AMUSEMENTS.

Auckland Star, Volume XXXVI, Issue 289, 4 December 1905, Page 3

AMUSEMENTS.

j THE OPERA HOUSE. J The usual weekly change of programme by Fuller's Entertainers at the I Opera House attracted a large audience | on Saturday night. In the first part j successful serio comic turns were conj tributed by Misses Gertie MeLeod, | Cissie Whitford and Gertie Maisie. Mr Will Locfirane and Mr Bob Lloyd were both liberally applauded for their comic I songs, which evidently met with entire appreciation. Mr Walter Ascot sang ■ the tenor solo "Only a Soldier Boy,'' for which he received a well-deserved recall. "The Flight of Ages," a contralto song j by Miss Ceeile Stephano. was one of i the most enjoyable items, and which the ! audience were not slow to recognise. Later on the same lady, with her sisj ter. Miss Lulu Stephano. was responj sable for a tasteful rendering of the I duet. "Tell Her 1 Love Her So." The I second half of the programme was openj ed by Miss Gertie MeLeod's Scotch j song and dance "Hieland Rory." Mons. | Oel Snekah repeated his successful exj hibition of shadowgraphy and bird imii tations. The clever step-dancing of Mr Clyde Cook was also much appreciated. A prolonged burst of applause greeted the reappearance of Mr Fred RivenhalL This popular singer met with a most j enthusiastic reception, having to rei spond to repeated recalls before his lis- ) teners were satisfied. A turn that met ! 'with considerable success was that I provided by the Brewers. American | coons, singers and sketch artist 3, in I which they introduced the novel and i original sketch "From America to the j Jungles of Africa/ Miss Gertie Maisie gave a dainty song and dance item. ! niter whjch the entertainment was i brought to a conclusion by Bob Lloyd's amusing farce, ''You'll Like the Job." Next Monday tbe management announce the reappearance of Mr Ward Lear. HIS MAJESTY'S THEATRE. f "'ON ACTIVE SERVICE." !"0n Active Service," produced by the MacMahon Company on Saturday nigh: has not the virtues of its predecessor in the direction of a reasonable degree of probability. But probability is not in the essence of a sensational play, and where it is found it. is generally to the sacrifice of some of the sensation, a subtraction which the multitude in their wisdom will not endure. That the dei populated, simple world of "On Active I Service"—a world in which everybody ' knows eveiybody else, and in which La ! the drama of life man is a being always at the beck of the call-boy—has no relation to real complex existence will not need to be insisted upon even to the I most enthusiastic. It is the life of the novelette, and the novelette, in the lanI guage of our advertisement columns, : "supplies a much-felt want." T!ie cynic 1 may cynicise. but the public buys. Dick | Foster is the bluejacket husba:.d divorced by Rose Foster, who beinmes <:•■ vineI ed of her ex-husband's innocence, despite I the machinations of Jim Thornbury aad ; the French spy. Count Brisson, as well as those of the self-elected co-respond-ent, Stella Collville. Commander Collville desires to compel his son's marriage with this girl, but the purposes of the wicked faction declare themselves, besides which Stella, who is a dipsomaniac, dies opportunely (except, indeed, that she commits the indiscretion of swallowing a farewell bottle of brandy, which is wrongly supposed to have been criminally administered to her by the hero). Then Rose and her child/ are abducted by the French spy to Egypt, whither the whole of the characters are also spirited on various pretences, and after a thrilling scene in the desert, in which Dick saves the life of his wife, all ends happily. A series of capitally stage-managed scenes culminate in a really excellent battle effect. Mr Blake, as the hero, played with his usual intensity; Mr Power was excellent as the villain-in-chief, Jim Thornbury; Miss | Maie Nelson was a simple and natural Rose Foster; Miss May Granville acted with strength and distinction as Stella Collville; and Mr Berkly was again conspicuously good as Count Brisson. The comic work was very well done by Mr Harry Douglas (a good character study of the ex-seaman Daniels). Mrs BarryLane (Matilda Daniels) and Mr Peter Savieri (their son, Horatio Nelson). The other roles were mostly creditably handled, and the enthusiasm of a large house promised a successful run. "THE J.P." If "The J.P." creates as much laughter as it is creating comment throughout Auckland, then play-goers may anticipate an infinitude of merriment during the forthcoming season of the Strand Theatre Company, which commences at His Majesty's Theatre on Monday, December 11. The company's season is limited to six nights only. The New Zealand tour is necessarily limited, aa the company has to fulfill its American engagements within the next two months. The "JJP." is presented under arrangement with Mr J. C. Williamson, and has already won the m hall-mark of Australian approval. Mr" J. J. Dallas* and Miss Florence Lloyd are the chief stars of the company, and the reputation that they bring with them both from England and Australia should ensure them a hearty reception. Misa Florence Lloyd, says the London papers, is the beat impersonator of the youth about town we have am tie stage. Tall, slim, and with the face of a handsome boy of 20. Miss Lloyd ia careful always in dressing, her male characters to avoid what may without offence be called the costumiers' idea of men's . dress. Miss Lloyd, when playing a gay

young lord, dresses according to the fashion of the time, getting her clothes from a West End tailor, and her general Ideas of male attitude from Bondstreet. I The Messrs MacMabon have made arrangements for the election results to be announced from the stage, at each, interval on Wednesday evening.