ENTERTAINMENTS.

Taranaki Daily News, Volume LV, Issue 305, 17 May 1913, Page 3

ENTERTAINMENTS.

THEATRE ROYAL PICTURES. "In the Springtime of Life" is the title of an excellent picture being shown at the Theatre Royal. A dying woman commends her child, Gerda, to a neighbor, asking her to take the little one to her father, Councillor Von Seydling. The latter acknowledges his duty and places her in the care of Sarah Anderson, but the woman proves to be a child exploiter, and passes the little girl to Brook, a man who forces her to beg in the streets. The child exploiter's agency is raided, but the man and woman mentioned escape. Cyril Abu sees Gerda, and learning her story, literally buys her from Brook, who is arrested. Twelve years later Cyril grows to love Gerda, but she refuses him in favor of Lieut. Von Plan, who is also carrying on a flirtation with another woman, as a result of which a duel is fought .between the two men, Lieut. Von Plan being the victim. Gerda goes to work, and ten years pass before she sees Cyril again. She has chosen a theatrical career, and becomes famous. Councillor Von Seydling, not knowing Gerda to be his daughter, has also fallen under her spell. Sarah Anderson has become dresser to the actress, and, tempted by a handbag left on the dressing table, she opens it, and finds a portrait of Gerda which gives her a clue to the hitter's identity. One night a fire breaks out at the theatre, and Gerda is rescued by Cyril, but Sarah Anderson suffers such injuries that she succumbs after being rescued from the burning building. Before she dies, however, she leaves proof of Gerda's parentage. To Cyril, Gerda seems further away than ever, and he carefully avoids visiting her or her father. Her father divines that a little diplomacy will bring the two together, and he carefully prepares a plan, which has the desired effect.