WILLOUGHBY-WARD COMPANY.

Wairarapa Age, Volume XXIX, Issue 8286, 14 November 1906, Page 5

WILLOUGHBY-WARD COMPANY.

"THE MAN FROM MEXICO." Despite the inclement weather, last evening, tbe Town Hall was orowded when the WlHuughby and Ward New London Comedy Company staged "The Man From Mexico" for the first time in Masterton. The piece is built on excellent material; there is a fgood story developed right through, and unlike in many plays of its class, the mijin idea is □ot buried in a mass of incongruities and absurdities. It is not only a frankly ridiculous piece, but a cleverly-written one, and one that |is oast ';o exceptional advantage, The fan conlained in thepieco Is fast and furious, and seems to gather momentum as the plot; la being unravelled. There is hardly a dull moment and the audience seemed to enjoy tbe bill thoroughly. Besides its mirtb-provoking scenes, the piece aontains many original dances and oatohy singing. Miss Grace Palotta, who appeared for the first time before a Masterton eudienoe, received a hearty welcome, and justified her stage reputation as an accomplished artiste. Miss Palotta is very thorough, very gifted, and always in touoh with her audience. In the last aot she is seen to advantage as 3 danseuse and singer in an interesting trio "Tammany"—quite a feature ?of the production. Miss Patotta's terpsiohorean ability Is again well displajed in a graceful Spanish dance, in costume, with Mr Hugh Ward. Mr Ward is a comedian who kept the audienoe in a state of merriment. His qualitee include tbe rare one of natural humour. He impersonates,, in the title role, a husband who. as the result of a "spree," has to go to gaol for thirty days. His experiences there, and his efforts afterwards to keep up tbe pretenoo tnat he has been to Mexico, form the (jorux of the main joke. He sings comically and well, and dances nimbly and skilfully into the bargain. His song, "Nobody," is particularly clever. Mr George Willoughby is admirably suited iu tbe role of Roderick Majors, Mr Ward's bdst friend, who is for ever going to "fix his difficulties up" for him and perpetually making them worse. Mr Wiiloughby also proves himself the capable singer of a good pong, and a dancer of gay measures. The three artists named carry the weight of the pieoe on their shoulders, but nre thoroughly well supported by v Messrs Edward Honfield, J. W. l-lar< tman, Reginald Wykebam, Obas. Knight, Arthur Cornell, O. Warburfon Gamble, Misses Olive Wilton, Gillian Scaife, and Edith Warren. SICK BABIES IN SUMMER. It is during the warm months of summer that mothers have to be most careful of their little ones, and at the first unusual looseness of their bowels should give the little sufferer a dose of Ghambe rlain's Cclio, Cholera, and Diarrhoea Kemedy. Get it to-day; it will save trouble later on. I For sale by T. G. Mason, Chemist, Mas- ] terton. , ■

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