ENTERTAINMENTS.

Ashburton Guardian, Volume XXXV, Issue 8208, 4 August 1915, Page 3

ENTERTAINMENTS.

HAY WARD'S PICTURES.

The new programme at His Majesty's Theatre last evening was one of allround merit. "The Crucible of Fate"' was the title of the principal film, which proved to be a well-acted drama, which dealt with society and stage life. The plot was good, working up gradually to an unexpected linale. Dr. Lowell is married to a young and vivacious girl, but owing to his profession he has not the time to spare which he might have devoted to her. The wife finds other interests, and contracts a desire to follow the stage. **To do this she elopes with Burnett, an actor, leaving... her broken-hearted husband and their child. Five years later the girl is found, a star actress, but full' of '.-remorse' and regret at the • unfortunate step she has taken. She finds that her dreams of stage triumph are hot all that she hoped they would be.; Later she has to play in her old home town. During the progress of the play the theatre catches fire. Her lover perishes in the flames, but she is rescued by her husband and goes back to the shelter of his love, a sadder and a wiser woman. A; very interesting and educative film * was " The Hop Industry." Another dealt with semi-war .subjects, giving views, of British men-of-war, destroyers, and submarines, and also of a visit by British bluejackets to the Lord Mayor of London.. "A; Modern Portia" was a drama of fair average merit, with a popular happy' ending. "The Love of Lady Irma"i was also a drama of considerable worth,, which received a good reception. A clever and interesting film was "Removing Sunken Vessels." The picture gave a good idea of salvage operations and how they are carried mit. Two! entertaining comics, entitled " Simple: j Simon's Ma-in-law " ■ and "The, i Anglers," completed the programme,^ which will be screened again this! evening.' - ... : .\