ENTERTAINMENTS.

Dominion, Volume 2, Issue 451, 9 March 1909, Page 8

ENTERTAINMENTS.

"THE ISLE OF HONG-BONG." "The Isle of Bong-Bong." A musical comedy in two acts. . ; Dolores Miss Millie Cruickshanks (Daughter* of Ilio Wizard, and Widow of the former Owner of the Estate) General Caramba II r. Ernest Schatz (A' llctircd Soldier and an Ardent Patriot) 0. Kaftro Saundcrs Mr. Wilton Welch (An American Politician working tho Philippine Field) Mrs. Reginald Mordyko Keusaellcr-liensael-ler (Thrico a Widow) Miss Minnie Topping Marjorie Grey Jiiss Cissio O'Kcefo (An American Girl, Secretary of Iho Estate on tho Island) Lord Percy Fitz'.naurico Mr. J. "Willis (English Owner of tho Estate on the Island of Mindora, P. 1.) Gordon St. Bernard Muster Bert Nicholson (Master of Hounds Lord Percy's English Hunting Estate) The Sultan of Bong-Bong Mr. Charles Albert (An Assimilated Citizen of the United States) Paqutta Miss May Topping (Daughter of tho Sultau of Bong-Bong) It was said by Swift, who was, after all, a humourist, and knew that the most brilliant joke evor invented is less diverting to most people than tho withdrawal of a man's chair when ho is about to sit down. "Tho Isle of Bong-Bong" is full of" just such rough and farcical humour, and the audience that revelled in its absurdities last night bore witness, by its evident enjoymont, to the justice of Swift's judgment. The comedy, or farce, has been altered a good deal since it was first staged in Wellington a year ago, but it is still as wildly irresponsible as ever. On an impossible- floating island in the Philippines there is a grotesque Sultan, who pours whisky down his ears, as well as throat, loses his island and his clothes at poker, and appears "in the columns of the daily press," which , mako his only clothing. There is'an English lord, who owns an estate on the island, and who does not matter much until ho changes stations with his lacquey, and gives Master Bert Nicholson an opportunity to indulge in much ridiculous and entertaining foolery. There are also an absurd patriot general who drinks more whisky than tho Sultan, an excitable young woman named Dolores, who declaims about her hate and flourishes a digger, a merry widow, who frisks in and out tho acts in pretty dresses, tho Sultan's daughter, who masquerades and ' ususlly finds herself in difficulties and other remarkable characters, who do things that are only done in musical comedy. But tho really important persons are tho ridiculous Sultan and the gravely eccontric lacquoy, who has to assume the dignity of a Lord, and, later, of a game commissioner. As a game commissioner, ho is called upon to fight a duel with a savage tiger, which he docs, very much against his will. Tho tiger scenes are wildest farce, but Master Nicholson performs tho maddest antics and tumbles through tho most absurd adventures with a gravity that is never shaken, but whose drolluess makes his audience shako till they nro sore- with laughtex. Thero are also choruses in plenty, music light but tuneful, charming staging, and a vim in tho performance which makes tho acts speed by in never-flagging gaiety. . ' Master Nicholson was a master of farce in his part of Gordon St. Bernnrd, the lacquey who impersonates his lord, so that tho lord, in tho character of lacquey may woo with more advantage a democratic American girl secretary. As acting-lord, ho took full liberties with the temporary lacquey. his duet with the widow, "Ask tho Man," and his other comic songs, wore well sung, and his eccentric foot-work was a strong feature- of the performance. Mr. Charles Albert, who has succeeded Mr. W. Pollard as tho Sultnn of Bong-Bong, sang and acted with much offect, a'nd it would'be< difficult'to imagine a more successful impersonation of tho part. Mr. Wilton Welch, as the American politician, and Mr. J. Willis, as Lord Percy, wero conventionally good, and Mr. Ernest Schatz was an amusing Spanish patriot. Miss Millio Cruickshanks, as the vongeful Dolores, played a melodramatic part fairly well,. and Miss O'Koofo acquitted herself passably a3 tho Amorican secretaryj her songs being well received. Miss Minnie Topping, as tho widow, sang well, and acted with becoming sparkleand frivolity, and Miss May Topping was excellent as the Sultan's daughter. A number of subordinate parts were well filled. "The Isle- of Bong-Bong" will bo repeated till-Friday night, when it will bo succeeded by Planquetto's popular opera "Rip Van Winkle-."

THEATRE ROYAL. Tho numerous visitors to tho Theatre Royal last night wero delighted with tho programme, which has been arranged for the current week. There was a consensus of opinion that no finer film than that which unfolds the story of Vorcingetorix, the hero of Old Gaul, has over been shown here. Tho other pictures, which cover a wide range, of intoresting are alsp well worth seeing;

THE ROYAL PICTURES. " Crowded to tho doors" was again the oxSorience at His Majesty's Theatre, last night, no of the most interesting films in tho series is that in which various phases of tho date industry aro depicted. "A Criminal Guardian" is the titlo of another set-which cannot fail to excite unusual attention. One of tho best of tho humorous pictures tells tlio talo of n dog which makes a point of returning to its master every time he sells it. Tho current series will be shown for the last time to-night.

SAILORS' REST. A concert to seamen, was given in tho Sailors' Rest last night, under tho auspices of tho Wellington Catholic Seamen's Conference. 'There was a crowded audience, and tho following contributed to a first-class and varied programme:—Mrs. Cole, piauo solo; Master Fred. Mixner, song; Mr. A. Hiclcmptt, song; Miss Burns, violin solo; phonographic items (phonograph kindly supplied by "Tho Talkeries,;' Willis Street); Mr. Reid, song; Miss Maisey Reeves, Hungarian bell dance; Mi , . F. Moran, song; Miss A. Sullivan, song; Mr. Cooze, song; Miss Botydon, song; Mr. Colo, violin solo; Miss Hamilton, song; Mr. Walsh, song; Miss P. Reeves, oolumbino dance; Mr. Clements, song; Mr. Levin, recitation; Mr. Heinzt, recitation. Mesdames Colo and Reeves, and Miss Lorraine Tansley played the accompaniments, and Captain Bonner returned thanks.