Plays and Pictures.

Maoriland Worker, Volume 3, Issue 55, 29 March 1912, Page 6

Plays and Pictures.

The cry is —'Still they come! Well, let 'cm oil ku'ni There's ati epklemi<; of .in the, knd. Amd thoy're'all .Groat. The Croat Fasola, th« Indian fakir, is appearing at tho theatres; the Croat Driver and the Groat Yoii'Arx are wandorini; to and fro, up o.nd <iowe over the face of this flvspeck on the'globe ; and now.iii Wellington wo have tho Groat Jaiis?n. who also achieves the Superlative distinction of "GroaU-st" in t.lio puff preliminary and oti tho posters an<l programmes. 'This last is on a roiuul-tho-\v<irld Uhn with' an "explosion of now ideas, ,, and tlio Wollington Opera Hou'sfi echoed to its reverberations for tho first time on Wednesday last, 27th inst. Jansen is ono of the most accomplished oi that class of performer which takes in tho Argus-eyed audience with an extraordinary exemplification of the truism that "tJio qiikknoss of tho hand deceives tho eye.' . Ho has a unique repertoire of novel sleight-of-hand tricks and now and elaborate illusions that aro most baffling to would-bo solvers of tho provoking question of "How is it done?" He's also got something new in the way of labels. He calls himself "Tho World's Greatest Transformistj" and those- who have scon him agree- that he lives up to tho titular distinction. Some novelty entertainers, too, are with Jansen, and tho show throughout is full of merit, merriment, and mystery.

According to a Sydney paper, Jansen's weak point is what those in tJio music hall call "patteT."' Chung Ling Soo observed tho golden rule of ; silence". Fasola also wears a cloak iof siiettc<i. Jansen talks too much. • *

Thus a country contemporary on tho Great Driver, acclaimed as tho highest example, among, the exponents'of : mystery:—Driver is original. Ho is a worker of wonders, presents nothing that is old, copies no one. The effects that he. produces are so clever that science is ball led and vision is dTscredited. What is impossible to others he makes real. Theatregoers will see for tho first time feats that have been described by those who havo seen the fakirs of India and tho sorcerers of Egypt at their host; feats that have b<H)ii described, but never until now produced. Driver performs them all; and as to the spirit mediums and their so-called phenomena, Mr. Driver is able to produce, all tiho manifestations of the most celebrated mediums.

Mr. Gilbert Portcous (who is Mr. Ethel Irving in private life) considers Wellington not only tho best show town in New Zealand but that it possesses the most encouraging and discriminating audiences. Auckland audiences wort inclined to be sluggish, while the Diuiodin pcoplo were quite impossible as audiences, at least, he found them so. Christchurch was better, but they took tJieir pleasure in the Cathedral City rather sadly. Tlic.ro was little lifo or spontaneity in their placid appreciation. [n Wellington, however, tho audiences were quite "alive." They saw tho points quickly, and laughed without restraint whero thero was matter for laughter, and were silently attentive mi tho serious moments. TJiey were, in a, word, good audiences to play to. Thcso opinions can bo taken for what ■hey aro worth, but it must bo remembered that tho viows of managers are always colored by tho magnitude of ' fie box oflico receipts, and wo guess that, public patronage of the Ethel Irving Company was more satisfactory in tho Capital City than in tho other i-hreo centres. .Howe tho verbal bouquets heaved at Wellington and its play-patrons.

"Jar.GOi's is tho prrf'vt band." Tiai? says a palmist, one i:f tho gro;if(st ol the world's cliiromants. "It is tho perfect hand of lh« £ood man and the artist. luiinan hand is th« mo.-t inarvcllons instriinicnt ovr <\i)lv(.d: and Jaiisen's linnds ai'<» (in* most j>< :- foct examples 1 have <-v r soen."

"Go whoro tho crowd.'- go I' , Tl.is is to tho <-ontir.iious pic hi r< 1 show at tlio New Theatre, Manners stroot, Widiin.::ton. It is sound advice, only tho rush of th.c.so saino crowds suniet lines prevei.ts on<) from following it. Wollingknow ;i good tiling when th*y s.oo it, he-neo tho big att-cndani-OH. Messrs. MacMalion and Donnelly aro advort.is'id as tho "jirops' , of tho onterpris'. , Of eoui'po, that is short, for j)roprit(.-o>H. The r<al "props' , of tho .show ;ne peerless pictures, prime programmes, and popular prices. 'Think of it. Adnits ;\ tanner, ohildrrn the tiny trayllt. And tboiu's always soiiio-thiu^-(joingl # # * ■'The lilu-o Wim' will bo played fer the lirst tin* in Australia at the Sy<!!ipv CriLerion on April G. Tho Yv'iili;mi?<h n.nr.ajjfiiK.-iit st-uto that Alaurico M;if it■ rliiick's phantasy wiil bo pr-- ,- s< lw-i'.d f.n the gaiiio £cr<!e as in Lo::don. "Ev'Tyv.omnii'' is r<' : r.r w< 1 !! at tho Tlieat:</ Royal, Rvd:;ey, fays an f-x----eliai'.L'e, thoiiizli it h;\s ir.oro criticstJian m<-.s.t pla.\s. T*i;ss Hilda Spoil;-' in the, lr-adin;; role slui'.vs tlio ovdbitinn o: woman into a IcllJht si li, r»nd Mr. Kard!<y Turiier as N'ji.-ody sia'ks in and cut oi i.-ho c.-rnes !:!;<-< ":!io. (;host of Hamloi- , '; i'at.r.or lor.kinc for ?omonr,o to «!.!.'!<! a iiilii to.

It is n-nortr-d. with <r>mo fuiintr dotail, t.lint ]\U\ JTuch Ward is to withdraw from the "Williamson irinnaj.;enient. and that bis placo will be tills en by Mr. Raiaaciott.i, who was tvitii tlie firm before. Ilo'wevo.r. there is no official report OB tii<! matter.