ENTERTAINMENTS.

Evening Post, Volume LXXX, Issue 135, 5 December 1910, Page 2

ENTERTAINMENTS.

OPERA HOUSE. "THE BRIXTOkTbURGLARY." What precisely "The Brixton Burglary" was' really does not matter. If 'the Saturday nights aiidieaice at the [ Opera House had attempted mentally to unravel the complications ( of this "side-splitting musical farce," the effect would, nave been something like a splitting headache. But people were there to watch and hear that admirable and versatile comedian, Mr. Fred Graham, and his company. It was not the play that was the thing, but the players. The plot might be described as an. ingenious tissue of plausible impossibilities. Somebody commits a burglary in Brixton, and it so happens that the principal characters are involved in the mystery by the fact that they cannot explain their whereabouts on that particular night. Hence all the laughter. The piece is of the stuff that composes iiany farces. It gives wholesale opportunities for humour and comedy, and of these Mr. Fred Graham and his companions make the very best. There is not a dull or idle moment the whole time the curtain is up. While th© plot thickens, the actors give songs or sketches, so that there is no time to yawn. The "'business" is distinctly . good. Some of tHe gags are not exactly new, but they are worked in so unexpectedly that the audience never fails to respond. Altogether "TheBrixton Burglary" is something well worth going to see, if you want plenty of laughter and nothing more serious. Mr. Fred Graham, as Jack Pontifex, the man-about-town, who incidentally writes comedies, and other such trifles, manages the part with 6kili and deftness. He lets no chance go, und in his impersonation of the stage manager rehearsing a chorus for a musical comedy is singulary happy. His incidental songs and dances were equally clever. Mr. Gerald K. Souper played the part of the lazy, lackadaisical friend, Richard Diggle, with uncommon subtlety, and really made the character. As Petunia Perkins, the housemaid, Mrs. George Lauri made a distinct hit, and her song of the boaTdinghouse, "Home from Home," brought down the house. The man servant James was played capably by Mr. Jack de Lacey, who introduced a song, "Mothei N«ver Spoke to Father Since," with considerable success. The policeman and the detective were well represented by Mr. J. H. Brennan and Mr. Alf Scarlett, and Mr. Alfred Harford was quite satisfactory in tlie part of the father-in-law. Miss Nellie Dent had not much' to do as Alicia Green, Pontifex's mother-in-law, but she did it well. Miss Florence Gretton displayed a fine sense of the,, fitness of things in her roie' as Mrs. Pontifex, while Miss Gladys Hartw^ll filled thie part of Jessie Green 'adequately enough. The whole company; is good throughout. Tho piece will be repeated to-night. THEATRE ROYAL. • There was the usual large audience at the Theatre Royal on Saturday night, and the entertainment proved moit popular. The acrobatic and vocal turn given by Mr. Ted Pearson, the singing and dancing of Miss Daphne Leslie, the, Kelly Sisters, Miss Beattie M'Donaid, and^Miss Mabel Lynne were greatly appreciated. There will be several changes in ' the programme to-night. Among those who will appear are Mr. Jack Martin, baritone, late of the Fisk jubilee Singers, and Mr. Godfred Hunsley and Miss Nellie Florence, who made "a hit" on Thursday night in their dramatic sketch, "A Father's Love." THE KING'S THEATRE. " Uncle Tom's Cabin " was shown (per medium of the kinematograph) for the last time at The King's Theatre on Saturday night. To-night a complete change will be made, and the management asserts that it will be the best display of animated pictures which the Wests and Royal Picture Proprietary have yet screened. The King's Lyric Orchestra .will play special selections and accompaniments. HIS MAJESTY'S. Mondays and Thursdays will, in future, ba "change" nights at His Majesty's. • The new programme announced for {his evening contains some novel items. The "star' attraction will be one of the ever-popular Indian stories, " The Mohawk's Way." This is described as an .excellent film of its class. Other pictures for to-night are: — "Birding in Pharo Island," a splendid scenic subject; "Lieutenant Rose and the Chinese Pirates," " Lost in the Soudan," " Bweet-making," an interesting industrial subject ; and a comic production, oj.an to beat Jack Johnson." STAR PICTURES. There were large audiences at both the Star Picture performances on Saturday. To-night there will be a complete change of programme, including a great variety of subjects, scenic, comic, and dramatic. PROFESSIONAL ORCHESTRA. Many people were unable to obtain admittance to the Town Hall last evening, when the Norman-Blitz combination gave a concert in support of tho Wellington Professional Orchestra to an audience which over-filled the building. The orchestral numbers were of a most satisfactory nature, and included " Ride of tho Valkyries" (Wagner), and the suite "Peer Gynt" (Grieg), both of which numbers have been^performed previously at these concerts. The overture to " Raymond " (Thomas) and the bright " Trot de Cavallierie " (Rubinstein) were also very well given. Miss Amy Murphy sang " Hear Ye, Israel " (Mendelssohn), and Mr. Walter Whyte was heard in "If with all your Hearts," both vocalists being heartily received. Miss Nellie Black's song, "The Lord is my Light," was no less enjoyable than her admirable^ accompaniments. Miss Mabel Fowles's contribution was " Angels, Ever Bright and Fair" (Handell. Mr. Herbert Bloy conducted the- orchestral numbers. Another orchestral concert (the last of the season) is announced for Sunday next.