AMUSEMENTS.

Taranaki Daily News, Volume XLVII, Issue 81897, 1 December 1906, Page 2

AMUSEMENTS.

"THE MAN FROM MEXICO." The votdict of the crowded house that watered "The Man from Mexico" at the Theatre Royal last night was, with one accord, that it was the best thing in farcical comedy that has ever been »een in New Plymouth, and the warm reception accorded the players was only in keeping with the sp.endid reports of the play and its acting that had preceded them. The piece is, as it is no doubt meant to be, wildly impossible, taicical in the extreme; but the farce is cleverly conceived, the dialogue is bright, and sparkling and clean, the central idea is new and unconventional, and the humour gathers volume as the p;.ay progresses till it rolls along in a deep flood that appeals irresistibly to all who are in the numour to bo amused. Tne succoss of the piece is due to the smartly written dialogue, and the series of boldly conceived situations which spring naturally from the base on which the comedy is constructed, and, . f

course, to .the most capable interpretation it recoived at trio hands of a talented company. The star actress, Miss Grace i'alotta, has a charming presence. The part she took was tnat of Clementina Fitzhugh, who sets oat to watch her husband, and is unluck'ly "run in" during a police raid, in which, unknown to her, Mr FUzUugn is included. From that beginning, the fun arises from the measures each takes to conceal from ilia other the troub.© that has arisen. The part fits Miss Palotta to perfection. In the last act she shone particularly as a singer and dancer id a highly original trio, which is one ol the cleverest and most striking features of the performance. Mr Hugh Ward is a naturally humorous comedian, and his humour is irresistible, ue has aKo a good voice, and as a dancer he is the embodiment of merry abandon- His role was tnat of Benjamin Fitzhugh, who, as a result of a "night out," is sent to gaol for thirty days. His excuse for absenting nimself from home is that he is going to. Mexico, and when he has completed his sentnece, he keeps up tue pretence that he has been there', in the prison scene particularly he was cxct'uciating.y funny, and his -■o'ng, "Nobody," and his queer lUncing were loudly encored. Mr George Willougiiby, as Roderick Majors, Fitzhugli's best friend, contributed his full share to the gaiety ;f .lie evening, and his song, "The Simp.e Life," with a, clever dance, was ' capital.y given. The other characters wro all in capable hands, and all contributed to the general merriment. The dressing and staging of th e piece was very fine, and especially in the Mexican settings, spectacular to a degree.

WEST'S PICTURES AND THE BRESCIANS.

The advent of this popu'ar tompany ta the Theatre Royal, New Plymouth, for a season of four days, commencing on Monday next, December 31 d, '.vill be welcome to a.l lovers of a wholesome and enjoyab'o entertainment. On their first tour u: New Zealand they obtained great success, and reports from Australia say that the citizens of the Commonwealth have greeted them with similar enthusiasm during their six months' tour there. "Everything New" is the trade mark for the coming vi-it, and so an exceptional array oi interesting picluies may be expected.