ENTERTAINMENTS.

New Zealand Times, Volume LXXII, Issue 4806, 8 November 1902, Page 5

ENTERTAINMENTS.

“A RUNAWAY GIRL.” Hardly too much can bo said in praise of “A Runaway Girl” as a musical comedy. It is hilarity set to music. From curtain rise to curtain fall the audience is vastly entertained. Mr Williamson’s clever company leaves nothing to be desired in the manner in which the piece is presented. In it provision is made and free scope given for variety acting on a comprehensive scale, and the repeated applause last night testified to the public appreciation of the manner in which the various parts were filled. The comedy is staged and dressed on a magnificent scale. Frequent and dazzling lightning changes are made by the various characters, while the continuous thread of incidents is maintained throughout. The music is delightful, and is rendered the more effective by a highly competent orchestra under the direction of Mr George Hall. The songs and choruses are in the, lighter vein throughout, and for that reason fit in with the spirit of the comedy, which is that of spontaneous gaiety. The chorus is particularly strong in songvolume, and has been thoroughly trained, and its members enter into the production with a rollicking enthusiasm which in turn fires the audience and heightens the effect'. We have not in fact seen chorus work of such a character in Wellington for some considerable time. Such items as “Follow the Man from Cook’s,” and “The Soldiers in the Park,” are certain to evoke more and more enthusiasm os the season proceeds. Laslb night they quite woke a Wellington audience out of characteristic lethargy, and encores -were so numerous that the performance was to an extent protracted.

The honours of the evening lay with Mr Fred Graham, as Flipper the jockey. and Miss Rose Musgrovo, as Alice (Lady Goodie’s maid.) This twain are song and dance artists in excelsds, and both are character sketch exponents of the first water. They pervade the performance from beginning to end, and their quips and cranks and clover treatment of innumerable “turns” constitute them a pair of the best artists ever seen on the local stage. Flipper the jockey is a part requiring treatment by a talented specialist, and Mr Graham is distinctly that. Miss Musgrove, as his lover, and accomplice in a hundred curious diversions, plays her part with rollicking abandon, continually qualified with touches of genuine cleverness, at the same time exhibiting a singing voice of good volume and range. Another pair who add to the gaiety of their patrons are Mr O. R. Bantook as Brother Tamarind, and Miss Aggie Kolton as Oarmenita. The whole conception of the lay brother who sud-„ denly becomes enamoured of a Cockney woman who is touring with a troupe of gipsy minstrels, is absurd enough for tears of laughter, but the joke cannot be fuuy appreciated uptil the consequences of the antic are revealed to tho audience. Another well-assorted couple who figure prominently throughout the performance are Mr George Lyding as Guy Stanley and Mias Lilian Digges as Winifred Gray, the orphan and runaway girl herself. Mr Lyding is, as many of our readers have had opportunity on former occasions of testifying, an accomplished actor, with a fine tenor voice. Miss Digges is a vivacious little lady, who does full - justice to the name part, and grows upon her audience to the verge of favouritism. Mr Fred Leslie, as Sir William Hake, and Mr Maurice Dudley, as Mr Creel, made the very most of the comedy parts allotted tn them, the former’s acrobatic feats, and the lightning changes of both being clever in the extreme. There is a very long list of other capable artists whose names deserve mention did space permit. Suffice it to say that one and all contributed whole-heartedly to a finished performance. A distinct feature of the production was the ' magnificent dresses worn by the ladies. .

“A Runaway Girl” can be cordially recommended to Wellington playgoers as something quite out of the ordinary in every respect. The piece will be repeated to-night, and until further notice. DIX’S GAIETY COMPANY. The programme of the past week was given at the Theatre Royal again last night, and met with great appreciation. To-night there will be a complete change. Messrs Morris and Wilson, acrobats, will give a most amusing act, entitled “The Eccentric Cooks”; and Messrs Clark and Cowan are to appear in a new comedy sketch, while the remainder of the performers will contribute a fresh budget of songs of a patriotic character, and special pictures will he shown by the bioscope in honour of the King’s Birthday. To-night. and Monday night will be tho final nights of the company, which is to leave for Palmerston North on Tuesday morning, reopening in Wellington on. Saturday, die 15th inst.

“ Ambulance evening ” was very successful last night at the Missions to Seamen, when the missioner and the sailors discussed matters relating to sea life. The competition, “What to do to a man struck by lightning at sea,” caused much interest. Musical items by Mr and Mrs W. Brown and Mr F. Lecce and Miss Pedersen added to. the pleasure of the evening. A railway picnic will be held at the Upper Hutt next Saturday, 15th inst.