ENTERTAINMENTS

Dominion, Volume 1, Issue 50, 22 November 1907, Page 8

ENTERTAINMENTS

"DR. BILL." It is very difficult to prescribe what form of entertainment amateurs should try in order to achieve tho best results, but quickmoving, farcical comedy cannot be conscientiously recommended, for the. very life of the performance hangs upon absolute precision in the deliverance of tho dialogue, which is. often broken up short to givo etfect to the interjectionary line, and there,must bo no suggestion of mis-cue or. the. whole point is • irrevocably lost. Bearing this in mind, the performance of "Dr. Bill" at the Opera House last oveniiig was perhaps as good 'a performance as one could reasonably oxpect. Indeed, there wero at times interludes, notably for a portion of the second act, wlion tho comedy went with tho. swing Approaching the author's intention, ajid, with last night's performance as an experience, it is fair to assunio that tho performances to bo given to-night and on Saturday will show a marked improvement' on the first oll'ort. Allowance has necessarily , to bo made for all first performances, but with amatoura that allowance should be doubled, but this is not necessary in'the case of'those engaged in "Dr. Bill," as every unit in the.cast showed an earnestness of purposo that was commendable, and in individual instances there was more than promise to "be discerned.' "Dr. Bill" is a: good type of that class of comedy that depends on. all and sundry being brought to a state of complete misunderstanding with one another, which in this caso takes a Frenchy'trend, in that the main joke hangs upon certain ladies finding themselves locked in rooms with gentlemen that had no proper claim to be there. This only needs tho bringing together under one roof, unknown to one another, of an attractive young lady and her tbree-months'-old husband, of a fussy old mother-in-law—no farcical comedy has a right to exist without a mother-in-law—and a mischief-making father-in-law, with another charming, but fun-loving, ex-ballet girl and her nercelyjoalous husband, to stir up the amusing mixture.

The most successful of the ladies was Miss Mollie Marshall, who, as Mrs. Horton (wifo of a jealous Inspector of. Police) was perfectly at her ease on the stago, and acted with quiet charm. She has a shrewd idea of the stage value of-pretty frocks and how to wear them. Miss M. Bedford, as the young wife of Dr. ("Bill") Brown, has an attractiyoly full-speaking voice and pleasant personality. She suggested having been drilled in her part in the earlier stages of the piece, but this wore off as the comedy progressed. Miss E. Gurney was capital as the mother-in-law, Mrs. Firman, and her fit of hysterics was a distinct feature. Miss E. Gurney, as Jenny Firman, did what little sho had to do nicely. Miss Myrtle Philp, as Nellie Fauntleroy, a ballet-dancer who, with Dr. Bill, distracts, everybody with a catching kangaroo danco, failed to realise the saucy flippancy of tho part, and Miss C. Howard did very well as "the slavey." Mr. Chas. Blake as Dr. Bill was quite at home as that ill-treated individual, and. ho filled many little blanks with his ready gagging. Mr. Norm»n Aitken, as old Firman, got right inside the character. His performance was one of .the best in the piece. Mr. J. Millar exaggerated tho idiocy of George Webster ridiculously; Mr. Dennis Kelly was fearfully dramatic as Inspector Horton, and Mr. B. Scott, as Bags, the butler, was only partially successful in his simulation of advanced years. The,frocking, of the ladies was quite a feature \of the performance. -, ■ "Dr. Bill" will be repeated to-night, and tho performance on Saturday night will bo in aid of the Shipwreck Relief Society, and will be attended by His Excellency the Governor, the Prime Minister (Sir J. G. Ward), the Minister for Marino (Hon.. J, A. Millar), tlie Mayor (Hon: T. W. Hislop), and many other prominent citizens.- Tho objects of the Society are so well appreciated, and tho need for funds to carry on the work so urgent, that it is to be hoped that there will be a liberal response to the Society's call.

THEATRE ROYAL. One of tho exciting features of the present Fuller programmo is Apologuo winning the Molbourno Cup as shown in' tho biograph. The " stars" of tho present programme are Barnard and Barnard, sharpshooters; the Musical Cronies, the Ahlbergs, and Dunbar and Blake. Tho plan may be seen at tho Dresden. "HOME, SWEET HOME." ' . The personnel of Mr. Allan Hamilton's now dramatic company, opening a season of ten nights at tho Opera House on Tuesday evening next, includes a large number of actors who are well and favourably 'known', in the Australian States, as well as. in tho Dominion. Mr! Geo. E. Bryant came to Australia as stage manager of tho "Squaw Man" company, and he acts in tho same capacity in Mr. Hamilton's company. Mr. Bryant is considered one of the best stage directors who have over visited the Colonies, and he'is assisted by a competent staff of stage mechanists and well-known .scenic artists. Tho season will open with the first performance iii Wellington of Frank Lindo's well known domestic drama, "Home, Sweet Home," a clean,' wholesonio play, with an interesting plot. Mr. Hamilton has also secured the Now Zealand rights of Robert Ganthony's comedy drama, "A Messago from' Mars,' ., and this favourite play will be revived during the season with'an entirely new cast'of characters. That well-known idyllic play, "Little Lord Fauntleroy," forms another attractive . item in the ropertoire of the company. The box plan opened yesterday morning at Holiday's, and alrlady a largo number of .-'seats aro booked. . '', • ■ ■' : i MISSIONS TO SEAMEN. A concert was givon at the Mission to Seamen on Wednesday night' by Misses Krooft and Morrah, the • Institute being crowded. During an interval; the missioner (Mr. J as. Moore) gave a short teinporanco address on " Hold, Enough," resulting in fiftoon men signing the pledge. A conundrum competition was won by sailors from tho Opawa. Tire following contributed items to tho programme:—Misses Simpson, Van Stavern, O'Ecily, Anderson, and Nicholls, Messrs. Hamilton, Robinson, and Boyd. Miss Simpson and Mr. Sturgess acted as accompanists. A nearty vote of thanks was givon the.performers, and light refreshments were handed round. . ,

"A TRIP TO CHINATOWN.'-' Playgoers are reminded that' on Wednesday next, at His Majesty's Theatre, Miss Vniia De Loitte, Mr. Howard Vernon, and Miss Iris Yance will appear at the head of a strong company in "A Trip to Chinatown;" Popular prices will be charged. GIRLS' REALM GUILD.' The entertainment in the Sydney Street schoolroom this evening promises to bo a great success. The Hon. Kathleen Plunket and a party from Government House are assisting in tho performances, as tho funds arc to be.devoted to tho maintenance of. a blind and destitute child. A generous response from the public is earnestly solicited. • O'NEILL'S miCKJUMPERS. '" On Monday next the popular O'Neill organisation of horse tamers, buck jumpers, and star equestrians, supported by a talented company of artists, will commence their return season of three nights on the vacant ground in Cuba Street below the Opera House. Among the equine attractions are Sandow, the marvel; Ruby, the champion high jumper;, and Maori Jack, the' King of Outlaws. Tho proprietary advertise that £10 will .bo given to.any person who can sit tho latter for one minute. A nmnber of new itoms of an attractive naturo ore promised. It was erroneously stated in yesterday's issue that the performance on Monday evening was being given as a complimentary bonelit.