AMUSEMENTS

Otago Daily Times, Issue 14431, 26 January 1909, Page 6

AMUSEMENTS

EDWARD RKKVES RKCITALS. [ Charles Dickens and Mr Kdwnrd lieoves are certainly a most delightful combination, ami the large audience at the Jiurns Hall la--t night discovered that "The Cricket on Ihe Hearth" contained a mimh?r of poims which hitherto had escaped notice. This well-known "fairy tale of home" was probably pro-ic.ntal in all the glowing colour and prismatic variation of humour ami pathos in which il was evolved front Iho intellect of the great author. One- can conceive a. sunset or a snow-c:ipp;d mountain licing brought lo the mind's, eye by a skilled lcc-her, but Mr R-cevfs commenced with a kettle, and in llirec minutes had it a thins of wonder-black, homely, dominating, enthroned op tlie lire, slow,' curling 'tent from its spout •md rattling its lid: ami pndxibly many among the audience .had never seen a. kettle so plainly before. Mr Reeves's imper-onalion of ail the oharactere in the story was so faithful and convincing thai it is a matter of some difficulty lo f-?loc=t his liesf. He kept his audience enthralled, and sent them away dr-lightcd. The "Sky Pile! " will ho nrcsr.i.i'ed on Wcduc.-.hy night.

TIIH SCAIU.ICT troubadours. The bright and charming combination of ariHs now' so well known in Dutiedin as "The Scarier Troubadours" succeeded in delighting another large audience in His Majesty's Tho.ilre ]*u--t night. Kven before, llie programme started i glance llnviug-h the clever and amusing programme had put the audience on the best of terms with their enU'i'taincrs, ami the good 'eeling thus cioated was made amply evident to the vert close. A great, part of .the charm of the Troubadours lies in tl]3 spdntaneoiu- and unconventional manner in which the mem. hers of the troupe do their work, as for instance when one returns to the sta"e remarking, "I wasn't really going awayonly we've got lo do that kind of thing, it's part of the show.'' The first part of the programme consists almost entirely of vocal items-solos, ducts, and qmirtets-mostlj-of a humorous narare, and ..itae arc without, exception particularly well chosen, In addition to being particularly . well rendered. That this was the opinion of the audience was plainly shown by the fact that in the first part no fewer than six items were honoured—it cannot be said dtbtinguialKtl-witii a double encore. However flattering this may Ira lo tlio performers, it can scarcely be said to be a fair domand, and the puhLie might, reasonably he expected to show a. little move con- 1 sH'te.raliou. One of the scenes which epecbHy caught the papular fancy was when the lights were -switched out (luring the singing of " The fireflies " <oug by Miss Maude Fane, and the sparkling ''flies" were flashed about the stage. The rapid and effective fransformationsof dre.ss which J.he company undergo form another striking fealtire of the performance. Jlr Percival Mackrn/.ie 'astonished and delighted aJI with liis lightning ''conceits" in chalk and crayon, and his portrayal of a sea ecene in 00 seconds was a. remarkably clever artistic effort. While it is impossible to specify all the items that went io make up a. delightful evening's entertainment, one other deserving of special mention was the impersonation of dancing clollsby—according to the programme—the scarlet " t-ron-liadr«-es." 'this talented company will continue lo perform' in His Majesty's Theatre for the .next three ttighls, PRIXC'IiSS THKATRK. There was another large audience at the Pr.iiiKss Theatre last, evening, wlion the current week's excellent programme w.-us again gone through. The pictures will be exhibited again thits evening. WIKTH'.S CIRCUS.

Tito Melbourne Age describes a physical culiiire display by Le.s (Jroiicns,' two phenomenally doveloprd young men, who arc among the principal attraction.; of Wirth's Circus. These athletes • are from Kmope. Otto, the younger, is 23 years of ag-?, hailing from Waisaw, and weighs Est. lub. JSmil, aged 26 \e:irs, comes from Hungary, and is 10*1 101b in weight. Jfc will ke seen that both are light-weights, yet they are remarkable examples of what regular exercises, intelligently tpplied, may do ill building up the mus-juliu- system. As specimens of sinewy strength, and of the extent to which the fibres of the Imuran f I*lllo may he brought from a. state of flabbine.w to the toughness of a bar of iron, they are a pair of i>erfcet marvels, and it may be safely said that among *U (be strong m;n who have exhibited here from lime to time not one [lias shown in allround development that can compare with that of cither of these two young men going through a series of movements in which fha wonderful -pliancy and strength of the' various muscles was prominent. They indulged in feats of strength and agility, during which they handled eaoh "other seemingly with as much ease as a man would hsuidlo an infant. The younger brother experienced not the slightest, difficulty in elevating his stone heavier companion above Ins head with one hand, and then tossing him from hand to hand in Iho-air."

MASKKLYXK AND DEVANT'S MYSTERIES. Maskdyne and Devatit's famous company, direct from England, will present, at His Majesty's Theatre en Saturday next, thew great divisions so long associated with the Egyptian Hall, London. The inquiry has been made, "Is this the real Maskelyiie and Cook? The same people who, .50 years ago in London, used to show a. Man-walking about with his head under Ins arm, and ghosts emerging from cabinets':" The reply is. "Yes, the same nrni, touring outside the Homeland for fi.m first time," This iniDorta.nt venture is duo lo the enterprise of' Mr Henry Havward an entrepreneur, who, meeting with considerabl success in associate managership of West's Pictures, decided to transport the most representative EiigSJsliuniv.eerncit of to-day, lock, stock, and barrel, to Australia. The magnitude- of the undertaking necessitated tho importation of 26 illusionists, actors, actresses, jugglers, and conjurers, anil seven ions of stage fittings ami tracks, many of them precious secrets, the company specially trained bv bim met with marked success during their recent ;"," , -? eason - M r Barclay Gammon's philosophic merriiucnt. Mr Owen Clark's <wmating illusion together witli Mr Ginlaros wonderful Japanese act, constitute a programme it would be difficult to surpass. \.. 0^ p,a " will be °l» ne <l tlws morning at the Dresden.