ENTERTAINMENTS.

Taranaki Daily News, 5 November 1921, Page 7

ENTERTAINMENTS.

THE GREAT McEWEN. THE OPENING PERFORMANCE. The Great McEwen, magician and hypnotist, opened a two nights’ season at the Empire Theatre, New Plymouth, last evening. For two and a-half hours he entertained and amused the audience, always holding their interest and, especially in the hypnotic scenes, producing roars of appreciative laughter. Mr. MdEwen proved himself a pastmaster in the art of magic, the escape from the securely fastened cab'.iet putting the finishing touch to a series of clever performances. For the second part of the programme a dozen or so young men offered themselves as subjects for a series of mesmeric and hypnotic tests. Whilst in a hypnotic trance these men tried in vain to unlock their hands, and scratched their heeds and consulted, pocket-books in frenzied attempts to recollect their own names. Then the subjects were sent into fits of uncontrollable laughter, whilst one of them imagined himself as the principal artist of the evening and labored under the delusion that he could sing. His plaintive lovo ditty only stimulated the audience’s mirth. The spectacle of two men soothing and feeding a rag doll also highly amused, and the climax came when the search among the audience for the parent of the “baby” was, made with an apparently successful result. The whole group were then taken back to their boyhood days and indulged in a game of marbles, which eventually ended in a free fight owing to one of the group cheating. The final scene showed the subjects as enthusiastic barrackers at an imaginary foodball match, and here again the various stages of excitement and the different forms of expressions of the barrackers sent the audience into roars of laughter. Mr. McEwen is assisted by the “Mysterious Marcy” and by Miss Hebe Saint, Who gained generous applause for two elocutionary items, which showed the talent and the execution of the artists. A complete change of programme will be shown at to-night’s performance of the Great McEwen.

EVERYBODY S. r LAST NIGHT OF “THE WORLD AFLAME.” The big Pathe feature-play, ‘The World Aflame,” starring Frank Keenan, concludes to-night at Everybody’s. The bill includes episode two of “The Lost City,” the stupendous African jungle serial, and also gazettes and comedy. The matinee to-day commences at 2 p.m. THE RIVER’S END, MONDAY. Marshall Neilan’s production of James Oliver Curwood’s story of the North-West Mounted Police, “The River’s End,” is the star attraction for Everybody’s on Monday. This is a vivid drama, told in the author’s best style, and it is unusually strong in the elements of adventure, conflict -and romance. The interpretation has been entrusted to a highly capable cast, led by Marjorie Daw, Lewis Stone, .Jane Novak and J. Barney Sherry. The story revolves around Derwent Conniston, of the North-west Mounted Police, who is commissioned to capture John Keith, a fugitive from justice, but untoward events happen, and when the officer is stricken to death the prisoner helps him, a strange compact being made between the two, that when the officer dies, the fugitive shall impersonate him and return to civilisation, where he establishes his innocence, and wins a beautiful girl, and cleans up a band of Chinese opium dealers. The box plans are now open at Collier’s. THE PEOPLE’S. CONWAY TEARLE IN “SOCIETY SNOBS.” To-day’s new bill, commencing at the matinee at 2 p.m., presents the big Selznick production “Society Snobs,” featuring Conway Tearle and Martha Mansfield. It is the story of a young man whose love for a beautiful society girl surmounts all obstacles and triumphs as true love must. Caste, position and ancestors are unknown to love—a toiler fares as well as a prince—a beggar as well as a financier. Love acknowledges no reason except love. The bill includes gazettes, comedy and “The Moonriders.” “THE ANCIENT MARINER.” The forthcoming production by the New Plymouth Choral Society of J. F. Barnett's cantata “The Ancient Mariner,” which is to be given for the first time here on Wednesday next, is creating widespread and keen interest. The box plan opened yesterday and there was a phenomenal rush to book sCats. Patrons will be well advised to reserve their seats at once as there is every indication of a crowded house. The concert will be a unique occasion as there will be associated as the principal soloists in the work four of the leading Dominion artists of the present day. Mr. Hamilton Hodges (bass), of Wellington, who is to sing the title role is a very dramatic singer, and no happier choice could have been made for the part of the Mariner. He is a fine interpreter of the poetical and dramatic in song, and has the temperament and intellect to back it up. Madam Winnie Fraser (soprano), of Christchurch, is one of our forerriost singers of to-day, .and has received rapturous receptions in all the chief centres. Madam Ivo Symes (contralto), of Wanganui, is already well known in New Plymouth and may be relied upon to give a good interpretation of the part allotted to her. Mr. Hubert Carter (tenor), who has recently sung for tiie Christchurch, Wellington, and Dunedin Choral Societies, will be welcomed on a return here. The box plan for the one-night season is now open at Copier's.