NEW EMPIRE VAUEVILLE.

Otago Witness, Issue 2924, 30 March 1910, Page 70

N EW EMPIRE VAUEVILLE.

A holiday house of packed dimensions greeted the weekly change of programme at the Alhambra Theatre on Monday In addition to the regular artists who have been appearing of late, there appeared Ward Lear, who is proving .himself to be fully worthy of the reputation he brings °u bein S the finesrt versatile comedian of •the Australian stage. His " patter " seems inexhaustible, and its quality never deten jrates. His songs,' though not heavy nor demanding laborious execution, are well rendered, and never fail to attract merited applause. Altogether his turn is the outstanding feature of the. first half of the- programme, and was accorded no tewer than four encores last night. In the -first part also appeared the Martin Sisters, a pair of some attainments and ability as dancers. The welcome extended to them .On their first appearance was a generous one. Other contributors of note were Charles Heath, with his solo item, "The deathless army," Merle Lawrence with her ballad, "No one knows" (in which she was accompanied very effectively and prettily in the chorus by Messrs Heath and Lamb), and Joe Lamb, with a popular piece in "The skipper." Joe Rox ably supported Ward Lear in amusing minstrelsy and _ coon patter, and rendered'. rn able fashion the song, "I am going "to sea." Nina Gonzales received appreciative-ap-plause for her serio-comic contribution; " Leader of the .circus band,"' and Pearl Small, in her opening song and dance, struck a happy standard, which was well rewarded. In the second part a main position was taken by Wise and Milton with their Indian items (these being fully appreciated), and Tom Armstrong and Priscilll Verne in a new piece entitled, "The Battle of Too-Soon." This is a new thing, any heavy work, but with plenty of "scope for light and effective play upon words. In every case the point is well brought out, and some really good—even if one or two are stale—jokes are brought for- . ward, with as much vivacity and happi- ! ness as that attending a new birth. The i piece provided very heart* and enjoyable laughter to the large: audience, and this was far from being spoiled by the contretemps of the close when the walls of the stage fort sielded to the weight of Tom Armstrong and revealed to the audience the "stage' army marching in the rear. The curtain was hastily lowered, and the evident desire of the audience for an encore of -the incident silently ignored. The Martin Sisters contributed in combination a love song, which earned some applause. i Other vocalists were Merle Lawrence in her | illustrated item, "By the old oaken ! bucket," and Messrs Lamb and Heath in ! the duet " Two sailors." This last is a very pretty piece, and was well rendered, ■• but its effectiveness was in large measure | spoiled by the place accorded it on the i programme—last but one,—when the audi- ; eneo was in motion to leave the theatre ! after the finale of the Armstrong and ! Verne combination. An improvement I would be effected were this number advanced a little. The concluding piece was I a biograph depiction.dealing with the love. ': affairs of a Brazilian. Altogether the new ' programme fully maintains the name of ! the°theatre for quality.