ENTERTAINMENTS.

Taranaki Daily News, Volume LV, Issue 129, 18 October 1912, Page 4

ENTERTAINMENTS.

ROYAL I'IC'TI'UES. ' The magnificently coloured story of Anglo-Indian adventure "The God of the Sun" drew a crowded attendance last evening at the Theatre Royal. It is a play of adventure, of Brahminism, ant) of tlie perils of the jungle. Discriminating knowledge is revealed in every one of its scenes, and the daring which brings into the cast an untramelled leopard and an Indian elephant, besides snakes and other reptiles indicates a keen sense of what is necessary to put film-plays upon a plane never before dreamt of as possible for any kind of theatrical production. The hero of the story is a young Englishman, who, in search of adventure, stumbles across a Brahmin temple, contrived in a kind of a cave in the jungle. The temple is erected to Sourya, the God of the Sun. and human sacrifices are made in it. The God is served by vestals, and with one of these, Captain Kennedy, the Englishman, falls in love and induces her to escape one night and come to his bungalow mounted on his favourite elephant. This animal has trod the path from the bungalow to the temple so often during Kennedy's love-making that it unerringly follows the track. ' Kennedy welcomes Kali as she is called, and arrangements are made for a speedy marriage. At dawn in the temple of

the Sun of God, the Atharvari, or the maker of sacrifice? discovers Kali's flight and that the sacred flame burning be-

fore the God lias become extinguished. There in a wild and terrible scene with in the temple, and the Brahmins swear to be revenged upon the unfaithful priestess. A year lapses and Kali is seen happily married, and the mother of a fine baby boy. Her husband is devoted to her, and Kali, who ihas found her place amongst the English society in the vicinity is supremely happy and has entirely forgotten to fear any consequence;? from her desertion of her faith. The vengeance of the Brahmins, however, is steadily drawing near her. Kennedy's favourite servant is sent on an errand and is captured bv the Brahmins of the Temple of Sonrya. who recognise him as the bodyguard of the Englishman frequently seen in the neighbourhood of the Temple a year before. He is taken to the Temple and subjected to all kinds of torture, but lie steadfastly refuses to tell where the memsahib is living, until at last lie is thrown to the sacred leopard, and before the fear of being mauled alive the boy tells where his mistress is living. The Atharvan sets out to verify 'his statement in the disguise of a beggar, and reaching'the place of Kali leaves a threatening note behind. After many stirring adventures the leopard is introduced, and seizes the child through the nursery window. There is a general search after the beast and ultimately the services of the elephant are evoked. In the meantime the mother has gone in search of the child, and been captured bv the Brahmins. The elephant leads the resue party to the original Brahmin Temple, where Mrs. Kennedy is found bound to the stake. She is quickly released, and the story, ends in the u-ual happy manner. Among other ad-

niirable films shoWn were "The Colonel's Escape," "Cursed Gold" and "Chased by

Bloodhounds." The current programme will be screened again to-night *nd tomorrow night, and also at to-morrow's matinee.