AMUSEMENTS

Taranaki Daily News, Volume LIV, Issue 256, 29 April 1912, Page 8

AMUSEMENTS

THE NORWOODS AND VON ARX

On Thursday afternoon, starting at the Post Office at 4 o'clock, Professor Norwood will perform a wild blindfold hypnotic drive. On Thursday and Friday, the Norwoods and Von Arx huge combined shows will appear in the Theatre Royal. The Dannevirke News says: "Hypnotism and conjuring, with a brief interlude of comic juggling, formed the entertainment given by the Norwoods and Von Arx Company. Murphy, the American comic juggler, occupied a quarter of an hour to the enjoyment of the audience, interspersing clever work with the ridiculous. The attraction of the evening, however, was Professor Nor-j wood, a hypnotist of undoubted power,. The act was screamingly funny and exceedingly clever. At one time the subjects were told that they were members of the famous Bra Tim orchestra, and imthey performed upon old wooden violins, tin trumpets, a piece of wood as a flute, a broom as a sliding trombone, etc., while one'of their number danced a jig. The look of amazement upon the face of each as he was brought to and saw his companions still fiddling away was not the least laughable part of the performance. The final act, in which the subjects were made to believe that they were Spanish dancino- "iris created roars of laughter. Each was given a dress, and while under the influence of Professor Norwood changed into it, meanwhile powdering their faces with imaginary powder puffs, and, in' fact, doing all that one would expect a dancing girl to do prior to a public per-' fonnance. Then they danced, not in the clumsy manner of the everyday man, but with a strict adherence to time and effect. Once more, when they were restored to their natural states, the subjects were blankly surprised at what they had done. The thought transference by Professor Norwood and Miss Norwood was a wonderful act." The box plans are at Collier's.

"MACBETH" AT THE EMPIRE. A substantial programme was provided ftt the Empire Picture Theatre on Saturday night. The "star" film was a cinematograph dramatised version of Shakespeare's immortal play "Macbeth." The picture was quite in keeping with the standard set by ''Rob Roy," "Romeo and Juliet," "The Colleen Bawn," and other moving picture triumphs that have preceded it at the Empire. With the enthralling incidents of the plot the average theatre-goer is doubtless already ac-

quainted. Suffiet* it to say that "Macbeth" loses little, if anything, by the transference of its production from the stage to the picture screen. Undoubted features of the film are the splendid impersonation's of the mummers honored with the title-role and "Lady Macbeth." The setting of t,he piece also attracts the attention, the various scenes being conspicuous for the magnificent pageantry. The castle scene, with the midnight watch from the turret-tops, and the inurder of the King, are as realistic a-s it is possible to be on the stage or thp screen, and there is besides a wealth nf spectacular detail. "Macbeth," which will be shown for a few more nights, should appeal to all true Shakespearian lovers and to the public generally. Hard on "Macbeth," comes another dramatised film, in the shape of "The Poet of the People." This is an exquisitely romantic and picturesque story, woven round the stirring times long before the advent of the musket and the printing pre ss. The acting is superb. Indeed, the picture is worth seeing on this account alone. A less pretentious drama, which savours distinctly of the present cen, tury is "The Governess." The film is' perhaps unique in this particular: It is one 'of the few pictures in which "mere man" is given an entirely back-seat. Indeed, he is not on«e seen throughout the story, the whole of the acting and the lov,e-making—for there is the usual leaven of sentience—being solely confined to the fair sex. The current series of films, which will be repeated till further notice, is a diversified collection, including a topical subject, "Pathe's Animated Gazette," "His Birthday," an A.B. comedy, "Moritz shoots Big Game," some excellent views of "Amsterdam and Rotterdam," and other pictures.