AMUSEMENTS.

Timaru Herald, Volume XIIC, Issue 13845, 5 March 1909, Page 7

AMUSEMENTS.

TtICHARDS ENTERTAINERS. A company new to Timaru made its debut in the Theatre Royal last night with a combined show that is distinctly above the average. The' theatre was well filled downstairs, though rather disappointing in the dress - circle, but all who were present must have been very hard to pleast v if they were not fully satisfied with the varied : and really clever programme that was placed before them. A feature of the entertainment was the juggling of the two Arnolds, which was worthy of all praise. The feats were performed with a- deftness and smoothness that veiled their difficulty, and the amusing antics of one of" the brothers elicited roars of • laughter from the spectators. The ' comic man of the pair got off a beautiful practical joke on the audience that, must be seen to be appreciated. Mr Brarider Balfour, who is the possessor of a • good baritone, rendered " Nirvana," and in response to a vociferous encore sang " Sally Horner." Mr Balfour also contributed a couple of illustrated songs entitled "The Man that Fights the Fire,'? and "Red : "Wing," that' met -.with a very good reception. Mr Will Hughes excited the risible faculties of his audience with a "couple of smart and snappy comic songs,'and also gave as clever an exhibition of dancing as has been seen on the boards of the theatre for a long time. Last but not least, mention '• must be made of the really splendid lot of animated pictures shown by Mr A. T. Richards, which were •worked with an absence of vibration that was a revelation to those who have only had an opportunity of witnessing the usual rather terrible "flickergraph." The pictures shown included a wide .-range of subjects, amusing, dramatic and instructive, and v. several of them are worthy of special \ mention, particularly "A Dumb Hero," x "The Promise," "The Melbourne Cup," "The Gipsy's Revenge," etc. To sum up, this show can be recommended as the -best way to spend an evening that is likely to come the way of Timaruvians for a long time to come. The company appear again to-night for the last time, and special concessions are to be made for lady patrons.

"THE RED MILL." On Monday next,, at the Theatre " Royal, and for one night'only, -will be produced by the J. C. Williamson Musical Comedy Company, the eminent success, entitled " The Red Mill," a, most successful up-to-date musical comedy in two acts. This play comes with _a great" reputation, as being the foremost and the original'of all Dutch musical comedies,' and the best of any musical play, with the exception, probably, of , the "Prince of Pilsen," : .of modern times. It is said to, be brilliant, lively and'.-picturesque, replete with charming music, delightful songs, ?- vaudeville turns of a very, high grade, marvellous eccentric , .dances, and clever comedy. The scene is laid in a picturesque town in Holland, and the opening act shows the great quaint Red Mill standing majestically in the foreground. The story is one of love—r Jan - Van -Borken;: .the crabbed old burgomaster, is bent on his daughter 'Gretchen ■ marrying .the. Governor of Zeeland; the girl loves, and is_ loved by a sailor, Doris Von Damm. To keep her- from her lover, the. chief magistrate locks Gretchen. up in the Mill, but the girl has many friends, who contrive to arrange her escape, prominent amongst which are two impecunious Americans, who,. in doing v Europe, have -also managed to do Willem, the irascible old innkeeper, and elect to work respectively as interpreter and waiter, rather than go to gaol. '- Herein lies the great comedy opportunities indulged in to the full by Messrs John Ford, Fred Leslie and Charles ' Loder. The rescue of Gretchen hanging to the swiftly revolving wing of the windmill provides a sensation not here- " tofore expected or accomplished in . musical comedy. In the second act, after a series of heartbreaking checks, the course of true love at length runs smoothly, thanks mainly to the efforts of the versatile Americans, who ap- * pear at the critical moment as Sherlock Holmes and Dr. Watson, and settle things satisfactorily. "The Red Mill" will be staged and dressed in a manner worthy the best traditions of the . J. C. Williamson Companies. -The box plan, now open at the Dresden, shows splendid advance booking.

AN EXPENSIVE ATTRACTION

- Messrs John - Fuller and Sons, when the Burns-Johnson match was first mooted, offered Mr Hugh D. Mcintosh £2OOO for the Dominion- rights for the picture. This sum, though large, was not enough for the promoter. He decided to retain the world's rights to himself. He, however, licensed out one film, and one only, to each country, still' retaining a big interest, and Messrs Fuller and Sons are the New Zealand licensees. Ten days after the battle, the pigjures were shown in Christchureh, and nightly hundreds were turned away. 'Twas.the same in all other towns visited, and everywhere the films were voted excellent. Four cameras were at work on a day eminently suited for the successful taking of the kinematograms, and a perfect reproduction of every incident of the great fight was secured. In addition, there are genuine \ pictures of the two men training at their quarters, also a magnificent film ilustrating Italy's marvellous cavalry at manoeuvres. The box plan is at Mr Jordan's, tobacconist shop.