ENTERTAINMENTS

Taranaki Daily News, Volume LIV, Issue 124, 16 November 1911, Page 6

ENTERTAINMENTS

SANDERS' BICGRAPH PICTURES. "THE QUEEN OF XIXEVAH." The crowd that assembled at this popular house of amusement last night were regaled with an exceptionally fine programme, even for Saunders' Pictures, I which arc recognised as equal to any in the Dominion. The chief item was an' Ambrosin masterpiece, "The Queen of Ninevah." The story is as follows: In; ancient Ninevah Queen Tamiris, who was reputed to be as beautiful as the early springtime, but as wicked as the spirit of darkness at heart, had, but one thought, an unruly desire to shine and to reign. King Sennacherib, her husband, Vept those passions in check and restrained her with an iron hand. Now, it happened that Tamiris captivated Prince C'anach so completely as to darken his spirit and reason, and from love to sin was only a step. Tamiris decreed that her husband should die, and forced Canach, by promises of love, wealth and power, to commit the deed. Sennacherib was poisoned, but, before dying, having no strength to speak, he was able with the point of his dagger to write these words on a silver tablet: "I have been poisoned; save my son. The culprits are Canach and ——■"; but here death came, and the sentence remained unfinished. The high priest, Mitrane, attended to the last wishes of the dying man, and during the night removed the little Azur to a distant forest, and gave him into the care of an old priest. After fifteen years Mitiane takes Azur to the Temple of Ninevah, and dumbfounds him with the news that he, Azur, is king by right. Taken to the bier of his father, the young Prince swears to be avenged on his murderers, and dons his father's ar-' mour. It is the birthday of the god Nebo, and in the temple the High Priest presents the young Azur to the crowd,,! clothed in the "paternal armour, and hold-\ ing his father's glorious sword. The; crowd scatters into the streets crying,! "Vengeance! vengeance"! and the town is in tumult. In the Palace, Canach i hides himself, but Tamiris dons the coward's curass, seizes his sword, and, followed by the King's guards, is the first to mount the temple steps. Azur advancing, strikes at the Queen, cryinjj, "My father's assassin; to the gods I consign your blood." Mitrane. lifting up his arms to heaven cries, "'The will ol the gods is accomplished; you have thought to kill Canach, but you have killed your mother." The acting, costuming, and mountings are on a lavish scale, and the picture introduces a wealth of scenery. Other star items of a star series were "The Changing of Silas Warner," a powerful Vitagraph drama; "A Byzuntine Tragedy," "The Fnscina-, ting Batchelor," and "The Peace Offer-] ing," a Vitagraph comedy.

'THE WOMAN IN THE CASE." On Monday evening next J. C. Williamson. Ltd., will present to the theatregoers of Now Plymouth their dramatic company of English artists, who will stage 0110 of the most sensational and successful plays ever, produced in Australia, viz.. "The Woman in the Case," which is a play in four acts, full of vital drama, throbbing with action and inci-i (lent. The Sydney Telegraph says: so thrilling as the third act of 'The Woman in the Case' has been seen litre for a long time. In this, Mabel lrevor and Elinor Poster are at their best. Here arc two women, contrasts in every wny, one watching the other like a cat watching a mouse, ivaitiim- and watching to catch her off her Suard and wrest from her the .secret that has thrown her husband into the Tombs prison, and hung over him the shadow of doom; where Claire Foster makes the confession, and Margaret Rolfe sei.es her by the throat, while she calls for the hidden witnesses, who have taken in every word. The pent-up feelings of the audience, restrained with ' difficulty ■ throughout this strenuous scene, find reiK't »i an outburst of real enthusiasm and applause. It is « finely-acted scene, and nut M.ss Trevor gives a display of marvel o-i, emotional acting, the like of winch has not been seen here for a lone time. The piece will be put on in just he same fullness as it was at the Cri■tenon Theatre, Sydney, and Theatre ; ><>yal. Melbourne. On Tuesday ni-ht. I the great vampire play, « A Fool there was, will be produced. The box plan opens at Collier's to-morrow mo rnin«