ENTERTAINMENTS.

Dominion, Volume 5, Issue 1404, 2 April 1912, Page 6

ENTERTAINMENTS.

i, ruT.i.Kiis' pin'i'ws, There is a good deal of honest merit about (hi; lll'lf plVgramniO 111' pictures 'I'-plii.vcd at the luces-Ire Street Skating Jiink Inst evening. For dramatic quality, '"i'lic Old Book-keeper" ranks high. The old man lias a beautiful daughter, who . has t-oiiip in contact with two yaung men. As is not infrequently ilie case, .'lie selects the wrong one as the oljioct" of hei' lias-ion, iiml (lie K-uit is disastrous. The girl is treated hatllv, ami eventually returns bnno wit ill. On her death-bed sli-' asks (hi! other admirer (who is rut to Hie quick at her plight) to fetch her deserter. The callous brute refuses lo go until threatened with violence by the ni'an win is itching lu strangle him tor the wrong he has done. This two arrive homo to find Hie girl dead, ami ilie «I<l man and his wife in a par.:x.ysm of grief. It is morelv an emotional incident, but the acting is first-class. "The Maid at the Helm'' is a broci'.y drama nf ihc deep M-as. A whaler sij-'h'ts a raft, on which are ton ml the captain, his daughter, and the mate of a wrecked vessel. The mate has become slightly demented by his sufferings, and his dementia has taken the form of a violent passion for his captain's daughter, who kindles the madnrss in his wins by showing an affection for (he skippir of (he whaler. On a whale being sighted, Bill is sent in one of the boats, which ciuieklv makes fast to the whale. In its death'"Hurry," the mammoth of (he dee]) tows the boat, near to the ship, and, when passing. J)i!l jumps into the water, swims lo the ship, and climbs aboard. Now iiin'le mad, lie rushes to the captain's cabin, finds a revolver, and with its aid forces the remnants of the crew to heist sail and clear out, and so leaves the beats and those in them to their fale. It is (lien | that the girl shows her mettle. Distracting tlio maniac's attention for a moment, she seizes the revolver and shoots him in the breast. Then taking the helm she guides the vessel back to the boats', anil picks up their despairing crews amidst a scene of great rojuieiug. Of the industrial pictures, "A Day with the Yarmouth Herring Fisheries," was particular!v interesting. Other good, pictures include: "A Slight Mistake," "The Humours of Animal Lite," "His Wife's Secret," "The Blacksmith," "The .Pitcher I'lant," and "Married Without Knowing It." • THE.NEW THEATRE. The fiiia! production of the current programme was well patronised yesterday nt MacMahon and Donnelly's continuous picture, show, in the New Theatre, Manners Street. A complete change will bo given to-day and to-night, and will include a photo-piny, which lias already an established reputation—"The Minute aud tlio Maid," by the Reliance Company. The American. Navy is always an absorbing topic, and therefore an item which will command special attention is "Yankee Doodle and Our Navy," by the Champion Company. Instructive and entertaining are nature studies of the style of "Fresh Water Fish," which can bo observed magnified several hundred times their life size. The Bison exclusive drama, "White Fawn's Peril," is a characteristic romance of the Redskin Indians framed in natural surroundings. A Continental drama, well staged and capably enacted is "Sammy, the Boot Boy" (Ambrosia). The remaining idems include two hilarious conceptions—"A Fair of Trousers" and "Naughty Lea." The new programme will be shown from 11 a.m. till 11 o'clock to-night. PARIS THEATRE. The current programme, as presented by the Prize Picture Company, is attracting good attendances, the various subjects being well received. Special mention may be given to "The Stampede," tlio stirring military spectacular diaina, "Poor Portuguese doe," "The Way of the World," "lier Choice," and "An Indian Legend," all dramatic subjects of an interesting nature. "The Girl and the Broncho Buster" and "Bicycle Bug's Dream" are comedies that keep those present vastly amused. The competition, for the most correct answer as to how many persons have paid for admission since the company started on March 2S was awarded to .Mr. (.1. Kilby. Tlio present programing will be repeated until Wednesday, and on Thursday a complete change ' ' will be given. , • KING'S THEATRE. There was a crowded house to witness the change scrreued at the King's Theatre for the first time last night. The leading item, "The Convict's Escape," was received with much enthusiasm. The convict manages to get a change of clothing, and, stealing a horse, mixes with a crowd ofi cowboys, who sympathise with him, aud allow him a horse and a fair field for flight. He arrives at a seaport and gets away to the colonies as a stowaway. 11l the colonies he joins (ho police force, and, rising rapidly in I he. service, is able b send home for his daughter, who ilop* not know of her father's dij. grace. Twelve years later he is promoted to the rank of chief constable. About this time, just: as he is beginning to think he has successfully buried his past, iie meets one of his fellow-convicts, No. 13, who has turned burglar and thief. No. 13 commences to blackmail him as the price of silence. At length the exconvict determines lo slop (he blackmailing process nt any cost, and acquaints No. 18 with his resolve. Shortly afterwards No. 13 is arrested for attempting to shoot the man's daughter. Foreseeing that No. ].') will tell all, the ex-convict himself .acquaints his daughter, who in turn tells her fiance. Her fiance refuses to break oft' the engagement. The final scene is in the Court when No. 13 accuses (ho Chief of Police of being a fellow-convict. .lust as the inevitable wheels of justice are about \s revolve and crush the man who has buried a sad past in a noble reform, the Minister's son arrives with a Royal pardon, thus making Hie convict a free man once more. "Saving the Sprcial" is another good dramatic .picture, a story in which tlio villain and his diabolical plans are frusIrated, bya faithful wife and child. Other items were:—"Living l.Vach," "The Stag Fight," and "A Slight Mistake."

STAR TIIKATIiE. The weekly change of programme was screened before a (pod house at the Star Theatre last night. One of the best items was ontitl.'d "The O'Neill," which tells the old-time story of tho return of Ihe chief of the clan O'Neill, who lias been forced to escape oppression in France. Uu his return ■he finds his people in poverty, and seeing no other way of helping them he turns gentleman of 'the road. While stopping a eoueh he becomes acquainted with his future bride. Madly in love with her, he runs ink) danger at a dance, and later she betrays him to her own people, who cany him to their house a captive. The girl repents of her treacliery, and liberates the captive, who refuses to escape unless she conies with him. Impelled by love, she consents, and by the aid of one of his people, who misdirects Hie pursuers, escapes with the O'Neill to Frunce-4ho hind of heart's content. "The Convict" was scresneil and heartily applauded, and the. fortunes of tho convict were followed with keen interest. "The laving l'cach" is an amusing sketch and more than usually clover. A lawyer lets a house next to his own, and immediately quarrels with his new neighbour over some peaches which drop over the fence and are oaten by the neighbour. Conciliated by hi* daughter he writes and apologises for his recent anger, adding that "anything (hat fallsover Ihc fence belongs (o the neighbour.'' . The neighbour next arouses I lie lawyer's anger by making love to his daughter, and forbids it for J the future. However, with true woman's wi(, the girl manages to fall off the fence, , and is claimed liy the neighbour. The lawyer, entering into the iobo, no longer withholds his consent. Other gond pictures on the niviGTanimo are: —"Saving the Special," "A Stag Fight," and tho "rathe Gazette." TTTE.VTKF, HOT AT,. The vaudeville- fare at ■the Theatre Ticv.il this week is a choice iv-urliue'il of palatable mur;els King and Millard, emucdv =k''teh arlisK Key Hone, (ho Tiddisher Boy, whose Hebrew impersonations are 'inimitably fiinnv, and other members of a very capable and varied company contributed ton programme which keeps the audience entertained right through the evening. The present company will appear again his evening.