THEATRE ROYAL

Dominion, Volume 3, Issue 693, 18 December 1909, Page 6

THEATRE ROYAL

FULLERS' NEW, VAUDEVILLE COMPANY. .•■' The attraction' of vaudeville was sufficient to pack the Royal to tho doors last evening, and it-seemed like a ,return to the' brightest of, permanent vaudeville in Wellington to' seo every bench' filled and-the house', laughing heartily. at - the'; jokes of the ;end-raen. and patter comedians; J and to catch the rythm of:.£he.'.dancer/ feet on tho historic old- boards, of (the Johnston Street playhouse. The taik in theatrical, entertainment. mpv.es in icyclfes. Tears ago brave hearts attempted ■to ; run permanent drama at ;> the • Theatre Hoyal, where not a few long 'stock seasons have run their course.*. Many years later came i permanent vaudeville, under the management of Mr. P. R. Dix, and subsequently under ■Mnssrs. Fuller and Sons.. Then the .kine■matograph . was ' introduced ■ and ■-now . the management is reviving the interest in''. vaudeville, and ' judging from tho .reception accorded to the new company last evening there is • every prospect .of its proving aßuccess.. The calibre of the- company is quite satisfactory, and in some instances tho talent- displayed is excellent. Tho 'entertainment opened with .the old-time -first part, with .George Scott and Joe Box asend-men.' These .ere.two verir lively comedians;-Box in particular, scoring in a comic effusion entitled: 'Tut 'em 'Down." He 'is of .<he eccentric .order; with..'Utterly irresponsible laugh-getting legs. Miss Ethel Preston, a' soubfette made a sue-' 'cess in ."Canada," .exhibiting-in tho accompanying dance', a wonderful-back kick.. Miss ;Nina Gonzales .is .another ioubrette with a touch, of the acrobat,and xontortionist in her dancing.. One of the nicest .ballad singers seen in Wellington for some time was dis-covered-in'Miss .'Meryl'Laurence who sang "With You in Eternity" in; a! refined manner that charmed the audience. ■. Miss , Laurence has a full, fresh soprano, which' she uses with: artistic discretion. In' tho second half of the. programme she sang a' ballad illustrated with, coloured pictures. The male,'i singers;, were.';-. Mr. Chas. .Heath (tenor) a'nd'Mr. Joe. Lainb (baritone),' , of New.castle.. Mr/ Heath's voice .is ■ sympathetic in quality if .a trifle : thin in the upper register. Mr. : Lamb.- sang' "The Skipper,,-his robust voice., and style m'aking him popular with the. audience.' Together, thev 'sang/', the: duet,. "Flow, "Gentle Deya," attired in" mining costume.'with lighted safety lamps. ;■. The Three Stars are. a bright trio ;of singing dancers' of dashing order, who gave "The E«cipe ' for; Love" with precision. -.The undoubted "hit" of; the."first : part was. made -by the. NationalDuo, a tiny boy and girl, who sing, dance,' ,and so give an. extraordinary acrobatic act of a highly original character.. Lateri they imitated the .costers, 'Arry,arid ,'Arriet, cleverly in' a' duet and 'dance. The eecond.part was made interesting, by. the reappearance of thatquaint; comedian Tom. Armstrong, in collaboration'.with, an'old-time favourite,' Miss Priscilla'Verne.. Their nonsense was really funny, ani many of their jokes were the hall-mark of. originality.'.'Tom. Armstrong's songs and his', clever clog-dancing found ■ pronounced favpur- .with .the audience.- Another good tiiin, was .that' of Delino, who did. marvels on the slack.wire, on .which he seemed-to be almost as.'muohat home as the petsoa is on a side,walk. .. The Tossing .Testros ; are. clever., potspinners and jugglers, whose-turn is bright and'.amusing' throughout. : The programme, which conoluded with some good.biograph pictures,', '.will, be . repeated during ...the - coming .week..- . : '~..:.■ ...'.■.'.;. •.. : ■'-.. ". -. ■ : '■ -.-'• ■ A-saoired concert, and biogruph display is to ,be given at the Theatre Eoyalon Christmas Night, and'matinees are to be given on Boxing ; Day,.and..New Day. ■•..; ..'<