ENTERTAINMENTS.

New Zealand Times, Volume LXXV, Issue 5024, 23 July 1903, Page 5

ENTERTAINMENTS.

OPERA HOUSE. you a Mason ?*' local play-goers were afforded an oportunity to laugh at German luuuour. Last evening gave a revival of the bright, quick-moving, forcecomedy the Parisian delights in, and winch finds abundant appreciation at the fianus of English audiences, as its reception testified, "Oh! What a Night” is not now to Wellington audioncos, having been played somoseven or eight years under the title of ”A Night Out” bv"a company headed by Mr Harry Paulton and Miss Alma Stanley. The performM*®® last evening was mnek in advance ol tho previous one, for the present company seems to be peculiarly suited to uiis class of play. Tho farce deals with tho dissatisfaction of pretty Airs Paillard at her husband s iudilleronco, She confides this to her neighbour, Mr who induces her to teach her husband a lesson by consenting to go out and sup with 15 ti3 e beginning of tho ‘'night OU J? decide that tho Hotel Mascotto shall bo tho place, Mr Paillard, an architect, has been called in to ascertain whether a. certain chamber in this verv‘ hot©] is haunted. M. Mathieu, the father •ji s } vfcG t•girlies/* has called to stay with Pmglet, but the latter aghast at the army of daughters, declines to take him in, and the poor father hearing Pinglet mention the place of his appointment to Mrs Paillard, thinks that the address is for him, and he takes his departure for that particular restaurant. Masime, a cousin of Paillard, is induced this very samo night to take tho friskv ladv*s maid Victorine, to supper at the same place/ ihi-s brings nearly all tho characters to the hotel. Tho scene is divided into three apartments—the haunted chamber, the mam hall and a supper room, and it is in those rooms that tho fun waxes fast and funous. Paiuard ia shown to the haunted chamber bv one waiter, and. daughters to tile same room a little later by another. The girls decide to play ghosts, and greatly friehten tno architect, who rushes wildly out Ringlet has tho misfortune to meet Mathieu in the hotel, and his efforts' to conceal the _ foot that he is with Halliard's wife are excruciatingly funny. The din caused by HaillariVs fright rouses the whole hotel and brings in tho police. Mrs Paillard to escape a scene, tells the officers that sho is Mrs Pinglet, and there with her husband, and, Pinglet, with the same end in, view says ho is Paillard. On these palpable uustatem-ents their names are taken down also those of the others present. The' final act sees Pinglet and Mrs Paillard still playing the bluff successfully, hut oach with some humorous evidence of the terrible night they had experienced, and regretting their indiscretion with aching heads and a frightful dread of exposure. The summonses arc served on, the wrong people, of course, but Pinglet piav s a winning game right through and succeeds m deluding all. including Mg long'-suf-fenng wife, up to the fall of the curtain. Mr Goo. Gideons, as Pinglet, has a part that is made for him—that of a brisk, dapper, middle-aged. -person with a wholesome fear of his wife and a passion for his neighbour’s. His ready business was inimitable, and his performance must rank as one of the finest of its class seen upon the Wellington stage. Mr Cecil Ward was not overburdened as Halliard, but did what was to be done in his usually finished manner. Mrs Pin-det was excellently played by Miss Eileen Munro, and Miss Clair© Perry made a charming Mrs Paillard. A capital characterisation was that of Mathieu by Mr Herbert Jarman, a person who stutters whea it rains. Excellent little sketches were those of Maxinie (Mr Arthur Desmond), Baston (M r Eawrenco Hanray), Botticelli (Mr ( N. r McKeown“ Victornie (Miss Pearson), and the four ‘lambs, ' naturally played by Misses Lily J.iochfort, Mane X-orman Alma Phillips and Hthei Gunn. ' r Oh I What a NightV J is exccllontlv staged, and the music is a leaturo. The last three performances of the company are announced.

DIX'S GAIETY 'COMPANY. Those who have not alreadv witnessed tho performances of Hill and Silvainr now appearing with Dix's Gaietv Company, are warned that the performers will only appear twice more-to-night and to-morrow-prior to leaving-for Australia. Apart from these artists tho company now playing is recommended to those in search of a capital evening’s entertainmont. For Saturday night an attraction wih be provided in the Steele-Payne Bellringers, who have achieved great fame throughout the world. They will appear m addition to the full strength of the Gaiety Company. CHORAL HALF Admirers of Fuller’s Entertainers again filled tho Choral Hall last evcninr. despite tho wretched weather. Foremost among the performers is the cver-popu-lar Fred Bluett, whose contributions are always provocative of hearty laughter. On Saturday afternoon a singing cctnuotition will be hold, when the child under fourteen years, who host sings the cncms of "Cheer up, Bullcr" will receive n present. The audience will bo the judges. Mr Moore presided over a crowded attendance at the Missions to -Seamen last

miTht. Pile programme, a most attractive one was provided by Mrs I’rinclo. n-ho ppriced h»ra to make the evc.mim * i‘.o:iKUU one for tuu men. Th© chat cu temperance twilled in twelve men locnming abdiuners. Tho following cave mnr.val schvUons, for which they were l l! 1vUll n cl "i? rs: T rj *° ’a'*** ini; c, lluiactt, Kennedy and Taylor and dicers Lilhcrap, Kennedy, Donovanana Aiigun, iA A i 1 , 1 ; 01 ’® ** la!l twelve months suico the Wellington Amateur Operatic ami Diamatic booic.y performed in public, but its -season last winter was of sue-ccsi-fnl a cluiraclor as to anguv well lor its iLwipi'canim-n. Gilbert amt Sulliv.tn'n charuung opera, l,.umli«jorc” Ims bw. in rehcarsa lor some time, and is to ba staged at tho Opera ilouso iur sevmj, u lights, coimucnoing next Wednesday, The bos plan will bo open at Holliday's to-ilny, J The annual "social"' of the Wharf labourers Union is to be hold to-mofri'fti evening' ill 1 (ho Druids' Uall, Tam,,mil street. Tho animal dance of tho Convent Fxinipils’ Association has been postponed till August lllli. 1 Court Sir George Grey, A.0.F., will hold its forty-first annual banquet tomorrow evening, in the Foresters’ Hall iiombton ounv. At the Wesleyan Literaiy and Debating Society s meeting to-night, in tho WeeI cyan Institute Buildings Taranoiki Etrcot, the Bov W. C. Oliver will looters on Koine Literal- Dcculiaritics-GraT«v Ilmnorous and Otherwise.”