ENTERTAINMENTS.

Dominion, Volume 3, Issue 796, 20 April 1910, Page 3

ENTERTAINMENTS.

WILLOUGHBY'S COMEDY COMPANY. "THE NIGHT OF THE PARTY." "The Night of the Party" was intro- . duced to Wellington playgoers by Geo. Willoughby's English Comedy Company at the Opera Houso last evening. Mr. 1 Willoughby, who is well known to local players, has appeared here in many better farcicial comedies than "The Night of the Party," but the acting was good and smiles and laughter were not lacking, many of the situations being exceedingly well developed. The big joke is that Crosbie, the butler, has a habit of personating his master, Mr. Frank Frayne, when the latter is ont of the way, and at the same time gives midnight receptions (to chase away the gloom that follows his employer's departure) in his "servitorial" capacity. At these receptions the elite bf the service hold high jinks, which sometimes terminate in orgies. This is the case when Mr. Frayne returns homo unexpectedly one night. Crosbie's frionds just have time to scuttle into hiding places when - the/master arrives, having missed a late train into the country. Crosbie is unmistakably intoxicated, but mentally cool and clear. He wears his vine leaves with dignity and lies superbly—an admirable, if drunken, Crichton. Frayne is followed in by silly Lady Hampshire, who childishly imagines her husband a brute because • he speaks sensibly and has whiskers. She would - fain throw herself at ■ Frayne, but. he is not playing catches, and while pleading for sympathy compromises herself hopelessly with all Crosbie's friends, who are concealed in the room, chiefly Mr. Flambert, a retired butcher, of the "inner circle," and magnificently dignified (who is under the table), Bogle the porter (who is stowed away in a chest), Gipsy Vandelier, a big, breezy, bouncing woman, Paulino, the housemaid, and Eoundle, a footman. All these people turn up in Act 11, as may be expected', and each of them, who think they "'old her Leddyship in 1 the 'ollow of the''and," impart to her in different ways the knowledge they have of her midnight visit to Frayne's house. This is at Hadstone Hall, a' fashionable public house in the country, where Crosbie is masquerading as his master, "Gipsy" threatens .Lady Hampshire with oxposure if she does not befriend heri unu get her into society (she at thai time being pursued by an amorous Lord Mayor- designate)'; Eoundle wants a character from her, while Flambert "plays the game." In doing this, however, ho lets the whole business out to Sir Charles Hampshire, and -there is trouble. He advances on Crosbie - as Frayne with, blackness in his heart, just as the real" Frayue enters. Crosbie takes charge of the situation, and passes Frayneoff as his servant, to the tatter's amazement and intense indignation, declares Lady Hamp. shire to be innocent, arid promises, in Frayne's name, .£5(10 towards a charity to hush up;the affair. There are further complidations, in which the versatile Crosbie appears to excellent advan. tage; and it is through his'efforts that 1 the break in tie cloud of complication occurs at length, exposing the blue of better ordered, if less funny, lives. The comedy is a sandwich inside out—the first aud last' acts are bright, .compared with tha halting humour of. the middle act. The standard of acting was high, and even down to the - least significant, the . characters were' sustained by people polished in. their business. David James is excellent as Crosbie,' whose sang froid nothing can disturb. Hiß acting in the drunken scenej.and when faced by two .exasperated gentlemen in Sir Charles and Frayne, and the .ease with which he makes his points, showed him to be imbued with -the true spirit of comedy, and reminiscent of Harry Paulton in his younger days. Mr. George Willoughby submitted a delightful character sketch as Flambert. Mr. Harry Halley made the most of Bogle, a good little character part, and Mr. Frank Frayne. . Miss Violet Page wns Hugh C. Buckler made a .likeable quite natural and convincing as the hare-brained Lady ' Her frocking was a feature. Miss Paul, probably the tallest actress, seen here since Miss _■; Alma Stanley, ll mado Gipsy Vandelier just the objectionable adventuress intended by the author. Her dash and verve were splendid. At one stage she threw a spoon on to a table in her rage, and it. bounced over .-the conductor's shoulder into the stalls. . Other parts are ■ well played by Miss Nellie Mortyne, Miss Amy Willard-.and Messrs. Harold Parkes, Reg. Fry, and Harry Overton. The comedy was capitally stage managed, and an orchestra, under Herr Baimund Pechotsch, rendered musical assistance. ',

"The Night of the Party" will > be played throughout the week.

: THEATRE ROYAL. Vaudeville bright and varied, with an appropriate balance of star items to givß character to the programme, is drawing good audiences at the Theatre Royal this week. The feature of the new bill is the _ interesting study of ■an American Indian and his given by Wise and Milton, who also, entertain .the audience with excellent negro "business" ind I dancing. The remainder of the company includes the popular favourites who starred the previous week's programme, and whose new items are distinctly' ontertaining. . THE KING'S THEATRE. Last evening witnessed the final presentation of the series of pictures which proved such'a. strong attraction to patrons of the King's Theatre during its successful, season of six 'nights. . This evening, an entirely new series will bo presented. HIS MAJESTY'S.. After .'a most,, successful run of six nights, the final exhibition of timfi excellent series of pictures at His Ma-, jesty's was given last night.'' This evening the management will display a new selection of films. STAB PICTURES. A really fine picture programme is being; screened nightly at St. Thomas's Hall, Newtown, this week. At the initial exhibition of the new series on Monday evening the popular verdict was. unanimously, in praise of the management's enterprise. With such striking films as "The Golden Slipper," a charming fairyplay, "An Alpine Echo," a dramatic etiidy, rich in spectacular beauty, "Lord Kitchener Inspecting Colonial Troops," and others of equal merit, the programme should have a very successful run. ' MISS AMY MTJEPHY. It is announced that Miss Amy Murphy has been prevailed upon to give another recital at the Town Hall Concert Chamber on Friday next, when an entirely new programme will be presented. Hundreds (it will be remembered) had to retnrn home on the occasion of her first concert, not being able to obtain admission to the hall. Miss, Murphy gave the Wellington music-lovers of her best on Monday night. If those who were disappointed on Monday night will tak6 timely warning, they will hasten to the Dresden and' book their 6eats at ones.