AMUSEMENTS.

Stratford Evening Post, Volume XXIX, Issue 79, 23 May 1911, Page 5

AMUSEMENTS.

“WHY MEN LOVE WOMEN.” Stratford play-goers were treated to something out of the common . last night, when Walter Howard’s sensational drama, “Why Mon Love-Wo-men, was staged. There was a remarkably good house, and from the rise of the curtain to its fall on the last scene, the play was watched with thrilling interest. There was not a weak point in the whole presentation, every performer doing full justice to his or her allotted part. Added to tins, the scenery was most attractive, and, above all, there was an absence of those long waits between the acts which are so tiresome to an audience. Miss Frances Ross’s impersoiiation of the trying character of \ inlet Livingstone” was a masterpiece, and to this talented actress icll rhe lion’s share of the incidents presented. She was ably supported I'V Mr Conway Wingfield as “Gerald fielding,” Mr Hilliard Vox as “Captain Stamtoff” (the villian), Mr Ronald W. Riles, as “Ackbar Mohammed Khan,” Mr Frederick Roade as “Tommy Fit/.herhort,” and Mr Artlinr, Cowley as “Tim Rey, Aftluv Gi oy; while the lighter side was ably sustained by Mr Fred Cambourne ami . Miss Clara Stevenson as “Mr and Mrs Figgins” and the famous “L tnptdoodlums” Misses Nellie Bundahl and Agnes Reagh. A brief resume of tlie story will be interesting. Gerald Fojlding, a young English artist, finding iumself m love with an heiress, prepares to fly the country rather than risk the inevitable stigma that ho marries the girl for her money. Knowing this, the heroine immediately sells her property and hands the proceeds to the Indian F* mine Fund, but before the lovers car. bo married the man is arrested for the all eged murder of a Russian girl, and he finds himself being tricked and plotcd against by a Russian officer, who is madly in love with the heiress, or, at least, with her money. To obviate the necessity of the heiress giving evidence against her lover, they were wedded through the prison bars. Much villainous intriguing on the part of the Russian, and forbearance on the part of the Englishman and his wife hold the intense interest of the audience until the fall of the curtain, when virtue is tvi imp rant. But in between all this is ihe cheerful optimism of Tommy Fibdierbert and the eccentric comedy of une Orlando Figgins, who, with rlio members of an opera company, keeps the audience in fits of laughter whenever they appear. '£AsT LYNNE” 70-i3 ChT To-night, the last night of the sea-, son, an entirely new version of the popular “East Lynne” will - be’ produced on the same elaborate scale of staging and dressing as was a feature of its production in the recent season at the Princes Theatre, Melbourne where Miss Frances R*<ss,. as Lady Isabel, scored a groat success “Last Lynne” has always i.een a popular piece with tho thoatregm 'it public, and Miss Ross’ interpretation of the part of Lady Isabel lias been received with much favour by Press and public alike. The various members of the company are sold to b<. most happily placed in tlie'r respective parts, including Mr Cbnwav Wingfield as Archibald Carhue.

POSTER CARNIVAL AT ELTHAM. Skaters should have a good time in Wilkinson’s Hall, Eltham, on Thursd/iy night when the first Poster Carnival in Eltham will ho held. These competitions have been immensely popular elsewhere and wo have no doubt but that they will proro as attractive in Eltham as in other towns. Full particulars appear in our advertising columns ami it will be seen that there are six different, competitions for which prizes are offeree!. The ladies' needlc-aml-thread race should produce plenty of fun, particularly if the needles have to be threaded by gentlemen, 1 for it is an exceedingly difficult and tedious operation for the average man. The potato race should bo another interesting competition. The final event will lie a hockey match, Ha worn v. Eltham. T/he programme for skaters is what may lie termed a “monster,” one and Thursday night should bring forward a record attendance- of skaters and. visitors.