AMUSEMENTS.

Stratford Evening Post, Volume XXXIV, Issue 27, 25 September 1912, Page 5

AMUSEMENTS.

v “WHO’S WILLIAM?” Not very many people had sufficient curiosity to find out_ for themselves last night whom this mystical personage of musical comedy might be, whose only name was William As a,matter of fact, it did not much mattor who William was; ho might have been KaisorWilhelm, or just plain Bill Sykes, and none of the audience would have stopped laughing to question his identity. But the great thing was that William —William Smith, of Elm .Avenue, Pickloton—existed in the flesh, and on the existence of William hangs the fascinating little tale that kept tho audience at the Town Hall last night in tho best of good humour,, making applause frequent and laughter continuous. In tabloid form, the story of “Who’s William” is woven round tho talo that Jack Carruthcrs told bis young and very foolish wife. When fate and a breakdown in the tuppenny tube kept him imprisoned all night with a strange lady, and bad luck prompted him to tell his wife that ho had supped with an old friend William. and missed the last train, the trouble commenced, for female curiosity immediately propou%d°d the conundrum—“ Who’s William?” With glib tongue Carruthcrs replied that this imaginary “old friend” was William Smith, who resided in Elm Avenue, Pickloton. He did not know, poor man, that Pickloton actually did have a corner on tho map, that Elm Avenue was a thoroughfare of that borough, and that William Smith, grocer’s assistant, was very much in th° flesh. Airs. Carruthcrs wires for William to Provo tho storv of that “night out,” Frank Hawtry is soloetod to impersonate the mysterious Bill, and everything goes smoothly, till Martha and William Smith eome along. Then tho comical situations fairly tumble over one another. and sixty laughs to the minute is not oven “going_somo,” compared with the uproar of laughter created.

“Who’s William” is a sparking litlo comedy, generous in the opportunity it, gives to all the east ; there is nothing' of the “one man” shoiv about the playMessrs; Reginald Wykeham and Edward Nable, tho former as L rank| Haw try, the impersonator ci William, and the latter as a very talkative butler, shine somewhat conspicuously, though there was more than a mor of histrionic ability displayed by| Mr. Max Montesole, who performed the exacting role of Jack Carruthors.! A delightful piece of character acting was given by Miss Maud Chetwynd as Mrs. Smith,' while Miss Dressy Pies-, ton as Mrs. Jack Camithers pat in a very strenuous time, her singing and vivacious acting ensuring for nor a splendid reception. The minor parrs 01, Harry Watson (Mr. Ernest Lashbrook), Mrs. Hawtry (Miss Alice Mof-i fat), Doris Dent (Miss Stella Caznlla), 1 and William Smith (Mr Charlie- Bliko) wore all capably filled. “Who’s William?” is certainly “well worth while,” and the Messrs. Wykeham and Nablo’s Musical Comedy Co. is to bo congratulated on the excellence of their production.

BERNARD’S PHOTO PLAYS.

To-night will bo the finale of the current programme at Bernard’s, and a great feast of up-to-date pictures they are, “Honour and tho Sword,” j “Tho Old Actor,” and “For tho Cause! of tho South,” being to the fore as le-j gitimato dramas. To-morrow evening j at tho usual change a most interesting j educational bill of fare is promised by j the management. “The Flower of the, Herman City” being tho star picture, i This is a story dealing with those times in Utah when tho elders of tho Mormon Church had tho lives of.their • followers in their hands. All that is long since passed away, but it provides material for a stirring and interesting drama. The management having secured the much spoken of film. “The Taranaki Circular Cycle Road Race of 1912,” which shows the start, spills, and other incidents on the Mountain Road, right up to the finish. It should prove a great attraction. “The Potters of the Nile” is a very interesting series of pictures, wherein may lie observed the method of pottery making from the first pro-, cess to tho last as it probably has ox-| isted since times immemorial. Wo be-| Hove this will prove to bo one of the. most interesting educational films ever placed on exhibition. “Historical Way-j v.goksbire” leads the way in tho sconi?] portion, whilst tho comics arc tho I limit in side-splitting. THE J. C. WILLIAMSON PANTOMIME. “SINBAD THE SAILOR.” ’ ■ On Saturday next at .the Town; Hall, Mr. J. / C. Williamson will pre- 1 gout “Sinbad the Sailor,” the annual pantomimic extravaganza attraction of 1912. In “Sinbad the Sailor” is to bo found at its zenith that phantasmagoria of splendour that wo have come to call pantomime. “Sinbad,” according to tho critic of the Melbourne “Age,” is a pantomime for epicures, a menu in which' every course is a delight skilfully compounded.and balanced to a nicotyl To say that pantomime is the theatrical manager’s trump-card may bo cor-; rect, but certainly;. “Sinbajl tho Sailor” : is'the trump-card ; elect of* all previous' pantomime productions done by’ tho big firm in Australia.” It is also a moot point as to whether wo have had a company quite so good— Pip Powell is without a shade of doubt tho very best “Dame” that has amused Australia for many years. Messrs. Drew and Alders, billed as - direct from Drury Lane, are quite up to regulation. Mr. .0. E. Lennon gives ns as “The Old Man of tho Sea” a piece of character acting rarely equalled on' tho legitimate stago. Miss Florence Imeson is a principal boy to the manner born, and infuses into “Hinba'd”. a vitality that has a deal to do with tho general success.- A more charming principal girl (Ruby) than Miss Neil Finnis it would bo hard to imagine, while Miss Marie Eaton (Princess Fatima) and Miss Nance Maher (Fairy of Adventure) are salient features in tho general success.. ''lmportant also are Messrs. William Winn, Charles How- 1 ard, and William Hassan as the Emperor, Sinbad, and Dick the Dog Detective respectively. As to tho scenery, tho apex has surely boon reached, some of the wonderful spectacles positively beggar description. The Diamond Valley, with its subsequent cascade of jewels, is certainly tho finest stage effect yet achieved. Then there is tho delightful Rose Ballot, the March of the Silver Guards, and finally tho Flying Ballot, which is tho most attractive feature of tho big show. Added to a number of scones such as the Flight of tho Roe, the Shipwreck, the Whale’s Back, tho Homo of tho Antediluvians, and the Comic Rolling Ship (which are essentially for tho enjoyment of tho youngsters) and Sinbad the Sailor stands confessed as tho bean ideal of what a successful and popular pantomime ought to ho. The hox plans are now open at Grubb’s.

SPRING SHOW.

ENTRIES CLOSE TO-NIGHT.

All intending exhibitors at the Stratford Horticultural Society’s Spring Show are reminded that Castries close with the secretary, Air W. S. Cato, this evening. Tbo Show, .which is to lie hold in tho Foresters’ Hall on Thursday afternoon and evening next, promises to be a record one, and very satisfactory entries from exhibitors in Stratford and the surrounding districts have boon received. It is admitted that the Spring Show, with its “host of guidon daffodils.” provides the most delightful exhibition of all shows, and this year tho Society’s Spring event should not ho missed. To-night at Inglewood, the birth of another off-spring 1 of tho Taranaki Provincial Scottish Society will ho right royally celebrated, tho jollifications taking tho form of a concert, followed by a supper and dance. Tob Scotsmen of Inglewood are to bo congratulated on their enterprise in establishing a branch of the Society. Knowing tbo calibre of some of the gentlemen of tbo little northern township, there is little question that tho “youngster” will flourish oven as the proverbial green bay tree. At the concert, which will bo held in the Inglewood Parish Hall, all tho Scottish performers of note for miles around will take part. From Stratford, the Misses Cameron and Songster, and Air H. AV. Douglas will contribute soims, and Aliss Boss Alorrison, A.T.C.L.. will be the accompanist. Air AVilkie will also “ho there.” Bagpipe selections, reels, and other dances are included in a fine programme.

Throughout tho month of September largo consignments of new goods are being received at A. Spence’s, Broadway. Stratford. Everything up to date, the highest standard of quality, and values unsurpassed are tbo things that popularise this firm. s