ENTERTAINMENTS.

Dominion, Volume 5, Issue 1529, 27 August 1912, Page 6

ENTERTAINMENTS.

"SINBAD THE SAILOR.." Another big audience witnessed the. performance of "Sinbnd tho Sailor" at the Opera House last evening. Tho picturesque show went with a fine swing from beginning to end, to which happy result principals, ballet, chorus, and tho invisible working staff ail contributed. The pantomime will only be produced for three more nights. FULLERS' PICTURES. At the Skating Rink in Vivian Street, last evening, Fuller's Pictures included a. number of capital new films iust to hand by the English mail. The programme was screened to the accompaniment of music. The leading item was a touching drama by tho American Biograph Co., entitled "Home Folks." The theme of the play is that a stern father rules his little family by what ho thinks are liiblical precepts, but what is simply the influence of his own austere mind. He entirely forgets his own youth, and when his soil suggests going to a barn dance, he fiie? into a rage and commands the bov to remain-at home. The boy becomes rebellious and goes, and, for this act of disobedience, the father drives liim from the home, and enjoins the rest of the family never to mention the son's name again. Subsequently, the father regrets the harshness which ho showed to tho boy, but. a stubborn nature prevents him from admitting it. Tho only daughter, hewever. 'writes to the son to come home, and a reconciliation is effected. "Tomboy Bessie." is a farce comedy, in which tho leading character manages to get ipto all sorts of mischief. She grows tired of playing alone, and schemes to involve Andrew, the suitor of her Aunt Cis.sie. Andrew is drawn into mischief against his ' will, and the situations that follow as a natural consequence are mirth-provoking in the extreme. "A Humble Hero" is a Selig drama, in which a smooth-coated' St. Bernard, dog covers himself with glory. 'The Life of a Racing Pigeon" is an interesting bird study, while "Seascapes Around Venice" is a scenic item of no small merit; "Old jvetnt Poad" arid "The Eed Ink Tragedy"! are two pictures in which famous actors of-the Vitagraph Company's staff fill their parts -well. .Other' films include:—"Honevmconers," "The Pathe Gazette," "The' Eye »That Never Sleeps," and' "Algy as Watchman." Tho programme will be repeated this evening. THE NEW THEATRE. • "Tho Sham Secretary" is the title of a dramatic photo-play, which was introduced at, the' New Theatre, Manners .Street, for tire first time yesterday. Robert Crump, the son of a rich merchant, who has beon living a fast life, is assisted by his father to pay his debts on promise of reformation. Robert then secures a position in Colberti's great bankinghouse as confidential secretary. Marco Stone, a sort of haute ton burglar, intercepts Robert while the latter is on his way to take up his new position. Steho subsequently entraps Robert for the purpose of impersonating him at tho bank. Pillowing upon this Steno takes up Hobert's duties at the bank, and thon makes arrangements for a robbery. Meanwhile Robert makes his escape, and informs the police of his plight. The gang are next seen ransacking the bank, and are surprised by Miss, Colberti, who enters tho room, and. is immediately seized and gagged. The police, however, - arrive in time to effect a capture 'of the 'whole of the gang, and tne ; banker, overwhelms Robert, with thanks. "The Sham Secretary" will'be repeated'at nil sessions, to-day and to-night and throughout to-morrow. New supporting subjects' will be introduced today, which will'include tho A.B. masterpiece, "Home Folks," the i.Vitagraph comedy, "A Red Ink Tragedy," the Cines drama, "Bibbie's Revenge,""and others. THE KING'S THEATRE. This week's series of moving pictures nt the King's Theatre is headed by a West's exclusive film entitled "The Black Chancellor," which deserves to rank with the strongest pictorial melodramas ever presented in this city. The play is bright in colour, with many stirring incidents, beautiful scenery, extravagant dressing, and attractive detail. It tells graphically and effectively to what limits intrigue in high places may be carried for tho gratification of ono man's selfish whim. Eallenstein, the Black Chancellor, desires his daughter, Princess Irene, to marry a prince, but she has already fallen in lo'v© with Lieut. Pawlow, and declines to comply with her father's request. When the latter seeks to force upon her the loveless marriage, she outwits him by being' secretly married to the lieutenant. The Chancellor hears of this, and resolves that it shall not stand in the w;ay of tho alliance which he had planned. Taking counsel with his aide-de-camp, Count Pockowitz. he determines by whatever means possible to get rid of those who have knowledge of the forbidden marriage, and then to compel his daughter to marry tho prince. The lieutenant is first decoyed away, and then the princess is held captive in the aide-de-camp's country residence. In each case sensational rescues are effected, the couple arc reunited, and the story ends with the death of the Black Chancellor. Topical events' are depicted in the latest edition of the Pathe Animated Gazette, which includes several scenes in which the King and Queen are seen. An excellent scientific film is that in which tho life of the Dvtiscus is fully revealed, while tho "Aloe Harvest" is an film of considerable merit. Other good items on the programme are "Diamond Cut Diamond" (comedy); "Homo Folks"(drama); and "Tomboy Bessie" (comedy). During the evening the King's Orchestra rendered a capital programme of music. This evening "the -samo series of films will be screened. THE ADEEPHI. . A picture setting forth the life history in brief of St. Francis of Assisi, founder of the Francisp.'in Order, made tho programme presented at the Adelphi Theatre last evening unusually interesting. It. shows the young man as one of a number of young serenaders paying vocal court; to a fair lady, and then he is shewn visited by the vision of poverty, which suggests that ho should renounce his life of pleasure and go forth into the world preaching the gospel of truth and love among the poor. In the presence of the Bishop of Assisi' he does so renounce the world by stripping himself, and returning his clothes and gold to his father. Then as a missionary he is hounded and buffeted by. jeering crowds, beaten by banditti, and otherwise maltreated. Subsequently, his inspired preaching has its effect, he obtains converts to his simple self-sacrificing creed, and finally lias the charter of his order given to him by Pope Ilororius 111. He dies finally loved and honoured by all. The story is depicted most graphically with an air of realism, and there is nothing portrayed but in a spirit of the greatest reverence. Another excellent, picture in quite another vein is "The Revolution of the Bachelors' Club," which shows how .Tones a member of the club, is horrified to find on reaching his room one night some women's attire. Ho rushes back to report to his club, but on investigation it is proved that Jones had mistaken his room. . Subsequently ho succumbs to the charms of the lady on whom he had-unwittingly intruded, and sends- in his resignation to the club, with tho injunction.to the members that they would do well to follow his example, which they all do v;ith great.enthusiasm under comical circumstances. Other capital pictures in the new programme aro "The Tartaria Mountains," "A Boy's Love," Pathe Gazette, "The Conquering Hero," "The Redemption of Dan." "NewYear in Japan," "The Old Composer," and "Algy as a Watchman." On Thursday next a fine picture entitled "Honour Thy Father" is to bo presented at this theatre. ".IEDBURY JUNIOR." What promises to be an amateur theatrical treat will take place in the Opera House next Friday evening, when the Wellington Dramatic Society, assisted by the Wellington Gas Company's OTrhestra, will stage the four-act comedy, "Tedbury Junior," by Madame Lucette Riley, in aid of the widows of the two late tram conductors. Mcfsrs. Himr.cek nurt M'Kny. The caste has been selected from Wellington's leading amateurs, and. judging from the.booking to- dnle, the performance i should prove very successful. The society I arc indebted to the Arts Club for having! postponed their entertainment on August I 30, thus leaving a' clear night fcr this good cause. Tickets may be obtained from ! all the members of the society and the . local tobacconists, or from the Divdeu'l Piano Co. I