ENTERTAINMENTS

Evening Post, Volume LXXXVIII, Issue 73, 23 September 1914, Page 2

ENTERTAINMENTS

"THE GAY LORD QUEX." HUGH BUCKLER AND VIOLET PAGET. From "Fanny's First Play" to "The Gay Lord Quex" is a long journey to accomplish in a night; but that is what the Hugh Buckler-Violet Pagefc Company has done at the Grand Opera House. Thfc two plays are so entirely dissimilar in subject and construction. Sir Arthur Pinero, in "The Gay Lord Quex" turned out an excellent piece of work of its kind— good material, skilful craftsmanship, and all that— a play written essentially for the stage and for the stage of his time. . Mr. Shaw, La "Fanny's. First Play," also turned out an excellent piece of work, but of an entirely different, of quite original design. In the ' Pinero play referred to there are but two outstanding characters — "fat" parts they might be called namely, Lord Quex and Sophie Fullgarney. The rest of the dramatis personae are all quite" subsidiary with one exception, that of the Duchess of Stroud. The story of the "Gay Lord Quex" is probably too well known to need outlining here. It runs trippingly along from the first act, which takes place in Sophie's manicuring "rooms in Bondstreet. There is much bright talk and a procession of more or less interesting characters, but still head and shoulders in interest above them all stand Quex and Sophie. The situations are all most cleverly wrought out by Mr. Buckler iv the name part and Miss Paget as tho eavesdropping manicurist. Mr. Buckler finds the playing of the part of an English gentleman in the fullest sense of the word a quite easy and natural role. He was admirable last night in the cool and polite way in wliich he faced most difficult and compromising positions. But on Miss Paget fell 'the heaviest burden in the play. When caught peeping through a keyhole, and when entrapped in the locked dressing-room with the Peer, she gave a really splendid exposition of her art, and rendered pardonable the premature outburst of applause that broke the tension which the strong character of the scene set up^. Hers was the star performance of the evening, not only because it is the most important part in the play, but because' Miss Paget showed herself to be quite equal to it. The Duchess of Stroud, as Pinero conceives her, seems to have been a languorous, indiscreet, voluptuous woman. This was not quite the way Jibe Lilian Lloyd read the part; but, all the same, in tho great scene with Quex, in the third act, Miss Lloyd showed herself to be what was no doubt in the writer's mmd — a rather difficult woman to deal with, and a quite possible person, as anyone familiar with divorce court reports would recognise and admit. Mr. Cornell's reading and acting of the secondary part of Sir Chichester Frague, the West African official, who is home on furlough, and ready for any amount of "fun," were decidedly good. The charm of the piece was the way in which all taking more or less minor parts fell quite naturally into the places assigned to them, played up to the principals, and never overstepped the orders which. Pinero set for them. "The Gay Lord Quex" will be repeated this evening. To-morrow "David Garrick" will be produced. HIS MAJESTY'S THEATRE. One of the principal acts presented at His Majesty's Theatre is that by Miss Eosa Loader, who, as "The Happy GoLucky Maid of All Work" at the piano, continues to be very pojmlar. Her turn is a most amusing one, and provides, besides fun, some excellent' music. The Quealeys, two clever comedians, are also fun-makers, and Miss Violet Carmen and Mr. A. J. Lawrence are responsible for an artistic and humorous turn. Miss Maud Fanning and the Elliott Sisters are warm favourites, and their numbers include interesting coon songs and dances. Other contributors to an attractive programme are the Mullaney Twins, Gio Angelo, Sam la Mert, the Dumetriscue Trio, and Arthur Elliott. ' THE KING'S THEATRE. Practically a double bill is being shown afc the King's Theatre this week. First there is "A Woman's Triumph," being a splendid adaptation of Sir Walter Scott's story "The Heart of MidLothian." Lovers of Scott's works should not miss this great picture, which may safely be grouped in the very highest class. The Famous Players' Company has not produced anything better. Then there is "Europe in Peace and War," a fine patriotic film, 1500 feet in length, and including the first authentic war pictures. The supporting piogramme is a strong one. ' EVERYBODY'S THEATRE. "Europe in Peace and War" is a picture of absorbing interest, and the principal film'" screened in an attractive programme at Everybody's Theatre. The series shows the armies of the various European countries, scenes on the French frontier, British army manoeuvres, the launch of the latest French Dreadnought, the artillery of France, various well-known Russian battleships, General French in France, and many other pictures of an interesting character. Another splendid set of pictures is contained in the Pathe Gazette, which shows how the news of war was received in England. French reservists are shown leaving Folkestone, and the closing of the Stock Exchange ; a railway line is seen guarded by soldiers, and scenes of national enthusiasm are also depicted. This picture alone is well worth a visit. Other good films complete an excellent entertainment. v THE EMPRESS THEATRE. A final opportunity will be available this evening bf witnessing the Gloria Company's elaborate society drama "A Stolen Inheritance" and the current supplementary subjects at the Empress Theatre Continuous Pictures. The selections by the Empress full orchestra include "Jours Pa,sses" intermezzo and "Idylle" (Edward Elgar). An entirely new programme will be submitted to-morrow. STAR THEATRE, NEWTOWN. "The Heart of Mid-Lothian," a fine pictured adaptation of Sir Walter Scott's famous story, together with a capital supporting programme, was repeated last evening in tho presence of a large audience. To-morrow night's Bpecial feature will be " Zika, Queen of the Gypsies." PALAIS DE DANSE. The Palais de Danse, in Vivian-street, was again open last evening, when a number of interested spectators watched expositions of the most modern dance crazes. These included the tango, the hesitation waltz, and the tango-waltz, all of which have become immensely popular among those who trip the "light fantastic." The vastness of the floor space gave the exponents of the terpsi-. chorean art ample room. Although as yet dancers have been somewhat diffident in taking the floor, owing, no doubt, to the fact that critical eyes are watching them from the enclosures where the spectators sit, it is expected that as soon as they gain confidence they will swell the ranks of the active participants. In order to increase the self-confidence of those who at present hesitate to dance under the public gaze the management has decided to give free lessons on Saturday, afternoon from 2 till A o'clock.