AMUSEMENTS

Nelson Evening Mail, Volume XLV, Issue XLV, 20 August 1910, Page 6

AMUSEMENTS

THE WARD COMEDY COMPANY. "THE CIKL FROM RECTOR'S." The much'-talk* d-of comedy "The Girl from Rector's.'' which was produced at tlie Theatre Royal last evening, .attracted a crowded audience. Healing as it does with ph'ase' in th.<> lives of a smart set in Ne4»v York, it is of a highly diverting nature. From ;i ''moral'' point of view the play as presen-tcd last eveming- was no worse, and no better, than the general run' of musical comedies. Ir is simiply a production to cause lau.ghter, and this it c"rtainly docs. iComplication.s are the ■order of the dav, and eH'orf; to extricate themselves only sitvp to place the participants further in tire dark, and entanglements. There is no real olot. Tire audience is not worked up or down —it is simply •amused. StM. the dual imperson:# tion that the livin.g of double 1 ives calls forth provides scope for hitrionic ability, and the Ward Company is not lacking i m this respect. The ni'i-mibers of tl. I .' ''Night Owls' Clu!b' ? at New York are found livin.g in a hilarious manner. To one of them, Richard O 'Shaugiinessy, comes the feelings ot true love, and lie determines to free himself from the fri voli tie'- that surround him. He is married; Unit his, old companioncome turning up in the most unexpected places, putting him in the deepest of mysteries, whilst these, too. among themselves, cause the ■most complicated and laughable sc<r.es. Mr Hugh Ward appears as Professor Mahoon, the absent-mindod man of science, and scores ouo long suceo'ss from start to finiish. The other characters are well snustained. To-night Mr Ward will produce "The Man from Mexico," which has been one of his greatest successes throughout Australasia. "The Man from Mexico" never saw Mexico, and that the prevarications he indulged in, and the clothes he wore as a person fresh from a bull fight, were necessary because he was incarcerated in gaol for a term, and had to explain his absence from his usual haunts to his wife, and all his friends who (in a farce) are so easily satisfied with any ob| explanation that gives chance for jokes, a, little dancing and numerous songs, and a large amount of comical situations. Mr "Ward, as the "Man" has most of tho work loaded on him. and it is considered one of the best things he has ever done, which is a lot to say. Mij-s Palotta, as the -\vif--> has a charming part. her daintiness, methods and art all being unexceptional. Her singing is full of fire, and her costumes excite admiration and need a woman's pen in description. There is much dash and colour in the whole production, and the fun ranges fast- and furious from start to finish. This will be the last opportunity of seeing Mr Ward and his clover company, so a bumper house is almost assured to give the favourites a hearty send-off. THE SKATING RINK. There was a large attendance at the Skating Rink last evening.—ladies' invitation night. A hockey match was played between "Reds" and "Blues." tho former winning by 4 goals to 2. The teams were:—Reds": Creed, Cunningham, Wright, Jennings. Blues: Oakley. A. Rout, .iiills, Gascoigne. Professor Smith carried the whistle. The term concert in connection with the Nelson School of Music will be held on Monday evening.