ENTERTAINMENTS

New Zealand Times, Volume XXXIII, Issue 7356, 7 February 1911, Page 6

ENTERTAINMENTS

OPERA HOUSE. “miAT HAPPENED TO JONES.” Tho bright farcical comedy “What Happened to Jones'' was produced by the Willoughby Company for the third time at the Opera House last night before a crowded audience. It will be repeated to-night and to-morrow night. “MR PREEBY AND THE COUNTESS” Acceding to numerous requests Sir George Willoughby has decided to produce for one night only (next Thursday) R. C. Carton's latest, farce comedy “Mr Preedy and the Countess,” to which local playgoers have long boon looking forward. The story, tersely put, is that of ah absconding Countess (Miss Beatrice Day) levanting with John Bounsall (Mr George Willoughby) and imposed by that domineering gentleman upon his single junior partner, Preedy (Mr Harold Papkes) a bachelor in a flat, and left in the keeping of this gentle soul for a night and a day. Preedy, the longsuffering, has just attached himself to Emma Sid grave (Miss Nellie Mortyne), a nice girl with scupulous parents. Com* plications and sorrow begin to fall in upon Preedy when people find him and hi* fiat an the possession of a largo, imposing and audacious lady who cannot be explained away. Eater the irascible relatives df the Countess (Messrs Harry Overton and Hugh C. Buckler) descend upon the meek little chap and increase the burden of liis • woes. Also he has to put up with the insolence and suspicion. of his butler (Mr Harry Halley), and a maid (Miss Amy Willard), whom he engaged, for the Countess, to say nothing of the jealous interference of Reginald Saunders (Mr Arthur Cornell), a rejected lover of Emma's. In the end Preedy triumphs, but not before most amusing situations have been set up. The box plan for “Mr Preedy” opens at tho Dresden this morning, PULLERS’ VAUDEVILLE COMPANY. Tho new programme submitted at the Theatre Royal last evening by Fullers' Vaudeville Company provided enjoyment lor a numerous and appreciative audience. The “ star” item of tho bill was the new comedy sketch by Mr Fred. Graham and Miss Ncdli’o Dent, entitled “Married a Week.” Much, tun is provided by the delinquencies of a bibulous young Husband who returns home in a very inebriated condition. He is dismayed by the unexpected arrival of his wife, who has waited vainly for her husband to escort her from a ball. The sketch is admirably suited to the performers, and Mr Fred Graham, -with hie inimitable mannerism, made tho utmost of a laughable role. He sang “The Morning After the Night Before” in a thoroughly characteristic style. Miss Dent ably assisted in a part which was exacting to a considerable degree. Mr iV'alJy Dawson made his first appearance with a comic number “ As Hot as I Can Make It,” which won a hearty encore, tie added .a patter song, “ The Lucky Horseshoe,” which increased the good impression, already cieated, and in. response to another recall Mr Dawson performed a neat skipping dance. A careful and pleasing rendition of Stephen Adams' song “ Narvana,” by Mr Charles Heath, was in keeping with the former successes of that singer, who has won thirty-seven gold medals in Australian vocal competitions. His ballad, “If 1 Had a Home, Sweet Home,” was anothei acceptable contribution. Miss Cecile Stephana's in.terpreta.ions of Chapman's .“’Evening Lovo Song” and “ Alice ben Bolt” were decidedly meritorious. The Anderson Trio figured in a skilful acrobatic and contortion act, which was clamorously applauded, as was also tho Anderson Sisters' double song and dance, “Snuggle Up Closer.” An engaging httle songstress. Miss Ruby Wallace, pleased everyone with heir songs and dances. Whirling Over tlx© Floor” and “Golden Daffodil.” Air Scot Gibson's Scottish songs were in big demand, and success attended his, singing of “Breakfast in ny Red” and “I'm fu' th' NouV' jTbo first-part numbers, “ Aou, i'ou, Aou and “ That's Where She Sits All Day,” were encored. Mr Jack Knowles, the coloured comedian, is another fdvourife who was enthusiastically received. Farrell (the one-legged dancer) and Gaffney figured in an appropriate sketch entitled “The Newsboy and the Bootblack,” which included an energetic glove contest, excellent dances and vocal items. This “ turn'' and Mr Gaffney's capable ■song and dance. “ Friena of Aline,” were among tire most popular features of the programme. Miss Elaine Verrol, who sang and danced a serio-comic item, was vociferously applauded. “Th© Copper and the Crook,” an, up-to-date New York motion picture, was screened. Th© programme will be -repeated this evening. HIS MAJESTY'S PICTURES. The amnouncement that th© new programme of pictures at His Majesty's Theatre was to bo an excellent one in every way attracted a largo number of people to th© .popular picture house 3a»t evening. Everybody was satisfied, tho programme being quite as good as any that have previously been shown. “ Rivers and Valleys of Norway ” is a really \autiful film. The country illustrated is tho centre of th© Scandinavian timber trade, and one is given a clear idea of how the big legs are distributed to the towns by means of great water chutes-, “Cain” lt is the title of a pathetic drama tits story of love and jealousy. A girl who is sought after by two of her mother's farm hands decides »to marry one of them. The other, becoming deadly envious, murders his rival and attempts to conceal his crime by blaming an old vagabond. H© has, however, left tho impress of a blood-stained hand ou tho wall of the room in which he committed tho murder. A short while after the tragic occurrence, the miscreant lias the temerity to -declare his love to the girl, but is refused. Becoming enraged, he dashes out of the room, but little does he think that on, a sheet of paper lying on a table he has left the mark of a dirty band. This sheet W discovered by the mother of the girl, and they both look round the walls of the house to see if there are any more similar marks. The girl finds tho one.on th© wall, and it suddenly occurs to her that it is the impression of the hand of “ Cain..'' She questions . him. as ,to his the crime, and he confesses

guilt, A very interesting film is that of an animal hospital, showing how the dumb creatures are treated for accidents and ailments. The somewhat thrilling adventures of a newspaper reporter are narrated in. "The Sunday Edition." There are numerous other pictures of merit, both scenic and comip.

"A MESSAGE FROM MAES." The bos plans for the performances of the PUmmer-Denniston. season will be opened 'at the Dresden at 9 o'clock tomorrow morning. The first production will bo "A Message from Mars," and will commence next Saturday. Everybody knows the story of the play, which makes an agreeable and thoughtful fellow out of a selfish and rather overbearing brother and fiance. The carrying out of this metamorphosis is left in the very capable hands of a Martian, and the manner of his appearance to an unwilling pupil is one of the cleverest bits of stagecraft of modern days. Mr Reynolds Denniston, as the Messenger, is said to be as good as any of the previous messengers we have seen. Mr Plimmor takes the part of Horace Parker, who in one sliqrt evening undergoes the wonderful change that in reality sometimes takes a lifetime to accomplish, and gives just such a rendering that one would expect from, such an

experienced artist. "A Message from Mars” will be succeeded by the productions of "Lover’s Lane” and “The Passing of the Third Floor Back. CASEY THE CHIMPANZEE. Judging by the expressions of amusement heard at 98 Willis street last night, Casey, the chimpanzee, has made a great “hit” with the public. Each of j his receptions yesterday and last night was crowded, and the remarkable animal performed his feats without a flaw. He played the piano, clapped his hands, and got as much music from a mouth organ as any child would. “BABY BLISS.” Baby Bliss is the youngest of a large familv of fourteen from Astoria, L. 1., New 'York, U.S.A., en route round the world, and on exhibition in Willis street, opposite the Hotel Windsor, till Saturday night only. He is so plumpweighing some 43 stone—that one wonders if Baby Bliss has been nourished on “the food of the gods” mentioned by H. G. Wells.