ENTERTAINMENTS.

Manawatu Herald, Volume XXXIX, Issue 1665, 23 January 1917, Page 3

ENTERTAINMENTS.

“OUR PICTURES.”

A complete change of programme will be screened at the Town Hall pictures this evening, and will contain a very powerful feature by the Vitagraph Company, in which Earle Williams and Anita Stewart will be presented. Here is a play written with evident sincerity for the purpose of inculcating the injustice of that social law which, in the punishment of sins of sex, is harder on the woman than on the man, and is harder on the poor than on the rich. It is a powerfully .constructed drama, built around a simple plot affording abundant opportunities for magnificent acting. The leading character, “Rose Peters,” is played by Anita Stewart, who imparls a galvanic force to the character that holds and thrills the audience. Rose is a pretty typiste who believes in the offer of marriage that her employer has made to her, and gradually allows herself to he victimised. Staggered one day by his refusal to keep his word, she seizes a knife and plunges it into ■his back, and escapes to her home. Her father is a detective, and he is put on the ease. He traces the deed to his own daughter, when a message comes from headquarters to drop the case. Her father then interviews his daughter’s employer, who makes amends and marries the girl. The action of the play is rapid, and the situations are of the heart-pulling description. The supporting items have been specially selected for the holiday time, and will include a Charlie Chaplin comedy, besides several other very good items.

WEDNESDAY AND THURSDAY,

The programme for AVednesday and Thursday evenings will he of a very attractive nature, and will be headed by an unusually strong and entertaining drama, entitled “The Secret Orchard. The story tells of how, while on a visit to the country, Diana (Blanche Sweet), a young girl just out of the convent, is wronged by the Duke of Chinny. Later, her dying mother gives her up to the Duchess of Chinny, a very charitable woman, to care for. As Diana enters the house, she sees her seducer in the person of the husband of her benefactress. The Duke, in order to prevent his wife from suffering, lies beautifully and extensively. Lieut. Dodd, brother of the Duchess, falls in love with Diana, hut she, though returning his affection, refuses to marry him. The Duke refuses to tell Dodd why she cannot marry him, and Diana at last discloses the reason. Dodd challenges him to a duel,in which the Duke is mortally wounded. Before dying lie begs for, and receives, the forgiveness of Ids wife, and the picture closes with the promise of Diana to marry the Lieutenant, who has fought for her honour. The programme is completed by the inclusion of a good number of the Ganmont Graphic, a scenic depicting winter scenes at Stockholm, and a film entitled “Mr Jack’s Hat and His Coat.”