AMUSEMENTS

Nelson Evening Mail, Volume LII, Issue 54, 4 March 1918, Page 8

AMUSEMENTS

HAYWARD'S PICTURES. j "THE TWIXIvLER." A five-reel Mutual 'star nroduction, i "The Twinkler," with William Russell in, the lead, will head the programme at • Hayward's Pictures to-night. This story waa "written by a convict in Sing Sing, the big American prison. It is of the underworld, "The Twinkler'' ■ being the nickname of a light-fingered thief, and' it is said to be a real record of a "dip's" life and his heroic sacrifice, marvellous in its realism, and appealing to the hearts of viewers. William Russell handles his role excellently, and Charlotte Burton also does good work. Another exciting instalment of "The <,-Vsrie6 of Myra" will be shown, in addi'i on to an Australian Gazette and scenic au Jo. JifcJy films. PEOPLE'S PICTURES." "THE SECRET OF EVE." To-night's programme at the Theatre Royal promises to be one of variety and quality. Comedy, drama, scenic, nature study, and science, are all presented in the most artistic manner possible, "The Secret of Eve" starring the. beautiful Olga Petrova, who heads the cast. In this beautiful production Mme. Petrova has four characters piloted to her. I none and all she looks superb, ae she naturally has no difficulty in doing. The play opens with an allegorical scene, showing the fall of Adam and Eve in the Garden. It & pretty mcture, and Madame Petrova s fine figure makes the serpent s triumph the more notable. In the next scene the star appears as Hagar, a gipsy woman, who abandons her child, Eye, on the doorstep of a Quaker home r in the belief that a better chance for happiness may come to it that way. Eighteen "years oass, and Madame Petrova takes up the Tole of a sweet and simple Quaker girl—yet not so simple, for despite the strict supervision of her foster parents she has read stories of life in the outer world and a longing for happiness possesses her. Peering through the window of a wealthy millowner's house during a convivial dinner party she is seen by Brandon, _ the owner, who persuades her to ioin the gathering. An evening' gown is substituted for her Quaker costume, and Eve gets her first taste of Bohemian life. Disillusionment follows quickly on her marriage with Brandon, who drinks heavily and has a bad reputation as an employer of child labour. Robert Blair, 'a young philanthropist, calls to induce Brandon to do the right thing by a little girl blinded by acident in the factory.- Brandon makes an unjust accusation against his wife, and is knocked down by Blair. Eye promptly offers to go away with Blair, who, however, has more Tegard for the conventions than to accept. Eve there- ; updn goes to the city alone, and after struggling some time for existence, determines on suicide. Hesitating on the brink of a cliff overlooking a lake, she see-i a blind girl walking towards the ■water. She the girl- takes her back to the children's institute, and finds there a heme herself.