ENTERTAINMENTS.

Manawatu Herald, Volume XXXVI, Issue 1204, 5 February 1914, Page 3

ENTERTAINMENTS.

THE GREAT McEWEN. “The Great McEwen,” the famous Scottish magician, hypnotist and mind reader, will open his season locally at "The Royal’’ to-night, and will also give entertainments to-morrow and Saturday night, and a matinee on Saturday afternoon. The company have earned a great reputation, and should be welcomed by bumper houses. Of a recent performance in Tevin the Horowhenua Chronicle says:—"The Great McEwen” was to the liking ;.of the public of Tevin last night, when he appeared in the King’s Theatre. The hall was more than half full, and judging the merit of the performance given, It should have been packed. No doubt the sample of McEwen’s cleverness and dexterity shown last night will gain him a full house this evening. It is not too much to say that no neater master of legerdemain has been seen on any New Zealand stage than "the great McEwen” ; his extraordinary neatness and deftness of motion are the acme of that superb "art that conceals art.” Many of his tricks are new, and all are good. When he puts on an old trick it is always improved and polished. The second part ot his entertainment is devoted to hypnotic demonstrations. With these he had great success on Friday night, and the funny actions and deeds of his subjects kept the audience in a state of ebullient laughter throughout the evening.” MUNICIPAT PICTURES. The programme for Saturday night is one that should draw a bumper house. The star film, "That scamp Ferdinand,” is a comedy drama, wherein the delightful “Wiffles” is seen to great advantage. The story, tells of a gay Don Juan who is supposed to be a type of all virtues, but who is only mortal after all, and the various escapades, through which he causes many laughable and interesting episodes, must be seen to be appreciated. The other dramas are, "A Tardy Recognition,” "The Crook and the Girl,” and "His Conscience.” The former is a new drama, quick with sympathy, and a clever story handled with great skill and artistic Instinct; the second is a brilliant A.B. production, and never has this company appeared to better advantage than in this entertaining story ; the latter is a Tubin contribution, emotional and deeply human, portrayed with brilliant artistry, adorned with a striking moral. The scenics, "The Island of Trinidad” and "Oyannax and the Bienne Valley,” are two films which present to patrons beauties of nature that, as they are unfolded before them, cause them to imagine they are actually at such places in person. Stirring scenes in other parts of the globe are presented in the "Eclair Journal.” The comic, "The Amateur Apache,” is a cyclonic laugh creator, by Pathe Freres, contributing a wildly hilarious joke and a cleverly thought-out series of adventures as breezy as the title suggests. The other comic, "Bertanos,” is another Pathe Freres production to cause boisterous laughter, and a myriad of sparkling thoughts weld into a big laugh explosive, scattering joy broadcast.