ENTERTAINMENTS.

Taranaki Daily News, Volume LV, Issue 106, 20 September 1912, Page 4

ENTERTAINMENTS.

"WHO'S WILLIAM?" H' to laugh really means to grow fat people suffering from undue obesity ought really to refrain from visiting the Wykeham-Nable Company lest a worse thing befal them. It is physically painful to laugh unduly, and we are not at all sure that the Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals ought not to interfere in a case of this sort, and insist that people's sides ought not to be made to ache in this unseemly fashion. _ "Who's William:" is one oi those irresistible farce-comedies winch lias ■ no earthly .reason for its existence. It is nnblushingly impertinent in its liilarity, and it sits down and mocks the audience with a frank irresponsibility that compels admiration. Tt tickles far more ribs than Adam could well afford to spare in his manufacture of a miscellaneous collection of lives, and for this saving grace it earns unqualified appreciation. Of course, it has no plot, and even when the final curtain falls nobody is quite sure who William really is. He may be the missing link or the Man with the Iron Mask, or the fourth protoplasm from the tenth book of Euclid, as far as the audience is concerned, but this is immaterial in view of the fact that the following of his adventures is the cutting of a wide swath in the field of laughter. There are times when a jaded community really requires a dose'of pure hilarity, and "William" in this respect is a physician who really earns more than the tribute of a guinea verse among the quack advertisements. There is no need to chase the plot of this hilarious comedy, for.it would be but a futile task to try and tree it, even '•'among the pictures." It would, in fact, be as easy to catch the theme by its tale as it would be for a kitten to get a strangle-hold! on its own tail. It is sufficient that it professes to make laughter, and that it justifies its profession. It is long since we have had such a delightful merrymaker in our midst. Naturally with this thinness of, subject much depends upon its presentation, and here the Company wag shown at its best. Mr. .Reginald Wykehara and (Mr. Edward Nahle are both past-masters in the art of comedy, and both are widely-kn6wn and popular favourites in many wellremembered roles. A reputation is not always an easy thing to sustain, but both these versatile actors were seen at their best last night, and commendation could say no more even with the aid of a whole dictionary of superlatives. Miss Pressy Preston, too, played an admirable character part as Mrs. Jack Carruthers, the key-note of' which was its delightful naturalness, whilst Miss Maud Chetwynd recalled memories of lots of other happy jollities as Mrs. Smith. The remaining characters were happily sustained, the bright and clever book giving one and all a chance in some quaint direction of. another,. Good dressing, pretty scenery, sweet music, and clever dancing all helped to make everybody perfectly satisfied with the mysterious identity of "William," and the audience left the theatre careless of his pedigree, but thoroughly satisfied with his performances. ' To-night the Company will produce "The Belle of Newport." 'Speaking of this a metropolitan contemporary says:— "An even better comedy, 'The Belle of Newport' was staged, and the audience had a real good evening's fun. The comedy comprises three acts, each of which kept the. audience in an almost incessant stage' of laughter; A striking feature about the Company is that everything is done on an elaborate scale, and some 'of ■ the dresses worn by the ladies were greatly admired by the audience. Smart dialogue, flashes of wit, clever acting, arid keen, perception of the humour of the situations all serve to have an irresistible effect in keeping the audience in a state of thorough enjoyment, while the graceful dancing and tuneful songs add greatly to the general pleasure. From the rise of the curtain until its fall the players kept everyone laughing. "Who's William?" was considered an exceptionally fine thing in. the comedy line, as played by this capable Company ofj entertainers, but it was fairly superseded by "The' Belle of Newport." It is to some extent on the same lines that a champion in the art of fabrication brings about many delightful dilemmas, and when he does get back to solid truth at a time when he is being harassed through the bewildering stories he has told, his uncle forgets his rage, takes him by the hand, shakes it warmly, and tells him that he always likes to meet a champion." EMPIRE PICTURES. As was only to be expected the Empire Theatre *was again well-filled last evening when the current programme was screened. One of the stars "How States are Made" is a Western picture by the well-known Vita graph Company, and deals with an interesting phase of Western life that up to the present seems to have been overlooked in the mad scramble to supply the demand for "Western .stuff." A' good old-fashioned land rush is the big scene in this interesting picture with all the other scenes bearing directly on it. This is a picture strong in action and full of the affairs of men, and incidentally women. Shorn of the artificialities of city life and the unreliabilities of alleged cowboy life it stands out like a leaf of ti;ue American history. The exciting land rush is in the nature of a revelation. Firstly, we see a family of three in a "prairie schooner" making their way overland when soon they overtake more emigrants bound in the same direction. They all finally arrive at a temporary city near the lines of the territory that is shortly to be opened by the States Government and those who intend to stake a claim are obliged to enter their names at the Government agent's tent. The day of opening arrives and as far as the eye can reach there is a miscellaneous array of vehicles and saddle horses awaitig the firing of the signal gun to start in. the mad rush for homesteads. As the cannon booms, the start is made, and a great sight it is. The great line advances and quickly resolves into a hare and hound race that is full of excitement and interest. The method of recording claims was clearly shown, including the weaknesses of the idea wherein it affords opportunities for rascality and advantages for the strong over the weak. Incidentally, in the picture there is a certain heart interest between the home-seeker and his wife, showing their efforts to remain steadfast to each other in the face of 'begnilemenls and knavery. It is a blood-stirring picture, and the applause it received at the hands of the audience last eveninir was well deserved. Included in the programme were "The Flower of the Mormon City" and "you Remember Ellen," and those who have not seen those films, should do so to-night as this is the last opportunity they will have of witnessing these three magnifieient pictures. A good change is promised for to-morrow night's programme. THE ,f. C. WfLTAMSON PANTOMIME. SINBAD THE SAILOR. On Tuesday and Friday next at the Theatre Royal. Mr. J. C. Williamson will present Sinbad the Sailor —the annual Pantomime Extravaganza attraction of 1!)1:!. hi Sinbad the Sailor is to be found at its zenith that phantasmagoria of splendour that we have come to call Pantomime. "Sinbad." according to the critic of the Melbourne Age" is a pantomime for epicures, a menu in which everv course is a delight skilfully compounded and balanced to a nicety. To say that Pantomime is the Theatrical Manager's

trump-card may be correct, but certainly Sinbad the Sailor is the trump-card elect of all previous Pantomime productions done by the big firm in Australia." It is also a moot point as to whether we have had a company quite so good—Pip Powell is without a shade of doubt the 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. Lennou gives us as "The Old Man of the Sea" a piece of character-acting rarely equalled on the legitimate stage. MissFlorence Imeson is a principal boy to the manner born, and infuses into "Hinbad" a vitality that has a deal to do with the general success. A more charming principal Girl (Ruby) than Mis* Nell Finnis it would be hard to imagine, while Miss Marie Eaton (Prince Fatima) and Miss Nance Maher (Fairy of Adventure) are salient features in the general success. Important also are Messrs William Winn, Charles Howard and William Hassan as the Emperor; Sinbad and Dick the Dog-Detective respectively. As to the' scenery the apex has surely been reached, some of the wonderful spectacles positively beggar description. The Diamond Valle.y, with its subsequent cascade of jewels is certainly the finest stageeffect vet achieved. Then there is thedelightful Rose-Ballet, the March of the Silver Guards, and finally the Flying Ballet, which is the most attractive feature of the big show. Added a number off scenes such as the Flight of the Roc, the Shipwreck, The Whale's Back, The Home of the Antediluvians and the Comic Rolling Ship, which are essentially for the enjoyment of the youngsters, and Sinbad 7 the. Sailor stands confessed as the bean ideal of what a successful and popular Pantomime ought to be. There will be a Matinee .on Friday afternoon, when children will admitted at half price. The box plans will be, opened at Collier's onMonday next.