AMUSEMENTS.

Wairarapa Age, Volume XXV, Issue 10713, 9 October 1913, Page 3

AMUSEMENTS.

TOWN HALL PICTURES.

"QUO VADIS?"

Mastcrton picture lovers will have an opportunity this evening of witnessing the sensational pictorial drama "Quo Valis ?" which is generally conceded to be the most unique production of the picture world to date. In the Old Coin.try and America this great attraction has created quite a furore, and even in New Zealand cities whole it has been shown hundreds have been turned away from the doors. The Masterton Picture Company has shown characteristic enterprise in securing such a popular attraction for the Town Hall, and judging by the way the booking is being rushed, a record house should be the reward for their enterprise. From an educational as well as entertaining point of view, "Quo Vadis?" has no equal, and has been regarded by clergymen and laymen as the most valuable production yet turned out by the picture world. The Rev. F. J. Stephen, of Sydney, after seeing "Quo Vadis?" preached a sermon on the picture to a large congregation, in the course of which he said: "'Quo Vadis?" thrilled me through and through. No picture lia« so impressed me as did this great pictorial representation, of the days of Imperial Rome, and: as it impressed me so will it impress all who see it." Those who attend at the Town Hall this evening may look forward to an evening's enjoyment of the rarest character. Candy's orchestra will he in attendance, so that on the score of music the entertainment should lack nothing.

THOMPBON-PAYNE PICTURE!. "THE BANKER." "The Banker," a stupendous and gorgeous society play, was responsible for a largo and enthusiastic audience at the T.P. Electric Theatre last night. The picture is produced on a most elaborate scale; the plot is interesting from start to finish, and holds the onlookers in expectancy from beginning to end. Another fine drama was given iir "The Monkey Accomplice." Charles Davenport, a wealthy young broker, pays court to and wins the Heart of Geraldine Rand, a very nice girl, whose brother Tom is a man of rather shady reputation. The nightyof the wedding, Geraldine's brother Tom comes back after an absence of several years, and attempts to break into the house of his prospective brother-in-law. Davenport recognises Tom, andiafter a very dramatic scene, exacts from Tom the premise that he will in the future take the straight and narrow path. After his sister is) married, Tom tries and succeeds in aiaking a man of himself. He secures a position in a broker's office, and is on the high road to prosperity. All would have gone well with him if he had not had his questionable past, for the time comes when cruel suspicion almost wrecks his new and promising career. The cause of it all is an Italian's monkey, trained not only to win" pennies for his waster, hut also to climb up the sides of buildings, enter boudoirs, and make away with ladies' jewels. When a necklace belonging* to Tom's sister disappears in a mys;terious fashion, naturally Tom is eupeoted by his brother-in-law, and circumstantial evidence implicates him in such a fashion that he is unable to explain his way out of the difficulty. With the aid, however, of a bootblack, whom Tom had befriended, the crime is traced to the proper source, and the monkey and the Italian, whose combined criminal and mysterious efforts have baffled detectives and the police for several months, are put out of business. An exciting dramatic item was shown in the Rex Company's production of 'Two Thieves," which gave a fine prison 'story. "The Old College Badge" was a long and interesting English production which proved very popular. Several fine comedies included "Louisette not Jealdus," "PaVs Fancy Dress," and "Two Gents of the Road." The interest section included "Wreck of the Devon," Eclair Journal, and ''Middlesex Yeomanry in Camp." This series will be continued this evening.

"MILESTONES." The appearance of Mr Julius Knight and the strong company supporting him, was responsible for a very large audience being present in the Masterton Town Hall last night to witness the production of the much-talked-of comedy "Milestones." The name of the piecd almost discloses its plot if such it possesses. It covers a period extending from 1860 to 1912, and introduces love and, romances in a succession of circumstances that first bewilder and then delight the audience. It was difficult to follow the trend of the various incidents revealed in the days of the crinoline, but those who had not the good fortune to live in the sixties were enabled to draw comparisons between then and now which were at least of educative value. In the first part of the play, John Rhead, a young engineer and partner in an iron manufacturing business, woos and wins Rose, the sister of his partner, Samuel Sibley. Rhead has advanced ideas of the prospects of iron ship building, falls out with his partner and his finance's father because of this "bee in his bonnet," and leaves the firm. Dutiful to her parent's wish Rose refuses to marry Rhead. To even up things Rhead's sister Gertrude breaks off her engagement with Samuel Sibley. In the second'period, twenty-five years later, Rhead has succeeded in the iron ship building business, and has married ißose after waiting till her father's 'death. He becomes a baronet and insists on his daughter Emily marrying into the aristocracy, despite the fact that her heart has been given to Arthur Preece, a young engineer. Preece earns Rhead's displeasure because of his advocating the use of steel in shipbuilding. Emily marries the lord in obedience to her father's wishes. In

tho third and present-day period Rhead's aristocratically-bred granddaughter defies the old-time conventions, and creates consternation by announcing her engagement to an engineer. The closing scene is a beautifully contrived reminder that despite the progress and; changes in the world, human nature is not one whit different from what it wax at the beginning of things. The man who starts out early in life to reform abuses and sweep away useless contentions, finds, when ho has completed his task, that another set, similar in its influences but different in its form, lias arisen, and that the world is neither better nor worse than it was when he started. In the hands of a very skilful company, the various incidents in the historic romance were unfolded with a realism that made the play exceedingly interesting. The acting of Miss Grace Armatage Noble, who took the part of Gertrude Rhead, was remarkably clever. Miss Irene Browne, who has a big reputation, sustained her somewhat difficult part with gracefulness and vivacity. Miss Maggie Knight, Miss Emma Temple, and Miss < Irby Marshall each did credit to themselves and the piece, while Miss Dorothy Cumming gave a pleasing pourtrayal of Lady Rhead. Mr Julius Knight was scon to the greatest advantage in the second and third acts, when he fairly revelled in the situations. The piece does not afford him scope for the fullest display of his histrionic talent but there were occasions on which he proved himself the master he is in, stagecraft. Mr Arthur Greenaway gave a very able interpretation of the character of the manufacturer, Sam Sibley, and Messrs Leslie Victor, Martin Xewis, and Leonard; Willey acquitted themselves well throughout. The piece I was a revelation in stagecraft, but it j is just questionable whether the audience appreciated it at its full value.

"THE QUAKER GIRL." Few musical plays have awakened the interest that has been aroused by the announcement of the production of "The Quaker Girl," which is to be staged here on Tuesday night next, by 'J. 0. Williamson's fanwus Boyal Comic Opera Company. There can be no doubt that "The Quaker Girl" has been looked forward to, and several of its most alluring melodies are already made familiar through the medium of street bands, gramaphone selections, etc. All through the three acts of this latest comic opera, the music, warm in colour, sparkling in charm and variety, holds the car and haunts one persistently. An idea of the wonderful popularity enjoyed by "The Quaker Girl'' in Sydney can be obtained when it is known that it was only the fact that the theatre in which it was being played was required for another J. C. Williamson, Ltd., attraction which prevented it from enjoying a probable run of twelve months, as it was withdrawn while it was still attracting record audiences. "The Quaker Girl" possesses all the ingredients which are essential for the complete success of a musical comedy, viz., tuneful misic, clover comedy, superb costumes, magnificent scenic effects, and it is sent on tour by the Williamson management. A sensational item is provided in the third act of "The Quaker Girl" by Le Danse de Champagne. This is executed by Mr Leslie Holland and Alias Yera Pearce and a number of corphees'. It is a drama silent and impressive, conveying a moral, and is said to be quite the -nost original.and convincing speciality in the dancing way that has been attempted in Australasia. The s,tolry of "The Quaker Girl" is sumptuously mounted by the J. O. Williamson, Ltd. management. For the first act there is & rural scene in England, the village street, with its rustic bridges and old-fashioned gables, running to a pleasant distance and sloping green hills, while in the foreground the cosy chequers inn is faced by the Quaker .-meeting house, beneatji the grateful shade of a huge spreading tree. A handsome interior is presented in the second act, which passes in Madame Blum's dressmaking establihment in Paris, and a very magnificent scene is witnessed in the last act, that of a ball at Prince Carlo's Palace, where brisk dancing proceeds in brilliantly lighted grounds. A full operatic orchestra and chorus is under the baton of Mr Victor Champion.. Altogether there are over 1-50 travelling members in the organisation. The plans'wilt be opened on Saturday morning, at 8 a.m. at the Dresden. A queue will be formed frdrri 7 a.m. ,