ENTERTAINMENTS.

New Zealand Times, Volume LXXII, Issue 4822, 27 November 1902, Page 5

ENTERTAINMENTS.

“THE WRONG MR WRIGHT.” Tiio London Comedy Company, winch is under the management, of Messrs George V/illoughby and Edwin. Gcach, should liave a highly successful season at the Wellington Opera Houso. “The Wrong Mr W right” Is very amusing comedy, constructed upon tho familiar tlioiuo of mistaken identity. Singleton Sites, a wealthy San Franc'sco merchant, has been robbed of 50,000 dollars by one of his clerks, and 'forthwith undertakes some private detective work on his own account. Unfortunately for himself, in so doing ho assumes the'name of Wright, which has boon taken by tho defaulting dork ; and it is, therefore, quite in tho order of things, according to the comedy of the stage, that when iie arrives at tho Hygeia Hotel, whore the real culprit is supposed to ho in hiding, Singleton Sites himself should bo suspected of the robbery. Upon this slender foundation has been based throe actsof laugh-ter-making. Tho wrong Mr Wright, of course, practically carries tho play upon his shoulders, but thcro arc several other personages who assist materially in tho unfolding of tho story.(f it so happens that when Sites reaches tho Hygeia Hotel, ho finds that his niece and nephew aro staying there, and therefore ho is compelled to explain to them that ho is travelling under an assumed name, and that they must assist in tho deception. Accordingly when ho is greeted effusively by an old college chum—the Rev. Wayland Clingstone —and his sister Arabella, ho professes complete ignorance of them, and in a very diverting scene, threatens vo expose Clingstone as a confidence man. The perplexities of tho play aro increased by reason of a pieco of strategy on the part of tho millionaire’s niece, who, to escape tho attention of fortunehunters,.'changes places with her own maid. Thcro arrives on the 1 scene a lady who lias been employed as a detective to track the thief. Forthwith, concluding that Sites is the quarry, she employs all her arts to entrap him, and the fun becomes exceptionally brisk when the last act is readied, and Sites is arrested for tho robbery of his own money. Tho efforts which ho makes to extricate liimself from this predicament aro ludicrously comical, especially when his acquaintances all deny that Ho is Sites, and stoutly affirm that he is Wright, his nephew oven urging him to “keep it up,” under the belief that ins emphatic protests are merely part of tho game of deception which Sites him. solf proposed when ho assumed Ins false name. Finally a telegram announcing the arrest of the real culprit clears up the mystery. Mr George.'•Willoughby played a capital part as the wrong Mr Wright. Singleton Sites is a hustling American, with all the vim and snap of Ids countrymen, and their characteristically brisk and breezy methods. From the moment when, as Singleton Sites, Mr Willoughby bounced into the parlour of tho Hygeia Hotel, shouting his orders to the unfortunate hall-porter who preceded l hint, staggering under a load of portmanteaux and other luggage, he was tho life and soul of the-piece. Hie by-p 1 with tho lady detective in tho second act was very clover, and his acting in tho irresistible scene at tho arrest ot Sites intensely funny. Miss Roxy Barton did excellent work as tho detective, and materially assisted in tho success of tho play. Miss Ethel Appleton played gracefully as Miss Bonds, tho niece of Sites; and Miss Roland WattsPhillips made tho most of the part of tho staid Arabella Clingstone. The port of Wayland Clingstone, the'o'chum of Sites, was successfully borne by Mr Geo. Leopold. Mr Edwin Lester, was unemotional as Captain Crosby. Mr Frank H. Denton was satisfactory as tho nephew of Sites; whilst Mr Cannam played tho boisterous part of an cx-travagantly-drossod and fatuous youth with more money than brains. Miss Millie Ascoli was Tillio Bird, tho me of Ethel Bonds, Hr T. E. Leonard was tho hall-porter, and Mr A, H. Tasman a detective.

“Tho Wrong' Mr Wright” Trill no doubt attract crowded houses. It was witnessed last night by a largo andenco, and amongst those- present were tho Deputy-Governor and Lady Stout. DIX’S GAIETY COMPANY. There was a largo audienco at tho Theatre . Royal last night, the programme submitted by Djx’s Gaiety Company meeting with entire approval. Messrs J Callahan and Mack woro awarded a hearty encore for their quaint sketch “The Old Neighbourhood.” Mr Ernest Fitts was particularly successful with his original rendering “To-morrow will be Friday.” Tho ballads by Miss Jennie Johnson were troll received, as were also Miss Olivo Lenten’s and Miss May Lewis’s coon songs. Messrs Joe Cowan and Frank Clark were responsible for tho momio clement. During an interval, in. which it had beon intended that Mr J. G. W. Aitken, M.H.R., should perform the opening of Messrs Kelly, Fisher and Wix’s patent ventilator, lately installed in the theatre, Mr Dix had to announce tho unavoidable absence of Mr Aitken. Mr Dix then introduced the inventors, all natives of Wellington, and briefly explained tho working of tho apparatus. Tho air-pumps driven. by a four-horse-powor electric motor were then sot in motion and from beside every seat in tho auditorium issued jets of cool air, conveyed by pipes leading from tho_ machinery under the stage. A considerable decrease in temperature was manifest in a few minutes. Mr Kelly, on behalf of bis co-workers, explained that tho invention was the outcome of months of arduous work. Tho inventors wore applauded. On tho conclusion of the programme, at the invitation of tho inventors, a party gathered at the ■ Club Hotel, and several tor-sis were honoured.

Mr Robert Parker will give his annual concert on Thursday next in the Sydney street schoolroom. A very i> no programme will bo presented on the occasion. the orchestral music being furnished by the Wellington Orchestral Society. Fuller particulars will bo an-

nounccd on Saturday, and scats may bo reserved at tho Dresden on Monday-

Mrs Scddon entertained the seamen in port at a concert m* me Art Gallery last evening. The building was packed irom omi to end, and the greatest enthusiasm marked tho proceedings. Mr Moore, tho seamen's missioner, presided, and demonstrated to tho visitors that his sailor men were not only good listeners, but that they were good “ conundruinists,” and lively singers of a swinging chanty or chorus. Tho contributors to an admirable musical nrogramme were the Misses L. Wliito, Hennab. Z. Maker and Daniels, and Messrs F. Hendry, C. Zacluiriah T. Iv. Thompson, C. A. Turner, J. F. Andrews, C. King, M. Marks, Drury. J. M. Izett, and tho Chieftain llangiuia.

The Corporation employees’ annual picnic and sports will bo held on Saturday at the Upper Hint. Great preparations have boon mad© for a good time. Special train arrangements have been made.