ENTERTAINMENTS.

Taranaki Herald, Volume LXI, Issue 144199, 16 September 1913, Page 6

ENTERTAINMENTS.

EMPIRE PICTURE PALACE. To-night at the Empire “A Life for a Life’" programme will bo shown tor the last time. This senes is reauy worth seeing. A new programme tor to-morrow anti Thursday only teatuies the biggest detective hit over secured. “The Ace of Clubs” featuring hack Winter, the famous sleuth. _ On Friday 1 another special change will be .Presented when Nordisk's latest masterpiece “The Three Artists wilt bo featured. This will bo shown on Friday and Saturday only. THEATRE ROYAL PICTURES. The now nrogramme shown at the Theatre Royal last night contains several items that might ue star items on a less brilliant bill. Although not the feature item, one that is very interesting considering the present controversy in regard to the new American dances is “Dances of the Ages. This picture briefly sketches Ahe history of the dance from the remote age 1200 B.C. Some of the dances that are now no longer seen are Undoubtedly beautiful, somo exotic, and so appear to ns moderns, used to the waltz, oyei fantastic, and even ridiculous. But one can learn from ihis picture how it is that some of the. ancient dances —or classic dances as they are now termed—are being revived with such success. The Greeks, above all others, and csnccially in connection with their Dionvsiac festivals, brought tho dance to a high degree of artistic excellence. The bacchanals of the Romans weie much less elegant, and eventually became burlesouo and vulgar. file Greeks began by worshipping Dionysius, but Die Roman ended yhv abusing Bacchus, and turning the occasion into an excuse for a drunken revel, _ohylock” is, however, the feature item, and is adapted from Shakespeare s “Merchant of Venice,” the play of the Bard’s which is probably the most popular of all. ■ Throughout the quality ‘of this film is magnificent, and the whole subject with its brilliant scenes or Venetian life forms a veritable feast for tho eye. Tho same programme will bo repeated to-night. “TICKET OF LEAVE.” The New Plymouth Amateur Dramatic Club intends to produce the Ticket-of-Leavo Man’ 1 ’ on October o and 7, in aid of the funds of the Recreation Sports Ground. This interesting play is already in active rehearsal by a strong cast of amateurs, and it is hoped that there will bo a ready response from the public for the desirable object for which, the enter-', fainment bas been promoted. THE GREAT M’EWEN. Playgoers on the look-out for a novel form of amusement, will have their tastes amply catered for on Thursday night when the Great M’Ewen, the world’s renowned hypnotist, nundroadcr, magician and Scottish entertainer, will make his first appearance in the Theatre' Royal. For months past tho press of Sydney, Melbourne, and tho Dominion, has been praising in the most lavish terns tho cleverness, originality, and mirth-provoking qualities of the ‘entertainment provided by the Great M’Ewen. He is the worlds ■ greatest hypnotist, is a remarkably clever couiuror, and is a retailer of Scotch stories with their peculiar pawkiness. Ho will bo assisted by Miss Florence Hartley, . a mezzo-soprano, with, a voice of unusual quality and range. Miss Grace Maynard, uientalist, Mr. Will Bolton, champion speciality dancer, and Mr. Ceeile Long, A.L.C.M., L.L.C.M., a noted Australian pianist. The box plan is i\ow open at Colliers’.