ENTERTAINMENTS.

Taranaki Daily News, 7 October 1915, Page 7

ENTERTAINMENTS.

"FUN ON THE BRISTOL." AN OLD FAVORITE REVIVED. Hundreds of playgoers entertain pleasant recollections of the favorite musical farce "Fun on the Bristol," which the late John P. Sheridan made so vastly popular throughout Australasia-, and* the "Widow O'Breeon" has never lost the affections of the playgoing public. Thus it was not surprising that last night the Theatre Royal was well filled, when the merry farce was revived by a clever company introduced by Mr. George Stephenson, and headed by Mr. Frank Hawthorne. Many in the audience had previously made the acquaintance of the quaintly humorous widow, and they and those to whom her personality was new found her just as great a laughter-pro-voker as ever. "Fun on the Bristol" wears well, and the Widow, like good wine, improves with age. The farce is almost devoid of plot, but the present company closely follows the original lines, and the old jokes are as mirthful as they were of yore. The Widow has two daughters (who think their mother just as much of a joke as the audience do), and plenty of cash, and though she has been twice to the "menial" altar, she is not at all averse to a third trip, | and listens to the beguiling tongue of that arch-bigamist the Count a bogus teacher of music. The girls have their sweethearts as well, and all elope and meet on board the Bristol, where there is fun and frolic, a very seasick Widow, and spoony couples. The piece gives room for plenty of lively singing and dancing, and as produced last night was a great success. As the Widow O'Brien, Mr. Frank Hawthorne gave a very capable impersonation of the late Mr. Sheridan's famous part, though he perhaps lacked that actor's inimitable acidity and brusqueness in conversation. He was very cleverly feminine, however, all through, and be brought out the Widow's manoeuvres in a creditable manner. Two or three songs, notably a very humorous one, "Auntie Skinner's Chicken Dinner," were well given, and earned boisterous applause. On the whole, Mr. Hawthorne's conception of the character left little to be desired. He was splendidly supported by Miss Ivy Davis, as the hoydenish daughter, Dora. Miss Davis is a vivacious and pleasing actress, who has a really fine mezzo-soprano voice with an extensive range, and she immediately leapt into popularity, Unfortunately, she has little opportunity to display her undoubted accomplishments as a singer; her solo "To Have, to Hold, to Love" was delightfully given, and she > was excellent in a duet with Mr. Sharpies. As Nora, Miss Annie Bersill created a very favorable impression and 1 played up well to the two principals. 1 Miss Bertha Busch as the negress Bella contributed much to the fun, and she scored an undoubted success in her solo | dancing, which earned a warm recall. ■ Mr. Will Gilbert was sufficiently idiotic as Tommy Cranberry, and as the ee centric Captain Cranberry Mr. Courtney Ford made a hit. Mr. Arthur Sharpies and Mr. Frederick Hughes were quite , satisfactory as Richard Sparks and Count Mannagio, respectively, and Messrs Ernie Delavale and James Duffy were quite at home in minor parts. Some excellent 1 patter absurdities by Messrs Gilbert and Delavale caused immense amusement. The staging and frocking of the piece were alike excellent, and enhanced the enjoyment of the performance. "Fun on the Bristol" will be repeated at a matinee performance this after noon, and to-night the season will conclude with a laughable burlesque, "East Lynne Up to Date."

J. 0. WILLIAMSON'S MUSICAL ' COMEDY SEASON. What is probably the strongest musical attraction submitted to New Plymouth audiences for many years, will be staged at the Theatre Royal on' Monday evening next. Last year a complete new English company of celebrated comedians and other performers was specially introduced to Australia for the presentation of "High Jinks," which is described as a frisky French frivolity. Witfli it the Williamson firm achieved such conspicuous success that long runs were sustained in Sydney and Melbourne, compelling postponement of the New Plymouth production until now. Tins new musical comedy has a strong dramatic story, and every note of music has

some bearing on it. It is described as a properly constructed opera, not a series of irrelevant music-hall turns strung together with lilting uira Moreover, it will be sung and acted by principals who, if reputation is a guide, should give an excellent account of themselves. Mr. C. H. Workman, W. H. Rawlins, Field Fisher, Fred Maguire, Chris. Wren and Hugh Huntley are from the Lyric Theatre, London, Mr. Paul Plunket is from the Savoy, and has sung leading baritone roles in grand opera. The return of Miss Dorothy Urunton to the musical comedy stage will doubtless be warmly welcomed. Misses Florence Vie, Daisy Yates and Helen Hobson arc recognised as three of the best comediennes in England, while Miss Gwen Hughes is credited with an equally good reputation as a clever actress and singer of the soubrette characters, while the cast will also include those two established favorites, Marie Eaton and Cecil Bradley. In the matter of the orchestra, it is, we are told, for their first-grade ability that the very best players have been selected. Taken altogether, in "High Jinks" we are likely to have a musical attraction of more than ordinary importance. "High Jinks" can be staged for this night only. The box plan will open at Collier's to morrow morning at 8 o'clock.

THE EMPIRE. To-night Jess Willard, the world's champion boxer, is featured in a stirring domestic romance, "The Heart Punch." The Kalem Company are well represented in a two-reel star drama, "Following a Clue." This is a thrilling detective Btory and contains many thrilling incidents. The lost Lusitania is shown in the Topical Budget. Vitagraph forward "The Moonshine Maid and the Man." Although bashful, Dave is as romantic as the mountain wilds in which he lives. He is anxious to marry Nance and determines to win .the 100 dollars reward for the arrest of a band of moonshiners. He notifies the Customs officers of a clue he has and leads them to it. A fight ensues and Dave is mortally wounded, Before he passes away lie learns that Nance's father is the owner of the still and she is the "man" whom he suspected of being one of the moonshiners. Key stone comedians supply an endless amount of fun in "Ambrose's Little Hatchet." "Kill or Cure' is also *, screamingly funny comic. "With the French in Alsace" should prove an interesting film.

"THOU SHALT NOT KILL." On Saturday at 2.30 tlie Empire will screen a picture play w'bkk is said to be quite different to any yet seen. It is produced by D, W. Griffith, described as the greatest picture director in the world. "Thou Shalt Not Kill," or "The Avenging Conscience," is a drama of the mind, completely visualised throughout, and with a thoroughly connected story. Though it deals with the penance inflicted upon a murderer by his own conscience, this penance is so personified that the result is a very graphic narrative. This is brought about by the use of some extraordinary photographic effects, which show the dead man returning to haunt the living murderer, who imagines, among otlier things, that he can hear the heart of the dead man beating. "Thou Shalt Not Kill" was suggested by Edgar Allan iPoe's famous story, "The Tell-tale Heart" (which contains the idea of the murderer listening to the heart-beats of the man he killed) and by Foe's famous poem of "Annabel Lee." Plan of reserved seats now on view at the Empire office.