her to keep quiet about the desperate state' of his affairs. Meanwhile his wife receives a letter from Marius, her husband's brutality determining her to make an appointment and see Marius for the last time, Meantime robbers break into the banker'hoiisn »nri i-~v> " xuin 01 nis money. The banker's position becomes worse and worse, and finally he commits suicide. Nellie then .ex- | plains the reason for Marius being in the banker's study and denounces Louis. Marius some months after once more asks Nellie the old ques-1 tion, and this time she gives him the answer that fills him with joy. Another big feature drama will be shown in "The Old College Badge," the latest English success. "Two Thieves" is an excellent prison story by the Rex Company, while "The Monkey Accomplice" is a wonderfully clever drama by the Solax Company. The comedy section includes two long items in "Two Gents of the Road" (Lubin) and "Louisette not Jealous" (Vita). "Pat'.s Fancy Dress" is an amusing item in which a. leopard plays an interesting part. Several pictures of interest will be shown including views of the recent "Wreck of the Devon." "Eclair Journal" will show the usual fashions and topical events whilst "Yeomanry in Camp" will be an interesting military picture. This excellent change ■ is sure to attract large audiences to this popular picture hall.

THE JULIUS KNIGHT COMPANY

At the Town Hall this evening MiJulius Knight and the J. C. Williamson New English Comedy Company will give the first and only performance in Masterton of the remarkable success "Milestones." The two events, the return of an artist of Mr Knight's undoubted popularity and the first performance of a play coming with the reputation of the very highest from every country in which it has been played, such as "Milestones" does, is certainly a happy combination that undoubtedly means an enthusiastic audience. Rarely has a play come to this country with credentials of such a high order. Mr Knight's association with any production he has taken part in is sufficient guarantee; that the play and the players will be of the best. The leading daily paper of Adelaide, The Register, speaking of Mr Knight's performance in "Milestones" says: "The popularity of Mr Julius Knight as an artist knows no bound,s. After repeated visits to this country the eminent actor, whose claim to be the most sustained favourite known to the Australian stage cannot well be disputed, has left it to the present occasion to achieve his greatest triumph. The record business at the box office speaks volumes for 'Milestones,' its well deserved reputation having preceded it. This delightful play, so full of sentiment and moral teachings, with its wealth of quaint humour, and simple pathetic little touches, is so absorbing and enthralling that it cannot fail to make good wherever presented. As John Rhead Mr Knight is seen at his best." The artists supporting Mr Knight are of the I highest class including Miss Irene ( Browne and such popular names as Miss Grace Noble, Miss Mary Goulden, Miss Maggie Knight, Miss Emma Temple, Miss Dorothy Gumming, Mr Arthur Greenaway, Mr Leslie Victor, Mr Marlin Lewis, Mr Leon- j ard Willey, Mr Ronald Maeleod, Mr Victor Tatnall, Mr J, Plumpton Wil- j son, and Mr Chas. Morse. The box j plan for to-night's performance is at the Dresden. 1

"THE QUAKER GIRL." Dantier, prettier, and more humorous than either "The Merry "Widow," "The Arcadians" or "Our " Miss

Gibbs," is htnv an Australian critic described "The Quaker Girl," which is to be staged by J. R. Williamson's Royal Comic Opera Company at the Town Hall on Tuesday night next. The management state that the piece did larger business in Sydney and Melbourne than either of the first three mentioned attractions. It is said that the new offering in light opera presents numberless sterling features, freshness and originality , being one of the most prominent. A ! refreshing circumstance is the liberal amount of charming musical numbers, and in this respect it is said to border close upon the best of classic operas. Moreover, the public will have the satisfaction of seeing all their favourites in parts which, it is stated, might well have been written and composed for them, and the result is that the new work goes with all the snap and dash so necessary to the success of any musical comedy. The story, which is invested with a dramatic interest, new and 1 invigorating, has a love idyll of inherent charm. The scenes in all cases [ please the eye, and the comedy is a continual delight. Grace Palotta is ' a great favourite with local playgoers and she has a particularly happy role to enact as Madame Blum. It is |said that not even in '/Our Miss Gibbs" has Miss Blanche Browne been seen to such advantage as in the part of Prudence, the prim and utterly delectable little Quakeress. Miss Jessie Lonnen, one of England's most popular soubrettes, will make her first appearance here as the pert maid, Phoebe, a part she created in Loudon. Another notable "London actress who will make her <bW. in "Tim OuftkeT G'W" > Miss Billie "Barlow, who « from .the Gaiety Theatre. Miss Olive Qogdwin will appear in her original character' that of Princess Mhthilde* is regarded as one of test efforts. Mrs Geoi'ge Lauri and suby Armfield 1 are also in tho cast. Mr. Leslie Hctri land, who assisted materially towards the success of "Our Miss Gitois," will I have an opportunity of still iiutnei I demonstrating his abilities as, Tony. Chute. Messrs O. R. Bantock, Edmond Sherras, lon Maxwell, Arthur Lissant and George Young are, it is said, also well cast. The Jeremiah of Mr Jack Cannot is described as one of the most humorous characterisations seen on the Australasian stage. The magnificent scenery and superb wardrobe are special features of the production, and Mr Victor Champion will wield the baton over one of the largest orchestras yet sent on tour by the Williamson management. Incidental to act 3 will be presented the Danse de Champagne \ which created a furore in Auckland recently. The box plans will be opened, at the Dresden on Saturday next at 8 o'clock. A queue tvill be formed from 7 a.m.