ENTERTAINMENTS

Evening Post, Volume LXXXIV, Issue 154, 27 December 1912, Page 2

ENTERTAINMENTS

1 — ■» I AMERICAN Vim AT THE OPERA HOUSE. "GET-ftICH'QUtCK WALLIXGFORD." That frenzied financier of questionable ethics and cultured immorality, J. Rufus Wallingford, arrived at the Opera House last evening, 'and loosed a miniature Niagara of fun, purely American, which swelled across the footlights and set the house awash with laughter. Within bhe space of three hours he and his team mate, "Blackie" ■ Daw, had "captured" the rurality of Battlesburg, played a healthy bluff _ with Battleaburg's dollars, jumped into millions by aid of a marvellous trolley-road concession and a covered carpet tack, and made everybody happy and Battlesburg the' "most prosperous manufacturing town in the middle west. Sir. Yes, Sir!" If one can be convinced that there even were sucli dyed-in-the-wool "boobs" as the Battlesburgers then one's enjoyment is intensified. Wallingford, thatiks to the penny press, Wo can accept, having in mind the genius of the man that invented the South Sea Bubble, and the rich Uncle in Fiji, and the fact that in modern times a Hooley may literally grow gold on lus wits and the witlessness of hungry dupes. Geo. M. Cohan's galloping absurdity, founded on Ran- j dolph Chester's story, it would be neither necessary nor" ju6t to analyse. Its American idiom is apt to become aggressive and bore, but it is v accurate. Therefore, much may be forgiven, j Cohan, a practised stage artist himself, liaa built Up a jolly travesty which, if it does not exactly "tickle one to pieces/ nevertheless hits the risible i muscled some hearty thumps. Flashes of genuine comedy enliven the story, which is staged conscientiously, dressed quietly if appropriately. And with suth principals as Fred Niblo and Harry Corson Clarke to lead the riot, the best thing td do is to run along and watch' their handiwork. Sprinkled throughout the story are patches of sentiment that Are guaranteed to warm the hearts of the most austere feminine. The producers deserve more than a passing' word for the colour scheme and lighting effecte of the last act, and the work 'of a discreet orchestra may be similarly recognised. "Blackie" Daw, down to his last 10 dollars, prepares Battlesburg for the descent of the allegedly financiallyswollen J. Rufus Wallirigford, who arrives ■ with 43 dollars, and a fierce shrewdness to be welcomed by a brass band and the whole town, in whose braifls the deft and insidious "Blackie" fiaw has sown the seeds of madness. Wallifigford cultivates the growths, warming to his eager "boobs" with rivers of champagne and bunches of cigars, and so a rich harvest is reaped. When his money-bags incline to suspicion, Wallingford chatters them to the verge of prostration ; when they protest openly he dazes them with a rush of loquacity that culminates in a melodramatic anti-blimax of tears (perhaps) and mote wine and cigars. A dear girl and a shrewd girl, who taps a typewriter and manicures for a living, becomes a factor in the piece. She plays hearts in the game, and Wallingford falls to it. Daw, too, is out-trumped. Battlesburg, caught by the wool, booms, fcreakigbly, the carpet tack develops gigantically "on the level." Audible twinges of the team's Conscience prepare for the grand finale. The illegitimate swindle turns into a fine speculation. - Battlesburg is made, and one of the more negligble results of the SOW' ing is a crop of. forty millionaires. In the last acty— -which eleavly demonstrates the author's talent-^Wallingford and Daw, after a- brimming anniver-. Sary, meet a very old friend-— a Pitikelton man ! Cohan's craftsmanship here is ' excellent, and the final curtain one of the best in memory. Mr, Niblo- and . Mr, Corson , Clarke boost the fun along with an appealing abandon. The former, materially assisted by, an impressive stage address, was always more Wallingford than Niblo. Here it was an insidious suavity without which no such company promoter Could succeed. His "working" of the Battleaburgers looked so very real. ( Mr. Niblo moves confidently at all times. Little passages with Fanny Jasper, the typist, emphasised the good in\pression s and Wallingford introspective, by the side of Daw, also introspective, was sufficient without words to explain. Mr. Corson Clarke at least shares the honours. He "teamed" understanding^ with his partner, and for his more subtle comedy of facial expression, gesture, and posing, many gave him the palm. Mr. Olai'ke works more sedately than Wallingford, but with no less effect, and his whole performance suggested matured art. These two provide excellent physical as well as other contrasts. Miss Beatrice Holloway charmed with her impersonation' of Fanny Jasper, though too Colohial to make the part as American as is intended. This also applies to Mr. E. P. Bush, as Eddie Lamb, who was hardly impudent etidttgh as an hotel clerk. Clever, .little studies were given by Messrs. Edwin, Robert G-reig, H. H. Wallace, .Cyril French, and Miss Bessie MeerSi ,» . , , The piece), will ' be repeated until further notice. THE KINO'S THEATRE. Holiday houses were ■ recorded at The King's Theatre yesterday, when " Falsely Aeenefed" waB the' star/ Attraction in an excellent programme. The leading &C&&& in the piece is Miss Asia. Neilseil, who is now quitefiSimiliar to patrons of picture theatres. : " Cinderella " has pftjved an immensely popular picture, and the other 'films • screened are all of the best description. Special attractions are announced for Monday. PEOPLE'S PICTURE PALACE. "For the King" is the outstanding picture at the People's Picture Palace Manners-street. The story is taken from English history, and shows how a young cavalier lay down his life for King ChArkm. "His First Auto" is a comedy^ picture showing the tribulations of an untatiglit motorist. The bfeeay Wild Went is represented in the Kalem drama, "A BlackfooU^Halfbreed." "The, Sleepers, " a,L6bin drama, is otic of the' .most popular pictures-in the programme, which includes scenic and comedy sub* jects of much above average merit. ' ■ 1 STAR THEATRE. j , One of the best pictures in the cur* rent programme at the Star Theatre ie " Conscience," in which Maurice Cc* telk> play's the leading role. " Saved by Telephone" is also a good pictorial subject, and " Falsely Accused " embodies some of jtho sensational incidents occa&i6b&Hy ( |4*sodat*d with modern life. " Blossoms" can fairly be described as j an exc^lent . ."filna, and "Tommy's Sister " is a scre&flfing comedy. ST. HALL. An excellent programme of pictures is being shown at 3f. Thomas's Hall this j *e'ek-end* From *h > industrial point of view one of the best pictures in the prograaime is a film showing silkworms and the varioustthasee of the silk-making industry. A Western drama, " Blackfoot, the Half breed,' "'is a Btirring picture of American life, -and " Twpedledum's Holiday" vtould make a saint laugh. " A Voyage in Titfkey " is a fins scenic subject, and tfaeje are numerous othci' pictures in a well-varied programme,' which shotfld-a'uiVtHnasteß,