ENTERTAINMENTS.

Taranaki Daily News, Volume LVI, Issue 282, 1 May 1914, Page 8

ENTERTAINMENTS.

THEATRE ROYAL PICTURES. The houses at the Theatre Royal are keeping up well, and last night saw another very good audience to witness the new programme, which contains somt excellent subject's. The feature of the programme was undoubtedly the greni Pathe star drama, "Poison Tree," a most emotional play with very intense and powerful situations. The acting throughout was woiiderful, and each artist worked in sympathy, with the other. The story is one 'of love and hatred, anil the plot worked out excellently. Too much cannot be said for the beautiful photography, which was quite a treat for the artistic eye. The "Rice Cultivation" film, besides being most instructive, abounds with little tit-bits of quiet humor, and much laughter was caused by the realisation that the Chinese use their feet to extricate the grain from the husks. "Zepherin's Duel' was the cause of hearty laughter, while the two duellists endeavored to shoot each other without success. The "Topical Budget" contains many items of interest, and altogether the programme is on? well worth seeing. Another scrc-ening will lie given to-night.

THE TANGO. ' The Theatre Royal picture nianagement announce an extra special star attraction for only a limited season. The following criticism comes frofn the Evening Post, Wellington:—"A crowded assemblage ttV'the King's Theatre last, evening witnessed "How to Dance the Tango," the Kalcm Company's unique terpsichorean motion picture' "feature." The production in both instructional and entertaining. With two such famous exponents as Wallace McCutcheon and •Joan Sawyer, the "stars" of the Xew York Theatre JRoof Garden, the Tango ascends almost to the dignity of the classic. As sole instructors to the "upper four hundred" of New York. McOutcheon and Sawyer enjoy considerable prominence. The picture is divided into two phases. In one McCutcheon, dressed like a tennis player, gives private tuition at his rooms to individual ladies who are already very proficient dancers. A pianist furnishes the music, and the pupils soon master the intricacies of the tango. In the other series are displayed a fashionable cabaret, or large musical cafe, where the "bon-toji" assemble to eat ices and watch McCutcheon and Sawyer gyrate rhythmically in the Viennese .Hesitation waltz, the Turkey Trot, and the real Argentine Tango. It is certain that never before has such graceful dancing been witnessed iu Wellington, in life or in cinema enactment. That these two "stars" are worthy of their renown is beyond question,' and when the spectators at the cabaret perform the same dance there is a vast difference between their efforts atU those of their instructors. The Tan'*o, which has been ornically described as a '•symptom of the refining influence of wealth,' does not appear in any way vulgar, as executed by Wallace McCutcheon and his partner. Hut this may be in suinc degree due to the fact that for ballroom purposes the 200 steps of the Argentine Tango have been reduced to 25. Every step is exhibited by the camera being dilected at the dancers 1 feet in two or three instances. The maze of steps e\. hibited by the two "stars" when performing at the cabaret are bewiiderin" to the amateur. The cabaret »e -lies are a magnificent spectacle, and the drcssus alone arc an attraction."