AMUSEMENTS.

Stratford Evening Post, Volume XXVIV, Issue 85, 16 March 1916, Page 3

AMUSEMENTS.

HIS MAJESTY'S THEATRE. “WAR.” The Vitagraph feature film, "War,” proved a great success last night at this popular picture house. ; The friendships of the French, pastrycook and his family are rudely shocked by the advent of war and although 'they are now Americans (and therefore neutral). “The Call of Blood” is stronger, and the animosity is all the greater for the previous friendship; hut author and actor have kept the tragedy out, and hilarious comedy is tlie result. The supporting films are also of a very high quality. The newspaper comedy, “It may he You,” is a gem. “The Finality of Mercy” and “The Cornet” strike deeper notes, and are replete with human interest and pathos. The War Gazette is probably the best that has been shown for some time. The programme will be screened for the last time to-night.

,;FiETE;O.F RATIONS. ' 4 pf ym i • - A SU^|^(j^|pjRFORMANCE. Tim Towp Halh was well filled last night' for,(the Fete of Nations'! enter J tain men t, which was given by New. Plymouth, artists :in ■ aid of *thfe’ Strati ford Wounded Soldiers’ Fund. The performance warranted ■ the 'attendance; for It was pronounced, on all sides, to be one of the best, if not the. best, • .entertainment yet seen in Stratford. All the performers Were artists of merit, and if the same programme were piit on again' the Town Hall would he too small to hold all who would wish to gain admission. . During the “Grand March of the Allies” a small lad, attired as, a sailor, recited a patriotic poem and in response to his invitation to ; throw' money on the stage for the Wbnhded Soldiers’ Fund, the creditable' sum of £th lls (id was. Collected.

J Mr W. P. Kirkwood, in thanking those present for supporting the entertainment, said the promoters and performers alike deserved their hearty appreciation for the way in which they had come forward and offered to play in Stratford, without being asked to do so. Mr Kirkwood said the total amount taken at the demand through the booking amounted to £47, and £9 11s 6d was thrown on the stage during the “Grand March of the Allies.” Not one penny of that money would be taken away, and as far as the expenses were concerned, in his opinion, they would not he very great, The bulk of the money would be put to the credit of the Stratford Wounded Soldiers’ Fund. In conclusion the speaker said on April 24 a big day, “Soldiers’ Day” would be held in Stratford. The day would take the form of a large garden fete on die Show

• Grounds, and he asked for the coI operation of the people of btratfoid 1 and district. The function would be ( made a.s comprehensive as possible. After the performance in the Town Hall the artists were entertained at supper by the members of the LadePatriotic Committee in their tearooms in Broadway. The opening item of the bote was a song entitled “The Soldier,” in which Miss J. Bennett was heard to best advantage. The chorus was sung by six young maids, who dressed in “soldier’s” uniforms, did full justice to their part. r l he exhibition of the Argentine Schottische, by Miss Palmer and Mr Lints, was a very creditable performance and received well-earned applause. The next number was “Bubbles,” . a solo by Miss Peart, who' was assisted by a number of girls suitably dressed. Miss Peart is one of the most popular vocalists in New Plymouth and her singing last night was a revelation to Stratford’s theatregoers. A very novel item was the “Victorious Allied Armies in Berlin,” which presented the human bar of music. The “sheet of music” for the song was cleverly thought out and designed and reflected great credit on Mr Lints. The song was well rendered, and no doubt put the audience in a joyous mood for the rest oi tlie performance. “Seven Minutes with 14 Lively Quaker Girls,” was the way in which a solo by Miss M, Thompson was heralded. Miss Thompson, who was supported by a chorus' of girls dressed as Quakeresses., sang “My Pretty Quaker Girl,'”' ill a very‘ charming manner and instantly won the confidence of'tlie Audience.: The “star”, item on the first half Ot the piOrgramme, trap, a song by Aliss Biicli Johnston entitled “Whistle It.” Mrs- Joiinston was assisted by a

chorus of seven ybnng la'dies and her rendering of “Whistle’lt” willj be remembered ia: Stratford for ( q-uite a long time. An exhibition of tlie Hesitation Waltz by Mis's Ivy Davidson with Mr Lints was received with applause. The fii'st l> arfc of the programme concluded with a particularly line .item ‘‘The Grand March of. the Allies,'” which was performed by squads of girls representing. The different natjons* while an appropiate solo was sung by Miss Bennett.

The hiisf Rem , after the interval was “Teach me to Float on the Rodling Sea,” .a. song by Mrs Birch Johnson. The song offered splendid op; portunities for Mrs Birch Johnson s* [voice, and these were made the most of, scoring a great. success. A choius of young ladies assisted Mrs Johnston, and had the audience bad its ■ way the song wound have been rendered many times. Miss Peart was 'again heard to advantage in “Love’s | Own Kiss,” which she rendered in her own inimitable way. An orginal (Dutch dance, which was given by | Misses D. Bedford, A. Brewster, [Bedford. Blundell, O. Ambury, K. McCleland, E. Gilbert, and O. Palmer, was one of tbe best dancing I items of the evening. In the duet, j“I never heard, of anybody dying from fa Kiss,” Mrs Birch Johnson and Miss b! Oliver,, who were supported by a strong chorus, excelled. Ihe mirror effects caused a great deal ot merriment and the item was voted one of the best of the evening. MiLints showed that he was quite at home when it came to glass bowl and metal ball manipulating. “The Silvery Moon,” a duet by. Mrs Liuh Johnston and Miss Oliver, was a very novel item, it introduced some very fine electrical and umbrella 'effects and was responsible for the au| clience “nearly dying from laughtefr. ’ Tlie * finale, “The Grand Empire March” proved a fitting conclusion to a very enjoyable entertainment. The eight squads of young ladies attired in uniforms representing England, Ireland, Scotland, India, Australia, New Zealand, Canada and Belgium presented a very fine spectacle as they went through the movements of the march. In response to encores every item had to he repeated, and even then, in many eases, the audience was’ not satisfied when the artists drd not appear again in answer to applause. Tim company brohght its own orchestra 1 rom New .Plymouth and the selections rendered during the evening reflect great credit on the musicians. The orchestra comprised; Miss C. Leatham. Messrs A, L. Cooke. H. M. Wells, Wylie, and Clime. Tlie stage management and other arrangements wore good and Mi Lints deserves credit for the way in which he organised the entertainment generally.