ENTERTAINMENTS.

Evening Post, Volume LXXXIII, Issue 96, 23 April 1912, Page 2

ENTERTAINMENTS.

"MISS LANCASHIRE, LIMITED." Mosfc people left the Opera House last evening telling one another that "Miss Lancashire, Limited," was quite a jolly show, and that Miss Marie Baines was probably a little moTe effective than her sister had been, in the name part. And, in truth, it was a bright and bubbling show. Somewhat sated with, the conjurer and the illusionist, grown blase under the influence of the hypnotist, theatre-goers turned to Miss Marie Baines and . her company with a desire for change — for a little light wine to titillate the palate. They got the pleasurable irritation last evening in large and wholesome draughts of broad^ but clean, comedy. Of course, Miss Baines was the chief cup-bearer, and she proved as charming as she was generous. fThis "Miss Lancashire, Limited," is a tumbling, unpretentious farce, in which the quaint Mary Ellen shines like a glowworm in ' ihe dark. An excellently large audience_ _ .followed her broad provincialisms with a loud enjoyment, and ."the lass from Lancashire" is calculated to tickle the greatest cynic that ever slept through three acts. Good Lancastrians hung on the dialect and the candid idioms with a patriotic tenacity, and, on the word of a native, Miss Baines's dialect is unimpeachable. 1 It is as good as her comedy, which the average reader will understand to be nearly 18-carat, in its way. Her impersonations especially appealed to the audience, which grew so fond of the rollicking tomboy, "la4s" that they were minded to overwork her. The farce/ which concerns an heiress, Miss Lancashire, and Maiy^Ellen, up from tlie 1 country to take a London situation, turns upon the p two changing places. Mary Ellen's "elevation to peerage" was accepted, with a light heart and smiling face, and the manner of her being floated into a limited company was such as to disturb the dignity of | many eminently sedate citizens. It must j be admitted that the provocation was considerable. The little story runs on from complication to complication, until the expose is made. During the progress tof the extrav&ganza Miss Baines, whose" jollity is decidedly infectious, added to her good work by clever impersonations of Harry L'audcr and other "music-hall notables. Her Kate Kearney item was received almost frantically by two or three gentlemen in the gallery, who had obviously heard the original. A sketch of a small chatterer — a girl, of course — travelling to Blackpool, was charmingly "done. Miss Baines has only a small singing voice, bub it is sweet and true, and quite sxiflicient for her several purposes.- She is supported by a band, ot hard-M'orkmg artists, whose work is afc least conscientious. ' No patriot in exile should miss seeing this -bright 'little woman and her jolly show, whic^ will be repeated until further notice. "A GIRL'S TEMPTATION." . "A Girl's Temptation" is the title of the drama to be produced here ou Saturday next by George Marlow's Dra-' matio Company in the Opera House. It' has been produced in England and Australia. Thus the Melbourne Age said : — "Before . a . crowded .and .very often demonstrative audience, the melodramatic story of 'A Girl's, Temptation' was unfolded at the Princess Theatre. The authoress's most 6ensational episode is contained in the finish of the second act. It is enacted in the heroine's bedchamber. This particular scene contains a thrill for each member of the audience., The heroine — with her hair in a picturesque state of deshabille — awaits the rettuij, «£, her lover." The Melbourne Argus said: — "There is no "doubt about the 'pnrpose' of this play. It is "hi possesfcjfen of- the stage jvhen* the curtain rises; i£ pervades 1 each "of the four acts; it advances to the footlights; it fills up' the" wings; "it leaves no room at the back of the stage; it clings to every character. The great audience which filled the Princess Theatre on Saturday evening felt is compelling •force fiom the opening of the play to its close." The public patronage accorded the drama has left no doubt as to ita success. The box plan for the season will -be opened at the Dresden to-morrow morning. ■ • THEATRE ROYAL. Athos, the man who seems more at home on roller-skates than . on the soles of his feet, kept- the Theatre Royal audience amused and interested last night. Rowland Mora introduces a cabinet trick and several other neat and effective illusions. Marshall Palmer, a descriptive vocalist, contributed pleasingly to the programme. Maie Vine, who essayed male • impersonations, earned applause and encores. Some of her work was particularly good, as was that of May Nealy, whose singing and dancing pleased very much. Other artists, Charles Harghoe, Tlorrie Ranger, Stella I Ranger, and Dellie Conrior, contributed items. The whole entertainment will be repeated this evening. FULLERS' PICTURES. There is no lack of striking incidents in the, programme, presented by Fullers' at th© Skating Rink in Vivian-street. Motor racing on the Hudson River, steeplechasing and falls ofj horse* and riders at Cheltenham, wreckage of a three-masted schooner, a State function, at which King George and Queen Maxy are represented in life-size portraiture, firefighting at the Equitable Building in New York, the social habits and habitations of the Esquimaux of Labrador, all follow in almost too quick succession for the audience. There were, several pathetic little dramas last night. 'One of the prettiest lot of films was " Seville and its Gardens." The comic sketches,, "The Elusive Misa Pinkhurst" and "Dupin Defies the Wastepaper Law," are laughable. STAR PICTURES.' A stirring story of military life, entitled " A Sudden Impulse, was the principal attraction at the Star Theatre last evening. It told of the troubles' of a sentimental girl, who, while betrothed to a civilian, becamo madly infatuated with a daring Hussar. A. feature of the picture was the splendid acting of the principal, Miss Asta Neilson. Two "Wild Westers"— "lndian Pride" and "Broncho Billies Adven.tui's,," — were full of thrills, and very amusing, were the comics "Won by fcherpv'* "Toto as Doorkeeper," and "T-otiey as Toreador." The programme, a- evfxx one, will be shown again, this evening. ST. THOMAS'S, NEWTOWN. At St. Thomas's, a realistic film," His Younger, Brother" takea us with I Kitchener to the Soudan, and we have fighting dervishes, Arab steeds flying through the desert, and lote of fighting. Of a. different character is the sketch of the mission station on the bleak Labrador shore, and fire-fighting in New York, where stalactites are formed as the brigade tries to stem a great fire in one of the highest of the ekyecrapere. There were four or five dramas and two very funny comic eketches on last night's programme, " Dupiti Defying the Wastepaper Law " being one of the funniefct films yet -screened by the Fullers. Kteeplechasing, «, wreck, a Royal visit, and a solemn funeral march for the wrecked sailors on a tsubiuuriue,' are amongst the varied items of a. lony piowhich, will bo repeated this e\emng.

THE KING'S THEATRE. The change of programme at The King's Theatre last night and the excellence of the pictures screened fully justified the large attendance. The chief attraction, -was, "A Sadden Impulse," depicting & fine character portrait of a doctor ready for the 'call of duty, his friend, loyal and true, and a wonia.n to whom the doctor is engaged and who is responsible for all the mischief and misunderstanding that occur, culminating in % duel between the two_ friends. A really good film and certainly most attractive was "At the Hour of Thrte" (dramatic). A debtor son, who is repulsed by his father, is accused of patricide, his father having been discovered dead, the bullet lodging. in and stopping a, clock at 3 o'clock. The eon at 3 o'clock, , after his interview with his tether, is watching the taking of a kinematograph of some scouts, and gets taken in the picture, which >at the end proves his innocence.' The screening, of the. kinematograph picture in the picture, which the Judge and Court witness, is very cleverly done. Another dramatic, "The Little Organist,"* was well worth seeing, and the comics, "The Virtuous Horse," "Tommy as Toreador,'' and "In the Clutches of -a . Vapour.. Bath," caused much laughter. "Boys of the Bulldog Breed" and "The Pathe Gazette '- gay« che happenings of th« ■ day. SHORTT'S THEATRE. 1 The current programme t at Shorlt's continuous picture show in. Willis-street is exceptionally good. From the comic point of view it is seldom that anything so funny as "A Dark Deception" has been seen here. It shows how a young Lover, disguised as a butler, watched his fiancee flirting with another man, and the epectators laughed till they cried. Of an entirely different kind is "A Florentine Drama," a stirring tale of olden days, which appealed strongly to the feelings of those pi^esent. Tlie programme, as a whole, is well up to standard, and the house is filled at every session. NEW THEATRE. ' The popularity of The .New Theatre, :in Manners-street, continues unabated, ! and the new programme finds gr.eaf>. favour with patrons. One of the best of an exceptionally good lot of films is one depicting military manoeuvres in* the United States. "Bar Z, New Cook," is a stirring tale of cowboy life, and the Vitagraph Company's comedy, "In the Clutches of a Vapour .Bath," showing the company's comedian, John Bonny, in a ludicrous role, is irresistibly- funny and caused roars of laughter. The other items on the programme are excellent and are evidently greatly appreciated. \ ' — — PARIS PICTURES. ' r An excellent new programme of pictures was screened at the Paris Theatre last evening, and from 6.30 till 11 o'clock the building was well filled. The bill, which comprised the latest successes in dramatic, comic, and educational subjects, was greatly appreciated; The result of th© limerick competition on Paris Prize Pictures, which closed last night, will be announced this evening. •KILBIRNIE RINK. Until further notice the Kilbirnie Beach Skating Rink will bo open every evening (Tuesdays excepted) from 6 o'clock until 10 o'clock.