AMUSEMENTS.

Otago Daily Times, Issue 15915, 7 November 1913, Page 3

AMUSEMENTS.

FULLERS' PICTURES.

. Pride of place in this week's bill at the Princess Theatre is occupied by the drama " Good for Evil," which treats in an unusual strikingly effective way the old, old theme of two men and a woman. The programme is particularly rich in what may be termed solid fare, including, as it does, a recent number of the Gaumont Graphic pictures of French metropolitan railways, and of the huge Assouan dam, which holds back the vast waters of the Nile. Comedy also is represented by samples of the work of some of the most successful and best known makers. This programme will be shown again to-night and to-morrow afternoon and evening. HAYWARD'S PICTURES. The current programme of film subjects continues to attract good audiences at "The Octagon." The feature drama, "Shipwrecked," is novel in character, and the photography is excellent. There are also some strong educational and humorous subjects among the supporting numbers, and the latest Pathe Gazette has some excellent topical illustrations. The same list -will be presented to-night. On Monday "From Circus to (Racecourse" ■will be the attraction. It is 3500 ft in length. KING'S THEATRE. A pleasing variety of fare is being submitted nightly at the King's Theatre this week, and was again thoroughly enjoyed last night. Esmeralda, " the queen of the xylophone.'' delighted with her clever operatic selections, and St. George and Dayne again repeated their popular musical sketches. Olga Pennington (soubrette), Neil Cant (" the Hielan' laddie "), Armstrong and Howarth (comedy duo), Marcel and Bell (dancing acrobats), Jessie Wilton, and the lyrical four also contributed their share to a very pleasing and successful entertainment, which will be given again this evening. QUEEN'S THEATRE. Large crowds found the Queen's Theatre a very pleasant refuge from the storm yesterday, and the new programme submitted there proved evidently acceptable

A picture of an unusual nature s

"The Reformers," an A.B. production intended to s?tirise with humorous extravagance he misguided efforts of social re-

formers who would compel everybody to conform to their own narrow pattern of of virtue. "The reformers" in this case make a successful onslaught on the flirt-

ing, smoking, drinking, dancing, and theatTe-goiug that goes on in their city, and the scenes in the theatre in particular gave scope for some exceedingly clever and most amusing acting. A biting comment on the danger of giving too exclusive attention to other people's welfare is provided when the leader of the TefoTmers returns home with his wife to find his son defiantly drunk and his daughter in the company of an unworthy young rascal. "Red Revenge" is a powerful Pathe Indian drama, in which an Indian lover tries to wreak his Tevenge upon his successful rival, first by a treacherous arrow shot, and then by a false charge of murder, but the truth comes out, and justice is, vindicated. " A Faithful Friend " is remarkable as introducing one of the iiiost accomplished animal actore that has been seen here. This is a cab horse, whose devoted loyalty to his master shows itself in his vigorous, and even violent, refusal to do the work of another. The Gaumont Company provides coloured illustrations of the rich scenic beauties of the Valley of Bievrc; and the Warwick Chronicle vividly records many recent events of much interest in the Old Land.

Miss Flora Finch, as leading actress, lends

distinction to the Vitagraph Company's clever little comedy drama, " Cupid's Hired Man,'' who helps a hopeless old maid to grasp a last chance and realise her fondest desires. " His Chum, the Baron," is another comedy that elicited roare of laughter. This programme will e repeated again during the usual hours to-day. THE SHADOW OF THE CROSS. Even on such a day as yesterday many visitors found their way to the room in the Stock Exchange, where Mr E. J. Kilpatrick is 1 at present exhibiting the mysterious luminous painting known as " The Shadow of the Cross." The effects that gradually stand, out from the canvas as the spectator peers through the darkness are a never-iailing source of wonderment, whinh is increased as one suggested explanation after another is shown to be untenable. As Mr Kilpatrick is leaving for Christchurch on Monday with the picture, to-day and Saturday will afford the last opportunities of seeing it here, MDLLE. GENEE. The advent of the wonderful Russian dancers in London some time ago revolutionised all preconceived ideas of stage dancing. The ballet had come to be regarded by a largo section of the community as a thing accursed, a presentation of too briefly-clad artiste, who made up for lack of praee by much pirouetting— a very difficult performance, no doubt, but a meaningless and usually undignified spectacle. That view was perhaps not justified, but it was deeply rooted. Then came the Maud Allan typo of dancers, who had at any rate tile virtue of originality and grace, even if they shocked the proprieties. But it was left to the dancers of the Russian Imperial Ballet to convince English audiences that a ballet was not merely a mechanical succession of steps, but could be made to interpret ideas and sentiments. The result was an entire change in the attitude taken up on the subject of stage dancing. There are many who would nevor go to gee a performance —just as there are still folk who shun the theatre, but it would be hard to I find anyone who does not admit that the i dancing of the artistes who have lifted the ballet from the depths to which it had sunk was wonderful and great. The revival of the glories of the classic ballet is due to the Russians primarily. The members of the ballet there aie under Imperial control. Their training commences '■ at eight years of age, and continues till j tliey are 31, when, they are pensioned and j go into retirement. Their dancing brings !back the grace and charm of ancient Greece, and they have that natural joy and abandon which amongst present-day nations the Slavs alone seem to posse®. On Monday evening, at His Majesty's I Theatre, Duncdin, play-goers will have the | first opportunity of seeing these wonderi fill danccrs, in association with Mdlle. I Adeline Genee, who is generally acknowledged to bo the greatest living exponent

of the ballet. The Benson will terminate on Friday evening, November 13, and there will be a matinee on Wednesday, November 12. The box plans are at the Dresden.