ENTERTAINMENTS.

Hawke's Bay Tribune, Volume III, Issue 334, 21 January 1914, Page 3

ENTERTAINMENTS.

EMPIRE THEATRE, NAPIER

A Cines drama of unsuaual realism is the central feature of the mid-week change of programme at Hayward’s. This film is appropriately titled “ Rival, Adventurers,” the plot being as follows: Piecomas and Mascar are members of a secret gang who prey upon society. Mr. Stroom has a pretty daughter, Maud, with whom Piccomas falls in love, and determines to marry her. Mascar determines to save her from him, but Piccomas determines to have her in spite of Mascar’s threats. In the midst of the wedding rejoicings a mysterious motor-car arrives. The occupant job ps> out- and forcibly abducts Maud, c'.nving off before the bewildered company can intercept him. A motor race takes place, but the one containing Maud outstrips its pursuers, and Maud is safely hidden in the house, of silence. Mascar dons a clever disguise that bewilders his friends; yind then commences an active pursuit of Maud, the various incidents providing abundant opportunities for the display of intrigue and oaring adventure. Mascar eventually rescues Maud from Piccomas’ power, and restores her to her parents. The other films are well diversified, and should provide an excellent entertainment. PRINCESS THEATRE, HASTINGS. A programme of artistry and .power will be shown to-night. The chief attraction will be “The Fatal Dance.” showing Miss Asta Neilsen, the popular star, at her best in finely human and deeply interesting character. There is always an element of womanly greatness in Miss Asta Neilsen’s art which will make her remembered when nearly all her contemporaries are forgotten. The Fatal Dance gives an overview of life with a continental charm and artistic romance. Another fine film is “Her Royal Highness,” an exquisite appealing story of a little Princess eleven years of age, who bored by her artificial existence the forced attentions of many servants and luxurious toys runs away and causes consternation in the royal household, but is found in the real enjoyment of making mud pjes. A great phase of natuftil tnstancts is shown in this picture. “T‘he Fighting Lieutenant” is a romance bursting with episodes of Mexican life Princess Irma, a high-bred sensitive character, is about to'be forced into a hateful marriage when she is introduced to Captain Falconbridge. The introduction is a forerunner of an almost endless series of dramatic situations arousing the sympathies of the audience and keeping them in a state of breathless suspense till the boys of Falconbridge’s command ride over the border and make a daring rescue. KING’S THEATRE, HASTINGS. The star picture for the change of programme at the King’s Theatre this evening is a magnificent Vitagraph star feature entitled the “Prince of Evil,” a 3000 foot drama in two acts, the plot is as folkyrs: The leader of a band of smugglers, Prince /Delamere, need of more money to finance his enterprises, proposes to -Josephine Chester, who refuses him.- Georgia Rivers, her sister and wife of .James Rivers, a prominent business man, has a passion for gambling and is heavily in debt. She determines to offset her previous losses by a bet on a horse race, and while talking on the telephone to a friendly book-maker she is overheard by Prince Delamere. The horse loses and she is in despair, and does not tell her husband. The Prince offers to help her, proffering her a cheque large enough to pay all her debts. She consents to take it. Josephine is sought by another wooer, Richard Trent, whom she favours. Seeing this, the Prince goes to her, and showipg her the cheque which has been returned to him 'by the bank, he tells her that unless she becomes engaged to him within a week, he will show the cheque to her sister’s husband. She goes to the “Rockwood Ball” with Trent. While they are at the ball De lamere telephones Josephine that her sister is at his rooms, and unless she consents at once to the engagement he will call her husband, and ruin Mrs. Rivers’ reputation. Josephine hastens to his rooms to save her sister and finds her sister nowhere to be seen. The Prince wires Trent telling him if he wishes to know the character of the woman he proposes to marry he must hasten to the rwms of Prince Delamere. Hearing a step on the stairs, and thinking it is Trent, Delamere seizes Josephine in lt is not Trent, but detective Manners, who arrests the Prince as the leader of the smuggling gang. Josephine manages to escape through the window, and ar- ■- ivqs back at the ballroom before Trent. On his return she begs him to take her home. Going to her sister’s room, she tells her the story of the events of the evening and asks how it is all to end. They are overheard by Rivers, who bitterly reproaches his wife for her distrust of him. His first act is to write a cheque to Delamere for the money lent to his wife and congratulate Josephine on the courage she has shown. When Trent calls the next day, Josephine, in answer to his renewed proposal, gladly accepts him.