ENTERTAINMENTS.

Dominion, Volume 5, Issue 1427, 30 April 1912, Page 6

ENTERTAINMENTS.

OPERA HOUSE,

"A Gill's Temptation," the four-net melodrama by Mrs..Morton Powell, which is being staged nt the Opera House this week, is being patronised l)y large numbers. The varying love affairs anil for--111 iii's= of Kate Stirling and liny Warren make an interesting story, and the dramatisation is powerfully enacted by tho Marlow Company. It is quite obvious fliat tho play is enjoyed by those who see it.

THE A THE ROYAL

The Theatre Roval was positively packed last night, when tho weekly change of programme was -made. The new programme is an exceptionally interesting one. It is bright and varied, and it runs along entertainingly throughout. Uni! of the nicest items m the carlv portion of the programme is Marshal! Palmer's dramatic song scena, "Tho Tio that Binds." The characters in the scena are Jim G-ovott (a miner), Marshall l'ulmerj Ned Rutland (his friend), Maie Vine; Baby Jack (Jim's little boy), Little Grace M'Cormick. Jim's homo in Nevada is the scene. The theme is pretty. Jim's wife lias died, and lie is broken-hearted. Ned consoles him, and reminds him that he must bear up for Baby Jack's rake — the tie that had bound Jim and his wife, the tic that still binds. Direct from 'Frisco, under special engagement, O'Dell and Hart made their first annearanco in American comedy, singing, (lancing, and acrobatics. The reception they were accorded on this their first appearance must

have, been most encouraging to them. Athos, the master rinker, gave a wonderful exhibition of skating. Other items were Charles Ilanchoe, coloured comedian and dancer; Flo D'Orville, character comedienne; May Nealy, scrio and dancer; Jack Bonny, character comedian; Stella Ranger, "Vaudeville Melba"; The Driscoll Boys, patter artists; Joe Gilbert, light comedian; Florrie Ranger, comedienne; Frank York, comedian; Bella Porman, serio and dancer; and Maio Vino, male impersonator. FULLERS' PICTURES. Charming Dorothy Nicholson, the captivating American picture actress, who, to the regret of many, has been lost sight of for several months, Teappeared at tho Skating Rink last evening in an "A.8." picture, entitled "A Mender of Nets," in which she acted with all her old charm and pretty winsomeness as a fisher maiden. The story is intensely human, and makes an appeal to tho emotions, particularly those of the fairer sex. Tho fisher-girl is wooed by a handsome stranger and listening to his honeyed words, contemplates entrusting her future to his keeping, when she discovers that tho man has destroyed tho peace of mind of one of the other girls of the fishing village. She renounces him with scorn and contumely, and returns to her nets with licr faith in mankind considerably shaken. "Billy's Strafegcm" is a Wild West, picture with a thrill and somo exceedingly clever acting on the part of a couple of pretty children. The father of the two is a bold pioneer and hunter, and leaving his little wooden hut to fell some timber in an adjacent forest, leaves Billy and bis little sister in charge of his wife and white-haired father. At noon the wife leaves for the woods with bet husband's luncheon, and when gone the children persuade the indulgent old man to allow them to play at hunting beyond the confines of the stockade. A strolling trader has been imprudent enough to supply a neighbouring tribe of Indians with strong drink, and when thoroughly charged with "fire-water," the desire to rob and murder enters their heads, and tho proposal to wipe out the hunter and his family is eagerly welcomed. Billy, playing with his sister, sees their approach, and flies for shelter to the stockade, and after shooting a couple of the redskins, retires to the log-hut, and bars the door. Then, as their doom appears to be sealed, Billy sees a keg of powder, and the idea of blowing up the hut, Indians, and all, enters his small brain. He makes a slow fuse of shavings, lights if, and be and his sister climb nut of a window as the Indians break down the door. As they enter there is an explosion, which

V ; 'i.s holf of them, and the rest scamper off as hard as they can, frightened out of their wits. The parents, attracted by the roar of the explosion, rush to the rescue, too late to do anything but cuddle the little hero and his tiny sister. "Lead. Kindly Light," is a picture which deals cleverly with the reformation of a gay woman in a novel manner. Other good pictures are "The Author," "Animated Toys." "Training London Firemen." "Tho Battle of Golf.sburg Bridge," and "Captain .Tenks's Dilemma."

KING'S THEATRE. '

Tho King's Theatre was well filled last evening, when a complete change of programme was submitted. Among tho best of the "arranged" pictures was "Tho Military Air Scout," a thrilling tale ot modern warfare, in which the aeroplane plays an important part. For the purposes of the picture America is assumed to be at war with a foreign foe, and, being pressed, it becomes necessary to uso aeroplanes to destroy the enemy s fleet. The airship is seen starting, and then shells aro seen to drop on and about the warships until they all founder. Then it becomes necessary to discover the position of the enemy's land forces, and onco more tho big aeroplane mounts into the air and is seen to skim inland. But this time tlie enemy is prepared with a special gun mounted on a motor-car, and they fire skyward at tho bird of destruction, and after a couple of shots succeed in maiming it, and it falls to the earth with a crash, but tho brave aviator escapes to claim the honour that is his clue, and the hand and heart of the girl he loves. The star picture, "A Victim of the Mormons," is not calculated to do the cause of Mormenism much good. It relates of a Mormon leader's attempt to induce a young girl to leave her homo by specious misrepresentations of life in Utah. After the girl has flown, her parents, discoverin" her absence, and suspecting the cause, get on the track of the pair. They pursue her to a house, where the Moriudn quickly substitutes another woman for tho young girl, and while the parents are being thrown off by the false step takes the girl on board a steamer bound for Utah. The truo scent is soon picked up, and with tho aid of wireless telegraphy, but they escape, after some exciting scenes, and make their way to Utah, where the now protesting girl finds a friend in the wife of the Mormon, and after an excising chase by tho police and the girl s fiance, a rescue is effected under highly exciting circumstances. The picture is full of dramatic grip and action, and holds the attention from beginning to end. Other good pictures are views of the great Manchester Ship Canal, "Love in Mfiny

Moods" (a Pathe coloured), and Billy s Stratagem," a Wild West incident, in which two children act very cleverly. SEW THEATRE. All the sessions at tho New Theatre, Manners Street, were well patronised yesterday. To-day a complete change- of prolamine will be presented, winch the management state is one of the best yet shown in Wellington. The new series ■ includes a capital dramatic study by the A B Co. entitled "The Little Mender, or The Tangled Mesh of Life's Nets" Although this picture is the 'star of the new bwK't, the other numbers are nearly it* equal in merit. The Vitagraph Co. are responsible for a very realistic pu> hire, entitled "The lounger Brother. The scenery is taken from the Sudan, and some verv fine, battle scenes between tho 4ral» and Dervishes aro depicted. "The 'Turnstile" is the title of a pathetic love story by the Reliance Co. In Despair" is n drama by tho Eclair Co. Other pictures to be shown are, "His Girl is Coming, Dupon and the Stolen Necklace," and "A Pair of Bags." SHORTT'S THEATRE. "Launching of the Titanic" is the title of a special picture which the management of Shortt's Continuous Picture Theatre in Willis Street, aro screening

to-dav. This is said to be an excellent production, showing olearly the launching of the ill-fated steamer. Other good pictures included in the now programme to be screened to-dav are. "The Sheepman's E=cape" (drama by tho S. and A. Co.), "A Curious Cure" (Urban drama), "Gorman Emperor in Norway," and tho "Gaumont Graphic." Tho theatre is open continuously from 11 a.m. until 11 p.m. every day.